by Justine Deputy, RN, MSN
I recently asked Mamas in our Birth Center Mama Facebook Group for recommendations for books for my toddler. They had such a great list of recommendations, I thought we should put it together as a resource for others. So here is a list of books for babies and toddlers recommended by Birth Center Mamas! Comments included below are from Birth Center Mamas that recommended the books. Enjoy!
- Anything by Robert McCloskey: One Morning in Maine; Time of Wonder; Burt Dow, Deep Water Man; and Blueberries for Sal. Time of Wonder has especially beautiful descriptions of the natural world, the kind of thing that, repeated enough times, sticks in a child’s mind from his earliest days and that his appreciation of deepens with age and experience.
- Little Blue Truck
- Where’s My Dragon
- King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub
- Rosie Revere Engineer
- Ladybug Girl
- Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
- Ocean: A Photicular Book
- Curious George
- Richard Scary
- Pout Pout Fish
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
- Oh the Places You’ll Go
- Red Wagon by Renata Liwska: I love the illustrations and use of imagination in this book!
- The Knowing Book by
- Little Owls Night by
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen: The one is fun and catchy! One we end up singing in the car and on the trails!
- I Love You, Little One by Nancy Tafuri: Such a sweet book about mama and baby animals.
- What Do You Do With an Idea and What Do You Do With a Problem by Kobi Yamada
- Adventures with Barefoot Critters by Teagan White: Lots of great illustrations with things to point out for a toddler and helps to teach ABCs and the months.
- Anything by Mo Willems
- Clifford the Big Red Dog series
- Biscuit series
- Olivia
- If You Buy a Mouse a Cookie series
- Pete the Cat
- Maisy
- Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes: This is one of those books I gift to babies again and again. The illustrations are captivating and the story is gentle. A great read for anytime but especially nap time or bedtime.
- Sometimes I Like to Curl Up In A Ball by Vicki Churchill: This book has been a favorite of mine from before I even had kids. It is beautifully illustrated and it seems to captivate even babies who don’t generally care to be read to yet. My kids are on their 4th copy of this book.
- Jamberry by Bruce Degen: This is a rollicking rhyming adventure of a boy and a bear picking berries for jam. The illustrations are excellent and have lots to point out and talk about if the baby isn’t quite into having the text read to them yet.
- The Gossie and Friends books by Olivier Dunrea: These books are absolute gems. The characters are very relatable and the prose is the perfect length for the baby and toddler crowd. Bonus: they make excellent early reader books when your baby gets older. My kids especially have liked “Gideon”, “Ollie the Stomper”, and “Peedie”, but we haven’t met a gosling book we haven’t enjoyed.
- Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes by Salley Mavor: This is one of the better-illustrated nursery rhyme treasuries out there. Definitely worth having on your shelf.
- King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently: This is a gentle story full of adventure for the preschool crowd. My one and three year old love it and I don’t mind reading it on repeat because it is just that good.
- Anthology of Beatrix Potter
- Anthology of Aesop’s Fables
- Llama Llama Red Pajama
- Big Red Barn
- Owl Babies
- Doctor DeSoto
- Click Clack Moo
- One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo
- Would They Love a Lion? By Katie MacDonald Denton (it is out of print but well worth buying a used copy)
- The Book with No Pictures!
- Love You Forever
- Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman
- You Are My I Love You
- Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You
- How to Bathe Your Little Dinosaur
- How to Feed your Cheeky Monkey
- Dear Zoo
- Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore: My big kids have all gone through periods of being fascinated with this book.
- A House in the Woods by Inga Moore: I recently borrowed this from the library and ended up reading it multiple times to all 4 big kids. It is sort of whimsical and just enough adventure for the preschool crowd.
- Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell E Hoban: It’s a longer story but my 3 oldest kids all really liked it between 2 and 3 and they still enjoy it.
- Corduroy by Don Freeman: This one has endured the test of time for a reason. It is an excellent early adventure story for kids.
- Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman: This book is pure silliness. It is perfect for toddlers with a short attention span.
- Mighty, Mighty Construction Site
- Giraffes Can’t Dance
- All Better
- Snappy Croc
- Snow by Uri Shulevitz
- The Tickle Monster. All 3 of my kids loved that one for years and we have so much fun with it. It does usually require reading a second book to settle down at bedtime though.
- The Spider and the Fly illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi: This is my favorite children’s book, personally. Great moral and amazing illustrations. It’s the single book I always slip in the bag at baby showers, I love it that much.
- Anything by Sandra Boyton
- Little Bea and the Snowy Day
- Ninja, Ninja Never Stop
- Harold and the Purple Crayon
- The Day the Crayons Quit
- Leo Lionni Books
- I Like Me
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Goodnight Moon
- Are You My Mother
- Anything by Julia Donaldson. They rhyme. They’re amazing.
Usborne Books
These Usborne books were recommended by Birth Center Mamas. Looking for an Usborne consultant? Contact Birth Center Mama Catherine Arent!
- Pull Back Bug
- Train or Car Book
- There’s a Mouse About the House
- See Inside Your Body
- Flip Up Fairy Tales
- Usborne Farm Tales
- Busy Books
- Shine-a-Light books: These are tons of non-fiction fun and are interactive as you shine your flashlight behind each page to reveal a hidden image.
- Lift-the-flap Colors and Numbers books
- All Better
- Jungle Sounds
- I’m a Dirty Dinosaur
- Love You Hoo
- Cuddle Bear
A Few Extras!
Looking for a place to save money buying books? Check out Thrift Books. Locally, check out the library and 2nd and Charles!
These finger puppets are great to go with books!