Five of our favourite first word books
We've included Amazon links for these books; if you use these links to buy a book My First Five Years may collect a share of sale or some form of commission.
100 First Words by DK
This colourful board book uses a mixture of photos and illustrations to show 100 words, spread over pages which stick to familiar themes, including out and about, clothes and pets. It follows a traditional first words book approach, but with a lovely modern feel.
The layout of the pictures means your baby can see and hear a wide variety of words without the pictures feeling too overwhelming, and the bright pages really capture the interest of little readers.
Noisy First Words: My First Touch and Feel Sound Book by Libby Waldon
This suggestion does come with a warning – as the title suggests it can be very noisy! Of course, that is all part of the appeal for your baby and this book really does have it all.
Touch-and-feel pages, as well as the sound buttons throughout, mean your baby will get a full sensory experience while they look at the photos of pets, vehicles and useful objects.
If your baby enjoys interactive books, the good news is this series includes lots of noisy books all about specific themes like Things That Go, Dinosaurs or Farm.
My First 100 Words: A World of Words book illustrated by Emilie Lapeyre
Ladybird is a brilliant brand to look for when it comes to books for babies, and this beautifully illustrated first words board book is no exception.
It keeps things interesting, with a mixture of colourful scenes and pages of pictures laid out in lines, making them easy to point to while you read.
If your baby enjoys this book, the other titles in the A World of Words series might be worth a look. They are the kind of detailed board book which can become a favourite for your baby, and then be just as fascinating for your toddler to enjoy as they grow their vocabulary and build on their knowledge of the world.
The Sounds Around Town by Maria Carluccio
This first words book is a little unusual in that it focuses on the sounds around your baby, not the objects’ names. As sound is such an important sense, and one which your baby is using constantly as they learn to speak, taking a bit of time to focus on what they hear is a wonderful way to mix up story time.
The Sounds Around Town follows a baby and their family from waking up, going out around the neighbourhood and then settling back down for bed. It’s a lovely way to end the day, as the baby listens to night sounds and falls asleep at the end of their noisy day.
Henry Finds His Word by Lindsay Ward
This is not, strictly speaking, a first words book, but we love it anyway! This picture book tells the story of a baby called Henry and his hunt for a first word.
Parents everywhere will recognise the excitement Henry’s parents feel waiting to find out what his first word will be... and will smile at Henry’s surprise that his parents can’t understand him already. After all, Henry knows exactly what he means!
This is a perfect bedtime read for anyone who is currently waiting for their baby to find their own first word, and is also a lovely look back for parents who have heard lots (and lots) of words from their baby already.