Great books for Toddlers!

[milomama]

DS (22 months) would be happy reading all day long.  He loves books, we go to the library several times a week and have a TON at home.  Some are wonderful books...and many are not so much :)

What are you favourite books for toddlers?  What should we get out of the library next?

[physmom]

• Dr. Seuss anything (but DD's favorite is the Cat in the Ha
• Llama Llama books
• No T-Rex in the library
• The Gruffalo (and The Gruffalo's Child)
• It's the best day ever, Dad!
• Maisy anything (DD loves these too)

My minds sort of blank right now so I know there's a ton that I'm missing!

[crunchy_mommy]

We are also big Dr. Seuss fans here. :)

Other favorites:

Bunny's Noisy Book - really ANY book by Margaret Wise Brown (Goodnight Moon, Runaway Bunny...) 

The Jolly Farmyard

Sam & the Firefly - love most P.D. Eastman books!

I Love You As Much (only book I've ever seen with a cosleeping baby!!)

Rabbit's Nap

I Can't Get My Turtle to Move 

Night House, Bright House

Classic Winnie the Pooh

Any Bill Martin/Eric Carle books

Mercer Meyer (sp?) -- the author of Just Go to Bed, Just a Snowman etc...

That's all I can think of right now... DS is completely obsessed with reading so my approach has been to pick a bunch from the thrift store (or library book sale etc. -- wherever they are very cheap!) so I don't feel bad passing on/donating them to someone else if we tire of them or I don't like them (he loves all of them lol, he would probably be happy reading a cereal box!)

[pranava]

Anything by Sandra Boynton

Bear Snores on

Roar of a Snore

Dr. Suess is going over well here too, but I must admit that Fox in Socks makes me CRAZY!!!

The little mouse, big hungry bear and the red ripe strawberry (or something like that, DS probably know the title better than I do :)

I know  a rhino - love this one!

llama llama books - awesome!

rainbow rob

chicka chicka Boom Boom is hugely popular with DS right now

[tzs]

"good night mr night"

"let's play" by leo leoni

the toddlers in my class loved the david books "no david"...22 months is a great age for that book, they love to say "no no no" along with the book.

i like mo willams but not such a big fan of the pigeon books, love "time to say please."

"the fire engine book" i don;t know the author, it's a golden book

"in my tree," "in my nest" books

"circle dogs"

kevin henkes books...what are the names "good day?" and one about a kitten and a moon

and then of course the dr seuss, eric carle, lois ehlert

and books that are lame for parents but great for independent "reading" like picture books of babies and dogs.

[Owen'nZoe]

At that age, my kids were crazy about many of the books already listed here (Boynton books, Wise Brown, the Bear books (Bear Feels Sick was my children's favorite) and the Llama llama Red Pajama books), but also:

- Goodnight Gorilla

- Mo Willems books (both the Pigeon books and the Piggie and Elephant books)

- Frog and Toad books

- Yoko and Ruby and Max books by Rosemary Wells

- The Tree House by Marije Tolman - this is a wordless picture book that my children love so, so much! The pictures provide just the right amount of detail and interest for a toddler or preschooler. We got it when my sons were 3 and 5, and they both loved (and still love) making up stories to go along with the pictures.

ETA: I see someone else mentioned the David books - I avoided these for so long, because I was turned off by the artwork - I didn't find it appealing at all - at all! But I wish I hadn't avoided it, because the stories are just perfect for little ones. They can relate so easily to little David who seems to hear "No" all day long.

[cyanviolet]

Besides what is mentioned here, currently popular

books illustrated by Nikki McClure (All in a Day, Mama is it Summer Yet?),

Bruno Munari (the zoo book is great...I love what he says about flamingos and the little guy loves the illustrations)

Gerda Muller (If you like the sort where you don't read but make up stories about what is on the page... I happen not to care for the artwork, but the little guy totally digs them)

Laura Vaccaro Seeger (we both love "First the Egg")

books illustrated by Jackie Morris ("Can You See a Little Bear?")

