A friend recently asked me for recommendations for books for his 5 year old. I have happily been sending along recommendations, but it reminded me that most of my favorite books for children are ones geared towards toddlers. I love their enthusiam, the rhyming language, and just the overall joy of these books.
I first began my career in Early Childhood Education (ECE) working with toddlers so those wonderful memories may, also, be responsible for my love. In fact, two of the children whose pictures I use in my book, Art Parts, where my students as toddlers. Here are ten books I think every toddler needs, although they are not in any particular order of recommendation:
1) The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
2) King Bidgood's In the Bathtub by Don and Audrey Wood
3) The Napping House by Don and Audrey Wood
4) Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Helen Berger
6) Goodnight, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
7) Dinosaurumpus by Tony Mitton and Guy Parker-Rees
8) Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
9) Freight Train by Donald Crews
10) Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
These books have the repetitive, rhyming text that toddlers crave and delight in as they begin to master language. All have, also, withstood the test of time having been read to dozens of children for over 25 years always resulting in engaged and enthralled little ones. So pick these up at your local library or bookstore, and spend some time curled up with your little one under a tree or at the beach reading these! Enjoy!
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