There are literally thousands upon thousands of books for toddlers on the market today…some are good, some are OK and some (I’m afraid to say) are downright terrible!
But every once in a while you find one that strikes a chord with both you and your child. One that makes you laugh, cry or maybe even learn something along the way. That you end up reaching for night after night, taking on long car journeys and packing in your suitcase when you go on holiday, before ultimately tucking it safely away in your attic for future generations to enjoy.
For us, these 10 amazing books are just that…all absolute keepers, worth their weight in gold, that I never tire to read to my little boy (no matter how many times he asks)! Keep scrolling for the full list of our 10 favourites, along with details of where you can buy them all!
Our 10 favourite books for toddlers
There’s a tiger in the garden (by Lizzy Stewart)
When Grandma says she’s seen a tiger in the garden, Nora doesn’t believe her. She’s too old to play Grandma’s silly games! Everyone knows that tigers live in jungles, not gardens. So even when Nora sees butterflies with wings as big as her arm, and plants that try and eat her toy giraffe, and a very grumpy polar bear that likes fishing, she knows there’s absolutely, DEFINITELY no way there could be a tiger in the garden…or could there?
A feast for the eyes (with plenty of laughs along the way), this book is the perfect story to feed your little one’s imagination. An instant classic in my opinion! Available to buy here.
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The Singing Mermaid (by Julia Donaldson)
Tempted by the promise of fame and fortune, the Singing Mermaid joins a circus. The crowds love her, but the poor mermaid is kept in a tank by the wicked circus owner Sam Sly, and she soon longs to return to the freedom of her ocean home.
This delightful rhyming adventure is without doubt Teddy’s most requested bedtime story; a classic tale of good overcoming evil. Available to buy here.
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Oh, the places you’ll go (by Dr. Seuss)
The classic poem from Dr. Seuss encourages us to take life in our stride. From fun times and triumphs to lurches and slumps, Dr. Seuss takes an entertaining look at the adventures that life may have in store for us.
The perfect life lesson for little ears…you might even learn something about yourself here! Available to buy via this link.
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Happy Hooves, Ta Dah! (By A. Bogie)
Happy Hooves, Ta Dah! is the first book in a series of tales about the exciting and funny adventures of five hoofed friends who use the power of teamwork and friendship to overcome challenges. In this book, donkey dreams about a trip to the beach and invites his friends to have an adventure with him. But how will the animals cross the terrifying cattle grid that lays ahead?
We absolutely love this collection of rhyming books from Anna Bogie, teaching kids that with friendship and team work, you can achieve anything! Available to buy here.
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Daddy long legs (by Nadine Brun-Cosme)
The car had trouble starting this morning. It gets Matty to nursery, but what if later it won’t start at all . . . how will Dad pick him up? Matty is very worried. But Dad soon puts Matty’s fears to rest with a series of increasingly imaginative suggestions for alternative modes of transport – from a tractor to a dragon, a polar bear to a rowing boat. But, if all else fails, he’ll come on foot . . . because to come and pick up Matty, Dad’s legs will never be too tired.
The sweetest story of fatherly love, and the perfect book for working dads like me. Available to buy here.
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The Magical Wood (by Mark Lemon)
The Magical Wood is set in a beautiful wood with a river wandering through. One cold and stormy day, the wind blew a terrible gale. The next day the tree family woke to find that Strongest Tree had fallen to the woodland floor and had sadly died. How would the tree family survive the seasons without the strength of Strongest Tree? Throughout each season the tree family are visited by a new animal, offering advice and support to the trees.
A heart-warming and beautifully illustrated tale of loss, friendship and hope, created especially for children going through any kind of bereavement. Available to buy here, with money from every sale going to the amazing Winston’s Wish!
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How to be a lion (by Ed Vere)
Meet Leonard – a lion like no other. Leonard’s best friend is Marianne, a duck. But lions chomp ducks, don’t they? What will the pair do when their way of life is threatened? A philosophical tale that’s full of heart, celebrating the quietest and gentlest among us.
An adorable tale of friendship, teaching kids to be themselves and that you don’t have to ROAR to be heard…available to buy here.
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A Squash and a Squeeze (by Julia Donaldson)
A little old lady lives all by herself in her house but she’s not happy – it’s just too small, even for one. Whatever can she do? The wise old man knows: bring in a flappy, scratchy, greedy, noisy crowd of farmyard animals. When she pushes them all out again, she’ll be amazed at how big her house feels!
An absolute classic, teaching people (big and small) to be happy with what we have in life. Available to buy here.
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Best World Book Ever (by Richard Scarry)
Kenny and Kathy Bear and their Busytown friends introduce new and familiar names for objects grouped by subject, theme, and setting, in the city and on the farm, at the dentist and at the grocer’s, in the kitchen and at the circus and all the places they frequent. This book is packed with hundreds of names for objects both familiar and new, grouped by subject, occasion and theme, from colours and numbers to fruit and vegetables to animals, vehicles and so much more.
Teddy’s absolute favourite travel companion, this book is amazing at expanding your child’s vocabulary and their all-round knowledge of the world. Available to buy here.
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The Fox and the Star (by Coralie Bickford-Smith)
Once there was a Fox who lived in a deep, dense forest. For as long as Fox could remember, his only friend had been Star, who lit the forest paths each night. But then one night Star was not there, and Fox had to face the forest all alone.
A beautifully illustrated story about love, loss and learning to accept change. Available to buy here.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s list of our favourite books for toddlers! As always, we’d love to hear from you, so if you particularly love any of the above books, or can recommend any other amazing books for toddlers that the world needs to know about, please do share your thoughts with the group via the comments section below!
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Hello
I’d like to share with you the amazing story and illustration on a book which is awesome for toddlers:
“Wolfie The Bunny” written by Ame Dyckman/illustration by Zachariah Ohora
My lil one loves the story to the moon and back these days for her bedtime.
Hope you enjoy as well.