Taro Gomi (My Friends, Everybody Poops)

Wonder Bear by Tao Nyeu

The Little House

Anything with buses, construction machinery, cars, trucks, etc. much to our dismay.

I had high hopes for the "My First Little House" books but he's pretty much bored by them and feels that they should have tractors if they're going to be about farming.

[ellemenope]

No attention span:

That's not my... series by Usborne

3 minute attention span board books: (I love good rhythm and rhyme)

Is your mamma a llama?   ~"Is your mama a llama," I asked my Friend Rhonda.  "No she is not," is how Rhonda responded.

The Bear Snores on  ~In a cave in the woods in his deep dark lair, through the long cold winter sleeps a great brown bear.

Quick as a cricket   ~I'm as brave as a tiger.  I'm as shy as a shrimp.  I'm as tame as a poodle.  I'm as wild as a chimp.

Chicka Chicka Boom boom  ~look there's a full moon.  A is out of bed and this is what he said:  "Dare double dare, you cant catch me.  I'll beat you to the top of the coconut tree."

The little mouse, the red ripe strawberry, and the big hungry bear

We're going on a bear hunt

Jamberry

10 minute attention span:

Caps for sale

Harold and the purple crayon

Horton hears a who/hatches an egg

The butter battle book

Little Bear

Frog and Toad

Mrs. Brice's Mice

The Sneetches

20 minute attention span:

Tiki Tiki Tembo

Skippyjon Jones

The complete tales of Winnie the Pooh

Zen shorts

The Fire Cat

Stellaluna

The polar express

Millions of cats

The story of ping

Blueberries for Sal

Doctor De soto

Shrek

Ferdinand

Anatole

Amos and Boris

30 minute attention span:

Many moons

Sylvester and the magic pebble

James Herriot's Treasury of Inspirational Stories for Children

 DD is super into All about scabs by Genichiro Yagyu right now.  That is a great book for toddlers interested in gross things, like my DD.

Originally Posted by cyanviolet 

Besides what is mentioned here, currently popular

books illustrated by Nikki McClure (All in a Day, Mama is it Summer Yet?),

Bruno Munari (the zoo book is great...I love what he says about flamingos and the little guy loves the illustrations)

Gerda Muller (If you like the sort where you don't read but make up stories about what is on the page... I happen not to care for the artwork, but the little guy totally digs them)

Laura Vaccaro Seeger (we both love "First the Egg")

books illustrated by Jackie Morris ("Can You See a Little Bear?")

Taro Gomi (My Friends, Everybody Poops)

Wonder Bear by Tao Nyeu

The Little House

Anything with buses, construction machinery, cars, trucks, etc. much to our dismay.

I had high hopes for the "My First Little House" books but he's pretty much bored by them and feels that they should have tractors if they're going to be about farming.

This is a great list.  Thanks.  I just got My friends for a neice.  It is so sweet.
 

[tzs]

Originally Posted by ellemenope 

No attention span:

That's not my... series by Usborne

3 minute attention span board books: (I love good rhythm and rhyme)

Is your mamma a llama?   ~"Is your mama a llama," I asked my Friend Rhonda.  "No she is not," is how Rhonda responded.

The Bear Snores on  ~In a cave in the woods in his deep dark lair, through the long cold winter sleeps a great brown bear.

Quick as a cricket   ~I'm as brave as a tiger.  I'm as shy as a shrimp.  I'm as tame as a poodle.  I'm as wild as a chimp.

Chicka Chicka Boom boom  ~look there's a full moon.  A is out of bed and this is what he said:  "Dare double dare, you cant catch me.  I'll beat you to the top of the coconut tree."

