Top 15 Books for Toddlers

Finding the Top 15 Books for Toddlers can be a challenge. You could spend hours reading each children’s book in the bookstore before you buy it, but that is just not a reasonable way to spend your time when you have a toddler. You could rent a plethora of books from the library, but you are never guaranteed to find books that your little one absolutely loves. So how do you ensure that you are getting the best books for your little one? Research is a great start!

When I first began my quest to stock up my toddler’s bookshelf, I went straight to Pinterest. I found many lists of the “best books for toddlers” and what I discovered was that I did not agree with them; hence, the creation of the Top 15 Books for Toddlers. Some of these books were found at the library or bookstore, but most were recommendations from other parents or great books from my childhood. All of the books that made this list are my daughter’s absolute favorites. I have read each of these books repeatedly. Not only are these books toddler-approved, but they are developmentally appropriate and engaging.

It is important to provide our little ones with an eclectic mix of books. Every toddler is different, and each will develop preferences for certain types of stories. It is by providing many types of books that we begin to discover what topics or creatives interest our children the most. Reading with your toddler is a good way to foster a love of reading, zest for learning and taste for adventure.

The simplest advice for helping your toddler develop a relationship with all types of learning is to READ TO THEM. Provide your child with many books, written by many different authors and illustrated by many different artists. You are exposing your young reader to the diversity of prose and art while encouraging them to explore an idea. There are endless benefits to reading with your little one. My favorite benefit is bonding, and great books provide for great bonding experiences with your toddler.

Without further ado, I give to you the Top 15 Books for Toddlers, in no particular order. I have provided a short description of each and the associated link in the title, for quick purchasing. You will also be able to enjoy some images of my favorite pages in these books. Any of these books would be absolutely wonderful for your little one! Hopefully, these stories bring your family as much joy as they have ours.

The Wonderful Things You Will Be tugs at my heart strings every time I read it to my daughter. The message is pure and beautiful. It is evident that this story was written with love, and it is so relatable that you will feel as though the writer is relaying your thoughts. It encapsulates the loving nature that parents have toward their children. My daughter’s favorite part of this book is the gatefold at the end; she really enjoys discussing all of the unique illustrations.  

The Color Monster – Written and Illustrated by Anna LLenas

The Color Monster is a pop-up book that creatively introduces emotions through their commonly associated colors. The monster in the story gets help from a friend to sort his emotions so that he can understand them better. It is not always a simple task to talk about emotions with a toddler when they are actually willing to listen. The Color Monster shows little ones how body language often matches our feelings. Reading this book is a great way to start the conversation about emotions with your little one.

The Wide-Mouthed Frog – Written by Keith Faulkner and Illustrated by Jonathan Lambert

The Wide-Mouthed Frog is a fun pop-up book about an inquisitive frog that talks to every animal he meets and asks each about their diet. I remember reading this book to my younger siblings decades ago. It has been around a while, and for good reason! This book is perfect for toddlers because it is engaging and surprising. My daughter’s favorite part is the giant SPLASH at the end of the book. This author/illustrator duo has several other fantastic works to check out as well!

Never Touch a Spider – Written by Rosie Greening and Illustrated by Stuart Lynch

This playful sensory book details when it IS okay and IS NOT okay to touch certain creepy-crawlies! The many colors and unique textures will keep your little one interested throughout the entire book. We have had this book since my daughter was a few months old and she still loves to read it and feel the pages. There are many other books in the “Never Touch a” series, so be sure to share those with your toddler also!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Written and Illustrated by Eric Carle

In the book, the reader follows a ravenous caterpillar as he eats his way through various foods on his journey to becoming a butterfly. The unique illustrations and evidence of the caterpillar’s insatiable appetite will encourage your toddler to feel and turn each page. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, first published in 1969, remains relevant today and is one of the most beloved children’s books of all time. It is no surprise that this book makes every Top 15 Books for Toddlers list!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? – Written by Bill Martin, Jr. and Illustrated by Eric Carle

In this entertaining book, the reader asks various animals what they see, and receives an answer from the animal. Originally published in 1967, this story has been a favorite for a long time. The librarian at my elementary school read this book with a comical and unique voice for each animal; to this day I believe that is the ONLY way that anyone should read this book! The story is great for helping your little one recognize question-and-answer format as well as associate colors and meanings with various objects.

Llama Llama Red Pajama – Written and Illustrated by Anna Dewdney

This is a tale about a little llama and A LOT of bedtime drama. The emotional escalation of the impatient little llama, delightful illustrations and flowing rhymes will captivate your little one. They will be requesting this bedtime favorite time and time again.  Reading this story with your toddler is a good opportunity to assure them that you are always near when you are needed, just like Mama Llama!

