Reading the best books for toddlers to your child will help create wonderful memories for you both as well as peaceful relaxing bonding time to bring you even closer together.
Books for young toddlers should provide a sense of fun, be colorful with plenty of pictures for engagement, have a great storyline and help your child relax.
The right toy books will help your child’s imagination to develop and expand. Reading to your child and showing them the pictures will spark their creativity and foster in them a love of reading.
So we’ve taken all of the above into account and after hours of research, have handpicked the top toy books for toddlers and you enjoy now and for years to come.
Contents
- 15 Great Books For Toddlers
- Love You Forever By Robert Munsch
- Moo, BAA, LA LA LA! By Sandra Boynton
- Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown
- Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes By Annie Kubler
- Barnyard Dance By Sandra Boynton
- The Very Hungry Catepillar By Eric Carle
- The Going To Bed Book By Sandra Boynton
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr. And Eric Carle
- Little Blue Truck Leads The Way By Alice Schertle
- But Not The Hippopotamus By Sandra Boynton
- The Pigeon Finds A Hot Dog by Mo Willems
- The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
- Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees
- Snuggle Puppy By Sandra Boynton
- The Goodnight Train By June Soebel
15 Great Books For Toddlers
Love You Forever By Robert Munsch
Love You Forever is a wonderful story of love between parent and child and child and parent. The unconditional love in this story is heart warming for both children and parents.
More than 15 million copies of this incredible book have been sold, that’s how good it is! This is a very moving and emotional story and it will tug at your heartstrings.
A wonderful classic bedtime story to read to your toddler, and suitable for boys and girls. The recommended age for this engaging and moving storybook is from newborns upwards.
This is a story can that can be read to your baby from the moment they are born, and one that you can continue reading to your child as they get older.
It makes a great baby shower gift, as well as a wonderful birthday or Christmas gift.
Robert Munsch is a wonderful children’s write and his style seeks to captivate and engage a child from the very beginning.
Why We Recommend Love You Forever By Robert Munsch
- It inspires an understanding of unconditional love in your toddler
- Reading this book to your child creates wonderful memories that are sure to last a lifetime
- Both parents and children feel wrapped in warmth and love as this story unfolds
- A wonderful story for special bonding time with your child as they fall asleep
- Helps your child to start understanding feelings and emotions
- Great story to captivate and hold your child’s imagination
Moo, BAA, LA LA LA! By Sandra Boynton
Moo, Baa, La La La! – Sandra Boynton Interactive Story
The Moo, BAA, La LA La! Book is a rhyming board book that is a great deal of fun for toddlers. It features animals that your child can identify and connect with, in a humorous way.
This whimsical rhyming book will help your child develop their speech by encouraging them to say fun and silly things.
Another fantastic best selling story book from the infamous Sandra Boynton, who is a well renowned children’s author.
Suitable for boys and girls, it is a really enjoy book that they will connect with and have fun with.
Some parents have read this quirky book to their five month old, and they have been really surprised with the reaction and engagement it got!
Why We Recommend Moo, BAA, LA LA LA! By Sandra Boynton
- Creates a love of books and reading for your child
- Cute pictures hold your child’s attention and get them asking questions
- Children learn the names of animals and the sounds they make
- This book makes for great bonding time between you and your child
- Encourages your child to develop their memory skills, through naming the animals and the sounds they make
- Fires up your child’s imagination and allows them to be creative
Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown
Well loved for generations, Goodnight Moon is the perfect bedtime story to help lull your toddler to sleep. The story is in a poem format and is about a little bunny rabbit saying goodnight to everything he sees and hears.
This is one of Margaret Wise Brown’s best selling and most memorable books for kids. While Margaret sadly passed away over 45 years ago, her children’s books have more than stood the test of time.
The recommended age for this wonderful children’s book is one year olds to four year olds and it is suitable for boys and girls.
Of course, many parents will read this book to their babies and several said that their five year old enjoys it!
A lot of people buy this book as a birthday or Christmas gift and it makes a great stocking filler!
Why We Recommend Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown
- Many parents love this book because it is one that was read to them when they were a child. It provides them with a sense of tradition to carry on with their own child
- The rhyming cadence of this story soothes children and helps them relax as they fall asleep
- All familiar items in this rhyming story help your toddler feel safe and secure
- There are always new details in the pictures of this book for your child to discover and they like finding each of the items mentioned in the story
- Introduces your toddler to reading and poetry
- Creates perfect bonding time for parent and child
- Help to fire up your child’s imagination and stimulates their senses
Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes By Annie Kubler
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes…
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is based on the lyrics to the familiar song that teaches a toddler their body parts.