The little mouse, the red ripe strawberry, and the big hungry bear

We're going on a bear hunt

Jamberry

10 minute attention span:

Caps for sale

Harold and the purple crayon

Horton hears a who/hatches an egg

The butter battle book

Little Bear

Frog and Toad

Mrs. Brice's Mice

The Sneetches

20 minute attention span:

Tiki Tiki Tembo

Skippyjon Jones

The complete tales of Winnie the Pooh

Zen shorts

The Fire Cat

Stellaluna

The polar express

Millions of cats

The story of ping

Blueberries for Sal

Doctor De soto

Shrek

Ferdinand

Anatole

Amos and Boris

30 minute attention span:

Many moons

Sylvester and the magic pebble

James Herriot's Treasury of Inspirational Stories for Children

 DD is super into All about scabs by Genichiro Yagyu right now.  That is a great book for toddlers interested in gross things, like my DD.

Originally Posted by cyanviolet 

Besides what is mentioned here, currently popular

books illustrated by Nikki McClure (All in a Day, Mama is it Summer Yet?),

Bruno Munari (the zoo book is great...I love what he says about flamingos and the little guy loves the illustrations)

Gerda Muller (If you like the sort where you don't read but make up stories about what is on the page... I happen not to care for the artwork, but the little guy totally digs them)

Laura Vaccaro Seeger (we both love "First the Egg")

books illustrated by Jackie Morris ("Can You See a Little Bear?")

Taro Gomi (My Friends, Everybody Poops)

Wonder Bear by Tao Nyeu

The Little House

Anything with buses, construction machinery, cars, trucks, etc. much to our dismay.

I had high hopes for the "My First Little House" books but he's pretty much bored by them and feels that they should have tractors if they're going to be about farming.

This is a great list.  Thanks.  I just got My friends for a neice.  It is so sweet.
 

we have all about scabs too! also the bellybutton book from the same series. dd loves her bellybutton but the book is still alittle old for her.

[milomama]

Thank you, thank you...writing them all down!  Many of these are already favourites, but I'm excited to check out some new suggestions!

[pranava]

Great list ellemenope! 

Not to hijack the thread, but anyone else find Good Night Moon creepy?  That old bunny lady sitting alone in the rocking chair in the dark!  That just strikes me as a scene in a scary movie.  Am I alone on this one? 

[Forthwith]

Most of our favorites have already been mentioned, but here's two more:

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb - Al Perkins (DS's currrent favorite)

Each Peach Pear Plum - Janet and Allan Ahlberg

[Lillitu]

Originally Posted by pranava 

Great list ellemenope! 

Not to hijack the thread, but anyone else find Good Night Moon creepy?  That old bunny lady sitting alone in the rocking chair in the dark!  That just strikes me as a scene in a scary movie.  Am I alone on this one? 

No, but I find the runaway bunny creepy. Like the little bunny can never have any autonomy or anything... LOL

[Super~Single~Mama]

Little Gorilla is really sweet, and my ds and his friend who is 5mo younger than him have both LOVED it for a long long time.

[tzs]

Originally Posted by pranava 

Great list ellemenope! 

Not to hijack the thread, but anyone else find Good Night Moon creepy?  That old bunny lady sitting alone in the rocking chair in the dark!  That just strikes me as a scene in a scary movie.  Am I alone on this one? 

yes! and the bowl of mush....what is that all about? i only have it for nostalgia's sake

and i find "good night gorilla" kind of scandelous. i mean, he sneaks back in!

[Chamomile Girl]

Originally Posted by pranava 

Great list ellemenope! 

Not to hijack the thread, but anyone else find Good Night Moon creepy?  That old bunny lady sitting alone in the rocking chair in the dark!  That just strikes me as a scene in a scary movie.  Am I alone on this one? 

I agree! Especially at the end when the entire room is dark except for there are lights on in the toy house.

My kid loves, loves, loves Goodnight Moon though. What can you do?

A couple of books I didn't see mentioned (although they might have been)

The Don and Audrey Wood books (Napping House is my favorite, but I also love King Bidgood's in the Bathtub)
The Knuffle Bunny trilogy
Of all the Eric Carle books my kid's favorites are Where's My Cat and The Grouchy Ladybug. We have to hide them.

[ellemenope]

Originally Posted by Lillitu 

Originally Posted by pranava 

Not to hijack the thread, but anyone else find Good Night Moon creepy?  That old bunny lady sitting alone in the rocking chair in the dark!  That just strikes me as a scene in a scary movie.  Am I alone on this one? 

