Feel the Love! 5 Great Touch & Feel Books for Babies
By Rachel Ward
Babies are always grabbing, holding, and rubbing everything they can—and why not? All those everyday textures and sensations are brand new to infants and help them learn about the world around them. That’s why touch and feel books are so great: Our youngest readers are gaining an intro to books and discovering something new to pat, rub, crinkle, and squish on every page. (And hey, most touch and feel books are board books, so they’re pretty impervious to little hands and baby drool—bonus!) We’ve found five awesome touch and feel books that will help build those important connections in your baby’s brain and touch both your lives.
1. Touch and Feel: Dinosaur by DK Publishing
Introduce your child to his soon-to-be favorite extinct critter: the dinosaur! Your future archaeologist will meet different dinos while exploring a new texture with each one, like a Stegosaurus’ rough back and the T-Rex’s sticky tongue.
2. Touch and Feel: Colors by Parragon Books
Colors take a starring role in this sturdy board book, with a different texture paired to each color—from a rough sandpaper blue kite to a satiny-smooth green leaf! A must for all future artistes.
3. Animal Kisses by Barney Saltzberg
Time to meet man’s best friend(s)! Each page features a different animal just waiting for a big old smooch, from a dog with a sticky tongue to a velvety soft bear kiss (there’s even a squeaky pig kiss that we just love).
4. Numbers/Números by Roger Priddy
Priddy’s bilingual board book introduces babies to numbers, two languages, and awesome textures like a leathery soccer ball and soft doggy fur—an educational triple whammy!
5. The Ocean (Touch and Explore) by Stéphanie Babin
This board book’s vivid illustrations will make you and your little one feel like you’re truly under the sea! With wonderful sensory experiences (like rubbing a dolphin’s smooth back and a turtle’s hard shell) and several fun facts about our underwater friends scattered throughout, this one makes a great interactive readaloud.
