Best books for babies and toddlers
Chunky pages, bold pictures and rhythm you can chant. These are the books babies chew, toddlers carry around and parents can recite in their sleep.
Babies do not need a plot. They need your voice, your face and a rhythm they can settle into. In the first two years a book is mostly a way to be close, to hear new words and to point at a picture and watch you name it.
That is why the best books for this age are short, sturdy and full of repeating sounds. If a toddler wants the same page forty times in a row, you are doing it right.
What to look for in a baby or toddler book
- Board pages that survive drool, drops and enthusiastic page-turning.
- Bold, simple pictures with clear outlines, which are easier for young eyes to follow.
- Rhyme, rhythm and repetition, because predictable words help children learn language.
- Interactive touches such as flaps, textures or animal noises that give little hands a job.
- Everyday themes: animals, bedtime, mealtimes, family and the world around them.
How to share a book with a baby
Hold your baby on your lap or lie beside them on the floor. Point to the pictures, change your voice for different animals, and do not worry about finishing the page. Short and cheerful wins: two minutes is plenty, and you can stop the moment attention drifts.
Try this: Let toddlers choose the book, turn the pages and tell you what they see. Their version of the story counts.
Ten books to start with
Guess How Much I Love You
By Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram
A gentle back-and-forth between a little hare and a big hare, each trying to outdo the other’s love. McBratney is from Northern Ireland, and the book’s tender, quiet rhythm makes it a favourite at bedtime.
Little Owl Lost
By Chris Haughton
A baby owl falls from the nest and goes looking for his mammy. Haughton, an Irish author and illustrator, uses bold colour and very few words, so it works beautifully for babies and for toddlers who love to shout out the answers. It was first published as A Bit Lost.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
By Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle
A call-and-response pattern and bright collage animals make this a book toddlers quickly learn to “read” aloud themselves.
Dear Zoo
By Rod Campbell
Lift the flaps to find out which animal the zoo has sent as a pet. It is silly, it is surprising and it teaches children to wait for the reveal.
Peepo!
By Janet and Allan Ahlberg
A baby’s-eye view of a cosy day, with peepholes cut into the pages and rhyming text. Children, and the grown-ups reading it, love spotting the details in the family home.
Goodnight Moon
By Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
A soothing farewell to every object in a little rabbit’s bedroom. The slow, sleepy lines make it a classic wind-down book.
Where’s Spot?
By Eric Hill
Mum goes looking for a puppy who is not in the basket, not in the clock and not under the stairs. The flaps and the simple search make it a great first lift-the-flap book.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle
Counting, days of the week and a satisfying transformation, wrapped in die-cut holes that little fingers love to poke through.
Moo, Baa, La La La!
By Sandra Boynton
Animal noises, rhymes and cheerful nonsense in a very small package. Perfect for pointing, copying and giggling.
Hug
By Jez Alborough
Almost wordless and entirely heartwarming: a little chimp wants a cuddle, and everyone around him is getting one. It is a wonderful book for very young listeners learning about feelings.
Choosing books for a first birthday or baby shower
Board books make the best gifts at this age because they last. A small set of three or four with different textures, such as a flap book, a rhyming book and a bedtime book, gives parents variety. See our gift guide for more ideas by age.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start reading to my baby?
You can start from the first days. Newborns will not follow the story, but they get used to your voice and the rhythm of language. Many parents make a bedtime book part of the routine from the first few weeks.
What kind of books are best for a one-year-old?
Choose board books with big, clear pictures, short rhyming text and, if you like, flaps or textures. Books about animals, families, bedtime and daily routines are all good picks.
Is it a problem if my toddler chews books?
Not at all. Chewing is a normal way for young children to explore. Board books are made to be chewed on, and you can wipe them clean with a damp cloth.
My toddler will not sit still for a story. What can I do?
Keep it short, follow their lead, and let them move. Some toddlers listen better while they play. Read a page or two, and try again later. Interactive books with flaps often hold attention longer.
Moving on to older children? Try our guide to books for preschoolers (ages 3–5).