15 best baby books for budding bookworms
Beyond fostering an early love of reading, the developmental benefits are well documented, from enhancing language to developing fine motor skills as they turn the pages independently.
The tactile experience of holding and turning pages, the visual appeal of pictures, and the stimulation of hearing a voice reading contribute to sensory development.
However, finding a book that keeps both your attention and theirs can be tough. Young babies often love board books with clear images and anything that's noisy, whereas toddlers squeal with delight at pop-up designs or lift-the-flap tales.
To help you find some great options for baby's first bookshelf, we've rounded up our pick of the best baby books.
How we tested
With the help of our 17-month-old tester, we've reviewed a variety of baby books, reading the words on the pages, lifting the flaps, pressing the buttons, and watching the pop-up elements come to life. We were looking to see which books captivated our little bookworm the most, and which titles saw our mini tester returning for more, time and time again.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Rebecca Moore is a writer who specialises in the parenting sector. She has since written about the best parenting products on the market, such as pram mittens, musical toys, baby carriers and more. In each of her reviews, Rebecca will only recommend the products and titles she believes are worth your time and money.
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The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Trolls said my daughter ‘wouldn't ever get a job' when I took her out of school but now she's going to UNI at 14
A PROUD mum has shared news of her daughter's entry into university at just 14, despite trolls slating her online. But unlike the thousands of students who received their A-level grades this week, Millie Smith from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, didn't bag a single one. 6 6 Her mum, Kim Smith, 33, in fact decided to take her daughter out of school at the age of just ten - a move that prompted hundreds of strangers to question her parenting choices. 'People said she'd never get a job, that she'd be socially awkward, that she'd fall so far behind she'd never catch up,' says mum-of-two Kim. 'It was constant, people love to tell you you're doing the wrong thing.' But four years on, Kim has the ultimate comeback. Millie, now 14, has just been accepted onto a BSc Honours in Psychology course and she's doing it without a single GCSE or A-level to her name. 'She'll be doing her degree before most kids her age even start their A-levels,' Kim proudly tells Fabulous. 'And she's done it on her own terms.' Millie's educational journey took an unexpected turn during the Covid lockdowns. Like millions of parents, Kim found herself suddenly in charge of her daughter's learning but she quickly realised the school's remote lessons weren't working for them. Kim says: 'A lot of kids were struggling, and parents didn't understand the new teaching methods. 'It was causing so many arguments in homes everywhere. I thought, why are we forcing this? So we stopped following what the school sent and made our own work instead.' Psychotherapist Dr Richard Hogan's top five tips for parenting in 2025 Those first few months gave Kim a taste of how different learning could be. A few months after Millie returned to school, she left for good, beginning her home education. Learning beyond the classroom Kim explains how she adopted a "child-led" learning approach. 'At first, everyone tries to replicate school at home, the timetable, the subjects, but I quickly realised education isn't just about copying from a book or following a set curriculum. 'We moved to a child-led approach, where Millie chose the topics that interested her, like space, ancient Egypt, plants, even hair dye, and we built all the learning around that.' 6 "That flexibility meant lessons could happen anywhere — on the sofa, at the park, even at the beach. 'People think home education means you're stuck indoors all day, but we're always out doing things,' Kim explains. If Millie wanted to learn maths while sitting on a beach, we could. And if she felt too unwell in the morning, we could move lessons to the afternoon. It's about listening to her needs.' Kim says her partner Luke, "teaches Millie about engines, maintenance and modifications of motorbikes and push bike". The pair also share an interest in history and will often watch lots of educational documentaries together. Luke suffered a heart attack and stroke in January and 14-year-old Millie has since helped him bring his speech and memory back using her knowledge of psychology and therapies. Kim says with Millie's help "he's now almost back to himself and is back at work and helping with her home education". Kim also tackled one of the biggest criticisms levelled at home education, which is the lack of socialisation. The mum posts on social media on her account @learninghappiness where she has amassed over eight thousand followers and 42,000 likes on TikTok. Throughout her time sharing her journey with followers, she's received backlash, particularly about her daughter's social interaction skills post home education. One troll wrote: "Academic success is great but there's no substitute to the social interaction of school." Another added: "Home education is really restricted in seeing other children and meeting people." But the mum clapped back, de-bunking this stereotype. 'When people say, 'But won't she be lonely?' I ask, 'What makes you think that?'' Kim said. 'In school you're told to sit down and be quiet, that's not socialising." Home-educated kids mix with people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. It's actually more organic than socialising in a classroom.' When Kim couldn't find enough nearby meet-ups to suit her work schedule, she started her own home education group. 'We've now got nearly 2,000 families,' she says. 'We meet a couple of times a week, run workshops, and even hold a prom every year so the kids don't miss out.' One prom, she recalls, summed up the difference between mainstream and home education. 'A child came wearing a suit and a toy octopus on their head. In school they'd have been ripped apart. "Here, all the kids ran over saying, 'Wow, you look amazing, can I try your hat?' Me and my partner cried — it was such a beautiful moment of acceptance that you wouldn't get at a normal school.' Homeschooling Rules in the UK In the UK, homeschooling is a legal and viable option for parents... English and Welsh parents do not need permission to educate their child at home, but they must notify the school in writing if they are withdrawing their child from a school to home educate Scottish parents must obtain consent from their local council before withdrawing their child from school, unless the child has never attended a public school Parents must ensure their child receives an efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability, and any special educational needs There is no requirement to follow the National Curriculum, take standard exams, or adhere to school hours However, parents still need to ensure their little ones are being adequalty educated. Otherwise, your local council can step in. Your local council can make informal inquiries to ensure your child is receiving adequate education They may even request information about the home education provision to ensure the learning material is suitable If the council believes your child is falling short, it can serve a School Attendance Order or issue a notice for attendance Real-world lessons Millie's 'school day' looks nothing like the rigid timetable of most 14-year-olds. Mondays might mean creative writing club, Tuesdays arts and crafts, Wednesdays book club, Fridays outdoor nature sessions. 