One of my favorite activities to do with my toddlers is to cuddle together and read books. It allows us to bond and have precious one on one time. There are endless benefits of reading with your toddler such as bonding, encouraging listening skills, and increasing vocabulary and letter recognition.
Our oldest toddler loves to read and this list has been approved by our toughest critic- a 3 year old! We hope you find some new stories to add to your library from our list of the best books for toddlers.
27 Best Books for Toddlers
This list is intended for toddlers ages 1-3 years old. This list has age appropriate and more advanced book ideas for toddlers.
For babies to 18 months I recommend board books as they are easy to handle for little hands and the pages won’t rip. For older toddlers hardback books are just fine as their motor skills have improved.
Another helpful tip when purchasing books for 1-3 year olds is to pick stories with predictable repetition. This encourages memory and helps them start to say the story along with you.
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1. Little Blue Truck
Overview
The Little Blue Truck comes as a board book making it easy to handle for little hands. It is about a little farm truck and his farm friends who go out of their way to help a “rude” truck who is in need.
Author & Illustrator
Allice Schertle (Author) & Jill McElmurry (Illustrator)
Recommended age
1-3 years
Pages
30 Pages
2.Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Overview
This book is a board book that is great for animal and color recognition. It is a sweet short book that is especially good for younger toddlers.
Authors
Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle
Recommended Age
1-3 years
Pages
28
3.Where’s Spot
Overview
This lift the flap book is a cute story about a mother dog who is in search of her puppy dog named Spot. I love this book because it is very interactive with your child by encouraging them to help “read” the story by lifting the flaps.
Author
Eric Hill
Pages
22
4.Dear Zoo
Overview
This lift the flap book is one of our favorite board books about a child who writes to the zoo asking for them to send them a pet. This picture book shows all of the crazy animals that the zoo sends the child and eventually the child receives the perfect one.
Author & Illustrator
Rod Campbell
Recommended Age
1-3 years
Pages
18
5.The Cat in the Hat Comes Back
Overview
This book is intended for more advanced toddlers 2 years and older. This is one of those classic books that is full of adventure, mischief, and fun. I love that his book rhymes and helps with learning the alphabet.
Author
Dr. Suess
Recommended Age
2-7 years
Pages
72
6.Llama Llama Red Pajama
Overview
This is one of the best toddler books for bedtime and supports social and emotional learning. This story outlines bedtime and some of the trials that children may have during the bedtime routine.
Author & Illustrator
Anna Dewdney
Recommended Age
1-3 years
Pages
40
7.Grumpy Monkey
Overview
This toddler book is about a monkey who for no obvious reason feels grumpy. This book navigates this emotion and teaches children it is okay to have “feelings” even if we can’t identify why we have those feelings.
Author & Illustrator
Suzanne Lang (Author) & Max Lang (Illustrator)
Pages
32
Recommended Reading Age
2-5 years
8.Splat the Cat
Overview
This book is about a cat who is nervous about going to his first day of school. As Splat navigates his fears he overcomes them and realizes school isn’t so bad after all. This book is perfect to read before going to your child’s first day of preschool.
Author
Rob Scotton
Pages
39
Recommended Reading Age
2-6 years
9. Don’t Push the Button! An Easter Surprise
Overview
This is a story that encourages interaction in such a fun silly way. The reader tends to get into some trouble by pushing the button and it results in a lot of giggles! This is one of the best interactive books for toddlers.
Author
Bill Cotter
Pages
22
Recommended Reading Age
1-3 years
10. Little Excavator
Overview
This adorable rhyming story is one of our favorites. It is about a little excavator that tries to help at the construction site but is unable to do the tasks because he is just too small. This story outlines there is something everyone can do no matter how big or small you are.
Author
Anna Dewdney
Pages
40
Recommended Reading Age
2-3 years
11. Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
Overview
This children’s story is so sweet. It features babies from all different backgrounds and it reminds us that we all have something in common: 10 little fingers and 10 little toes. Of course we don’t all have these physical characteristics, however it is a starting point for little ones to understand that although we look different, we are all humans and to our core we have similar wants, dreams, and desires.
