Introducing toddlers to books and reading is one of the best things parents can do for their child’s development. Not only does reading help toddlers develop their language skills and vocabulary, but it also fosters a love of learning and imagination.
With so many toddler books on the market, it can be overwhelming for parents to choose the right ones.
This article will explore some of the best books for toddlers to help parents and caregivers build a library of engaging and age-appropriate books for their little ones.
In this article, we will be forcing on books recommended for toddlers ages 1-5. Here is our list of top 10 books for toddlers.
- I Love You, Stinky Face
- The Napping House
- Are You, My Mother
- If Animals Kissed Goodnight
- My First Library boxset
- Poke-A-Dot Old MacDonald’s Farm
- Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
- Goodnight Moon Bilingual Edition
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
- I Love You Through and Through
I Love You, Stinky Face
I cannot tell you how often I’ve read I Love You Stink Fact to my daughter Janelle. It’s her favorite.
I Love You Stinky Face is about a mother’s unconditional love for her child.
During the book, the child asks But Mama, But Mama, what if I were a super smelly skunk, and I smelled so bad that my name was Stinky Face? Would you still love me then?
The child comes up with different scenarios asking Mama if she still loves him, and of course, Mama explains how much she loves him no matter what he has become.
The book is by Lisa McCourt and Cyd Moore; It’s a wonderful story with great illustrations. The book explores parents’ unconditional love for their children and how that love transcends all differences and challenges.
The playful illustrations add to the fun and whimsy of the story, making it a popular choice for parents and children alike. The story encourages imagination and creativity.
You will not be disappointed. Just an FYI, there is a larger and smaller hardcover versions of the book. The story is slightly different in the small book. We prefer the larger version.
The Napping House
This is one of my favorites. The story is fun to read as it flows nicely.
It’s about a house where everyone is sleeping. First, the snoring Granny is sleeping, and then the child sleeps on top of the granny, and then comes the dog, the cat, the mouse, and then the flea.
The flea bites the mouse, and then everyone starts waking up. The illustration is wonderful in this book. It starts at night, and as all the book’s characters are woken up, it gets brighter and brighter until morning.
I often read this book several times in a row to Janelle. She cannot get enough of The Napping House. The Napping House is written by Audrey Wood and Illustrated by Don Wood.
Are You My Mother?
A Dr. Sesuss series book, Written by P.D. Eastman, Are You My Mother, tells the story of a baby bird who hatches from his egg while his mother is away.
Confused and alone, the baby bird begins a quest to find his mother, asking various animals and objects along the way if they are his mother.
The baby bird encounters a kitten, hen, dog, cow, plane, and steam shovel, but none are his mother. He becomes increasingly desperate as he continues his search until he finally finds his mother, in the end, safe and sound.
The book is a simple but charming tale of a baby bird’s journey to find his mother, and the illustrations are bright and engaging, making it a beloved classic among children and parents alike.
It also teaches young readers about the importance of family and the bond between a mother and her child.
If Animals Kissed Good Night
4. If Animals Kissed Good Night
This is a heartwarming, sweet, and imaginative children’s book written by Ann Whitford Paul; explores how different animal parents might express their love and affection to their babies.
The book takes readers on a journey through the animal kingdom and meets a variety of animal parents and their young, such as a giraffe, a dolphin, a bird, a sloth, and a bear.
The book describes how each animal parent might express their love and affection to their child through various kisses.
For example, a giraffe might kiss their young one with their long neck, while a wolf might lick their young one’s face.
The book is written in a rhyming style that is easy for young children to follow and features colorful illustrations that bring the animals to life.
The book’s overall message is one of love and tenderness between parent and child, no matter what species they belong to.
It is a wonderful bedtime story that will delight children and parents alike.
My First Library: Boxset of 10
This amazing box set contains 10 board books on a range of topics, including ABC, Numbers, Colors, Animals, Fruits, birds, Shapes, Farm Animals, Transportation, and Vegetables.