Little Pookie – Written and Illustrated by Sandra Boynton

In this book, a mama pig describes her sweet little piglet. The catchy rhymes and adorable illustrations will surely entertain your little one. So many books by this author are fantastic for toddlers and worth reading! We received this book in a Little Pookie starter set, that came with several other must-haves. Out of all of the Sandra Boynton books we have, Little Pookie is requested most often!  EEK! Halloween! is a close second.

Where’s the Poop? – Written by Julie Markes and Illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung

This book combines a couple things that toddlers absolutely love, animals and lifting flaps! The reader is tasked with finding the hidden poops made by various animals. The main takeaway from this book is that people poop can be found in the potty. Finding great potty-training books is not a simple task. This work makes the Top 15 Books for Toddlers list because of how much my little one loves this book, on and off of the potty!

Everyone Poops – Written and Illustrated by Taro Gomi

This is an informative, silly book that discusses different types of poops created by different types of animals. It is full of descriptive words and lots of pictures of poop. This book is a classic potty-training book, as it was first published in 1977. It has helped many toddlers navigate potty-training over the years. I like the parting message of the book: “All living things eat, so everyone poops.” As parents, we want to show our toddlers that poop is a natural bodily process and is completely free of judgment. This book helps spread that message. Heads up – there are a few penises in the book; if that is something that you find offensive, this book is not for you.  

See, Touch, Feel 1 2 3 – Written and Illustrated by Roger Priddy

This book takes the reader on a sensory adventure as they explore the numbers 1 through 10. Every page turn offers much stimulation for your little one. The bright colors and various textures throughout the book evoke positive energy and encourage exploration of the pages. Out of all of the Priddy Books we have, I picked this book for the Top 15 Books for Toddlers list because it is one that my toddler will pick up and read independently, often. This is one of the first books we used to introduce numbers to our little one when she was a baby. I am delighted that she still enjoys it! The Priddy Books collection houses many great first concepts books for toddlers.

Poke-A-Dot Old MacDonald’s Farm – Written and Illustrated by Melissa & Doug

This interactive counting book is a great spin on an old classic and is a sensory dream. The reader is encouraged to count by popping the dots associated with the numerous farm animals on each page.  A lot of counting books are quite dull, so it was refreshing to find this one! My toddler showed little interest in counting past three until we started reading this book. On a side note, this book is a little bulky for little ones and not gentle on toes. Always make sure that you retrieve it from the bookshelf for your toddler. The Melissa & Doug brand has an entire Poke-A-Dot series of counting books, so you are likely to find one that has a theme that your toddler will love!

Giraffes Can’t Dance – Written by Giles Andreae and Illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees

This is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe finding his groove. The takeaway from this book is to let the voices of those who encourage you be heard more loudly than those who spew negativity. Accept yourself and dance anyway! As Gerald says, “we all can dance when we find music that we love.” I love the encouraging energy radiating from this book. The vibrant illustrations and catchy rhymes are fun for both the reader and the audience. If you have a giraffe-lover like I do, this book will become a daily request!

We’re Going on A Bear Hunt – Written by Michael Rosen and Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

You probably already guessed what this book is about – yep, a bear hunt! An adventurous family faces many different natural obstacles on the way to their final destination, a bear cave. If you need help figuring out how to read this to your little one in a fun way, check out the author’s performance. Try out different voices and rhythms to keep it interesting. The descriptive words and repetitious prepositions are what make this book most appealing to my daughter. When I pause at those spots, and she fills in the blanks. I read We’re Going on A Bear Hunt frequently for my toddler because she LOVES it.

I Hear a Pickle – Written and Illustrated by Rachel Isadora 

This English-Spanish book contains numerous examples of how one uses the five senses. It is a vocabulary-rich read that functions as a great learning tool for parents AND children. Out of all of the multicultural books we have, this one provides the most informative content. There are plenty of lively illustrations and new concepts to keep your little one engaged. I received this gem for FREE through the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program. If you have not already, see if this program is available in your area!

Another great addition to your little one’s library is a children’s dictionary. It makes for a great rainy day activity, or a day when you need some Basic Inspiration! There are many different types of dictionaries out there for little ones. As long as you find a dictionary with lots of pictures, your little one will love it. My daughter has learned so many words that are not in any of her favorite books via dictionary exploration.

All of these titles are my toddler’s absolute FAVORITE books. Her level of engagement and interest was the main determining factor of which books made the Top 15 Books for Toddlers list. As my little one grows, and as her library grows, these are likely to change.  I will be sure to update the list accordingly. I hope that your little ones enjoy these books as much as mine does. Happy reading!