It is a wonderfully engaging book that holds your child’s attention while being educational at the same time.
Suitable for both boys and girls, the recommended age is one year olds to three year olds, but of course it can be read to younger kids.
Annie Kubler is renowned for her nursery rhyme style engaging books for babies and toddlers. This particular book is part of her best selling series. Most parents collect the majority of her books.
Why We Recommend Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes By Annie Kubler
- Easy to turn pages so that your child can look at them by themselves
- Creates an interest in reading in toddlers, as well as younger and older children
- Great pictures keep your child interested and engaged while sparking their imaginations and creativity
- Teaches your child body parts, helping them to memorize them as they go along
- Helps your child develop their speech as they learn the nursery rhyme
- Encourages movement in your child as they act out the nursery rhyme
- Introducing your toddler to books like this can create a love for reading that will last them a lifetime
- A great bonding experience to share with your child as you both act out the book together and have fun!
Barnyard Dance By Sandra Boynton
Barnyard Dance! (Boynton on Board)
Barnyard Dance is the perfect story book to introduce your child to a number of farm animals in a fun way. It is also a great book to get your child moving in a meaningful way.
Set to the rhythm of a square dance, this book can be read or sung to your toddler. It is totally suitable for girls and boys and is sure to keep your child engaged and entertained.
Sandra Boynton is a renowned and very popular children’s author. She is also a songwriter, producer, directorand popular American cartoonist, all qualities that show in her work.
The recommended age for Barnyard Dance is one year olds to four year olds, but so many parents and grandparents read it to their newborns.
Why We Recommend Barnyard Dance By Sandra Boynton
- Helps your child to begin developing a sense of rhythm
- Really holds a child’s attention and encourages them to join into the fun of the story, making animal sounds and acting out the Barnyard dance
- Helps your toddler to follow directions, as they follow the instructions on how to perform the barnyard dance
- Encourages your child to develop memorization skills as your child easily learns the rhymes in this story and recites them back
- Helps to develop a love of reading in your child
- Great lively story to capture your child’s imagination and keep them engaged
- Wonderful story for all the family to get involved it
The Very Hungry Catepillar By Eric Carle
The Very Hungry Catepillar, which is a cute story about the ‘birth’ of a catepillar and his search for food, has entertained children for many many years.
Kids enjoy learning about foods and life cycles while enjoying this catepillar who eats his way though the entire book!
This is a wonderful board book for teaching your child the days of the week and they will wait in anticipation to see what the catepillar eats each day.
Your little toddler will enjoy following the catepillar’s journey as he reached the point where he transforms into a beautiful butterfly.
Why We Recommend The Very Hungry Catepillar By Eric Carle
- Fantastic engaging fun story for your child to enjoy over and over again
- Children love the vibrant colors in the book
- They also love seeing the holes that the catepillar makes in the various things that he eats
- This book is a fun story that children love hearing again and again.
- Encourages your toddler’s love of reading and make them eager to read this book on their own
- Wonderfully illustrated to hold your child’s interest
- Perfect for tiny hands to hold and turn the pages
- Best selling children’s board book with over 12 million copies sold worldwide
The Going To Bed Book By Sandra Boynton
Reading to children at bedtime has become a ritual in many homes, so what better book to read at bedtime than a book about bedtime rituals to your toddler.
The Going To Bed Book is Boynton’s own fun rhyming story about different animals and their bedtime rituals, from the night time bath to brushing your teeth and exercising before sleep.
It’s all about winding down after the day is over in a fun and entertaining way, but with a sense of calm that will help your little one relax and prepare for sleep.
Why We Recommend The Going To Bed Book By Sandra Boynton
- Reading this wonderful book makes for longlasting and loving memories for both parents and toddlers
- Children love the illustrations of various animals as they get ready for bed
- Develops a love for reading in kids who love the rhyming text
- Parents love the story and ending and the fact that it tells their children all the things they need to do before going to bed
- Perfect book for young toddlers hands as it’s hardbound so no tearing pages
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr. And Eric Carle
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? takes a look at the world through the eyes of different animals. This fun book with its sing-song rhyme scheme is great fun for parents to read and toddlers to listen to while enjoying the illustrations.
