Enjoying books with your toddler focuses on fostering a love for reading in young children aged 1-3 years. This guide offers practical tips for selecting age-appropriate picture books that reflect everyday experiences, such as family life and routines. It emphasizes the importance of interactive reading, encouraging toddlers to engage with stories through participation and exploration of illustrations. Additionally, it provides a curated list of recommended books, including classics and new favorites, to enhance bedtime routines and promote language development. Ideal for parents seeking to enrich their child's early literacy skills.

Key Points

  • Offers strategies for choosing engaging picture books for toddlers.
  • Highlights the significance of interactive reading to foster engagement.
  • Includes a curated list of recommended books for toddlers.
  • Suggests bedtime story routines to promote a calming environment.
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Enjoying books with your toddler
(1-3 Years)
Choosing books for toddlers
Toddlers love a variety of books, including those about everyday experiences like going to the doctor or
starting preschool.
Picture books are ideal and many are also available as audio books, so you and your child can listen
together. Picture and audio books in your home language also benefit your child.
Read or listen to the book yourself first to see if it will suit your child. A scary book might frighten one
child while another will love it. You know your child’s likes and dislikes!
Look for stories that are short, easily understood and give you a chance to talk with your toddler about
family life. This might be because the book is about families like yours, but remember that books for
toddlers often use animals and imaginary characters to show children’s differing life experiences too.
Choose books to suit different times of the day. Interactive books like lift-the-flap and books with
items hidden in the pictures make for lots of excitement. Books with rhymes, songs and repetition are a
chance for singing and chanting together, while having some favourite comforting and calming stories
will suit bedtime.
Supporting toddlers to listen and be engaged
Toddlers love to take part, so pause to let
your child finish a phrase or say a rhyme from
a familiar story. Toddlers also like to turn the
pages and to point things out.
As well as reading the story, spend time
exploring the pictures and talking about them.
Ask questions like, Where is …?
Can you find the …?
Your ‘reading aloud voice’ needs to keep your
toddler’s attention so vary your tone and
moo, bark and honk if the story needs it!
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Enjoying books with your toddler
(1-3 Years)
Bedtime story routines
Bedtime is a good opportunity for sharing a gentle story as you make reading a part of the bedtime
routine. Pick less interactive stories for night time and read in a nice, soothing voice. Above all, enjoy
reading together!
Suggested list of books to read with toddlers
Dr Mary Roche, (education consultant and author of ‘Developing Children’s Critical Thinking through
Picturebooks’) has made a list of some books that your toddler might enjoy. There are many other books
available, so have a look in the toddler section of your local library for more ideas. Younger toddlers
might like many of the books on the baby booklist and older toddlers will enjoy some of the books on
the list for young children.
Alfie series of books (2012) by Shirley Hughes Spot Loves His Daddy (2005) by Eric Hill*
All Fall Down (1999) by Helen Oxenbury* Spot Loves His Mummy (2006) by Eric Hill*
Are You My Mother? (1998) by P.D. Eastman* The Biggest Kiss (2011) by Joanna Walsh*
Bear and Hare Go Fishing (2014) by Emily Gravett* The Lonely Beast (2011) by Chris Judge*
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (2012)
by Bill Martin*
The Napping House (2000) by Audrey and Don
Wood*
Can’t you Sleep, Little Bear? (1988) by Martin
Waddell*
The Perfect Hug (2012) by Joanna Walsh*
Corduroy (1976) by Don Freeman* The Ravenous Beast (2003) by Niamh Sharkey*
Counting Kisses: A Kiss and Read Book (2003) by
Karen Katz
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (2009) by Eric Carle*
Fox’s Socks (2011) by Julia Donaldson* Time for Bed (1997) by Mem Fox and Jane Dyer*
Zeki Gets a Check up (2021) by Anna McQuinn and
Ruth Hearson
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (1997) by Michael
Rosen*
Zeki Loves Daddy (2021) by Anna McQuinn and Ruth
Hearson
Where are Maisy’s friends? (2011) by Lucy Cousins
Zeki Loves Mummy (2021) by Anna McQuinn and
Ruth Hearson
Babaí Cathal: Lá Nua (2019) by Anna Paradis
Owl Babies (1975) by Martin Waddell* Dainín - Bog Chun Siúil (2018) by Tadhg Mac
Dhonnagáin agus Steve Simpson
*
Available as an audio book
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Enjoying books with your toddler
(1-3 Years)
Pat the Bunny (2001) by Dorothy Kunhardt No More Nappies: A Potty Training Book (2018) by
Campbell Books and Marion Cocklico
Penguin (2007) by Polly Dunbar* Fruits (2019) by Valerie Bloom and David Axtell*
Postman Bear (2011) by Julia Donaldson* Red, Red, Red (2020) by Polly Dunbar*
Rabbit’s Nap (2011) by Julia Donaldson* Catch That Chicken (2021) by Atinuke and Angela
Brooksbank
Rosie’s Walk (2009) by Pat Hutchins* Bedtime With Ted (2017) by Sophy Henn
Say Goodnight (1999) by Helen Oxenbury* Playtime With Ted (2017) by Sophy Henn
One Fox (2019) by Kate Read* Teatime with Ted (2018) by Sophy Henn
Lulu’s First Day (2019) by Anna McQuinn and
Rosalind Beardshaw
Where’s Mr Fire Engine? (2021) by Ingela P Arrhenius
Lulu Gets a Cat (2017) by Anna McQuinn and
Rosalind Beardshaw
Where’s Mr Lion? (2017) by Ingela P Arrhenius
Lulu’s Sleepover (2021) by Anna McQuinn and
Rosalind Beardshaw
Pop Up Park (2019) by Ingela P. Arrhenius
Grumpy Duck (2018) by Joyce Dunbar and Petr
Horacek*
The Flute (2019) by Ken Wilson – Max and Catell
Ronca
Little Owl, Little Owl, Can’t you Sleep? (2018) by Jo
Lodge*
Tree: A Peek-Through Board Book (2021) by Britta
Teckentrup
Are You a Cow? (2012) by Sandra Boynton* I Can, Can You? (2004) by Marjorie Pitzer*
Everybody Has Feelings (2021) by Jon Burgerman Sleep Tight, Teddy! (2018) by Child’s Play and Jo
Byatt
My Hair (2020) by Danielle Murrell Cox * All the Ways to be Smart (2020) by Davina Bell and
Allison Colpoys*
*
Available as an audio book
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FAQs

