While any of the thousands of picture books out there is probably better than no book, some toddler books stand out from the rest. Here are tips on choosing.
It might seem improbable that those squirmy, feisty toddlers could love nothing more than sitting on a comfy lap to read their favourite book… but it’s true. Most toddlers are drawn to a good book, day after day.
Books for toddlers, how to choose the best ones
Choose Fun Books
Toddlers love to hear the same story again and again… and again. It’s not for the purpose of driving others insane: toddlers need the repetition to make sense of the words, the pictures, and to eventually master the story and display that mastery by reciting the events of the book back. The more likeable a book is to begin with… the more enthusiastic a parent can be about reading it for the hundredth time.
Choose Developmentally Appropriate Books
A young toddler might need a short board book with full-page images and very few words. An older toddler might be able to handle a very long picture book with a paragraph or two on each page. Then, there’s everything in between.
It’s fine to occasionally read easy books to older children, but it can be detrimental to push a more complex book on a child that’s not ready for it. If the child can’t sit through the entire book, or doesn’t understand half the words, try something simpler.
Choose Topical Books
Toddlers have very definite opinions… AND they’re very open to suggestions. If a toddler is interested in dinosaurs or bugs or trucks, find books about those topics. If it would be nice for a toddler to be interested in space, boats, or horses, find books about those topics. If a child loves certain tv or movie characters, find books with those same characters.
If the toddler is going to, or just went to, the zoo or circus or a different town, read about that. There are toddler-appropriate books about using the potty, moving, getting a baby brother/sister, sharing, having tantrums, going to the doctor, etc. In other words, feed the toddler’s expanding knowledge and interests with the books they read. Remember in every case to look for books that are developmentally appropriate.
Choose Predictable Books
Many great toddler books have a structure or pattern that is easy for the toddler to pick up. (“Dinosaur roar, dinosaur squeak. Dinosaur fierce, dinosaur meek….”) Not every book in a toddler’s library need be like this, especially as the toddler gets older. It is, however, great to have a handful… or more. These repetitive and/or rhyming books will be the first ones that the toddler starts to memorize and recite out loud.
Choose Pretty Books
The primary way toddlers decipher the meaning of books is through pictures. Therefore, the illustrations must be clear, make sense, and be attractive.
There are countless excellent toddler books out there. However, here are some popular authors to help young pre-readers get started:
- Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar, etc.)
- Donald Crews (Freight Train; Flying; Sailing; etc.)
- Bill Martin Jr (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, etc.)
- Todd Parr (The Family Book; It’s Ok to Be Different, etc.)
- Leslie Patricelli (Quiet Loud; Big Little; etc.)
- Dr. Seuss (The Foot Book; Green Eggs and Ham; etc.)
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