We are very big on reading and books (and reading books) in the Kwan household. Absolutely, the vast majority of our reading is powered by the public library. That being said, there are several go-to books that I read over and over again, especially when the kiddos are especially young. The best books for babies and toddlers generally feature recognizable, predictable patterns. This repetition helps little ones make better sense of the world around them too.
As you read through the list of titles below, know that we personally own (or have owned) copies of each and every one of them. When I say these are the best books for babies and toddlers, I mean they have been thoroughly tested through real world conditions. From bedtime to anytime, any of these books would make a terrific gift this holiday season. I’m thinking mostly in the pre-preschool demographic (0-3 years) but they’re a great read at any age.
Dinosaur Rocket
There’s a whole series of Dinosaur books by Penny Dale. Dinosaur Rocket! is the one you should start with. It features a team of dinosaur astronauts (dinonauts?) blasting off into the space, visiting the moon, and even playing a quick game of soccer on the lunar surface. Play up the sound effects to the delight of your little one.
That’s Not My Hedgehog
We’ve got several books from the Usborne series touchy-feely books. That’s Not My Hedgehog is our personal favorite, mostly because it ends (spoiler alert) with a prickly back. The sharper, more obvious textures are more of a hit with both of our children.
My Friends
Taro Gomi takes us on quite the journey with My Friends. The unnamed protagonist learns all sorts of skills and abilities from her animal friends, following a predictable pattern that we often capped off with animal sound effects. You might remember when I discussed the grammar in this book a few years ago. We’re hiding from rabbits and running from horses. Even so, I’ll happily let those slide for the adorable illustrations and the surprising effectiveness at bedtime.
Love You Forever
I could go at length with an extra long list of Robert Munsch books. Mortimer, Murmel Murmel Murmel, and I Have to Go are among my personal favorites. It’s not really funny like many of the others in his collection, but Love You Forever is heartwarming (heart-melting, if we’re being honest) and paced perfectly for a bedtime routine. Just be sure to learn the melody for the “song” portion of the book from Robert Munsch himself. (Or give it your own spin, if you like.)
Peekaboo Kisses
When it comes to the best books for babies and toddlers, after they reach a certain age, “lift the flap” style books become hugely attractive. Barney Saltzberg takes this to another level with Peekaboo Kisses. When you flip open the page, it reveals a “touch and feel” part of the animal, like a fluffy kitten or a furry puppy. My son “kisses” his reflection in the mirror on the last page.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
Much like Robert Munsch, I could also go at great length with all the great Eric Carle books. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is popular in this foodie family for sure. That said, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? is likely a better starting point. The simpler structure repeats itself, making it more approachable for younger babies. It’s a good idea to get the set with Panda Bear and Polar Bear too.
Guess How Much I Love You
Have you ever heard the line “I love you to the moon and back”? I don’t think Sam McBratney came up with the phrase himself, but it’s right here in Guess How Much I Love You. Yes, while there’s a narrative of one-upmanship, it’s in the spirit of how much the baby bunny loves their parent and vice versa. It’s cute and relatable.
Goodnight Moon
The Margaret Wise Brown classic is revered for a reason. There’s just something about Goodnight Moon that keeps us coming back to the great green room with red balloons, bears in chairs, and kittens and mittens. It doesn’t even matter that the story doesn’t make much sense — what’s with the bowl of mush? — as the obvious rhyming is a comfort to little ones.
Llama Llama Red Pajama
Speaking of obvious rhyming, Anna Dewdney did such a great job with Llama Llama Red Pajama that it got picked up as its own Netflix series. Even if you never watch the show, the Llama Llama series are among the best books for babies with simple stories, colorful illustrations, and just the right level of repetition.
The Going to Bed Book
Last but not least, we’ve got The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton. There’s a bit of inspiration from Noah’s Ark, with a boatful of animals. They head below deck to get ready for bed, taking a bath, and putting on their pajamas. This helps to reinforce the bedtime routine for kids and puts them in the right mindset to go to sleep. Though other Sandra Boynton books are equally adorable, this has been the most useful for us.
Holiday Gift Ideas for Parents Too
The best gifts are the ones that come from the heart and are actually useful. With these books, you’re not just giving the gift of some words and pictures; you’re giving the gift of a pleasant, predictable bedtime. And real talk? That’s the best gift of all for sleep-deprived, over-extended parents. For more ideas, check out my holiday gift guide for busy parents too. Hopefully, it’ll spark some more good ideas this holiday season.
Disclosure: As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.
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