My First Library has word labels that encourage talking and improve vocabulary.
The books are small and the perfect size for little hands.
The bright-colored pictures are eye-catching and will grab your little one’s attention.
My Little Libary are board books made of thick, durable board paper that is durable and not easily torn or ripped.
This book set would make a great gift for a toddler ages 1-2.
Poke-A-Dot Old MacDonald’s Farm
6. Poke-A-Dot Old MacDonald’s Farm
This is a fantastic book by Melissa and Doug. This is an interactive book where the child presses these little dots on each page while counting the animals on the farm.
Toddlers will love popping the dots, counting the animals, and singing along to Old MacDonald Had a Farm.
This interactive, sing-a-long book will grab your toddler’s attention. Every page has clear little buttons to pop while counting the animals.
It’s a fun and educational book perfect for children ages 1-5.
The best part is that there are many Poke-A-Dot books, including 10 Little Monkeys, An Alphabet Eye Spy, and Who’s in the Ocean. can collect them all.
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
7. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed:
This is based on the classic nursery rhyme. The Five Little Monkeys are ready for bed, but they’re not tired; they’re jumping on the bed!
As the five little monkeys are jumping on the bed, one falls off and bumps his head. Mama calls the doctor, and the doctor says: “no more monkeys jumping on the bed!” Then it continues with four little monkeys etc.
A super fun book to read with kids ages 1-5.
Goodnight Moon
8. Goodnight Moon Bilingual Addition
This is a classic bedtime story where the child says goodnight to everything around them. “Goodnight, room, Goodnight cow jumping over the moon. “
This is the bilingual edition so each phrase is written in both English and Spanish.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
9. Brown Brear, Brown Bear What Do You See?
In this book, written by Bill Martin Jr., the narrator asks different animals what they see. Some animals include a brown bear, red bird, yellow duck, blue horse, green frog, purple cat, white dog, black sheep, a goldfish, teacher, mother, and children.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See has cute illustrations to help toddlers learn about animals and colors.
Recommended ages are 1-5 years old.
I Love You Through and Through
10. I Love You Through and Through
I Love You Through, and Through The book by Bernadette Rossetti Shustak and Caroline Jayne Chruch is about the unconditional love between a toddler and a teddy bear.
The book talks about loving your hair, eyes, giggles, and cries. You can’t help but feel loved while reading this book.
The book is a beautiful reminder that toddlers are loved no matter what and that love can be expressed in many ways.
It is a wonderful story to read with toddlers especially cuddled up with their favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal. It’s a great gift for a baby shower and a perfect addition to any child’s library. Recommended age 1-5
What Makes a Great Toddler Book?
Educational
Toddlers are learning new things every day. Great toddler books encourage learning while still telling a great story.
The children love poking the dots and listening to the story while practicing counting at the same time.
Statics say that books that repeat words throughout the story also help children learn to read. You may notice your toddler reading along with you when they recognize repeated words.
Eye Catching Illustrations
Toddler books with fun, creative illustrations often interest a young child. Toddlers love bright, colorful illustrations.
Simple and Repetitive Language:
Toddlers are still developing their language skills, so books with simple and repetitive language can help them learn new words and phrases.
Interactive Features:
Books with interactive features, such as lift-the-flap, touch-and-feel, or popping elements like in Pop-a-Dot Old MacDonald’s Farm, can help engage toddlers and make reading a hands-on experience.
These kinds of books are especially helpful for toddlers who may be hyper or have short attention spans.
The Best Toddler Books
In conclusion, finding the best books for toddlers is all about choosing engaging, age-appropriate, and fun books to read. The right book can help toddlers learn new words, develop their language skills, and spark their imaginations.
By incorporating bright illustrations, interactive features, and positive messages, parents and caregivers can create a love of reading in their toddlers that can last a lifetime.
With so many wonderful books, it’s never too early to start building a library and enjoying the magic of reading with the little ones in your life.
