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Great books for toddlers

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Encourage your toddler to be a lifelong reader (12-24 months)

Language skills are starting to develop!  Toddlers can learn many new words every day, but they have to have the exposure.  Books and magazines will help your little Bug make the most of this powerful time in his development.

There's a sad and startling difference between the number of words that underprivileged children hear in a day contrasted with the number of words that privileged children do.  The more words children are exposed to early in life, the richer their linguistic tool kit will be.  A rich vocabulary leads to rich thinking—the lifelong benefit is immeasurable.

Books are not broccoli

When you learn as fast as a toddler does, not everything has to be expressly "educational." (To tell you the truth, this is true your entire life.) Children need to learn that books are play.

Silly books, dopey books, and books that have no redeeming value whatsoever are just fine. It's all about discovering the pleasures of imagination.

Jamberry

"Quickberry! Quackberry! Pick me a blackberry!"

Nice rhythmic language and good illustrations make this a favorite. My son still insists on calling strawberries "jamberries."
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Dr. Seuss's ABC

"Big B, little b, what begins with B? Barber baby bubbles and a bumblebee . . . "

Punchy and not too long, with great rhythms and enough silliness to make everybody happy. Dr. Seuss's funny little books have a serious gift for the music of language.
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The pleasure of owning books

The library is wonderful, but there's something very special about your child having her own books. If new books are too expensive, you can buy secondhand books very cheaply. Children develop passionate relationships with books—give them their own copies to cherish for years to come.

Remember that toddlers learn by example. When was the last time you gave yourself a few minutes to read? It's hard to make the time with busy little people running around, but it will do your child a world of good to see you reading.

Runaway Bunny

A tender and reassuring message to little people struggling with independence and the confusing desire to push their parents away.
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The Snowy Day

There are very few books for this age group that won't make you want to shoot yourself after the 900th reading. This is one. It beautifully captures the pleasures of being a city kid, and a child's way of viewing the world. Fantastic illustrations.
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Where the Wild Things Are

Especially good for boys, but all toddlers wrestle with aggressive feelings. This is a classic for good reason.
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Other lenses on encouraging your child to read

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. . . and one good magazine

Animal Baby magazine is put out by the Wildlife Foundation. It's great fun for a small child to receive mail. Interesting illustrations of animals, including many you have never, ever heard of. I still don't know exactly what an echidna is.

Potty training

Their favorite subject!

Yes, you will be heartily sick of these by the time you're done with training. Sorry about that. These are the least annoying that I've found, anyway.
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Mr. Rogers on video

Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood isn't on many PBS affiliates any more, and there's really never been anything like it. While Sesame Street is fantastic, no one can touch Fred Rogers in his simple, direct way of speaking to children about emotions.
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Sesame Street is great too!

I still love Grover, Bert & Ernie, and the Count. Sesame Street is serious education for small children. And the old episodes don't have Elmo! (Sorry, Elmo fans. I love him too . . . in small doses.)
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How can I put TV shows on a lens about reading?

Well, it depends on the TV show . . .

I did debate with myself whether or not to include these. We all know that TV overload is no good for kids (or adults), and most of us don't exactly need to add to what we're watching. But maybe we could start watching better stuff!

I was amazed to find this link to some studies done on Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. I've always believed these gentle, intelligent programs were good for kids--but this study actually found improvements in the GPA of high school students who watched Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood as children. Pretty amazing.


Markle Foundation Study, 1996 (Reported in Richard Huff, "Educational TV for tykes pays off, study says," The Des Moines Register , 8/4/96)
Based on research from University of Massachusetts and University of Kansas, the findings revealed positive effects revealed in terms of grade-point averages in high school English, science and math over non-viewing peers for those who watched SESAME STREET and MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD

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What's your favorite book for toddlers?

Let me know and I'll check it out. If I love it, I'll add it to the lens.

  • CoolStuff Oct 15, 2008 @ 9:25 am | delete
    Nice lense, in the UK we have a series of rhyming books called the Gruffalo, not sure if available in the US, but they are my sons favourites
  • Mortira Sep 30, 2008 @ 1:07 am | delete
    Great lens! I agree that shows like Sesame Street really do help to educate kids and enrich their imaginations. People sometimes forget that it's not TV in general that's bad, it's what you watch, and how much.
    5 stars and a lensroll!
  • SemperFidelis Sep 1, 2008 @ 3:26 am | delete
    If you want books for toddlers, simply go downstairs at my house! Over the years we have accumulated hundreds of books. That's a good thing! Blessed by a Squid Angel today! :)
    Colleen ~ www.squidoo.com/squid-angel
  • CounselMom Jul 16, 2008 @ 4:09 pm | delete
    We love to read and our 3.5 year old loves to go to the library and bring home stacks of books. We've read to him since he was a baby.
  • bygproductions Jul 4, 2008 @ 12:27 am | delete
    My favorite illustrator for childrens books is Eloise Wilkins. My favorite books for toddlers is durable cloth or board books that they can use without easily damaging them. I still have a picture in my mind of my oldest, now 19, when she was under 2 laying on her back w/one knee bent and the other ankle resting on the bent knee, arms raised above her face looking at a durable fabric book. Now, even thought she's dyslexic, she loves books and goes to the library weekly. Sorry for the long reply hope you all find it encouraging.
  • midaste Jun 20, 2008 @ 8:02 pm | delete
    I love to read to my young son and have listed his favorite books at one of my lenses. However, I have tried to write short books for him myself. I self published one that I sell in print or give away for free as a download at www.squirtthewhale.com. Feel free to check it out.p>
  • Robin Addison Jun 8, 2008 @ 2:59 am | delete
    This isn't a book, but a CD i found. It's a violin concerto based on THE RUNAWAY BUNNYl It's rather like Peter and the Wolf with the violin portraying the bunny. Brooke Shields narrates it! (I also heard Glenn Close perform it at Carnegie Hall.) My four year old, Myles, loves it! Wanted to share!
  • Gandree Jun 3, 2008 @ 9:16 pm | delete
    Great lens for people who don't know what to buy their favorite little one's next birthday. Would you believe "Everyone Poops" became my granddaughter's favorite book and she asked everyone who came to the house to read it ;0)
  • Jun 2, 2008 @ 12:31 am | delete
    We Love "Zen Shorts" around here- by Jon Muth.

    Thanks for the great lens

    Peace
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sonia_simone

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