Let’s be honest: reading to a 2-year-old isn’t always the cozy picture of love and bonding that we hope it will be. Right? That can’t just be me… can it? Board books can easily become makeshift weapons in the hands of a frustrated toddler. However, fostering a love of books and reading is, as we know, incredibly important. After 11 years and five kids’ worth of books, I’ve compiled a list of toddler books that successfully engaged my little ones. While I adore “Where the Wild Things Are” as much as the next mom, my 2-year-olds never had the attention span to get through the entire story. In contrast, some simple yet interactive books captured their interest and served as gateways to a wider world of reading.
So, without further ado, here are the top 15 books that made my toddlers fall in love with reading!
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#15: Rainbow Love
Pros: This book has vibrant colors, textures, and cut-out bits that are like catnip for my toddler. It’s also a fun opportunity to practice colors if your toddler is up for it.
Cons: While it holds my son’s attention, it doesn’t quite capture MY attention.
#14: The Gruffalo
Pros: “The Gruffalo” has a great rhythmic rhyming pattern that makes it fun to read aloud. There’s also a charming animated adaptation (short, but delightful) that makes the book familiar to toddlers- toddlers love familiar things. Plus, it appeals to older kids as well—my twin 8-year-olds love it.
Cons: The story is a bit longer, so if your toddler isn’t into books yet, it might be best to hold off on this one unless they’re already familiar with the characters or you don’t mind only getting through part of it.
#13: Are You There Little Bee?
Pros: My son likes touching and tracing this book’s designs. With minimal words, it still manages to tell a simple narrative that’s easy for my toddler to follow—perfect for those chaotic moments when he’s intent on turning pages at warp speed.
Cons: Let’s be real: this isn’t exactly Shakespearean literature. The words are simple and repetitive. This might be a pro for some, but it can also become a bit monotonous if your child wants to read it… oh, I don’t know… 97 times in a single day.
#12: Itsy Bitsy Spider
Pros: These are the lyrics to (mostly) familiar nursery songs, which means we end up singing this book instead of reading it. Music is usually a hit with my son. Plus, it has cutouts that he loves to poke with his chubby little fingers and the art is cute.
Cons: Not exactly groundbreaking or heartwarming—just songs in book form.
#11: The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog
Pros: The picture of the half-eaten hot dog on the last page of this book has received an outrageous amount of attention in our house. Seriously, my son can’t get enough of tracking down that bite-marked beauty.
Cons: In my humble opinion, Pigeon isn’t winning any awards for “Best Role Model.” He’s a bit of a jerk, but he does share in the end. So maybe he’s got a shot at redemption? The jury’s still out on the Pigeon series.
#10: Are You My Mother?
Pros: Mothers are a fan favorite among many toddlers, and my son loves to respond with a dramatic “Nooooo!” after every “Are you my mother?” It’s utterly adorable.
Cons: No real cons here, other than it’s just not one he reaches for repeatedly. He likes it, but he’s not exactly obsessed with it.
#9: Dear Zoo
Pros: Flaps and fiddly bits galore! This book allows toddlers to move pieces to reveal animals, making it a great introduction to the world of reading. It also teaches different zoo animals.
Cons: While fun and cute, it didn’t exactly tug at my heartstrings. To make it to the very top of my list, tears must be shed.
#8: The Pout-Pout Fish
Pros: With great rhythm, a sweet story, lovely art, and just the right length for my toddler’s attention span, this book checks all the boxes.
Cons: There are a whole bunch of books in this series, so you might end up spending a fortune and amassing an entire library. Con? Who can say?
#7: Elephant and Piggy: Listen to My Trumpet!
Pros: We love Elephant and Piggie in general, but this one is a standout. The reader gets to make silly sounds, the art tells a story even without words, and I appreciate how Piggy and Gerald prioritize their friendship over less important things..
Cons: See #8 (seriously, those series can add up!)
#6 Elephant and Piggie: Should I Share My Ice Cream?
Pros: Ice cream! My son loves to point out and discuss the ice cream over and over again. Plus, it promotes sharing—a hot topic in the toddler universe.
Cons: See #8 (yes, again!)
#5: The Grumpy Monkey
Pros: I absolutely love the art in this book. I also love that it touches on emotional intelligence and mental health while introducing less common animals like lemurs. It’s a fantastic way to branch out from the usual “dog” and “duck” conversations.
Cons: A bit more wordy than some others on this list, so it may be better suited for older toddlers.
#4: I Love You to the Moon and Back
Pros: The single greatest pro of this book is the “touching noses” part. The bears do it, and my son loves to touch noses with me because of it. Cue the warm fuzzies! It also inspires him to dish out plenty of “I love you” declarations. Plus, it’s short and sweet.
Cons: It doesn’t tell much of a story, but it’s still so endearing.
#3: Don’t Push the Button
Pros: This book is clever, funny, and appeals to a wide age range. It’s short, interactive, and feels more like playtime than reading time. It’s been a hit with our older kids as they read it to our toddler, and I love watching them giggle together.
Cons: It might—just might—promote the idea of not listening or doing what you’re told not to do. But what’s a little rebellion among friends?
#2: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Pros: An absolute classic. The art is phenomenal, the uniquely shaped pages are delightful, and the story teaches science, days of the week, food, health, and growth. It’s incredible how much is packed into this lightly worded book. You can even get a version with a plush caterpillar, which my kids love. (Plushie addiction? Yes.)
Cons: The only con? My kid loves it so much that I’ve memorized it verbatim. Send help.
#1: Little Blue Truck
Pros: I mean, COME ON. I can’t say enough about this charming adventure. It’s quick, the art is gorgeous, it teaches morals and character, you get to make tons of animal sounds, it rhymes… it’s just so darn uplifting. We’ve read it upwards of 17,000 times, and I’m still not tired of it.
Cons: None. Zero. Zilch. I don’t care what anyone says about this book because it single-handedly turned my son into a book-loving toddler. And that is priceless.
I love this please keep adding more!