Your child will love hearing about the yellow duck, the blue horse, the purple cat and lots of other interesting animals and characters.
Being a board book, it’s perfect for toddler’s hands and makes a good first reader for children who are just beginning to read.
The wonderful bright pictures will catch the eye of your little one, keeping them engaged right through to the end.
Why We Recommend >Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr. And Eric Carle
- The rhyming text and beautiful illustrations capture young toddler’s attention
- Parents like that this book helps to teach colors, numbers, and animals and their sounds in a fun way children adore
- Helps develop small child’s love of books and is the idea size for small hands
- Holds up well to any kind of abuse given it’s a board book
- Great for helping toddlers to expand their vocabulary and learn more interesting words
Little Blue Truck Leads The Way By Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck Leads the Way board book
This Little Blue Truck Leads The Way is the second book about this Little Blue Country Truck.
In this story, the Little Blue Truck arrives in the city to discover all of the city automobiles are in such a hurry to get where they are going that they create a huge traffic jam.
Not to fear, the Little Blue Truck comes to the rescue and leads the way for all of the other vehicles to get out of the jam they are in and on their way.
When reading the book, your toddler with get to enjoy hearing about all the vehicles that the little truck sees, such as buses, taxis, vans, street sweeper, police cars and more!
Why We Recommend Little Blue Truck Leads The Way By Alice Schertle
- The illustrations are great and the expressions on different vehicle’s faces help your toddler to understand more about emotions
- The rhyming text is fun to read and fun to hear
- The story itself is fun and engaging which encourages young children to want to read more stories
- Can be used to teach your child all about different types of vehicles
- Story teaches your little one about being kind to others
But Not The Hippopotamus By Sandra Boynton
But Not the Hippopotamus (Boynton on Board)
But Not The Hippopotamus is a wonderful story book for toddlers all about a very shy hippo.
In the story, all of the animals are doing things and having fun, except the poor hippo because he is too shy to join in.
But it has a lovely ending, because eventually, all of the other animals convince the hippo to join in and have some fun too.
The rhyming text and eye-catching illustrations will help to keep your child fully engaged while reading the story.
Why We Recommend But Not The Hippopotamus By Sandra Boynton
- Wonderful fun story book that teaches your toddler about being shy and not always fitting in
- Fill with fun animal illustrations that your child will enjoy
- Great rhyming text to captivate and hold your child’s interest
- It’s a board book, so quite durable and easy for toddlers to look at on their own
- Encourages kids to love books and to want to read on their own
The Pigeon Finds A Hot Dog by Mo Willems
The Pigeon Finds A Hot Dog is a simple story about a somewhat grumpy pigeon that finds a hot dog and is all set to enjoy this rare treat.
Then along comes a baby duck (duckling) and he is hungry too. Never having tasted a hot dog, the little duckling has many questions regarding what the hot dog tastes like driving the grumpy pigeon to distraction.
Does the little duckling get the pigeon to share hot dog?
This is a great book for toddlers age 2 to 6, especially children with slightly older or younger siblings.
Older children will be able to relate to the pigeon, who wants to have something all to themselves.
Younger siblings will be able to relate to the duckling, who wants to experience everything their big brother or sister experiences.
Best of all, this is one of a series of pigeon books, so your child can enjoy getting to know the pigeon and the adventures of this bird.
Although simple, this book’s humor is appealing enough that adults don’t mind reading the book to their children over and over.
A must have book not only for young toddlers, but for grandparents and babysitters as well.
If you are looking for a fun book for your child to read or for you to read to child, then the Pigeon Finds A Hotdog is a great book that is likely to become a favorite of both you and your toddler.
Why We Recommend The Pigeon Finds A Hot Dog by Mo Willems
- Fun to read for both toddlers and adults
- Easy enough for young readers to read themselves
- Teaches great lessons about sharing
- Simply cartoon like illustrations captures child’s attention
- Relatable characters
- More books available with the pigeon character as the star
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
When a small mouse ventures out in the woods to take a walk and find a nut to have for lunch, he enters a world full of dangerous animals, all of whom would like to eat him.
However, this little mouse is very smart so he makes up a story about this scary monster called a Gruffalo who is his friend.
The animals all let him pass to avoid meeting the Gruffalo who will eat them!
But then the mouse runs into the very creature he has made up. How does he avoid becoming the Gruffalo’s lunch? Will he think up a story that saves him once again?
