15 Books That My Toddlers Love

One of my goals as a parent is for my kids to learn to love reading as much as I do, so I have surrounded them with books since before they were even born. (My sweet friends even threw me a book-themed baby shower, which jump-started our collection! This was a great theme, and I highly recommend it to anyone throwing a baby shower.)

I now have two boys that are currently 1 and 3, so we’re still deep in the world of toddler books. It’s been especially fun to watch my second child develop a love for books, and to distinguish which ones he likes vs. my first, and how that plays into their personalities. Along with that, I’ve been able to identify some classics that both boys love. Here is my current list of our toddlers’ favorite books!

Our Favorite Books for Toddlers

Sorted somewhat by age level…

1. If I Were a Monkey by Jellycat

Both of my boys received one of these books along with a corresponding Jellycat stuffed animal as babies (such a cute baby gift, by the way!), and the books quickly became favorites. The book is extremely simple, but they love the touch-and-feel elements.

2. Anything by Sandra Boynton

I don’t know what it is about the Sandra Boynton books, but they are just absolute classics. My boys especially love Blue Hat, Green Hat, so much so that my 3-year-old can now “read” it to me.

3. Count & Play Washable Activity Book by Lakeshore Learning

Interactive pages that are soft and easy to wash—win, win! I love to bring soft books like this in the car since they are safe and entertaining.

4. See, Touch, Feel by Roger Priddy

Something about this book is magical for littles. The sensory elements are great.

5. Don’t Tickle the Bear! by Sam Taplin

This is one of multiple Usborne Touchy-Feely books, and all are comparable. They are noisy books, so beware, but my 1-year-old loves it… He could sit on my lap for hours while playing with this.

6. Melissa & Doug Poke-a-Dot books

These books have little buttons to poke on each page, which is basically a 1-year-old’s dream come true.

7. Baby’s First Bible by Roger Priddy

These are a great first Bible option because they are board books (which every parent of a toddler should know is a necessity) with very easy-to-explain stories.

8. Diggersaurs + Diggersaurs Explore by Michael Whaite

My 3-year-old asks to read these books every night before bed, and he likes to go into detailed descriptions of each diggersaur’s situation. This book is a great bridge between truck-lovers and dinosaur-lovers.

9. Press Here by Herve Tullet

This book is so creative! It encourages kids to interact with the book based on verbal instruction, no frills. But it’s very entertaining and will keep them coming back for more.

10. Heads by Matthew Van Fleet

The cause-and-effects of these pages is next level! We’ve had to buy multiple because our kids love them to pieces (quite literally).

11. Wheels on the Bus by Paul Zelinsky

Another great cause-and-effect book that has been loved to pieces… I especially appreciate some of the creative engineering behind these pages.

12. How to Babysit a Grandma / Grandpa by Jean Reagan

These books are adorable stories about spending special time with a grandparent, with some added humor for adults as well.

13. Goodnight Bear by Joshua George

This is one of the most unique books I have ever seen. Kids use the “flashlight” to reveal and identify animals around the page. There are no batteries required; rather its creative paper engineering gives kids the power of a “flashlight”.

14. You Are Special by Max Lucado

This story is so special. It’s a fictional story that mirrors the gospel and how God relates to us. It was one of my favorite books as a child, and I have loved watching my kids learn to love it as well.

15. Seek and Find Bible Stories by Sarah Parker and André Parker

Seek-and-Find books are a current favorite of our 3-year-old. There are many options out there, but our favorite are these Bible stories—both for the story behind the game and the high-quality challenge that the illustrations provide.

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What are your favorite books for toddlers?