The best children's books to stimulate development

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the co-author and CEO of The Wonder Weeks. I advise various global players in the field of babies and I'm a sought-after speaker at fairs and in daily exchange with mothers and fathers. With all this knowledge I know the needs of parents and their children like no other, with my books and apps I stand for power to the parents! 


I wrote...

The Wonder Weeks: A Stress-Free Guide to Your Baby's Behavior

By Hetty Van de Rijt, Frans X. Plooij, Xaviera Plooij

Book cover of The Wonder Weeks: A Stress-Free Guide to Your Baby's Behavior

What is my book about?

The Wonder Weeks describes in easy-to-understand terms the incredible development changes and regression periods that all babies go through during the first 20 months of their lives. How to stimulate your baby's mental development and help him turn his 10 predictable, great, fussy phases into magical leaps.

The book is based on the scientific- and parental-world-changing discovery of a phenomenon: all normal, healthy babies appear to be fussier at very nearly the same ages, regression periods, and sleep less in these phases.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Visual Quiet Book: Shapes & Color

Xaviera Plooij Why did I love this book?

High contrast baby books help babies to stimulate development, in the first months a baby develops sensations and patterns, so it is very helpful and good for the baby to discover colors and feel various materials like soft polyester. The book is strong stitching and absolutely safe for babies.

By Beiens,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Visual Quiet Book as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of I Love You to the Moon and Back

Xaviera Plooij Why did I love this book?

It’s never enough to show love to your children. Telling love stories to your little one is very important. This book shows the love between a bear and a cub, who are together every single day. They show their love for each other in many ways. The illustration and story of this adorable book make the bear and cub so real and came right into my heart. For me, it is one of the best real love stories, love in a way how it means to be.

By Amelia Hepworth, Tim Warnes (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Love You to the Moon and Back as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 2, 3, 4, and 5.

What is this book about?

So snuggle safely in my arms; our day is nearly done. I love you to the moon and stars, my precious little one.

A beautiful hardback gift edition of the international best-seller I Love You to the Moon and Back, a bedtime favourite with familiar and reassuring text by Amelia Hepworth and heartwarming illustrations by Tim Warnes.

When the sun comes up, Big Bear and Little Bear think of new ways to share their love. Big Bear loves Little Bear more and more as each day passes, right up to each new moon - and back.

Now this joyful celebration…


Book cover of The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Xaviera Plooij Why did I love this book?

This one of the most classic picture books teaches counting the days of the week in a real child friendly and funny way as the hungry caterpillar is eating his way through the pages. A very educational and attractive way to learn for children. In so many years, I have read this to so many children and always the hungry Caterpillar shows a smile on my and the children's faces while he is eating his way through the pages of the book.

By Eric Carle,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Very Hungry Caterpillar as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

There are so many ways to spend a sunny summer day. Join The Very Hungry Caterpillar and explore everything the season has to offer!

Celebrate summer with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and his friends in this exploration of the season. Young readers can learn all about seasonal sensory experiences, like listening to noisy bugs, feeling the warm sunshine, smelling the yummy scents of a cookout, and so much more!


Book cover of Duck and Friends: A Soft and Fuzzy Book Just for Baby!

Xaviera Plooij Why did I love this book?

This adorable book about a cheerful duck with a touch of the pages produces an irresistible crinkling sound and a shake reveals gentle rattling. Because of the fabric tabs extending from each page and the soft, fuzzy cover and cloth pages provides a big stimulation for baby fingers and senses.

By Kenny E. Rettore,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Duck and Friends as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A feast for baby's senses! The soft, fuzzy cover and cloth pages of the books in the Friends Cloth series feature vibrantly colored animals for baby to identify.

Parents and gift givers will find:

a fun toy for baby a soft, washable, cloth book a special gift!

In Duck and Friends, a cheerful duck on the cover opens to reveal a cute cat, slithery snail, and others. A touch of the pages produces an irresistible crinkling sound and a shake reveals gentle rattling. Fabric tabs extending from each page provide more stimulation for little fingers as baby rubs, squeezes, and…


Book cover of Miffy's Birthday

Xaviera Plooij Why did I love this book?

As a Dutch co-author, I highly recommend the books of Miffy, the very known rabbit in the Netherlands and worldwide, who shares his experiences in colourful, child friendly and short books. This copy is about celebrating birthdays. I love the good colorful illustrations and the imagination of Miffy. For children, this is the perfect combination, as a child loves birthdays, presents and especially from grandparents.

By Dick Bruna,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Miffy's Birthday as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Hip hip hooray! It's Miffy's birthday and her friends have all bought her lovely presents. Grandpa and Grandma Bunny give her a very special present.

Award-winning UK poet, Tony Mitton, has worked closely with Dick Bruna's Dutch publisher to create new translations for the classic Miffy stories that are true to the books' original voice, and yet have a contemporary feel to the language that makes them appealing to the modern young audience. The translations beautifully convey the warmth and friendliness of the original Dutch whilst maintaining a style that is inimitably Miffy.


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Return to Hope Creek

By Alyssa J. Montgomery,

Book cover of Return to Hope Creek

Alyssa J. Montgomery Author Of A Spanish Seduction

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an Australian USA Today bestselling romance author who writes contemporary romance and uses the pen name Alyssa James to write medieval romance. I think the makeover trope resonates with me because although I’m no beauty queen now, I was definitely an ugly duckling in my teens. For reasons best known to him, my father insisted on close-cropped hair, and financial circumstances dictated out-of-style hand-me-down clothing. After university, I found my own style, but it wasn’t until I was accepted as an international flight attendant that I believed that I couldn’t be all that ugly if Qantas employed me!

Alyssa's book list on makeover romances

What is my book about?

Return to Hope Creek is a second-chance rural romance set in Australia.

Stella Simpson's career and engagement are over. She returns to the rural community of Hope Creek to heal, unaware her high school and college sweetheart, Mitchell Scott, has also moved back to town to do some healing of his own.

Mitchell, a former NFL quarterback, doesn't need the complication of encountering Stella again so long after the messy end to their relationship, but as each tries to build a new life, they are drawn together and find their chemistry is just as strong as ever.

Will their love be stronger the second time around?

Return to Hope Creek

By Alyssa J. Montgomery,

What is this book about?

When two old flames come back to their home town, sparks are bound to ignite. A rural romance from USA Today bestselling author Alyssa J. Montgomery.


A horrific car accident ended former world number-one Stella Simpson’s tennis career, and a betrayal ended her relationship with her fiancé/coach. When a family friend offers to sell her half of a property in the rural community where she grew up, it seems like the perfect place to escape, heal and begin the next phase of her life. Until she discovers that the man who broke her heart ten years ago has bought the…


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