Bedtime routines are incomplete without reading a story to your toddler. A child is really excited to end the day with a great bedtime story before he goes to sleep.
Before kids start going to school, they begin to learn from their homes themselves. Reciting stories and independent reading is more than a bedtime routine for your kids. It helps in laying a foundation for reading and language literacy.
What the kids listen to can also influence what opinions they fabricate in their young minds. With the right toddler books, not only can you improve the language capabilities of your child but also encourage them to soak in values that make them great humans.
Let us see what toddler books are the best for the holistic development of your child at a young age! Here are the best 20 toddler books you can trust for your toddlers!
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a book focusing on the character of a caterpillar that helps a child in many ways. The book teaches a lot to your toddler, so it is one of the best picks among toddler books.
The book talks about what a caterpillar eats and the lifecycle of a caterpillar. Ideal for kids ages 2-7 (best for preschoolers), your toddler will have a little counting session while he’s reading the book.
It is also best for kids because it focuses on eating healthy, not too much sugary food like in the book. The book also mentions days of the week, so now your kid will remember the weekdays.
2. Press Here
If your toddlers are always stuck to the iPads, a book with magic is what you need! Press here engages the kids with its magic. Not literally magic, but the craft of electronic sensors aided in the books. The interactive book asks the readers to follow instructions.
For example, pushing the button, shaking, or tilting the book will cause a change in the dots. And you will be compelled by seeing the kids go crazy with giggles.
Press Here, one of the best toddler books, teaches young minds the concept of cause and effect. It is perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers, introducing them to the concept of shapes and colors.
3. The Going to Bed Book
The next pick for toddler books is The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton. The storyline of the book follows different animals and their bedtime routine. The book has rhyming text that keeps reading the book fun for children.
Following a routine of exercising, taking a bath, putting on pajamas, and doing all the night chores before going to bed helps the kid to follow a nighttime routine.
Your toddler will learn the bedtime rituals without you asking them a hundred times. This toddler book is best for kids to learn the order of events with their favorite animal characters in the book. And let us not forget to agree that the book is an enjoyable read before your baby can finally take his happy nap.
4. Corduroy
Corduroy is a story of a teddy bear named “Corduroy,” living in a departmental store. It is about the adventures of this teddy bear, who aspires to find a loving home. The adventures of Corduroy begin when he misses a button. Following the quest for his button, he soon finds a loving home for himself.
It is one of the must-read toddler books because it instills crucial moral values in your child. The heartwarming story of this book introduces the child with kindness, empathy, and the bond of friendship, setting strong foundations. Apart from this, give your child a perspective on problem-solving with the relatable characters of the book.
5. Little Blue Truck
The Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle is a book that cherishes the bonds of friendship and what it looks like to lend a helping hand. It is a rhyming book with the story of a tenacious & friendly blue truck helping his friends who are stuck in the mud. The illustrations of the book are cheerful and easy to understand for toddlers.
The book also contains animal sounds and animal names that help the child to learn. It is one of the best toddler books because it facilitates language development and early literacy of the child. It is a must-read storybook for your toddlers because it emphasizes important lessons of life, including teamwork, friendships, and helping other people.
6. The Gruffalo
We all loved stories in our childhood that talked about courage. But here is one book that uses the invention to save himself from becoming a dinner for others. The Gruffalo is a book by Julia Donaldson, where a mouse creates a Gruffalo to save himself from becoming dinner for other animals.
The story has several forest animals that help the child learn the names and visualize the animals. The book teaches the children to use creativity to outwit challenges they face. The storyline encourages the children to bring creative solutions to overcome the challenges of life. The illustrations of the book will make the kid love this storybook.
7. Pat the Bunny
Pat the Bunny is a must-have collection in your child’s library. The first touch-and-feel book, Pat the Bunny, is still very popular among parents who want an interactive book for their kids.
The physical textures of the book help the children to gain a deeper understanding of the book. The interactive nature of the book renders an experience rich in engagement.
The textures from this book help the child to engage his senses through the different activities available. Why is this one of the greatest hits for toddler books? It is because it teaches them about textures and sensory experiences.
8. Where is the Baby’s Belly Button
The interactive flaps of this board book encourage kids to explore this greatest of the toddler books. Toddler books with lift-the-flap themes are beneficial in improving motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive development. The book has simple texts and illustrations that intrigue the child to go ahead with the book.
The book teaches the kids about different body parts with names. Teaching it to the kids can be a challenge, but with this book, it gets so much easier. See your toddler have fun and learn all the names of body parts with this book.
9. From Head to Toe
Written & illustrated by Eric Carle, this interactive book helps toddlers visualize and learn different body movements of animals. With your toddler, you can have fun activities while reading where you mimic the movements of those animals. This will make it more engaging for the child and introduces them to enhanced learning.
The book also talks about the importance of exercising and listening. With wiggling your toes, stomping your feet, and clapping together, it is a great choice among different toddler books.
