The best books for toddlers are those that help your little one learn and grow, while also entertaining them. This list of 50 best books for toddlers includes stories that teach children about colors, numbers, shapes, letters, counting to ten and more! These best-selling toddler books will be an excellent addition to any child’s library.

What type of books are best for toddlers?

There is no one answer to this question since different toddlers will enjoy different types of books. However, some good examples of books that are often enjoyed by toddlers are picture books, board books, and stories with a moral lesson.

Best books for toddlers age 1-3

First best book for toddler: “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown. This is a classic bedtime story that has been around since 1947 but still remains popular among parents and toddlers today because of its calming, peaceful tone which helps to lull the little ones into sleep. The simple text and beautiful illustrations are the best qualities of this book.

Second best books for toddlers age one to two: “I Love You as Big as the World” by Rosemary Wells. A young child goes on a simple journey with his mother where they meet new people, explore their surroundings, and have fun together along the way. The story is best suited for toddlers who are just beginning to explore the world.

Best books for two year old toddler: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle is a great book that encourages children to count along as they read and discover new concepts about life cycles of caterpillars, healthy eating habits, or simply color recognition. This classic story is best suited for children who are just beginning to learn the basics of reading.

Best books for one to three year old toddler: “The Napping House” by Audrey Wood is a fun story about literally a house full of sleepy people and animals. This book is soothing and helps kids fall asleep with its calming words. The cute illustrations make this book best suited for toddlers ages two or three years old.

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List of 50 best books for your toddler

Below you will find a list of 50 best books for toddlers:

1) Goodnight Moon – Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown has been considered the ideal book for reading slowly and quietly to children at bedtime, to quiet them down for sleep. This book is a classic, I remember reading this book as a child, so It has been around for a while and been a favorite of many for generations.

2) I Love You As Big As The World – David Van Buren and Tim Warnes

I Love You As Big as The World by David Van Buren & Time Warnes is simple and sweet. It is also colorful. This book is made with Materials that will keep a toddler from destroying it with ease. The imagery will keep your toddler entertained. Also a common baby shower gift book.

3) The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle

Children learn colors, the names of various fruits and meals, and even counting how many items are on each page are all simple for youngsters to comprehend. The book is tiny, making it convenient for a baby or toddler to hold and very sturdy.

4) Napping House – Audrey Wood

The Napping House by Audrey Wood is a teacher recommended book. This book has a lot of repetition which is great for toddlers to learn new words. This book also has beautiful illustrations. Perfect for small children and perfect for bedtime!

5) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom – Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault is a classic alphabet story. This book is super fun to read due to its catchy rhyme. Kids love reading this book, its a must have in your kids library. I’ve added a read along video below for you to preview this book and its rhythmic flow:

6) The Lion And The Mouse – Jerry Pinkney

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney is a beautiful book full of amazing visuals and sound words. This book has little to no words in it, just sound words. Due to just having sound words but amazing illustrations, you can tell your own story using just the pictures on the book. This book would be perfect to show and tell your own story to babies and toddlers. You could have your toddlers point out the many different animals on the pages.

7) All About Weather by Huda Harajli, MA

All About Weather by Huda Harajli,MA is the perfect book for exampling the weather to your toddler. This book goes over the four season, temperature, weather and nature changes. In the book, the author even writes about what to wear for each type of weather. The illustrations are great for kids and nice and colorful. Really good educational book to add to your child’s library!

8) Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! – Mo Willems

Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! by Mo Willems is about a bus driver who steps away and ask readers to make sure the pigeon does drives the bus. Of course, while the bus driver is gone, the pigeon comes and ask to drive the bus and does everything they can to persuades readers to let them drive the bus. I believe this is a good book to teach kids to follow instructions no matter how much strangers might try to convince them to not follow them. This book can be a gateway book to teaching your child how to deal with strangers. Here is a read along found on youtube if you would like to see it before buying it on Amazon:

9) Are You My Mother?- P.D Eastman

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman is a classic book that has stand the test of time for it has been a favorite amongst generations. This book is about a Bird, who starts as an egg in the beginning of the story, who goes on a search for their mother after their mother left the nest to get food for the bird before they hatch. Instead of the bird waiting on their mom’s return they go on a search to find their mother. Asking around , if the animals they met “are you my mother.” Great book for toddlers!

10) Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? – Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? Book is the perfect book for your little one! This book has minimal text, easy flow, pictures of animal, and very colorful images. Will sure be one of your toddler’s favorite book to read!

11) The Day the Crayons Quit- Drew Daywalt

This is probably one of my favorite book for toddlers because of how funny and amusing this book is about crayons speaking out about all the hard work they do. Each color literally gets to speak out their usage in this book and personally each page is hilariously funny to me. Below you will find a read along video from Youtube, so you can get a preview of the book before buying it on Amazon:

12) If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

This is a classic fun story about a mouse who keeps wanting more after a little boy gives him a cookie. This book has last generations, for I remember reading this book as a child. Moms are raving over this book and the series of other books connected with this one!