What types of books are recommended for toddlers?
Recommended books for toddlers include picture books that reflect everyday experiences, such as family life and routines. Titles like 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle and 'Bear and Hare Go Fishing' by Emily Gravett are excellent choices. Interactive books, such as lift-the-flap stories, are also suggested to keep toddlers engaged. The guide emphasizes selecting stories that are short, easily understood, and suitable for different times of the day, including bedtime.
How can parents engage toddlers during reading time?
Parents can engage toddlers during reading by allowing them to finish phrases or recite familiar rhymes. Encouraging toddlers to turn pages and point out illustrations helps them feel involved in the story. The guide suggests asking questions about the pictures, such as 'Where is the cat?' to stimulate conversation and curiosity. Varying the reading voice and incorporating sounds related to the story can also capture a toddler's attention.
What is the importance of bedtime stories for toddlers?
Bedtime stories play a crucial role in establishing a calming routine for toddlers. Reading gentle stories in a soothing voice helps children wind down and prepares them for sleep. The guide recommends selecting less interactive stories for nighttime to create a peaceful atmosphere. This practice not only fosters a love for reading but also strengthens the parent-child bond during quiet moments before sleep.
What are some interactive book features that engage toddlers?
Interactive books often include features like lift-the-flap elements, textured pages, and hidden items within illustrations. These features encourage toddlers to actively participate in the reading experience, enhancing their engagement and enjoyment. The guide suggests that such interactive elements can make reading time exciting and fun, helping to develop a child's curiosity and comprehension skills.
How does reading benefit a toddler's language development?
Reading to toddlers significantly benefits their language development by exposing them to new vocabulary and sentence structures. Engaging with stories helps children understand narrative concepts and enhances their listening skills. The guide highlights that discussing the pictures and asking questions during reading sessions can further enrich a toddler's language acquisition. This early exposure to language is foundational for future literacy skills.

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