Are you looking for the best books for babies and toddlers? You’re in the right place! In this post, I’ve gathered a lovely collection of stories that little ones will adore. Whether you’re cuddling up for a bedtime read or helping your toddler explore new words and ideas, these books are perfect for inspiring a lifelong love of reading from the very beginning.
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle A colourful journey of a caterpillar eating through various foods before transforming into a butterfly – perfect for counting and nature exploration.
- The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler A clever mouse outwits predators by inventing a monstrous creature, only to meet the real Gruffalo in this rhyming tale.
- Dear Zoo – Rod Campbell A lift-the-flap book where a child requests a pet from the zoo, receiving various animals until the perfect one arrives.
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury A rhythmic adventure as a family braves obstacles to find a bear, great for interactive reading.
- Room on the Broom – Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler A kind witch and her animal friends team up to outsmart a dragon in this delightful rhyming story.
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea – Judith Kerr A mysterious tiger visits Sophie and her mum for tea, eating everything in sight in this charming classic.
- Goodnight Moon – Margaret Wise Brown A timeless bedtime classic with gentle rhyming text and soothing illustrations to create a calm goodnight ritual.
- Little Blue Truck – Alice Schertle A friendly blue truck helps others in need while teaching kindness and teamwork, filled with charming rhymes and animal sounds.
- Each Peach Pear Plum – Janet and Allan Ahlberg A playful ‘I spy’ rhyme featuring nursery rhyme characters, ideal for spotting and repetition.
- Guess How Much I Love You – Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare express their love in this tender bedtime story.
- Peppa Pig: Bedtime Stories – Neville Astley and Mark Baker Simple tales of Peppa and George, popular with toddlers thanks to the beloved TV series.
- Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes – Mem Fox, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury A sweet celebration of babies worldwide, with a focus on counting fingers and toes.
- Monkey Puzzle – Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler A little monkey searches for his mum with help from a butterfly, teaching animal recognition.
- Peace at Last – Jill Murphy Mr. Bear tries to find a quiet place to sleep amidst his noisy family in this relatable tale.
- Noisy Farm – Rod Campbell An interactive board book with animal sounds, engaging toddlers in active participation.
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? – Bill Martin Jr, illustrated by Eric Carle A repetitive, rhythmic story introducing animals and colours with bold, striking illustrations.
- The Snail and the Whale – Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler A tiny snail hitches a ride on a whale’s tail for a big adventure, told in rhyme with a message of friendship.
- Oi Frog! – Kes Gray, illustrated by Jim Field A hilarious rhyming book where animals are told where to sit, sparking giggles and wordplay.
- Mog the Forgetful Cat – Judith Kerr Mog, a lovable but forgetful cat, gets into gentle mischief in this cozy, heartwarming story.
- That’s Not My Monkey – Fiona Watt, illustrated by Rachel Wells A tactile book from the Usborne series, letting toddlers feel textures while searching for “their” monkey.
- Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy – Lynley Dodd A scruffy dog and his canine friends embark on a lively adventure with catchy rhymes.
- Where’s Spot? – Eric Hill A lift-the-flap adventure where children search for Spot the puppy behind doors and objects, encouraging exploration.
- Bear Snores On – Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman A cozy, rhythmic story about forest animals gathering while a bear peacefully sleeps through all the fun.
- I Love You to the Moon and Back – Amelia Hepworth, illustrated by Tim Warnes A sweet story celebrating the bond between parent and child with gentle rhymes.
- Oh Dear! – Rod Campbell A fun lift-the-flap farmyard adventure following a little boy searching for eggs, teaching animal recognition.
- Baby’s First Words – Stella Blackstone, illustrated by Christiane Engel A fantastic vocabulary-building book featuring everyday items and objects through colourful illustrations.
- Maisy’s Bus – Lucy Cousins A simple, fun story featuring Maisy and her friends, ideal for bright early learning moments.
- Tickle My Ears – Jörg Mühle An interactive board book where children follow simple instructions to help a little rabbit get ready for bed.
- Hug – Jez Alborough A sweet, simple story following a little monkey searching for a hug, filled with warmth and connection.
- Sing Along with Me! Wheels on the Bus – Illustrated by Yu-Hsuan Huang A charming board book with moving parts that lets toddlers sing along with the familiar nursery rhyme.
We hope you and your child have lots of fun exploring these wonderful books together! We’d love to hear about the stories that became favourites in your home – let us know in the comments below!”