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Expert Reviewed By - Finding the best books for toddlers is a journey full of funny characters, beautiful stories, morals, lessons and lots of bright colours. Of course, firm favourites from their early years will still remain, but now is the perfect time to expand your toddler’s imagination and vocabulary with new books.
Why Do Toddlers Need Books?
Toddlers now begin to understand how the world around them works… and by reading books and sharing stories together, you can explore, explain and teach your little one about ever-more-complex social and emotional situations in a safe and engaging way.
The Best Books For Toddlers
Out of the thousands of books for toddlers on the market, here are the 10 absolute favourites that I believe every little library should include:
1. Silver (Four Seasons of Walter de la Mare)
I love this whole series of books for toddlers that encapsulate Walter de la Mare’s beautiful poems.
They are a wonderful way to introduce your toddler to poetry enhanced by Carolina Rabel’s lovely illustrations and Silver is a stunning example to add to your toddler’s library.
2. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr Seuss
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr Seuss is a classic book that your older toddler will absolutely love.
For generations, this book has helped children learn their colours and count while keeping them fascinated with quirky rhyming and cute illustrations.
3. Each Peach, Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Each Peach Pear Plum By Janet and Allan Ahlberg is one of my all-time favourite books for toddlers and one that my son loved too!
It has repeating text and beautifully detailed illustrations that encourage your little one to find well-known nursery characters, which is guaranteed to keep your toddler engaged over and over again!
4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Another classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar with its clever cutouts, teaches little ones counting and the days of the week in charming fashion. From babyhood, through the toddler years and beyond… this book will be a favourite for life!
5. Press Here by Herve Tullet
Press Here by Herve Tullet is a surprisingly simple touch book for toddlers that gives instructions on the page to jiggle, turn and mix up the dots to the guaranteed delight of both reader and young listener.
Toddlers will love the simplicity of this book and it will help with the learning of colours and how to follow instructions.
6. Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann is an award-winning simple book with few words that is ideal for toddlers.
It makes a lovely bedtime story that allows both parent and child to tell this hilarious story together as they watch the zoo animals follow the zookeeper home to bed.
7. Richard Scarry’s Best Collection Ever
Richard Scarry’s collection of books for toddlers is full of detailed illustrations that help toddlers learn the words of common objects in the world around them.
They are guaranteed to provide hours of reading fun for your little one and inspire lots of conversation too.
Titles in this set include:
- Great Big Mystery Book
- Great Big Schoolhouse
- Best Word Book Ever
- What Do People Do All Day
- Cars and Trucks and Things That Go
- Funniest Storybook Ever
- Planes and Rockets and Things That Fly
- Busiest People Ever
- Best First Book Ever
- Best Counting Book
8. No More Diapers by Campbell Books and Marion Cocklico (Big Steps)
Potty training is a huge event in your toddler’s life and No More Diapers has proved to be a huge favourite with parents when helping their little one through this process.
Reading about a current situation that is going on in your toddler’s life will make overcoming an issue or addressing concerns so much easier to do!
9. The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas
Toddlers experience intense emotions and are often frustrated by not being able to express them properly…
However, The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas helps your toddler explore these new emotions through the medium of colour and allows you and your toddler to tell each other how you are feeling in a way that they can easily relate to.
10. The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton is a brilliantly wacky rhyming book that tackles the issue of your toddler’s natural reluctance to go to bed.
Sandra Boynton understands how to capture a young child’s attention with humour and fun whilst keeping the story short and to the point, making it a fantastic book for toddlers.
- Funny and joyful language and illustrations
- Will encourage little ones to embrace the bedtime routine.
- Ideal for slightly older babies as they will be able to relate to the characters!
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What To Look For When Choosing The Best Books For Toddlers
It’s no secret that I am a huge book fan… I’ve done a huge amount of research, buying, and reading books for toddlers.
And over the years, I have come to realise that there are 10 things every parent needs to look out for and include in their toddler’s library:
- Keep stories short and sweet. Toddlers are not able to concentrate for long periods of time so the ideal book needs to capture their interest quickly and not take too long to read.
- Read about relatable subjects. Using books that help toddlers understand what they are feeling and experiencing, is a great way to teach them how to talk to you and for you to show them that you understand how they are feeling. Carefully chosen books for toddlers can help them through the ups and downs of potty training, the arrival of a new sibling, developmental leaps, bedtime struggles and so much more.
