I’m regularly asked to compile a list of top books for toddlers. With so many incredible books available, the task is almost impossible for me.
Instead, I thought I’d provide you with a list of tips for helping you to choose the best books to read with your toddler (and I couldn’t resist recommending a few of my favourite books at the end of the post)
Don’t forget to add your toddler book suggestions to this list.
1) Toddlers like to exercise their newly found independence
- Look for books that allow children to interact with the book
- Board books are still great for toddlers too because they can turn the pages independently, and without frustration
2) Toddlers become more active, so their attention span can be short
- Look for books that have only one or two sentences per page (Toddlers can lose interest in a book if the story is too long) but still have an interesting/engaging story
- Look for books that have simple illustrations on white backgrounds for your child to focus on
- Look for books that invite or encourage children to be active
- Wordless books can be great as you can adapt the story to suit the temperament of your toddler
3) Toddlers like to sing along to rhymes and songs
- Look for books that have rhyming or repetitive text (e.g. sentences that are repeated on each page)
- Look for books that feature nursery rhymes and well known songs
4) Toddlers are developing their language at a rapid rate. They imitate sounds and learn the vocabulary of familiar people and objects.
- Look for books that feature sounds
- Look for books that include some of your child’s daily activities (role play/routines/imagination)
- Look for word books that feature familiar objects or books that highlight some of the words in the story
5) Toddlers are developing strong bonds with family members
- Look for simple books about mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, etc.
6) Toddlers begin to become more aware of their feelings
- Look for books that touch on feelings and emotions
7) Once toddlers begin to walk, they are curious about the world around them and enjoy exploring their environment.
- Look for books that feature settings similar to your child’s environments (e.g home, playgroup)
- Look for books that tap into your child’s interests
8) Toddlers are further developing their fine motor skills.
- Board books are still great, but you can start introducing your child to books with paper pages to practise page turning.
- Look for books that allow your child to pull tabs and lift flaps.
