Best Books to Read With Infants and Young Toddlers

Good books for infants and toddlers are those that will endure many hours of mouthing and page-turning. Look for books that are cloth, vinyl or made of thick, durable cardboard (often called "board books"). In addition, children this age learn best from rhyming books or those that make use of short repetitive words or phrases. Here are some good picks for this age range:

Pat the Bunny

Pat the Bunny is a classic infant/toddler book that children will want to read over and over again. It has plenty of tactile stimulation integrated throughout and focuses on events and things that are very familiar to children of this age.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

This is another classic children's book, but now it's available in board-book format. It features repetitive questions about animals and colors that your child will soon be able to answer before you even turn the page.

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?

This board book is especially fun for the toddler who is just learning to make animal and other sounds. In addition, you just can't go wrong with a book by Dr. Suess.

Goodnight Moon

This fun and colorful board book allows toddlers to learn and find all the little items in the pictures (comb, brush, mittens, kittens) as they grow.

Baby Faces

Research has shown that babies just love looking at other babies. This book is a DK book, famous for vibrant color images against white backgrounds. Help your child learn to recognize emotions by naming what each child is feeling in the pictures.

My First Baby Signs

This book is a great way to introduce signing to your baby. Even before he learns to talk, you'll have a way to communicate. Practice the signs with your child as you read and be sure to praise correct signing for reinforcement.

Sheep in a Jeep

This book has quick, short rhymes that your infant or toddler will love. As an added bonus, the rhymes are just ridiculous enough to read aloud with older children as well.

I See a Cow

This book is a board book that has designs on a plastic surface on each page. The difference in textures is fascinating and stimulating to babies and toddlers alike.

Potty!

Reading about potty training can be a good first step toward introducing toileting words and concepts to your child. It can also help decrease fear of the toilet and make your toddler more comfortable with this very big step in his life.

Books About Physical Activity

These books can help introduce concepts and vocabulary that have to do with dancing, sports, the body, movement and being physically active.

Welcome with Love

When a new baby is on the way, prepare siblings for the arrival with these top book picks. These books help explain what will happen once the baby is home and help older children learn how to deal with feelings of jealousy and confusion.

Fly-Away Ladybug and Other Lamaze Books

These books by Lamaze are educational, durable and fun. They feature classic stories that babies love and will want to read time and time again. In addition, these books have an unconditional lifetime guarantee, so even if the original book doesn't make it through, a replacement will.

3 Sources

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Mueller V, Sepulveda A, Rodriguez S. The effects of baby sign training on child development. Early Child Dev Care. 2014;84(8):1178-1191. doi:10.1080/03004430.2013.854780
Kimball V. The Perils and Pitfalls of Potty Training. Pediatr Ann. 2016;45(6):e199‐e201. doi:10.3928/00904481-20160512-01