Beloved Books for Toddlers

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There are few things more beneficial and beautiful than reading aloud to your little one. Read aloud becomes a time when toddlers slow down, snuggle in, and connect with their parent or caregiver. Reading aloud is also immensely important for a child’s cognitive and language development. Here are some classic and beloved books to read aloud with your toddler, organized by age group. (Keep in mind that ages are approximate. Many books span multiple stages, and it is always okay if a child enjoys a book earlier or later than listed.)

0-12 Months

Board books with simple images, great for short attention spans.

  1. Peek-a-Who? – by Nina Laden. This was the book that made my children fall in love with books. Babies always love the mirror at the end, accompanied by the text, “peek… a… YOU!”
  2. Baby Faces – by Margaret Miller. Simple photos of baby expressions that children love to imitate.
  3. First 100 Words –  by Roger Priddy. A great way for children to learn the names of everyday objects.
  4. Where Is Baby’s Home? – by Karen Katz. A lift-the-flap book with animals.
  5. Moo, Baa, La La La – by Sandra Boynton. We love Sandra Boynton books, and this is a short and funny rhyme about the sounds animals make — and don’t make.
12-24 Months

Predictable patterns, counting, colors, animal sounds, and lift-the-flap elements keep young ones engaged.

  1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? – by Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle.  The repetitive and predictable text helps children learn colors and animals. Carle’s signature collage technique makes the artwork vivid and unforgettable.
  2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar – by Eric Carle. Children learn the days of the week and the names of fruits and other fun foods in this whimsical story of transformation. Again, Carle’s illustrations make this book charming and full of life.
  3. Goodnight Moon – by Margaret Wise Brown. Children can’t seem to get enough of this classic story with its soothing rhythm and distinctive, high-contrast illustrations. Bonus: For any Pride and Prejudice Fans, Goodnight Mr. Darcy is a delightful parody that might be even more fun for parents.
  4. Dear Zoo – by Rod Campbell. A cute lift-the-flap book with animal surprises.
  5. Little Blue Truck – by Alice Schertle. Children love the animal sounds in this story about kindness and friendship. There are iterations for every season, like Little Blue Truck’s Springtime.
  6. Blue Hat, Green Hat – by Sandra Boynton. This story makes my children laugh like no other book. Children learn the names of colors and clothes and very memorably how not to wear them.
2-3 Years

Simple storylines, rhyming, and humor keep these books interesting for toddlers and support literacy and emotional intelligence.

  1. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom – by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault. A fun way to reinforce the alphabet. You might be surprised how quickly your child memorizes this rhythmic story.
  2. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie – by Laura Numeroff.  If your child likes this story, they will likely love the Amazon Prime series based on the book.
  3. Llama Llama Red Pajama – by Anne Dewdney. This story is a humorous and lighthearted way to talk about big emotions, especially at bedtime.
  4. Sheep in a Jeep – by Nancy E. Shaw. A terse and funny rhyming book with humorous and charming colored-pencil illustrations.
  5. How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? – by Jane Yolen. Children learn bedtime behaviors with humorous dinosaur characters.

Tips for Reading

  • Make it interactive – point to objects, make sounds, ask questions like, “where is the sun?” or, “do you see boots in this picture?” Feel free to go off script.
  • Use different voices – you might be surprised how fun this makes reading for your toddler — and for you
  • Follow their lead – even if it means reading a book many times. Children crave repetition and learn from hearing a story over and over.

At Milestones Learning Center we are all about books. We love seeing firsthand how children delight in stories and grow in vocabulary, intuition, curiosity, and emotional intelligence through regular reading times. Contact us to learn more or to schedule a tour. We’d love to meet you!