Book Recommendations for a Toddler
March 23, 2006
A blog friend (see Fred's blog here) asked me recently if I had any book recommendations for him to read to his two-year-old daughter. What I told him was that I tend to be better at recommending books for older kids (because I read those myself). But I was fortunate enough to spend time with my friend Sara recently, going through her kids' books, and talking about which ones they loved. Here are some thoughts from that, and from suggestions that other friends with kids have made (especially Eileen and Scott):
- JEZ ALBOROUGH: Hug
. I thought that this book was adorable. It is told mostly in pictures of animals, and affirms the love between parent and child.
- ERIC CARLE: The Very Busy Spider (Board Book)
and Papa Please Get The Moon For Me (Classic Board Books).
- KATIE DAVIS: Who Hops?
. I haven't read this one, but it looks like a lot of fun.
- ALEXANDRA DAY: The Carl the dog books: Good Dog, Carl
, Carl Goes Shopping
, Carl's Afternoon in the Park
. These are books without any words, in which a rottweiler is left in charge of a baby, and adventures ensue.
- JULES FEIFFER: The Daddy Mountain
(added 3/25 based on feedback from Carrie).
- MONIQUE FELIX: The Wind
, The Boat
, The Plane
, etc. About a clever mouse escaping from the book, with great illustrations.
- RUTH KRAUSS and CROCKETT JOHNSON (illustrator): The Carrot Seed Board Book
.
- BILL MARTIN, JOHN ARCHAMBAULT, AND LOIS EHLERT (Illustrator): Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
.
- EUGENIA and VLADIMIR RADUNSKY: Yucka Drucka Droni
. Suggested by my friend Scott as "one we checked out from the library last year that our kids STILL talk about..."
- PEGGY RATHMANN: Good Night, Gorilla board book
. A classic!
- ANNETTE SIMON: Mocking Birdies
(this one I reviewed recently on my blog)
- WILLIAM STEIG: Pete's a Pizza
.
- MARTIN WADDELL and PATRICK BENSON (illus.): Owl Babies
(added 3/25 based on feedback from Carrie).
- MO WILLEMS: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
! Also (added 3/25 based on feedback from Camille) Knuffle Bunny : A Cautionary Tale
There are, of course, many, many others. But these could be a good start for any toddler's library. You can find other picture books that have caught my eye by scrolling down in the left-hand sidebar of this blog, or by clicking through to my Kids Recommended page. Happy Reading! -- Jen