Listific: The Toplist Resource

By the time your child blows out his or her first birthday candle, 70% of the brain’s development will be complete. This just goes to show how important it is to start molding your child’s values and brain power even before the baby comes out of the mother’s womb. Why do you think soon-to-be-moms are advised to listen to classical music or ‘read’ to their child while pregnant?

Now, the number one thing that you should remember is that as parents, you are your child’s first teacher. Fortunately for the parents, gone are the days when they would have to rely on flash cards or some old fashioned teaching tools to develop their child’s brains at an early age.

Today, you can use books, interactive games and similar tools to harness the brain power of your child. Naturally, you would like your kids to grow smart and able to handle anything that the world puts them up for later on – so it is better if you will start training your kids yourself.

So which baby books will make your kids smart? Take a look at our top 10 list of the books that you should read if you’re a parent who would like raise brainiac kids. The first half of the list contains books which parents can read to learn how to assist with their child’s motor, physical, mental and emotional development. Meanwhile, the second half of the list consists of books which parents can read to or read with their child.

• 10. “Ten Little Ladybugs” by: Melanie Gerth

  This story by Melanie Gerth was illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith and it’s the story of the ten little ladybugs that disappear one by one. Kids will have a lot of fun feeling for the three-dimensional ladybugs – while teaching them how to count, recognize colors and name the familiar creatures in the book’s illustrations.

  So what are you waiting for? Get a hold of these top 10 books that will assist with your children’s mental development – and raise your kid to be the smartest that they can be!

• 9. “Green Eggs and Ham” by: Dr. Seuss

  Another Dr. Seuss classic is the “Green Eggs and Ham” book which has a short story with rhythms, repetitions and it’s available in lift-the-flap-book format. Babies will have a blast using their little hands to see through the flaps – so they’ll have fun reading, learning and playing all at the same time.

• 8. “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” by: Dr. Seuss

  Authored by Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, this book has lots of rhymes to keep a child engaged. It was actually first published in the 1960’s but until now, the book is still in publication, thanks to the riddles and the imaginative way that the author teaches children how to read. Even if you have a child who is below 3 years of age, this would still be a great addition to your collection of children’s books that can be used during bath time!

• 7. “The Big Red Barn” by: Margaret Wise Brown

  Margaret Wise Brown is a bestselling author of children’s books, and what makes “The Big Red Barn” stand out is the fact that everything about it will be loved by children of all ages. The vibrant colors showcase the stark difference between day and night, the details and the writing style is impeccable – it’s a children’s book classic that will allow your babies to calmly sleep as they grow their way into being smart kids.

• 6. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by: Eric Carle

  There’s no better book to buy for your kid than something which is already considered to be a classic. This book by Eric Carle has sold more than 12 million copies and has been translated to 20 languages. For parents who haven’t read it to their kids yet – it’s about the journey of a caterpillar who becomes a butterfly. With bright colors and simple pictures, you can have your toddler count the number of snacks that the caterpillar had.

• 5. “How to Teach Your Baby to be Physically Superb: From Birth to Age Six (The Gentle Revolution)” by: Glenn Doman, Douglas Doman and Bruce Hagy

  Another edition in the Gentle Revolution series of books is “How to Teach Your Baby to be Physically Superb: From Birth to Age Six”. What the book will teach you is that the intellectual and physical development of your child are dependent on other. Parents are given methods and exercises on how to assist the physical development of a child depending on age.

• 4. “Baby Hearts: A Guide to Giving Your Child an Emotional Head Start” by: Susan Goodwyn, Ph. D. and Linda Acredolo, Ph. D.

  Naturally, if you want your child to have a well-balanced development, you shouldn’t focus on just the mental or intellectual aspect. There’s no use raising a brainiac child if they will grow up to be emotional wrecks later on in life. With “Baby Hearts”, what you will read about is how important it is to develop a close relationship with your child so that their personality, self-esteem and understanding of others – even at such a young age – will unfold.

• 3. “Einstein Never Used Flash Cards: How Our Children Really Learn – And Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less” by: Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D; Roberta Mihnick Golinkoff, Ph.D; Diane Eyer, Ph. D

  The authors of this popular book are child psychologists and the thrust of their child-rearing principles is to prove that hurrying a child’s mental development does not necessarily pay off. One of the most interesting theories taught by the authors is how to practice the 3R’s: Reflect, Resist and Recenter – and all these can be done through simple playtime.

• 2. “How Smart Is Your Baby? Develop and Nurture Your Newborn’s Full Potential (Gentle Revolution)” by: Glenn J. Doman, Janet Doman

  Gentle Revolution is a series of books on how children can be raised to reach their full potential. This particular book from authors Glenn and Janet Doman is actually an essential guide on how to enrich the first year of your baby’s life.

  As mentioned earlier, a child’s brain becomes fully developed by the time that the first year’s birthday is celebrated, and the book offers effective tips on how to maximize a child’s developmental stage.

• 1. “Smart-Wiring Your Baby’s Brain: What You Can Do to Stimulate Your Child during the First Three Years” by: Winifred Conkling

  What makes this one of the best baby books for parents who would like to raise smart children is the fact that Winifred Conkling author uses a straightforward yet compassionate language throughout.

  It’s an all-in-one guide for parents which include readable charts and timetables, as well as tips on how to encourage the development of a child in the following aspects: speech, language, movement and motor skills.