The Best Toddler Books
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We love books in this family! My kids treat books like toys; they are just as interested in the pictures and stories as they are in fancier toys. For that reason, I think children’s books are just as good of an investment as the next best toy out there. At first I was reading my kids books that I was already familiar with from my childhood. I’m a millennial, so you can imagine, these classics were oldies, like The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle or just about any Dr. Seuss book. Then, I started searching for more titles that I’ve never heard of before. Let me tell you, the new stuff is good too! Here are 12 of our favorite newer children’s books.
Giraffes Can’t Dance (by Giles Andreae)
My son loved this one. It could be because of all the animals or the detail in the artwork, but for whatever reason, we read this one a lot. It’s a feel good kind of book that teaches you that you don’t have to listen to others’ put-downs and that you can dance to the beat of your own drum. And once you find your confidence, others will notice.
Llama Llama Red Pajama (by Anna Dewdney)
Llama Llama Red Pajama is a cute story that puts the bedtime scaries to rest. Sometimes it’s dark and you want your mama, but the story serves as a gentle reminder that your parents are usually somewhere nearby, so you can sleep feeling safe.
Dinosnores (by Sandra Boynton)
For a while, this was our favorite bedtime story. It’s a fun poem-like story that goes through a dino’s quick and easy bedtime routine that is pretty similar to our own bedtime routine. I thought it was a fun way to reinforce with our kids that it’s time to sleep.
Grumpy Monkey (by Suzanne Lang)
I love that this story teaches kids that it’s ok and even normal for you to feel grumpy. But, the grumpy feeling is usually self limiting when you give it time. It’s not a poem type book (which I tend to favor), but it’s an important lesson to teach our kids that it’s ok to feel different emotions. For that reason, Grumpy Monkey is a winner in my eyes.
Press Here (by Hervé Tullet)
Don’t let the simplicity of the cover art fool you; this is a fun interactive book. The first time I read it to my daughter, she had me reread it a few more times in a row. It’s a clever book that really brings magic to a simple board book and can help you teach some simple direction with enthusiasm.
Diggersaurs (by Michael Whaite)
Toddlers these days love big construction vehicles and dinosaurs, so why not combine them? This is a fun fictional book that gives personality to large construction vehicle dinosaurs. Each one has a job to do and is celebrated at the end!
I’m Glad for What I Have (by Rachel Cruze)
This one is a lovely book that serves as a first step to exposing children to financial literacy. While using cute baby animals, without explicitly saying it, this book teaches you how to save money, by living simple and appreciating what you have. I do want to mention, this is a Christian book and mentions God’s love several times.
Room On the Broom (by Julia Donaldson)
Who wouldn’t love a funny rhyming story about a witch and the animal friends that she collects along the way? This one is a bit of a tongue twister at times, but it’s such a fun story to read out loud and shows that there is always room on the broom for a new friend.
The Little Blue Truck (by Alice Schertle)
This book has a special place in my heart. It is the very first book that our son showed interest in and made us read over and over again for days. It’s a story of how a friendly blue truck and his farm animal friends teach a lesson on friendship and the importance of helping one another.
Cookie Kindness (by Melanie Demmer)
My kids love cookies! So naturally, a picture book with this much cookie variety is an absolute favorite! It also teaches a lesson in kindness and not judging a book by its cover when it’s what you’re made of on the inside that matters most!
Pottysauraus (by Brooke Vitale)
We have several potty themed books in our house, but this is my favorite. Partially because it involves a little dinosaur, so it captivates my children by being in line with one of their interests. And also, it is just so darn cute! It realistically goes through issues that may arise during potty training, such as having accidents and that it’s ok to keep learning and trying until you get it!
Love - I Love You All the Time (by Emma Dodd)
I actually love many of the books in Emma Dodd’s Love series. Love - I Love You All the Time is one of my daughter’s favorites. It describes the love a mama bunny has for her baby bunny as they go about their day from morning to night. I love reading this one to my children because it serves as a simple daily reminder that I will always love them no matter what.
These books have imprinted fond memories shared between me and my children in my mind forever. If you haven’t already, I hope this list encourages you to read some of these fun books with your kids. These titles will make great additions to your own children’s book collections or would make wonderful gifts for any occasion. If anything, I hope that this book list at least gives you some direction during yours and your kids’ next visit to your local library.