6 Some days she does academic work, other days she focuses on hobbies or independent study. 'She's done university-level psychology courses online through Coursera, just because she wanted to,' Kim says. Kim has also made sure Millie learns life skills alongside academics. 'In January, my partner had a heart attack and stroke,' she adds. 'For a week, Millie ran the house. 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'It takes time to find your rhythm and balance work with your child's needs. And some families might find the lack of a ready-made peer group tricky without making the effort to join communities.' 'I'm not saying it's for everyone, but it could work for far more kids than the system allows for,' Kim says. Still, for Kim and Millie, it's been worth it. Kim shared her daughter Millie has dyslexia and dyspraxia, but wasn't getting the attention she needed from teachers. "When Millie first left school, her teacher had basically told her that she had to choose between either being bad at spelling or bad at writing for SATs. "I said to them, that's a little bit like saying to someone whose legs aren't working and sight is bad that they have to choose between glasses or a wheelchair - it's ridiculous. "Millie now loves writing and asks to go to creative writing classes, she just needed some attention and support." The current school system is outdated. It's more focused on grades for league tables than what's best for the child." "Millie's proof you can succeed without it.' And as for the trolls who doubted her, Kim laughs: 'I don't need to tell them they were wrong. Millie's going to university at 14, that says it all.' 6
The Guardian
8 hours ago
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I can't read anyone's body language and I feel flirt-illiterate. How do I meet new people?
I'm approaching 30 and I've been single since I was 19. What's more, I haven't dated anyone. This isn't a question of labels – I have objectively not seen anyone for 10 years. I'm a straight man and I have felt quite a bit of shame about not dating and not seeing anyone, and I have lied about my circumstances to family and friends. 'Oh, yeah, I've been on dates,' and 'Oh, yeah, I have a sex life,' are some of the lies I have repeated. I have more or less gotten over the reasons why I might have isolated myself emotionally from other people. I no longer tell myself that I am unlikable/unlovable, and am open to the idea that other people could be attracted to me. But, I can't fathom how to meet anyone. I can't read anyone's body language, and feel flirt-illiterate. How does a 30-year-old man meet people they might like and be honest about their dating illiteracy and inexperience without compounding the problem? Eleanor says: There's plenty of advice on how to get 'a date' or 'a girlfriend', as though they're a uniform species. Like catching 'a trout'. Some such advice is fine (be punctual, don't expect mind reading), but I'd be wary of treating dating as a uniform activity – one big sport where everyone but you knows the rules. Dating's different for everyone. Just like the friendships between high school girlfriends have different norms and origins from the friendships between golf buddies, your dating life will look particular to you. Figuring it out isn't about figuring out how to 'date' per se. It's about figuring out how to be yourself enough that the people who are looking for you can find you. With that in mind, here are some generalisations that should be treated as exactly that. 'People' are everywhere, but you're not just trying to meet people, you're trying to meet your people. Go where they're likely to be – joint activities, hobbies, shared friend groups. Expanding your romantic life often involves just expanding your social life: making sure you're out, known, in the habit of chatting to people you don't know. It might help to think of flirting as an extension of social bonding rather than a strategy unique to dating. It's just creating chemistry. Do you make people feel like the most interesting thing in the room? Do you hold eye contact a smidge longer in a way that suggests they're fascinating? Does it seem as though there's some mischief that you're in on together? When figuring out whether people are flirting with you, it's the same thing in reverse. If someone is trying to build some chemistry, they will find reasons to share things with you. A lot of philosophers worry that our closest relationships often start in a bit of deception: we act like our best selves in early romance. In fact, I think this is for good reason. You don't want to make your neurosis or baggage the other person's responsibility at first. In your case, you've felt unlovable in the past and you worry about your inexperience. But I don't think it's dishonest not to disclose this. The risk of sharing these things is they could become symbols for both of you – a date can't just be a date, a rejection can't just be a rejection. It becomes a symbol of your worth or romantic viability. That's a lot to put out there in the early stages of getting to know someone – for them and for you. It's important to have your own ways of dealing with the fears and vulnerabilities dating can bring up. Since you have learned ways to manage your negative self-talk, it sounds as though you're well on the way. Let yourself be seen for you, not for your fears and woes. And when in doubt, you can just ask. You mentioned finding it hard to read body language, feeling 'flirt illiterate'. Partly this is by design. A lot of flirting deliberately retains its plausible deniability. That being said, if your challenges reading social cues are general, not dating-specific, it may be worth coming up with direct and friendly ways to clarify: 'I'm not always sure if I've read the vibe right, but would you like to get a drink or dinner together?' Some people will feel liberated if you give them permission to say exactly what they mean. I know this stuff feels like an impossible world to break into, but believe me that dating is just an extension of the social interactions you're used to. It's not about learning a new language or world; it's about being yourself, on purpose, in ways that let your people find you.
The Independent
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- The Independent
Mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos dies aged 78
Jackie Bezos, mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has died at the age of 78. She 'died peacefully in her Miami home' on Thursday following a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia, diagnosed in 2020. Jeff Bezos announced her death in a heartfelt Instagram post, expressing profound love and gratitude for her life and dedication. He noted that she became a mother at 17 and praised her fierce commitment to loving and nurturing her family. Jackie Bezos is survived by her husband, Mike, children Jeff, Christina, and Mark, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