No, but I find the runaway bunny creepy. Like the little bunny can never have any autonomy or anything... LOL

I do not find Good night moon creepy.  Am I a little mad that it is so ingrained in my brain that I can't say "comb" without adding "and a brush, and a bowl fowl of mush, and a quiet old lady who was whispering hush?"  A little. 

The runaway bunny is one of my favorites.  I love the teasing between mother and child and the security that that little bunny must feel.   And, FWIW I feel like we are at this stage with DD.  She knows I am here for her but she kind of likes to test me with these outrageous scenarios to affirm what she already knows.

 "If you become a bird and fly away from me," said his mother, "I will be a tree that you come home to."  When DD was an infant she could not get enough of that page.  I really should find a print of that artwork for her and frame it.  Also, DD and DH get a kick out of saying the lines.  DH will call DD his little bunny.  I will concede the bunnies can go from sweet to kind of creepy at the turn of a page.  Yeah, we really like this book.  Maybe give it another try?

I do not like Goodnight Gorilla so much.  DD did.  I think the Little Gorilla is sweet.
 

[Forthwith]

Originally Posted by Lillitu 

Originally Posted by pranava 

Great list ellemenope! 

Not to hijack the thread, but anyone else find Good Night Moon creepy?  That old bunny lady sitting alone in the rocking chair in the dark!  That just strikes me as a scene in a scary movie.  Am I alone on this one? 

No, but I find the runaway bunny creepy. Like the little bunny can never have any autonomy or anything... LOL

The one that gives me the creeps is "Love You Forever."  She breaks into his house through the window while he's sleeping!  Repeatedly!  Aaagh!

[sunshine9]

I love this thread.  So many great books and some new ones for us to check out!

Some of our faves that weren't listed are:

Sun Bread

Peek-A-Who

Good Dog Carl

Go Dog Go!

On a side note, my DD also is loving Seuss.  Some of my favorites when I was a child were Hop On Pop and One Fish, Two Fish.  I can't believe how long they are!  She wants to hear them all the time and they have now made my list of least favorite books to read!!!

[hakeber]

I love the Frances books by Russell Hoban.  They were my favorite growing up and I am so thrilled to pass them on to my kids.
 

Originally Posted by Chamomile Girl 

Originally Posted by pranava 

Great list ellemenope! 

Not to hijack the thread, but anyone else find Good Night Moon creepy?  That old bunny lady sitting alone in the rocking chair in the dark!  That just strikes me as a scene in a scary movie.  Am I alone on this one? 

I agree! Especially at the end when the entire room is dark except for there are lights on in the toy house.

My kid loves, loves, loves Goodnight Moon though. What can you do?

A couple of books I didn't see mentioned (although they might have been)

The Don and Audrey Wood books (Napping House is my favorite, but I also love King Bidgood's in the Bathtub)
The Knuffle Bunny trilogy
Of all the Eric Carle books my kid's favorites are Where's My Cat and The Grouchy Ladybug. We have to hide them.

We LOVE the Eric Carle books here.  Of course The Hungry Caterpillar and The Busy Spider, but also Hello Red Fox is AWESOME!  I love The Mixed up Chameleon, too.

Originally Posted by Lillitu 

Originally Posted by pranava 

Great list ellemenope! 

Not to hijack the thread, but anyone else find Good Night Moon creepy?  That old bunny lady sitting alone in the rocking chair in the dark!  That just strikes me as a scene in a scary movie.  Am I alone on this one? 

No, but I find the runaway bunny creepy. Like the little bunny can never have any autonomy or anything... LOL

I find it a little creepy, too.  ...I will become a fisherman and I will catch you?...like you would catch, say, a fish...for dinner!?!  What the...

And I know it is immature, but I cannot say the line that comes on the page just after she tells her little bunny that if he were a sailboat she would become the wind and blow him where she wants him to go...you know tha one...without giggling to myself.  Even now.