No one has time to read hundreds of books, especially parents! We've narrowed it to one recommended book for each period of adolescence. Plus - our favorite book for kids at each age, too!
Let’s face it. No parent has the time to sift through all of the parenting books out there. We’re constantly asked for book recommendations, so we’ve gone through our favorites and picked the best book for each age of parenting. If you can only read one book every couple of years, we recommended these. Plus, we’ve added in our favorite book for kids and teens, too!
prenatal
Getting ready for baby? Try “Everyday Blessings” by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn. This book will give you the tools to approach the parenting journey with mindfulness and will teach you how to live in the present moment, connect with your child and become the kind of parent you want to be.
0-1 year old
The first year can be a blur of diaper changes, baby bottles, and of course, sleep deprivation. We recommend “The No-Cry Sleep Solution” for its gentle and connection-driven way for dealing with one of the hardest parts of the first year of parenting. There are many books about teaching children to sleep, but this one is based in building a secure attachment between parents and children, and gives gentle ways to help babies learn to sleep through the night – with no crying.
For babies, we love the book “Global Babies” with pictures of adorable babies from around the world!
2-3 year olds
We’ve said it before (and we’ll probably say it again) – one of our all-time favorite books is “The Whole-Brain Child” by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson. It’s easy to read, full of strategies and completely backed up by neuroscience. We can’t recommend it enough! We love it for parents of kids of all ages, but the early years are a great time to get started on understanding how children’s brains are wired and how to connect with them.
We also recommend “The Family Book” by Todd Parr. It’s fun and colorful and teaches kids that families come in all shapes and sizes.
4-5 year olds
As children start entering preschool and kindergarten, we love “The Mindful Child” which gives great strategies for helping children manage stress and anxiety, as well as become happier, kinder, and more compassionate. What else could you want?
“Beautiful Oops” is a great book that teaches kids that mistakes are okay, even something to be celebrated.
6-8 year olds
We’re not saying you’re going to need a discipline book at this age, but just in case you find yourself struggling with behavior, we’ve got your back. “No Drama Discipline” is a great book that gives tools to help use discipline as it was intended – to teach a lesson rather than to punish.
“Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon” is a sweet book about a girl who looks and sounds different from the other kids. But as her self-esteem and confidence are tested, she knows how to stand tall and proud.
8-10 year olds
You may find that conversations with your child start to become few and far between around this age. That’s why we recommend, “How to Talk so your Kids will Listen and Listen so your Kids will Talk”. This book is a wonderful resource for opening the lines of communication, allowing expression of feelings, and resolving family conflict.
“A Life Like Mine: How Children Live Around the World” showcases children from different parts of the globe. Your child can learn about customs, food, dress and more from different cultures.
10-12 year olds
As kids start to find themselves in the world of social cliques, these books by Rosalind Wiseman can help. For girls, we recommend “Queen Bees and Wannabees: Helping your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World.” And for boys, “Masterminds and Wingmen: Helping our Boys Cope with Schoolyard Power, Locker-Room Tests, Girlfriends, and the New Rules of Boy World.”
And we love the book “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio about an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face.
12-15 year olds
As you enter into the teenage years, it may seem like everything you knew about parenting is shifting. That’s why we recommend “Brainstorm” by Daniel Siegel. In fact, much of what you know is shifting. Teenagers’ brains are changing and this book can help illuminate findings about neuroscience, adolescent development and more.
Teenagers may enjoy “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” which touches on self-image, peer pressure, parental relationships, and more.
We hope this list is helpful to you! Feel free to download a full copy of the list to save, print, or share.
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