13) The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear- Don & Audrey Wood

Millions of children all across the world know and love the Little Mouse and the Big Hungry Bear. Little Mouse, like the bear, enjoys strawberries… Little Mouse must figure out a way to keep the bear from devouring his freshly plucked, red, ripe strawberry. The comedy, expressive graphics, and surprising finale make this classic story a favorite.

14) Llama Llama Red Pajama – Anna Dewdney

It was a cute tiny ball of fur. Llama Llama and Mama Llama are two adorable characters. With fascinating images, it teaches small readers to be patient. It is recommended for young readers like toddlers.

15) Little Pea – Amy Krouse Rosenthal

A charming and entertaining story for tiny selective eaters: If Little Pea doesn’t finish all of his sweets, he won’t be allowed to eat any vegetables for dessert! I know its a bit of a twist but this book is perfect for picky eaters.

16) On The Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman

Fantastic illustration that contributes to the story. Wonderful book that will help a young child realize their own uniqueness. A fantastic bedtime story for a toddler who is struggling to grasp that they are unique – and that those who truly love them value that individuality.

17) Oh, The Places You’ll Go – Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss is the embodiment of children’s literature, as he writes about life in a lighthearted and poetic manner that children can grasp. “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” is no exception, as it is about going out into the world and believing in yourself. “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” is a book that every child should read while they’re feeling down. Essentially, this book is about overcoming life’s challenges, such as loneliness, fear, and perplexity, with a straight face and tackling life ahead of you in poetic style that children will enjoy!

18) Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker/Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator)

With poetic rhymes and animated construction machinery, this is a popular amusing bedtime reading. I believe it is especially beneficial for children whose parents work in the construction business. Great for young construction enthusiasts.

19) The Very Busy Spider – Eric Carle

Another excellent book for learning to identify animals and imitate their sounds. Each page has a tiny texture created by the spider thread, which can be felt with the fingertips. This makes “feeling” the spider web develop on each subsequent page a lot more fun. This book’s small size makes it ideal for taking with you wherever you go.

20) Caps For Sale – Esphyr Slobodkina

Caps for Sale is a timeless classic that has been cherished by generations of readers. It has been in print for nearly fifty years. Warmth, comedy, and simplicity abound in this simple narrative about a salesman and a gang of mischievous monkeys. In this revised, enlarged, and redesigned edition, children will delight in following the peddler’s efforts to outwit the monkeys, and will ask to read it again and again.

21) Owl Babies – Martin Waddell

This short story is about the worry that children have when they are separated from their parents. It uses rhyming and mild suspense to great effect. Perfect for children who suffer separation anxiety.

22) Room on the Broom – Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Room on the Broom by Julian Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is an entertaining family read-aloud that is a great book to kick off Halloween festivities and makes a great gift. From the creators of The Gruffalo, a beautiful story of quick wits, friendship, and inclusivity!

23) How to Catch a Mermaid by Adam Wallace

This book is jam packed with objects that toddlers can name and point out. The colors are extremely brilliant, and the book is of excellent quality! Perfect for toddlers whom love mermaids.

24) Baby Be Kind by Jane Cowen-Fletcher

Cute board book that demonstrates and explains various ways to be nice, with examples that children may readily copy. Very simple and easy to understand for children. My older children picked up on the message as well. Cute illustrations to keep young readers interested in the book.

25) First 100 Words by Roger Priddy

This is best vocabulary book for toddlers. The visuals in this book is perfect for keeping the interest of your little ones. Your toddler’s vocabulary will expand over time from reading this book.

26) The Wonderful Things You Will Be- Emily Winfield Martin

If you are into affirmations, this is the best self affirmation book for toddlers! This book helps teach your child self confidence, and how to deal with the world around them.

27) Press Here – Herve Tullet

This book is the best interactive book for toddlers. Your little one will be put in charge and get to think critically, learn about cause and effect, and also identify colors. Perfect book for the toddlers that are more hands on.

28) My First Book of Colors and Shapes by Rockridge Press

Colors and shapes are among the first concepts toddlers learn about the world, and this book makes it fun for them to begin! Each page concentrates on one color and one or two shapes, allowing children to focus and learn without being overwhelmed. Perfect book for teaching your toddler colors and shapes.

29) Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

The Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle promotes kindness and teamwork and is perfect toddlers. This story is about a little blue truck and their new found friends who work together to get the truck out of the mud via teamwork.

30) Peek-a-Who? by Nina Laden

This is a fun and colorful board book for babies and toddlers! The simple repeating language and vivid colors appeal to young children, and this book is the ideal size for them to carry. This is a highly recommended book.

31) Be Brave Little One by Marianne Richmond

Be Brave Little One by Marianne Richmond is a parent’s favorite book to read to their little ones. This book teaches children about bravery and courage. Perfect to read to your toddler.

32) Corduroy by Don Freeman

This classic book is a must have in your toddler’s library! Corduroy by Don Freeman is a beautiful story about a teddy bear that comes alive in the night time of a toy department just to find a button that a little girl’s mom pointed out when she ask to get the bear. The book teaches about adventure and friendship. The storyline is interesting and engaging for little ones.

33) Where’s Ellie? by Salina Yoon

This board book is a hide and seek book for babies and