Author & Illustrator
Mem Fox (Author) & Helen Oxenbury (Illustrator)
Pages
38
Recommended Reading Age
1-3 years
12. Little Pookie
Overview
This playful story outlines the unique qualities and characteristics Pookie’s mother loves about her child. This is one of the best books for toddlers!
Author & Illustrator
Sandra Boynton
Pages
18
Recommended Reading Age
1-3 years
13. Wonderful Babies
Overview
This book is for early toddlerhood. It features babies from different backgrounds. It is a cute and simple book that you and your little one will love.
Author
Emily Winfield Martin
Pages
26
Recommended Reading Age
Birth-3 years
14. Clifford’s Bathtime
Overview
This story is short and to the point. It is about Clifford as a puppy and Clifford doesn’t want a bath but realizes that taking a bath is actually loads of fun!
Author & Illustrator
Norman Bridwell
Pages
16
Recommended Reading Age
2-4 years
15. The Little Mouse, The Big Hungry Bear, and The Red Ripe Strawberry
Overview
This story has humorous illustrations and a cute storyline. How in the world will the little mouse keep away his freshly picked strawberry from the hungry bear? You will have to check out this book to find out! This book also comes in an english and spanish version which is nice if trying to learn another language.
Author
Audrey Wood & Don Wood
Pages
32
Recommended Reading Age
1-4 years
16. Brain Games: Fingers and Toes: Read, Sing, Play and Learn
Overview
This book is fun for babies and toddlers alike. It is very interactive and it teaches you about the body and the 5 senses. You get to play, sing, and learn together.
Author & Illustrator
Emily Skwish (Author) & Phoenix International Publications (Illustrator)
Pages
20
Recommended Reading Age
Baby-3 years
17. On the Night You Were Born
Overview
This book is perfect to let your child know that you love them and that they are truly special.
Author
Nancy Tillman
Pages
32
Recommended Reading Age
Baby-3 years
18. Dragons Love Tacos
Overview
This is a sweet story about a boy having dragons over for a party and feeding them tacos. He accidentally feeds them something they dislike and the party gets a little crazy!
Author
Adam Rubin
Pages
40
Recommended Reading Age
2-5 years
19. God Bless You and Goodnight
Overview
This is another adorable touch and feel bedtime story. We love this book because it goes through different animals doing bedtime things and as a bonus we get to incorporate God and prayer.
Author & Illustrator
Hannah Hall (Author) & Steve Whitlow (illustrator)
Pages
18
Recommended Reading Age
1-3
20. The Day God Made You
Overview
This story is beautifully written and hones in on the fact that God made each and everyone of us and that we are perfect the way we were made.
Author & Illustrator
Rory Feek (Author) & Malgosia Piatkowska(illustrator)
Pages
20
Recommended Reading Age
Baby- 4 years
20. Go, Go, Construction Trucks!
Overview
This book has colorful illustrations and goes through the whole process of the building process at a construction site. The book highlights different construction trucks and what they do.
Author
Bonnie Ricknes Jensen
Pages
48
Recommended Reading Age
Baby- 3 years
21. My First Book of Emotions For Toddlers
Overview
This book explains 6 different emotions in an age appropriate way. It describes what the emotions may feel like and how we may react to them. This is such a good book for toddlers who are feeling and experiencing lots of different emotions.
Author
Orlena Kerek, MD
Pages
48
Recommended Reading Age
2-3 years
22. Noisy Farm
Overview
This is another interactive story toddlers will love! Your toddler gets to press a button and hear the sounds that the animals make.
Author
Tiger Tales
Pages
12
Recommended Reading Age
3-6 years
23. The Wonderful Things You Will Be
Overview
This is a heart-warming story about love and all of the endless possibilities that one can be.
