30 Books to read before you're 2!

The books on this list have been selected by the Better Beginnings team of children's literature specialists and are favourites of many babies, toddlers and their families.

Updated January 19, 2024
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
I went walking
Machin, Sue
Paper Book
A child discovers a parade of animals in this vibrant board book filled with playful humor and rhyme. This simple, funny read-aloud follows a boy's exciting stroll through the countryside. The boy sees a black cat, then a brown horse, then a red cow, and so on, and before he knows it, he's...
Welcome, child!
Morgan, Sally
Paper Book
*Shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards 2021: Birth to 3 Years* Age range 0 to 3 All our hearts shine with love for you. Welcome, child! Birds sing songs of delight to greet you. Flowers dance with joy to celebrate you....
We're going on a bear hunt
Rosen, Michael
Paper Book
Go on a bear hunt and do the actions with this award-winning picture book classic. Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the...
Hello hello
Wenzel, Brendan
Ebook
A new picture book from Brendan Wenzel, the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor-winning author of They All Saw a Cat! Hello, Hello! Beginning with two cats, one black and one white, a chain of animals appears before the reader, linked together by at least one common...
Dear zoo
Campbell, Rod
Paper Book
Lift the flaps and see what has been sent - it's bound to be a surprise! And just when you think they'll NEVER get it right, they send the very best, most perfect pet of all . . . A bestselling lift-the-flap book for more than twenty-five years, Dear Zoois a perennial favourite and is...
The very hungry caterpillar
Carle, Eric
Paper Book
Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a perennial favourite with children and adults alike. Its imaginative illustration and clever cut-out detail charts the progress of a very hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through the week. ********** Don't miss...
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's dairy
Dodd, Lynley
Paper Book
A durable board book edition of the iconic first Hairy Maclary book, introducing Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy and his gang of friends. Out of the gate and off for a walk went Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy Hairy Maclary's...
Where is the green sheep?
Fox, Mem
Paper Book
Little ones are sure to be lulled off to a peaceful, sheep-filled sleep by this cozy book from acclaimed author Mem Fox. There are red sheep and blue sheep, wind sheep and wave sheep, scared sheep and brave sheep, but where is the green sheep? The search is on in this cozy, sheep...
Where's Spot?
Hill, Eric
Paper Book
A sturdy board book edition of the first-ever lift-the-flap book! With hide-and-seek fun on every page, this interactive classic has had children across the globe searching for everyone's favorite pup, who's gone on to sell over 65 million copies worldwide! "Spot is one of the...
In the bush I see
Honeychurch, Kiara
Paper Book
Age range 3 to 8 The fourth release in the Young Art Board Book Series showcasing young Indigenous artists In the bush is a playful ensemble of Australian creatures, and an exciting illustrative debut from teenage artist, Kiara Honeychurch. Hailing from Tasmania, Kiara is inspired by the bush...
Noni the pony
Lester, Alison
Paper Book
A board book edition of the satisfying and delightful rhyming pony story for young children by the much-loved Alison Lester . Noni is the nicest pony any little child could ever hope to meet.

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.