Toddler Books

A few months ago I posted a blog sharing some of Ivan's favorite books. Since that post his taste has changed and he has new favorites. He’s about 18-months old now, in case you are wondering the age range for the list below. 

Ivan's all time favorite book is My big truck book, by Roger Priddy. This sturdy board book has pictures of trucks with short captions. Ivan LOVES this books. It is often the first thing he looks for when he wakes up. He will carry the book into our bed and start flipping through it pointing at the trucks and saying "that that that." 

Peek! A Thai Hide and Seek is one of my favorites. This charming book with beautiful illustrations has a story about a little girl who is playing hide and seek with her dad. Throughout the book the father asks a menagerie of animals if they have seen the little girl. Ivan enjoyed the pictures of the animals, especially the dog. Hush! A Thai Lullaby is a companion book of equal charm.

The Lion & the Mouse, by Jerry Pinkey was a surprise favorite. I found this wordless book on the new bookshelf at the library and borrowed it on a whim. When I took it home Ivan found it in our library book basket and settled in to look at the beautiful illustrations. The wordless book is based on Aesop's tale of the lion and the mouse. We talked about the lion and his fluffy mane, his inquisitive expressions, and the mouse's ability to gnaw the lion free. This book was awarded the Caldecott Award for illustration.

Bee Bim Bop by Linda Sue Park is a yummy book. I love Korean food and this is such a yummy tale. A family gets dinner together with clever rhythms and cheerful illustrations. As a bonus the book has a bee bim bop recipe in the back. 

Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney is a tale about little Llama’s first day of school. I liked it because it showed that little Llama missed his mama and he cried a bit; a realistic side of starting school. The other books in the Llama series are fun too: Llama Llama Mad at Mama-- little Llama doesn’t want to shop any more. Llama Llama Red Pajama—a hilarious going to bed book. 

I wasn’t expecting My Chinatown to be a hit in our house, but the colorful illustrations hold his attention. The text is a tad too long to read, but we talk about the pictures and talk about the International District in Seattle and Chinatowns all over the world. 

Jessica, my co-worker, is a volunteer reader at a pre-school. She said the must read book every week is I Stink by Kate Mcmullan. Every week the children pull out the book for Jessica to read. Poor Jessica tries to entice the kids with new books, but they gravitate back to I Stink. 

Trout Trout Trout by April Pulley Sayre is a fun rhythm story with imaginative illustrations. My best friend’s last name is Trout. Her husband is less than thrilled with me when I try to theme her children’s life. So far books to her early learners have included: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Trout and Trout: an Illustrated History. 

Please share with me, erin@earlylearning.org, some of your favorite books. We are always on the hunt for new books to share. 

*Update*

Two-year-old EO shared several of his favorite books.

I Love You Stinky Face, by Lisa McCourt. EO says "I love it when my mom reads this one, it can be so silly."

EO also enjoys the cool illustrations found In the Forest, by Marie Hall.

EO's mom digs books by Todd Parr, which includes The Feelings Book, The Family Book, and the I Love You Book among others. 

Pierce County Librarian Alison Pascone shared these fall books. 

Leaves by David Ezra Stein and Sleepy Bear by Lydia Dabcovitch