Skip to Content

How to Find the Best Books to Read to Toddlers

Sharing is caring!

Reading is such an important skill for life and needs to be introduced to young children in a positive way.

 It can be somewhat overwhelming when selecting books for either your personal library or as a gift for another child in your life.

Here are some simple ways to find good books that your toddler will LOVE.

Are you looking for ways to get your toddler to be interested in books? Boost their early literacy skills by using these simple tips to pick the right ones!

(This post contains affiliate links.  To read our full disclosure policy click here.)

Reading to Toddlers Benefits

Toddlers gain so many new skills from being exposed to books.  Here are just a few of the perks to doing book time with your little one:

  • Learn new vocabulary
  • Exposure to letters and numbers
  • Sharpen fine motor skills through pointing and page-turning
  • Exposure to emotions
  • Problem-solving skills

Look at the Pictures

Chances are your toddler can’t read yet so what do you think they are most interested in?  The pictures!  Pick books that have beautiful engaging pictures.

At times you may find your toddler is too busy to actually sit and read with you but you can modify the length of the story by using the pictures to tell it.

  A book with great pictures is also perfect when your little one has some time to read independently.

Focus on Their Interests

If you want a book that will engage your child, then look for one that includes something they are interested in already.  

If you think about it, how many times do you buy or check out a book at the library at random?

 I do it here and there, but most of the time I choose something I am interested in and want to learn more about.

The same goes for your toddler.  For example, my son LOVES dinosaurs.  

When we read dinosaur books he is more engaged than if I were to choose a book about sheep.

 If you are working on a concept that you want to teach through a book then see if you can find one that fits their interest area.

Here are some examples of great books by interests:

Dinosaurs

My Big Dinosaur Book

Dinosaur Kisses

Little Dinos Don’t Bite

Animals

My Big Animal Book

Baby Touch and Feel Animals

If Animals Kissed Good Night

Bugs


The Grouchy Ladybug

The Very Busy Spider

National Geographic Kids Look and Learn:  Bugs ( Love the real pictures in this book!)

Farm

First Farm Words

Old MacDonald’s Farm (Poke-A-Dot) This one is great for fine motor practice!

Pop Up Peek-A-Boo:  Farm

Toddler Not interested in Books?  Lower your Expectations!

Toddler attention spans are short, so don’t expect them to sit for 15 minutes at a time and read with you (although some children may do that.)

 Pick books that you can read in just a couple of minutes.  With that said don’t not get a book because it is too long.  

If it has great pictures then talk about those instead of reading the entire story.  Keep reading a positive experience.  

Try not to get frustrated when your toddler doesn’t want to finish the story.

RELATED POST:  Reading Tips for Toddler Parents

Material

Stick to board books if you are worried about your child wrecking your books.  

These books are durable and can last a long time.  If you do choose regular books teach your child how to be gentle with them and model that for them.  

Until they truly understand how to handle regular books, don’t leave them alone with any you don’t want shredded!

Toddler magazines are also a great option to encourage early literacy skills.

They are a different feel and style then books and provides a completely different experience.  Once your child is done “reading” it you can re-purpose it for crafts or scissor practice.

Choices

If you have a couple of books that you think your toddler would like, let them make the final decision.  Hold up both books and simply ask them which one they want. 

We spend a lot of our day telling toddlers what to do so it is nice to let them make decisions when possible.  Choices are also WONDERFUL for language development.

Pick Books with Interesting Content for Your Toddler Books List

What is the book about and what will your toddler learn from it? 

You don’t always have to pick out books that will teach educational concepts but books can be a great tool if you need to teach your toddler about something. 

For example, if a holiday is coming up choose a book that tells about it.  If you are potty training then grab a book about potty training. 

Take advantage of reading time together to teach your toddler something new.  Here are some great ideas of concept books to get you started!

Holidays

Corduroy’s Christmas Surprise

Llama Llama Give Thanks

Happy Easter, Mouse!

Potty Training

Potty Time With Elmo

Potty

P is for Potty

Positive Behaviors

Teeth are Not for Biting

Little Dinos Don’t Hit (We love this one at my house!)

Sharing Time

Frequently Asked Questions 

What are the best books for 3-year-olds?

You can follow the same strategies for toddlers as you can with older children to pick out books!  

They may even be able to express more of what kinds of books they are interested in which makes selecting them easier.

Follow their lead when you take them to the library and see what they find!

Can toddlers learn to read?

This is a complex question…but I am going to say…YES!

If you give a young child a book and they are able to point to a picture and label it correctly, I would consider that a form of reading.

Not everyone one includes that…but it is a pretty important skill and definitely a step in the right direction.

Should the focus of your book time be to teach your toddler to read?  Probably not…Keep it a positive and fun experience.

Let them enjoy the pictures and just hearing the stories…reading on their own will come later!

How do I introduce my toddler to a book?

You can introduce books to toddlers at any time throughout their day.

Reading books before bedtime or nap time is an excellent way to calm down your child and prepare them for rest.

Letting them look at books on their own during car rides can be a great way for them to explore them independently. 

Grab your FREE Milestone Guide HERE.

Related Posts You Will Enjoy:

The Best Independent Toddler Activities

5 Fun Bath Toys That Encourage Development

Top Non Toy Gifts for Toddlers

4 Simple Ways to Boost Your Toddler’s Vocabulary

16 Toys that Encourage Imaginary Play

Do you know how to find the best books to read to toddlers? There are many toddler books available to buy or checkout at the library. If your toddler is not interested in books you may not be giving them the right ones to explore. Try these toddler reading tips to encourage early literacy skills in your little one!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.