- Ensure there’s repeatable text. As your toddler’s language develops they will love to repeat new words and phrases back at you. So encourage this development with books containing repeatable texts.
- Include rhyming and fun texts. Rhyming text, especially funny rhyming text will capture your toddler’s attention and have them coming back again and again. Make sure you have some rhyming books in your toddler’s library and mix them up with funny, whacky rhymes as well as the more traditional ones.
- Have interactive features. Toddlers love to take part and do things with you, so an interactive book ticks both those boxes and has the added bonus of improving fine motor skills, improving language and teaching your little one how to follow instructions. Look for books for toddlers with flaps, cutouts and a variety of textures.
- Have ‘look-and-find’ objectives. In addition to interactive books for toddlers… ones that require your toddler to find things on a page are also perfect for this age group. These books improve concentration and will also have longevity in your little one’s library. Think ‘Where’s Wally’ but for younger eyes!
- Incorporate books without words. Picture-based books allow you and your toddler to explore the pictures together and talk about what you see and how you both think the story is developing. These types of books also give your toddler the opportunity to develop their imagination and ask lots of questions.
- Include simple learning books. Don’t be afraid to include some simple learning books that teach concepts like colours, shapes and numbers. Although your toddler may not understand them at first, repeating the colours, shapes and numbers as you read will be establishing these concepts in your little one’s brain, long before they can vocalise and use them.
- Always have ‘Good Night’ books for bedtime. Reading a bedtime book is an ideal way to get your little one ready for sleep, and encourage healthy bedtime routines whilst being a wonderful bonding experience too.
- Include books you enjoy too! If you have to read something over and over again… your toddler will get far more out of it if you are enjoying the story together. Look back and choose some of the books for toddlers that you loved reading as a child… chances are your little one will love them too.
TOP TIP: If you can, invest in printed books as they are more engaging and build neural connections and support the development of your child’s communication and social skills better than e-books. (source)
As an extra book for you dedicated readers, Billy’s Beetle was my and my son’s absolute favourite book to read together and he still reminisces about reading it over 28 years later!
Benefits Of Reading To Toddlers
As a parent, teaching your child to read and instilling a love of learning and exploring through words is one of the most amazing gifts you can give.
Not only does reading to toddlers offer up huge potential in the future, but it also has the following benefits:
- Reading to toddlers helps them to build a strong relationship with you. Cuddling with a book allows you to slow down and enjoy the time you spend together in a calm and non-confrontational way.
- Future academic success. Studies show that students exposed to reading before preschool are more likely to do well in all areas of their education later in life.
- Reading stories together teaches your toddler the basics of how to read a book by themselves. No child is born knowing that the English language is read from left to right, that words on a page have meaning or that they are made up of letters separated by a space… These are all skills that your child learns when they follow along with stories you are reading aloud.
- They help develop better communication and logic skills. By offering opportunities to learn how to handle their emotions and express what they want in a healthy way through books for toddlers… You will notice these stronger communication behaviours become a part of your toddler’s everyday life.
- Books for toddlers also teach children how to deal with emotional or stressful situations. Opening up a conversation to ease your child’s fears is what books are amazing at doing. For example, if your child is nervous about starting nursery or going on holiday, reading a story that deals with this topic can show them that their feelings are normal as well as guide them towards how to handle them.
- Sitting down to read develops better concentration and discipline skills. Most toddlers will squirm and become distracted when sitting down to read… but eventually, they learn to sit for the duration of the book. This practice helps with reading comprehension, stronger self-discipline, longer attention spans and better memory retention.
- Finally, reading instils a love of reading. As cliche as it sounds… Children who are exposed to reading are much more likely to choose books over video games, television and other forms of entertainment as they grow older.
Need More Parenting Help?
- Download our FREE Perfect Sleep Cheat Sheet. It’s a free, easy-to-use and proven formula designed for parents of 0-5 year olds to master the art of consistently undisturbed and restful sleep without the yelling, nagging or exhausting long-winded evenings.
- Check out our Parenting Toolbox. You’ll get access to expertly-chosen products that you can guarantee are the best for your little one and your wallet.
- Ready to create the calm, peaceful evenings you deserve? Then checkout our most popular course - The Bedtime Battles Masterclass
A bedtime & nap cheat sheet so good your little one will ask you to put them to bed...
Laura Williams "This is a life saver! I'm so glad I downloaded your bedtime & nap cheat sheet. My little one actually asked me to put him to bed last night! Unbelievable! Thank you so much!"
Click Here For The FREE Cheat Sheet
