Keeping your toddler captivated is pretty amusing, but nonetheless it is a very challenging task as well. Reading to your kid is never too early and the results of this activity can be very fruitful, both in the short-term and long-term. It is in your hand how early you develop literacy and language skills of your toddler.

A good children’s book is the one with animals, and colourful bright illustrations. The story should be rather realistic, something the toddler could relate to. Listed below are 10 best toddler books that will surely keep them captivated and hold their attention all the way to the end.

10 Best Toddler Books

1.    Spot Bakes a Cake by Eric Hill (1994)

Eric Hill wrote this book originally for his own young son. His lift-the-flap book collection is not likely to get stale anytime soon (even after two decades of its initial release). In this book, he tells a story about the adventures of a little loveable dog, who along with his little puppy Andrex rates in the consciousness of nation. The best part about these bold big books is that they contain repeated readings. Moreover, they introduce the toddlers to different new experiences and situations like going to the circus, staying overnight, going to a party, or going to school.

2.    The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1969)

In the modern era, you might think who is going to read his toddler a book that is 45-years old!? Well, that’s what makes Carle’s book so marvellous, as it is still one of the best preferred books for the toddlers. This book revolves around recounting of the butterfly’s life cycle in very simple terms and with minimal use of language. Your toddler will be amused after learning how caterpillar comes out from the egg and makes his way through the pages by nibbling. This book gives multiple lessons, such as colouring, counting, and the basics of nature. The book is attractive by all means, from the final emerging butterfly to the holes in the pages that are finger-sized meant for the tiny hands to explore.

3.    We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury (1989)

Rosen has devised a comic version of the familiar old game, as a family set off on an imaginary bear hunt but instead, find a real one and are chased back to home. The language of this book brings delight to the toddler mouths, all hooo wooo, squelch squerch and swishy swashy, not to mention the chanting rhythms that are totally addicting. The effects are enhanced by Oxenbury’s pretty watercolors.

4.    Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1963)

Sendak’s story is a subconscious masterpiece where Max, after mischief, is send to his room and he sails through the day and night, in and out of weeks, almost for a year to where the wild things are hidden. Max is angry and wishes to eat his mother, who calls him a wild thing. His anger leads to the creation of monsters (completely under his domination) that are actually benign figures despite all the roaring and wild noises. The book tells about the scary anger storm that balloons inside a two-year-old, the safety and warmth of a home and a hot good dinner when the “wild rumpus” comes to an end. This book is a must for your growing toddler!

5.    Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann (1994)

This book won Peggy Rathmann numerous awards. The book tells the story of a gorilla who steals keys from the zookeeper. The mischievous gorilla follows the zookeeper secretly while he is on the rounds. As the zookeeper bids the animals good night, the gorilla unlocks them all from their cages. The text is minimal, making the story short and catchy to grasp the attention of your young toddler.

6.    The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown (1942)

This book has the potential to answer the complicated questions in simple terms, questions that are frequently asked by toddlers, teenagers, and even adults. “Will you still be there for me, even if I push you away?” After saying this, the bunny plans on running away, but his mother replies “if you run away, I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.” And she repeats the same answer, each time the bunny offers a new scenario.

7.    Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (1947)

This book has been a great source of delight for the readers for over seven decades! The lyrical text and the “great green room” by the illustrator Clement Hurd are quite iconic to this day, that adults can recite the lines from this book by heart, from their own childhood. After the first publication in 1947, Harper Collins has sold almost 14 million copies of this book. The pictures from this book, in recent years, have been repurposed for creating puzzles, counting cards, and matching games.

8.    Five Minutes’ Peace by Jill Murphy (1986)

All Mrs Large wants is five minutes to herself but the children keep following her everywhere in the house. Murphy’s amusing book about the elephant family portrays the recognisable situation of every child and mother, who is always looking for her five minutes of peace.

9.    Mr. Archimedes’ Bath by Pamella Allen (1969)

This book serves to explain simple scientific concepts that your child can easily grasp. When the bath of Mr. Archimedes overflows, the animals end up wondering where has all the water come from? Each animal takes his turn to get in and out until the discovery is made about the one who is responsible for the mess.

10.    Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. (1967)

This book is a popular read both in the classroom and at home. The book text is based on the formula of simple questions and answers that toddlers can catch quickly. The illustrations by Eric Carle enables the kids to read on their own.

 

 

You can get further recommendations on best  toddler books by watching the following video: