Do you want to introduce your little one to the world of books?
If you overwhelmed by all the toddler book options out there, you’re not alone! Choosing the best book for your 1 2-year-old is a very important decision and an enjoyable experience. Since most of their learning comes from play, it's essential to select books that are not only educational but also engaging and entertaining.
It can be tough to find a book that both appeals to and helps develop early literacy skills. That’s why we put together this list of the 10 best books for toddlers between ages 1-2. Read on to discover what these books have in store and pick up expert tips for selecting quality literature for your tiny reader.
How We Choose These Best Books for You
It can be hard to find the best books for toddlers.
There are so many books out there, it's hard to know which ones are good for your toddler.
We've done the hard work for you and found the best books for toddlers aged 1-2. Our list is based on user reviews, so you can trust that these are the best books for your little one.
1. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Best for Sounds
The story follows the adventures of Little Blue Truck as he comes to the aid of his friends in need.
What Is This Book About
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle is an adorable book that’s perfect for young readers. Little Blue Truck is filled with fun truck sounds and exciting animal noises, making it a great reading experience for kids. The story follows the adventures of Little Blue Truck as he comes to the aid of his friends in need - showcasing the importance of showing kindness and helping each other out. It also serves as a great reminder that asking for help from your friends can be a good thing!
Little Blue Truck is an interactive and engaging experience for young children, helping them to build important values about friendship and community. Additionally, this book encourages young learners to practice their listening skills and sight words, providing an overall positive learning experience. With its charming illustrations, touching storyline, and playful sounds, Little Blue Truck promises to be a delightful addition to any family library!
Why You Will Love It
You will love this book because it is so much fun! Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle is a delightful read-aloud story that has wonderful illustrations that your children are sure to love. You'll both be giggling together when the animals make their silly animal noises throughout the story. Make sure to add this book to your library and make reading time something special that you can do together. You won't want to miss out on the fun!
2. First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
Best for Words
Featuring vibrant, colorful illustrations and clear, concise descriptions, this book is perfect for introducing new vocabulary to your little one.
What Is This Book About
Introducing First 100 Words by Roger Priddy—a classic padded board book designed specifically to help young children learn their very first words. Featuring vibrant, colorful illustrations and clear, concise descriptions, this book is perfect for introducing new vocabulary to your little one. From everyday objects like “balls” and “cushions” to more abstract concepts like “big” and “loud,” First 100 Words ensures your child has the language tools they need to start exploring the world around them. Award-winning author Roger Priddy has met with educators from pre-schools across the UK and consulted on early learning research in creating this book—making it a must-have item for any parent keen to cultivate a natural love of reading in their little one. The total package of exploration and knowledge that comes along with First 100 Words brings education into the home, ensuring fun learning experiences will be had!
Why You Will Love It
This book is filled with possibilities for fun learning. With one hundred color photos and simple words, your little ones can expand their vocabulary while they develop new skills. Flip through the pages easily with tough boards, and the cover is soft and padded so it's made just the right size for your little reader to hold. You won't be able to resist showing them how exciting reading can be with this vibrant board book!
3. I Love You Because You’re You by Liza Baker
Best for Family
This sweet story celebrates the uniqueness of every child and reminds them of their parent’s unconditional love.
What Is This Book About
Looking for a heartwarming book to read with your little one? I Love You Because You’re You by Liza Baker is a perfect choice! This sweet story celebrates the uniqueness of every child and reminds them of their parent’s unconditional love.
It paints a beautiful picture of all different kinds of children, from happy and excited to scared and bashful. Your little one will appreciate hearing that whatever mood they’re in, their mom and dad will always love them! This timeless tale is sure to become a cherished family favorite for years to come. It features cuddly soft illustrations by New York Times best-selling artist David McPhail that are sure to delight readers of all ages.
I Love You Because You’re You is an essential addition to your kids’ library. It shows little ones that whatever emotions arise—happiness, fear, joy, or shyness—they can be embraced knowing that Mom and Dad are never far behind with plenty of love!
Why You Will Love It
This book is an enduring family favorite. From the emotional text that captures the spirit of unconditional love written by Liza Baker, to the sensitive and beautifully realized watercolor illustrations by David McPhail -- this book truly has something for everyone. There is no mistaking its simple message; it's a classic of the genre for a reason, and once you read it for your child, you'll understand why!
4. Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
Best for Bedtime
This charming tale of camaraderie will captivate young readers with its detailed illustrations and playful rhyme scheme that promotes positive bedtime habits.
What Is This Book About
Introducing the perfect way to cap off the day—Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker. This delightful board book is an unabridged version of the bestselling, best-beloved hardcover and its smaller size makes it easier for little hands to hold. Follow an excavator, bulldozer, dump truck, and crane as they prepare for a good night's rest while working away on their construction site.
This charming tale of camaraderie will captivate young readers with its detailed illustrations and playful rhyme scheme that promotes positive bedtime habits. Kids can identify each vehicle by name and learn about all the important features too! Every page features vivid artwork with subtle engaging details that will keep curious minds amused for hours. So if you’re looking for an interactive storytime experience, look no further than Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site! It’s sure to become a favorite before you can say “good night!”
Why You Will Love It
This endearing story is full of vibrant illustrations and placid rhymes that are sure to captivate any reader. Kids who are obsessed with vehicles of all kinds will especially delight in this gentle, enjoyable tale. Whether you’re reading to the littlest busy bee or the grumpiest pickle truck driver, this bedtime adventure is sure to please. It’s time to turn off your engines, rest those wheels, and drift off into a peaceful slumber with this delightful story!
5. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
Best for Images
This classic board book is an excellent way to introduce young readers to the world around them.
What Is This Book About
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle is a children’s picture book that has stood the test of time. Published in 1967, the beloved classic has been entertaining children for over 50 years with its delightful rhymes and colorful illustrations.
The book follows a pattern of “Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? I see a - looking at me.” As each page progresses, the pattern continues as different animals appear in their vivid color combinations as described in each new rhyme. This gentle story encourages children to actively observe images and discuss them through its vibrant imagery.
This classic board book is an excellent way to introduce young readers to the world around them. Its simple language and captivating storyline help engage and develop improved reading skills while keeping them entertained. Children will have fun learning about colors both visually and verbally as they follow along with this cheerful story filled with silly characters and bright illustrations. All around, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Is an excellent addition to any child’s library collection!
Why You Will Love It
You will love the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle because of its seamless spread from one colorful collage animal to the next. You can't help but be charmed by this book as Eric's illustrations paired with Bill's simple rhyming language stimulates children's imaginations and sparks their curiosity. Every page presents a new adventure in which they can explore different animal traits while meeting some new lovable characters!
Best Books for Toddlers Age 1-2 FAQs
You may have a lot of questions about Best Books for Toddlers Age 1-2.
We understand! There are a lot of things to consider when you're looking for the best books for your toddler.
We've compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about the Best Books for Toddlers Age 1-2, and we hope this will help you make the best decision for your child.
What book is good for a 1-year-old?
Some great titles to consider include:
* Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown – An all-time classic filled with endearing imagery about saying goodnight to different objects around a room.
* The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle – A wonderful adventure of discovery as we follow one caterpillar’s journey from egg to butterfly through lots of yummy foods!
* Chicka Chicka Boom Boom By Bill Martin Jr & John Archambault – A fun rhyming tale about different letters climbing up a coconut tree; perfect for introducing upper/lowercase letter recognition!
* The Little Engine That Could By Watty Piper– Another classic retelling that encourages perseverance in overcoming obstacles through positive affirmations!
* Dr. Seuss Books— With its signature whimsical rhymes, these books make learning fun while introducing early reading concepts such as phonics & spelling rules!
Overall there are many fantastic options when it comes to choosing books for kids at this age level so be sure to explore plenty before settling on just one…the sky is truly the limit when it comes to sparking young imaginations through stories read out loud together with loved ones!
What should 1 2-year-olds be learning?
At two years of age, children are rapidly developing and beginning to express their interests and personalities. While there is no single answer as to what all two-year-olds should be learning, the following are some common developmental milestones that may be helpful:
Social Skills: Two-year-olds typically begin to recognize themselves in pictures, express empathy and understanding for others’ emotions, can comprehend basic instructions like “put your shoes on” or “brush your teeth”, take turns with others when playing games or using toys, pretend play and start developing relationships with other children.
Cognitive Skills: Two-year-olds gain an increased understanding of the world around them by holding conversations (even if it's just one-sided), counting up to 5 objects with accuracy, recognizing basic shapes like a square or circle when prompted, naming colors, and engaging in imaginative play.
Motor Skills: Two-year-olds will become increasingly agile as they learn how to stack blocks correctly or draw simple lines across the paper. With hand/eye coordination becoming more refined at this stage in life they may use utensils correctly during meals such as forks/knives while feeding themselves independently. Other physical accomplishments include climbing stairs without assistance from adults and running without tripping over their own feet.
Overall two year old development emphasizes the important stages of language acquisition; both spoken language skills along with signs for simple words such as more/less/food etc. With heightened concentration levels at this age comes an increased sense of self-awareness that eventually leads to a better understanding of society as a whole - this precious period provides parents/guardians a wonderful opportunity for bonding through physical activities such as story reading together before going off to bed each night!
What should I be teaching my 1-and-a-half-year-old?
It's an exciting time in your child's life when they begin to ask questions and explore their surroundings! At this age, parents need to provide their children with the proper tools for learning.
Teaching a 1-and-a-half-year-old can be both fun and challenging, as toddlers are very curious and have short attention spans. To ensure that your little one is healthy and happy during these early years, there are several things you should focus on teaching them.
First of all, make sure to establish a daily routine with meals, naps, and bedtime — consistency will help your toddler gain trust in you and adjust better to changes throughout the day. Additionally, build on language skills by talking directly to them when explaining things or pointing out objects around the house; this will help develop communication through conversational cues like gestures or noises.
When it comes to physical activity at this age range — which serves as an essential part of cognitive development — activities such as singing songs or playing games together (like a ring around the rosy!) will encourage movement while having fun together. You could even get creative by introducing toys into each activity; small balls can help improve motor skills while building blocks can work towards problem-solving behaviors like organizing shapes into towers!.
Finally, teach your toddler about kindness by setting positive examples every day; show affection with hugs/kisses often (if desired) as well as be patient in times of frustration when interacting with others - reminding ourselves that everyone has different needs helps us connect better emotionally within our relationships! Teaching these traits from a young age leads to foundational values of empathy/compassion later down the line.
Should you read to a 1-year-old?
Absolutely! Reading to a 1-year-old is an important part of early childhood development and has been shown to have a positive effect on language skills, literacy, and social interaction.
Reading to your 1-year-old from the very beginning will help them develop their understanding of the world around them by introducing new words and concepts. Even though at this young age they won’t be able to understand all the words you’re using, hearing these new sounds regularly will be incredibly beneficial for their future language development. It also gives babies time spent with an adult in an interactive way which helps them build secure relationships – something that is very important for healthy emotional development later on in life.
Books are also great when it comes to encouraging children's imagination and creativity as they start expressing themselves through play or art - even if it may seem simple or silly at first! As you read together you can ask questions about what’s happening in the story or relate it to things they already know both helping your baby use logical reasoning while creating a strong bond between parent and child.
Overall reading aloud with your 1-year-old is highly recommended due to its various cognitive benefits such as developing better vocabulary, understanding of grammar rules, curiosity about literature, learning prepositions (such as over/under), following directions (if there are activities involved), etc., but just as significant are the noncognitive benefits like building self-confidence and strengthening interpersonal relationships which will ultimately help not only their current mental wellbeing but also set up healthy habits for their future self too!
