My friends are slowly having less babies. I suppose I’m getting to that age. DH and I have stopped attending a couple of weddings every year and the onslaught of baby showers has slowed to a trickle. I still have a lot of opinions though on the best gifts for new parents and I’m going to start with books. Here’s what you need to buy for your friends having kids:

Whoever You Are by Mem Fox is the perfect introduction that you are an important piece of the world and that everyone else is too.

Thankful Together by Holly Davis is a great way to start talking about all the things we have to be grateful for. Since I believe that happiness is rooted in gratitude, I’ve been forever grateful to this book for illustrating to my kids that recognizing the things we should be thankful for is easy and doesn’t have to be ceremonial.

Hooway for Wondey Wat by Helen Lester is so much fun to read aloud. I think I might make my kids sit for it right now – I don’t care if they’re in middle school.

You’re All My Favorites by Sam McBratney. If you or someone you love is about to have their third kid – buy this right this second.

Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton. You’re going to end up owning more than one Sandra Boyton book because they are all so, so fun. Might as well start with the one the kids will memorize and march around the house with.

Monkey with a Toolbelt and the Noisy Problem by Chris Monroe. This might be more for you than them – especially if you’re a homeowner. I giggled through this book everytime.

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt. Another one maybe more for you. Hilarious. The whole series is hilarious.