To give you a hint about what books are available for toddlers, I have searched through recommended lists and asked some mums for their toddlers favourites. This is what we came up with:
- The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
- Pants and More Pants by Giles Andreae and Nick Sharratt
- The Giraffe who got stuck in a knot
- Charlie and Lola books by Lauren Child
- Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg
- All Afloat on Noah’s Boat by Tony Mitton
- Jump in by Ian Whybrow and David Melling
- All Change by Ian Whybrow and David Melling.
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
- Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
- Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
- Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
- Yellow Bird, Black Spider by Dosh & Mike Archer
- Little Baa by Kim Lewis
- Guess how much I love you by Sam McBratney
- The Big Blue Egg by Kath Smith
- What the ladybird heard by Julia Donaldson
- The Smartest giant in town by Julia Donaldson
- Chocolate mousse for greedy Goose Julia DOnaldson
- One Clever Creature by Joseph Ellis
- Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
- Such a Silly Baby by Stephanie Lorig & Richard Lorig
- Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin
- We’re going on a bear hunt by Michael Rosen
- Spot books by Eric Hill
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they’ll have with twenty-six. Open your child’s imagination. Open a book. ~Author Unknown
Learning to read is much easier if your child:
- Has stories regularly read to them
- Has been offered the chance to talk about stories, pictures and what happens in the book
- Remembers/knows and is able to retell familiar stories
- Is able to recite and is aware of some nursery rhymes and songs
- Understands how a book works (e.g. Where the front is, how to turn the pages, lift the flaps if it is a flap book or that text/print is what “tells” the story)
- Has developed the idea that books are fun and to be enjoyed
Sharing books helps your child to:
- empathise with how others feel
- extend his knowledge of the world
- broaden his experiences in a safe and reassuring manner
- develop an understanding of others-culture, family types etc
- deepen their understanding of self and where they fit into the world
A house without books is like a room without windows. ~Heinrich Mann
I am a preschool and primary school teacher and mum to 3 children. I have been involved in education since 1997 and have trained in a variety of educational specialist areas. It is with this expertise that I write articles to help parents and educators provide quality learning experiences for the children in their care.
