Black and White Board Books for Babies

According to the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, "Objects with patterns having 100% contrast (that is, black-on-white) are the easiest for newborns and young infants to see." So, it's no surprise that many of the toys designed for newborns and young infants contain high-contrast colors and patterns, such as those shown at the Genius Babies Web site. Go into any toy store or Babies R Us, and such toys are in abundance.

Likewise, quite a few high-contrast books have been published for infants and young babies. Recommended for newborns and young infants, based on the research found at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute Web site, the list of black and white board-books (found below) does not include books of other high-contrast colors which would also be beneficial for this age group. Infants and newborns won't be able to keep their eyes--or hands--off of these stimulating, sturdy books!

• Hoban, Tana. Black on White. Greenwillow Books, 1993. Unpaged. Board Book. $5.99 ISBN 978-0-688-11918-8.
• Hoban, Tana. White on Black. Greenwillow Books, 1993. Unpaged. Board Book. $5.99 ISBN 978-0-688-11919-5.
• Hoban, Tana. What is That? Greenwillow Books, 1994. Unpaged. Board Book. $5.99 ISBN 978-0-688-12920-0.
• Hoban, Tana. Who Are They? Greenwillow Books, 1994. Unpaged. Board Book. $5.99 ISBN 978-0-688-12921-7.
• Linenthal, Peter. Look Look, Look!! Dutton Children's Books, 1998. Unpaged. Board Book. $6.99 ISBN 0-525-42028-2.
• Linenthal, Peter. Look at the Animals Dutton Children's Books, 2006. Unpaged. Board Book. $6.99 ISBN 0-525-47582-6.
• Tildes, Phyllis Limbacher. Baby Animals: Black and White. Charlesbridge, 1998. Unpaged. Board Book. $5.95 ISBN 978-0-688-88106-313-4.
• Various. Art for Babies. Templar, 2009. Unpaged. Board Book. $19.99 ISBN 978-0763644246.