Both parents and toddlers will want to find out if this smart little mouse gets away in the end.
This is a fun story written in rhyme that is sure to provide a great fun for your child.
The illustrations are attention grabbing and children soon learn the end of the rhymes, which may actually encourage your child to want to learn to read.
This is a great book to give as shower gift, a birthday gift for a toddler or pre-schooler or for a first reading story for a first grader.
It a must have book for every child’s library and is recommended for children ages infant to six.
For those looking for great books to read to their toddler or to help them begin reading, the Gruffalo and it’s companion book The Gruffalo’s Child are great selections and sure to please any child.
Why We Recommend The Guffalo by Julia Donaldson
- Fun story that captures your toddler’s imagination
- Wonderful illustrations
- Rhymes make a wonderful story
- Encourages children to want to read
- Adults enjoy reading this story
- Makes a great gift that everyone will love
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees
Gerald The Giraffe wants more than anything to dance, but soon discovers that having long thin legs and crooked knees does not allow him to waltz like the warthog or cha-cha like the chimps.
When Gerald takes to the dance floor at the Jungle Dance, all of the other animals mock him for his ungainly dance moves.
Heartbroken that he can’t dance, Gerald leaves the dance floor feeling like a failure.
Then an unlikely friend, suggests that there is nothing wrong with Gerald’s dancing, he just needs to dance to a different tune.
Gerald does and everyone is impressed with this talented dancing giraffe.
This story is done in rhyme and is a gentle way to teach toddlers that everyone is good at something and that finding what you are good at may take a little time and even a little help.
The book has great illustrations and it’s simply message is great for all ages, but especially good for young children who are just developing different skills and are sometimes frustrated because they are not ‘good’ at anything.
The book provides parents with an opportunity to discuss differences and skills with various aged children in a way they can understand.
It is an especially good book to read to children who have some type of disability or simply feel different from their peers.
This is a good book to add to toddler’s librairy or to keep in your babysitting kit, as the story is fun and carries an important message that all children can readily understand.
Why We Recommend Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees
- Celebrates the differences in children’s talent
- Teaches toddlers that everyone is good at something
- Great illustrations that capture children’s attention
- Fun story
- Children can relate to this story
- Adults love both the simple story and the message
Snuggle Puppy By Sandra Boynton
Snuggle Puppy! (Boynton on Board)
Snuggle Puppy is a perfect birthday, Valentine’s or Christmas gift for your toddler as it is a fun book with a great way for a parent to express their unconditional love for their child.
Another wonderful book from the fantastic Sandra Boynton, it tells the story of an upbeat and very happy doggie expressing her love for her puppy!
Throughout the story, the puppy is being hugged, snuggled, kissed, danced with and more by their Mommy who loves them so much and wants to show it.
It is the perfect bedtime story for children and is sure to captivate their imaginations and really hold their attention.
With lots of beautiful illustrations and great rhyming text, it’s a wonderful story of motherly love that you can share with your precious toddler.
Why We Recommend Snuggle Puppy By Sandra Boynton
- Wonderul heartfelt story of motherly love and affection for you and your toddler to enjoy
- Rhymes and rhythm will help introduce your child to rhyming and teach them rhythm
- All the cute pictures in this book will hold your child’s attention, spark their curiosity and getting them engaged
- Your toddler will develop memorization skills as they memorize the song in this story
- This book encourages a love of reading in your child
- A wonderful book for nighttime bonding as your child falls asleep
The Goodnight Train By June Soebel
The Goodnight Train is a great bedtime story for toddlers. Children imagine hopping on the Goodnight Train as the trains round corners and soars past a number of different sights including clouds and sheep.
The rhyming cadence of the story is perfect for lulling a child to sleep. The colorful illustrations of children in their bed being pulled along by the train really catches children’s imaginations.
Train sounds are mixed in with bedtime sounds to connect with your child, preparing them for falling asleep in a nice relaxed way.
Several parents shared that it’s one book that both themselves and their toddlers really love and can read over and over again.
Why We Recommend The Goodnight Train By June Soebel
- This book is upbeat and fun which your toddler will love and enjoy!
- Illustrations are beautiful and capture your child’s imagination
- Rhymes are smooth and soothing for your child
- Gorgeous board book that’s durable and can take abuse
- Perfect bedtime reading for your little one and helps to lure them gently off to sleep
- If your toddler loves trains, then they will love this book!