Author
Emily Winfield Martin
Pages
36
Recommended Reading Age
1-3 years
24. A Porcupine Named Fluffy
Overview
This book is about a porcupine who tries to be something that it is not. This book highlights self acceptance in a fun and humorous way.
Author
Helen Lester
Pages
32
Recommended Reading Age
3-7 years
25. The Cake That Mack Ate
Overview
This book is simple with repetitive language that builds upon each other. I love that this book also teaches young readers the process of making a cake and what goes into that whole process.
Author
Rose Robart
Pages
24
Recommended Reading Age
3-8 years
26. My Friends
Overview
This is a sweet book that highlights learning from nature in different ways.
Author
Taro Gomi
Pages
34
Recommended Reading Age
1-3 years
27. Never Touch A Grumpy Bunny
Overview
This is one of our favorite stories. It is a rhyming book filled with many silly reasons why you wouldn’t want to touch a grumpy animal. This is a sensory book filled with many different textures your kid can touch.
Author
Rosie Greening
Pages
12
Recommended Reading Age
Baby-2 years
The Importance of Reading with Toddlers
There are so many reasons why reading to your little ones is so important.
Increases Parent and Child Bonding and Connection
Spending one on one time with your kids is important for building a strong and secure connection with them.
Strengthens Early Literacy Skills
Reading allows toddlers to get familiar with language, words, letters, sounds, and punctuation.
Encourages Attention
Reading encourages toddlers to practice their listening and attention skills.
Encourages Creativity and Imagination
Fiction books can be about anything which means your toddler can practice using their imagination and get creative in their thinking.
Lets Your Child Explores Real World Experiences in a Safe and Comfortable Environment
Many books for kids are about real world experiences such as books about potty training or books about our emotions and how we respond to those emotions.
This can help learn about life lessons and aid in social and emotional learning in a safe environment. These types of books allow curiosity, and honest and open dialogue with your kids about scenarios that may be difficult to bring up otherwise.
How to get Toddlers Interested in Reading
We have listed the best books for toddlers but sometimes that isn’t enough to get your child interested in reading for a multitude of reasons. This can be challenging but there are some things parents can do to encourage reading.
Buy Books about Things your child is Interested in
If your toddler loves construction trucks, buy books that are about construction sites and trucks. Start with stories about their favorite things and their interest in reading may spark!
Let them pick out what books they want to read
The power of choice is huge for toddlers as they are trying to gain their independence. Letting your little one pick out a few books allows them to be an active participant during reading time.
Buy Books with Big Brilliant Pictures
Purchasing books with colorful illustrations is helpful when reading to toddlers. They can’t read so they naturally look at the pictures to get a gauge of what is happening in the story.
To gain your toddlers interest, try doing a “picture walk” instead of reading the story. This is where you look at each picture on each page and talk about them to help generate interest.
Establish a Set Reading Time for the Family
Setting a set reading time for the whole family can help promote reading in young children. Parents can model reading which can help engage and encourage their children to read. If they see parents enjoy reading, they might too!
This can be tricky with young babies and active toddlers but if It can be done in a safe environment this is something to try.
Create a Reading Nook
Making a safe and comfortable place to read may help encourage reading. If a Toddler knows they have their own space for their enjoyment it can help support reading.
Visit the Library
Visiting the library is a great way to get toddlers excited about reading. They have the freedom to pick their own books and can see other people around them also picking out books to take home. This is a way to bond with your child and encourage reading.
Conclusion
We hope you found some new books that you and your little ones can enjoy together. These are the best books for toddlers we have found so far. Reading with your toddler is so rewarding and has many developmental and lifelong benefits. There are many things parents can do to encourage reading.
Setting a routine reading time, creating a reading nook, and choosing books about things your toddler is interested in may help encourage and enhance your child’s willingness to read. If reading continues to be a struggle consider getting your child’s eyes examined by an eye doctor as vision is directly related to learning.
Ultimately we hope you enjoyed our picks for the best books for toddlers!
