Skip to Content

50 Great Books for Toddlers

Why not share this post!

There's nothing I love more than reading to children, especially toddlers. They LOVE being read to and the joy they get from a beautiful picture book just can't be replicated by an app or an eBook. If you're looking for some great books for toddlers, then this collection is for you. These toddler book recommendations are a collection of my personal favorites, as a parent and early years educator, and the recommendations of members of our Facebook group.
50 Great Books for Toddlers

affiliate links

50 Great Books for Toddlers (recommended by teachers and parents!)

I often get asked about which books are best for toddler aged children, and it's always a hard question to answer. Narrowing it down to 50 great books for toddlers was actually really hard! In fact there are so many great books for toddlers and preschoolers that it's a trick task.  I have just finished volunteering at our Kindy Book Fair, where I was introduced to even more fabulous toddler books to add to my must read (ok, must buy!) list.

I recently put the call out on our Instagram page asking for your favorite books and we had such a great response that I've decided to compile them all her for everyone to access. If you're interested in reading that post you can find it here. I've also added in a few classics, along with some of my personal favorites.

There really are no set rules when it comes to choosing books for toddlers, but some of the things that I like to look for are:

  • rhyming books
  • repetitive phrases
  • pop up books or flap books
  • board books
  • beautiful pictures

Reading to toddlers is all about developing a love of books, not about teaching them to read. Focus on enjoyment and interaction.  Ask questions, discuss the book and make it fun! You can find more about the importance of reading aloud to toddlers here. 

If you are interested in buying these books, clicking the links will take you to Amazon, one of my favorite stores to buy books. If you're not already, make sure you sign up for a 30 day free trial of Amazon Prime to get free 2 day shipping on all orders. If you do shop on Amazon you can find this entire book list on Amazon HERE in my store.

50 of the best books for Toddlers

What the Ladybird HeardWhat the ladybird heard

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
the very hungry caterpillar

Goldilocks and the Three BearsGoldilocks and the three bears

Giraffes Can't Dance
great books for toddlers

Pout Pout Fish
pout pout fish

Guess How Much I Love You
great books for toddlers7. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

brown bear brown bear what do you see8.Good Night Moongood night moon

The Very Cranky Bearthe very cranky bear

It Takes Two to Twit Twooit takes two to twit twoo

I Love You Through and Throughi love you through and through

Chicka! Chicka! Boom! Boom!great books for toddlers

Down to the Sea With Mr Magee
down to the sea

Good Night Gorillagood night gorilla

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad, Dayalexander

The Book With No Picturesgreat books for toddlers

The Day the Crayons Quit
the day the crayons quit

No Mater Whatno matter what

We're Going on a Bear Hunt!Weregoingonabearhunt

Pig the Pug
pig the pug

Rainbow Fish
rainbow fish

Go Dog Go!

great books for toddlers

Hugless Douglas
hugless douglas

Harold and The Purple Crayon
harold and the purple crayon

Little Blue Truck
little blue truck

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
goodnight goodnight construction site

Where's Spot 
where's spot

That's Not My Train
that's not my train

Dear Zoodear zoo

I Love You Stinky Face
i love you stinky face


Bear Snores On
bear snores on

If Animals Kissed Goodnightif animals kissed goodnight

Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?
where do diggers sleep at night

The Goodnight Train
the goodnight train

Commotion in the Ocean
commotion in the ocean

The Wide Mouthed Frog
the wide mouthed frog

Welcome to the Zoowelcome to the zoo

Where is the Green Sheep
where is the green sheep

Open the Barn Door
open the barn door

The Very Busy Spider
the very busy spider

From Head to Toe
from head to toe

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?great books for toddlers

Dragons Love Tacos

great books for toddlers

Rumble in the Jungle

great books for toddlers

ABC Animal Jamboree abc animal jamboree

Numbers, Colors, Shapes
great books for toddlers

The Going To Bed Book 
great books for toddlers

The Very Hungry Bear
the very hungry bear

The Runaway Hug
great books for toddlers

Press Here
great books for toddlers

Do Cows Meow? 
great books for toddlers

Underwater Doggies, 1,2,3
underwater doggies

Elmo's ABC Lift the Flap  
great books for toddlers

Danny, The Duck With No Quack 
danny the duck with no quack

That's Not My Penguin 
that's not my penguin

The Two Cars
great books for toddlers

I hope you enjoyed this list of 50 great books for toddlers. Narrowing down the list to only 50 was hard! If there's a book you think was left of the list, please let me know and I'll add it to our next list.

If you want to keep your toddler busy makes sure you subscribe to our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram and Pinterest. You might also like to join our Toddler Facebook group. 

Some other activities you might enjoy are:
 
 
great books for toddlers
great books for toddlers
 

Pooja Patel

Monday 11th of May 2020

My little one also loves stickman and the tiger who came to tea. She used to like the gruffalo and is currently enjoying the snail and the whale.

Chantay Carey

Sunday 5th of April 2020

Thanks for this awesome list. I'm doing 500 by 5 with my tot and I'm always looking for new book.ideas.

Emma

Friday 21st of October 2016

The Book with no Pictures is classic - my 7 year old still can't get enough of it!

Best Toddler Christmas Books - My Bored Toddler

Friday 7th of October 2016

[…] you looking for some of the best toddler Christmas books? Earlier this year we put out a list of 50 Great Books for Toddlers and it has been one of our most popular posts. Christmas is a time where I love reading themed […]

Jaclyn

Monday 3rd of October 2016

So many of our favourites here too! And so many which I'll have to find a copy of! One of our favourites is 'This Little Piggy Went Dancing'. Lends itself to lots of interaction, actions and tickles, and then we make up our own versions too!