Is reading important for young children?
Reading to toddlers is both fun and educational all rolled into one! Finding the best books for toddlers aged 1-2 can be tricky, but all the reading helps with language development, encouraging them to talk more. While there are loads of children's books out there to choose from, some standouts include The Farmyard Jamboree by Giles Andreae –– charming illustrations offer lots of stimulation while a lyrical story complements it all. For something completely different, all little ones will love Press Here by Herve Tullet, where all they need to do is press colored dots on the page and watch as they come alive! There's never a dull moment when you're choosing books for toddlers.
What is a good first book for a baby?
Welcome to parenthood! Reading to your baby is a wonderful way to introduce them to the world of books and literacy. There are so many options for first books, and it can be overwhelming to decide which one is best. Here are some important criteria you should consider when selecting a book for your baby:
1. Age-appropriate content: Books designed specifically for babies will have simple images and text with age-appropriate topics like colors, shapes, animals, family members, rhythms, and nursery rhymes. This makes the content both enjoyable and educational!
2. Vivid illustrations: Look for books with colorful illustrations that hold little ones' attention while they listen or look at the pictures on their own. Bright colors often help stimulate babies' senses as well as promote creativity in older children through visual thinking skills.
3. Durability: Babies can sometimes be rough on things – make sure you choose sturdy material like cardboard pages or plasticized fabric instead of real paper pages which could tear easily from use over time; these types of materials also work better when reading outdoors or near water sources such as pools or lakes since they won't get ruined if wet!
4. Engaging stories: Choose stories that focus on themes like friendship, love between parent/grandparent/sibling relationships, or concepts that babies can relate to from their own lives such as activities at daycare centers (e., going grocery shopping) If possible try out a few different titles before settling on one - this way your child will learn more words faster than if they stick to just one book every day!
In conclusion, carefully selecting an age-appropriate book with vivid illustrations in durable material along with engaging stories is key when choosing the perfect first book for your baby’s early literacy development journey!
How do I start reading for my 1-year-old?
Reading to your 1-year-old is an incredibly important part of their early development. After all, the more they are exposed to books at a young age, the more likely they will be to become avid readers as they grow older. So, getting off on the right foot with reading is essential, and here are some tips for doing so:
1. Start small – When it comes to picking out books for reading with your little one, start with short stories or picture books and gradually move on to longer ones as their attention span increases.
2. Make it interactive – During story time, actively engage in conversation about what’s happening in the book and ask them questions about characters or events. This helps promote independence and stimulates creative thinking skills too!
3. Get creative – Find ways to make storytime engaging by using different voices when you read aloud character dialogues or letting them select which page you should turn next! You can even make up stories based on pictures in a book if that's something your child responds well to!
4. Let them take charge - As they get older let them pick out books of their own interest (or just look at pictures) from time to time; this promotes autonomy over learning materials and helps teach inference skills too!
By following these steps you'll be able to build solid literacy foundations for years down the road for your kiddo - have fun reading together!!
Conclusion
When selecting a book, look for one with a wonderful story, bright colors, interesting shapes, and patterns, engaging characters, or elements that can help facilitate conversation between you and your child. Reading provides young toddlers with new language experiences and teaches them important pre-reading skills like recognizing words by sight (visual recognition) identifying individual sounds like animal sounds within those words (phonemic awareness), creating mental images based on the written story (dialogue comprehension) and so much more! This helps in laying down the foundation for a successful early education.
We know that kids love a farm-themed book and an adorable story in a sweet book where they can hide and seek animals. That's why these are the Best Books for Toddlers Age 1-2 that we could find after reading through thousands of reviews. We hope you enjoyed looking through our list and found a book or two (or more!) that will be perfect additions to your home library. We think you and your toddler will enjoy one or more of these board books. Don’t miss the opportunity to choose one of these books for your collection – your toddler will love them!
