Have you ever received a baby shower invitation that asked you to bring a book for the baby? If you don’t have little ones of your own, you may find yourself scratching your head over what book to pick. Even if you love picture books and you read them out loud to your kids every day, you may still come up blank when you go to write a thoughtful inscription inside the book you want to give as a present at a baby shower.
Great handwritten notes in picture books for a baby can have a thoughtful, funny, religious, or personal message. If this seems too broad for you, don’t worry–you can find lists of perfect examples to borrow here.
Once you know what you want to write, you should inscribe this message on the endpapers of the book with a flourish, using a colorful Sharpie for long-lasting permanence–you want your words to stick around until the baby grows up to read them after all!
What is a Baby Shower Book?
A baby shower book is any board book or picture book for children that you give as a gift or in lieu of a card at a baby shower. In fact, many new parents ask guests to bring an inscribed book instead of a card these days. This helps the growing family develop a library of books to share together in daily storytimes.
Reading books out loud to babies (even newborns!) has tons of benefits for the little one. It helps children associate books with love and positive feelings and teaches them essential early literacy skills like recognizing sounds in words.
Rhyming books, books you can sing, and books with high-contrast colors or pictures are great options for babies. You can also pick a book based on its positive messages, like friendship or adventure.
Another good way to pick a book for a present is to look for illustrations that reflect the baby’s culture or family. You can also look for books that have won distinguished awards, like the Caldecott Medal, which celebrates books with remarkable illustrations.
But of course, choosing the book is only the first step–you still need to add a thoughtful inscription inside!
What to Write in a Baby Shower Book for a Girl
If you know the family is expecting a girl, you can tailor your inscription to have a girl focus.
- “I hope you find comfort and inspiration from story heroes like Anne of Green Gables, Matilda, Olivia, and Hermione. But always be the hero of your own story!”
- “Like Eleanor Roosevelt said, ‘the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.’ Dream on, baby girl!”
- Beautiful Girl, always remember: “Find your own way, you don’t have to follow the crowd. There’s only one you in this great big world.” –Only One You by Linda Kranz
What to Write in a Baby Shower Book for a Boy
If you know the parents are expecting a boy, you could also write a boy-focused message inside the book.
- “Oh Boy! Welcome to a world of adventure.”
- “My boys love this story and I hope you will, too!”
- Like Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web, learn to ‘never hurry and never worry,’ but always be a friend because that in itself is a tremendous thing.”
What to Write in a Baby Shower Book for a Gender-Neutral Party
Sometimes parents don’t want to announce the gender of a baby ahead of the baby shower. In this case, the trick to writing a good book inscription is to write in the second person, using “you” instead of he or she.
- “I wish you a life full of exciting stories and happy endings.”
- “I can’t wait to meet you and share this story with you over and over again!”
- “I hope you will always remember Winnie-the-Pooh’s wise words: ‘you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.'”
What to Write in a Baby Shower Book for the Parents
If you know the parents really well, you may want to write a note to them instead of to the baby.
- “Remember when mom used to read this story to us every Christmas? I hope this book gives you the first of many special traditions to share with your own little one!”
- “Like Emilie Buchwald famously said, ‘Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.’ I know how much you love books, and I can’t wait to see you share that love of reading with your precious baby!”
- “I believe you will raise the kindest kids in the world! Neil Gaimon hit the nail on the head when he said that reading teaches kids empathy because ‘it puts us inside the minds of other people, gives us the gifts of seeing the world through their eyes. Fiction is a lie that tells us true things, over and over.'”
Book-Themed Quotes to Write in Baby Shower Book
Another great idea for an inscription in a baby shower book is to use a famous quote about books or reading.
- “There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” –Walt Disney
- “There is no Frigate like a Book to Take us Lands Away.” –Emily Dickenson
- “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” –Margaret Fuller
- “This is a quote from one of my favorite children’s books, The Invisible String. I hope you remember it always: ‘People who love each other are always connected by a very special string made of love. Even though you can’t see it with your eyes, you can feel it with your heart and know that you are always connected to everyone you love.'”
Funny Message to Write in Baby Shower Book
If you prefer a light and silly tone, consider inscribing a baby joke in your baby shower book. This is an excellent idea if you know the new parents have a strong sense of humor or consider you their jokester friend. Otherwise, you may want to stick to more thoughtful and serious messages.
- “How do you get an astronaut’s baby to sleep? You rocket! Good luck with all the sleepless nights coming your way!”