10. The Book With No Pictures
Toddler books need illustrations and pictures that help the kids visualize and understand the book better. But is a toddler book with no pictures still a success? Well, it definitely is! Written by “B. J. Novak,”
The Book With No Pictures is a unique book that has no pictures, unlike most toddler books. The imaginative approach of the book allows young minds to let their imagination run wild.
The book focuses on the concept of storytelling being more than just pictures. The silly reading and ridiculous words make this book a hit because your toddlers will find it highly engaging. With shared laughter together, your kids will build up their vocabulary and language skills.
11. The Feelings Book
A kid is never too young to get introduced to emotions. It is never too early to start focusing on developing your child’s emotional intelligence. The Feelings book, written by Todd Parr, helps kids connect and understand different emotions.
The book has an approach that encourages conversation, helping toddlers to identify and label their emotions. Reading this book, children learn a wide range of emotions, including happiness, joy, sadness, fear, and every emotion a kid might feel.
12. Love You Forever
The book, themed on the unconditional love of a parent, is a great read for your toddlers. The heartwarming storyline will make you read the book again and again with your child. The soft pastels of the book make the visuals intriguing, impressing young minds. The gentle narrative of the book renders a soothing bedtime reading or story-listening experience for toddlers.
With this book, the child learns to grasp the theme of love and connection. A toddler may be too young to understand the depth, but it surely can provide him with an idea of growing up and the security that parents are always there for the kids.
13. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland is a timeless classic that almost every child has read. The book is more apt for older children, but with the right delivery, it can be one of the best toddler books for your child.
Toddlers will not completely understand the intricate narrative and complex language, but we help them by simplifying the story for them.
14. The Day Crayons Quit
The story of a box of crayons that goes on strike is humorous in the book and is fun to read for toddlers. The engaging and colorful illustrations of the book make the children laugh and roll. The humorous complaint letters from each color will definitely entertain your toddler.
The book introduces colors to young children, making it easier to remember the shade of each color. The story also helps the children to encourage empathy and identify feelings like happiness, excitement, and frustration. The humor and depth of the book make it a more suitable option for older children, but the colorful illustrations still make it a great hit for toddlers.
15. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
A popular children’s book, “Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site,” is a perfect bedtime story for your kid to have a great sleep. The stories from this book are about different nighttime routines for different vehicles. Why is this book great for toddlers? This is because the book has two major elements that intrigue most toddlers: Vehicles and bedtime routine.
The story speaks about the individual contribution of different vehicles, helping kids to understand the importance of teamwork and recognition of individual efforts in a group. The rhythms and rhymes are captivating enough that your child will want to hear a story every day!
16. Are You My Mother?
Toddlers love their little adventures, so toddler books with adventures are a must-have in your kid’s library. The classic tale is about a quest of a baby bird to find his mother. The baby bird asks every animal and different object he meets if they are its mother.
What makes the book appealing for a toddler is its simple text and repetitive structure. The easy vocabulary, appealing print, and vibrant illustrations make it a great fit for children who are starting to read.
17. Green Eggs and Ham
Children’s literature often influences them in a good way. If you are tired of your toddler being a picky eater, this book will definitely be a great help to you. Dr. Seuss, the author, has featured a character who is hesitant to try green eggs and hams. At last, overcoming apprehension, the protagonist gives the dish a taste.
The book has signature rhymes, making it one of the ideal toddler books for beginner readers. The book will help your child to try new things and not let apprehension become dominant.
18. Yummy Yucky
Another book that teaches the child to understand the difference between good and bad food. By relatable comparison, the book “Yummy Yucky” by Leslie Patricelli helps toddlers understand the concept of good and bad, tasty and not tasty.
With creativity and humor, the book is a great way to teach young kids about opposites. The book definitely will tell the kids not to try crayons or sand because they have read an expressive toddle in this book that teaches them what is yummy and what is not.
19. The Family Book
Our families are dear to us. To embrace how each family is unique, the book is about understanding family dynamics. The family book by Todd Parr helps toddlers to understand diversity in family structures.
The narrative in the book encourages toddlers to ask questions about their families, teaching them to embrace differences and acceptance in the family. The book helps young minds to share love and connection even with differences.
20. If Animals Kissed Good Night
A good bedtime story means good sleep for your baby. To ensure the kid loves the story, we have picked a charming bedtime story for your child before you give them a good night’s kiss. The book is about different animal families and how they give goodnight kisses before sleeping.
The simple yet cheerful illustrations in the book are well-suited for toddlers. The book teaches the children about affectionate gestures and gives them security before sleeping peacefully.
Wrapping Up
Reading together with your kids goes beyond the purpose of just learning. The books you choose to read to your kids will influence language development, emotional understanding, and any message you want the kid to learn.
By including books that talk about healthy diet options (for example, The Very Hungry Caterpillar or Yummy Yucky), you can encourage your kid to eat healthy foods. Books that have animal characters can help the child learn about different animals.
Toddler books that share insights on night routine will inspire the kid to follow the same. You can help your child become a better person with toddler books that teach important values.
Let us know which bedtime story you are reading next to your kid!