- “How do you make a baby ghost laugh? You play peek-a-BOO! I hope you have the happiest of Halloweens with your new little pumpkin!”
- “Why did the baby cross the road? To get to the toy you told him not to play with, of course! I wish you love and lots and lots of patience in the years to come.”
Religious Message to Write in Baby Shower Book
If you know the new parents embrace a particular religious belief, you could also add a religious quote or text. But use this approach with caution because you do not want to offend anyone by making assumptions about their faith.
- “Children are a gift from the Lord” –Psalm 127:3
- “For every tree, there is a fruit; and the fruit of the heart is a child.” –Kanzul Ummal
- “I know you will be such a great role model! After all, ‘What the child says out in the street comes from either his father or mother.’ –Talmud: Sukkah 56b
Top 10 Books to Give at a Baby Shower (And What to Write Inside!)
The best way to pick a book to give as a present at a baby shower is to select a classic picture book, as this safe choice will please almost anyone. You can also pick award-winning titles or look for books on a particular theme that you know the parents like. In fact, any picture book or board book that has personal significance to you or the new parents also makes a perfect gift.
You do need to exercise a little caution in making your selection, though, because some children’s book authors have gone through a lot of controversies recently (Dr. Seuss, for instance). Plus, you need to know that the parents will like the type of book you pick. For example, some families may not appreciate the strong message in delightful picture books like Loryn Brantz’s Feminist Baby. In contrast, non-religious families could find a book like God Gave Us a Family offensive.
This top-ten list of the perfect books to give at a baby shower also provides suggestions for cute messages to write inside.
- Guess How Much I Love You: Deluxe Book and Toy Gift Set
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons
- Moo, Baa, La La La!: Oversized Lap Board Book
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (Jane Cabrera's Story Time)
- Where the Wild Things Are
- We're Going on a Bear Hunt
- The Snowy Day Board Book
- Last Stop on Market Street
This modern classic celebrates the boundless love between parent and child.
You can borrow from the delightful wording in this book for your message:
“We love you all the way to your toes, little one!”
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Eric Carle’s famous illustrations bring this rhyming line-up of animal friends to life.
Add a message like “Baby Girl, Baby Girl, what will you see? There’s a whole world out there waiting for you!”
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It’s amazing how much babies and toddlers love munching their way through this remarkable story along with the famous caterpillar. This book ranks as one of the best-selling picture books of all time for a good reason! You can add so many thoughtful messages to this book, like “Life is full of change. May you always find beauty in transformation, just like the caterpillar!”
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This lovely book explains the changing seasons through gorgeous stylized illustrations. If you like the work of this award-winning artist, you could give a gift set including his other brilliant children’s books like A Book of Sleep. Add a note like “I wish you warmth in cold times, exploration in warm times, and love at all times.”
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Parents will love practicing animal noises along with the silly rhyming text in this board book! (As an added bonus, the author has written several books in this series including the equally popular Barnyard Dance). You can go with a funny message for such a silly book by writing something like, “Mooo! We love you!”
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Books you can sing make wonderful storytimes for parents and babies. And think of all the adorable messages you could write in this one, like “Welcome, Little Star,” or “May your life sparkle with all the joy of a twinkling star.”
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This rollicking picture book remains one of the all-time most popular children’s books in the world because of its timeless theme of exploration and adventure. Add a message that draws on the language in the story like “Beautiful little explorer, welcome to a family that loves you best of all!”
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Parents will love the fact that they can sing and act out this classic song in picture book form. Why not go for a simple, thoughtful message, like “may your life be full of bravery and adventure, and may you always come home safely in the end.”
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This award-winning classic presents a fun day in the snow. It makes a great choice for a winter baby shower (and it also represents one of the first times an illustration of a person of color starred in a children’s picture book!). You can add an inspiring message, like “Always get out there and enjoy the snowy days.”
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Another award winner for its warm, inviting illustrations, this story celebrates inclusivity and the simple joys of life. “I hope you always find beautiful everywhere you look,” makes a great message to write in this book.
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Conclusion
Giving a picture book in place of a card or as part of your baby shower gift shows special thoughtfulness to the new parents and their growing family. Unlike many other gifts that the little one will quickly outgrow, these special stories will remain a part of the child’s memory forever!
Because books have such a special place in children’s lives, you can make your enduring gift even more memorable by adding a thoughtful or funny message on the inside flap. This way, in years to come, the child can open up the book and know you loved him or her enough to give this special present.