Books for Babies and Toddlers

Reading to babies and young toddlers is a great way to kickstart their early literacy and early learning. At this stage, pick books that engage babies and toddler with interactive elements, bright colours and simple language. Pick books with things to touch and feel, things to lift and turn, bright colours with lots of contrast, simple rhymes and fewer words. This list has a variety of books to capture the attention of babies and toddler.

Updated May 29, 2025
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Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?
Martin, Bill
Paper Book
Celebrate the anniversary of this beloved children's book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck-- all parade across the pages of this delightful classic children's book, Brown...
Plant the tiny seed
Matheson, Christie.
Paper Book
How do you make a garden grow In this playful companion to the popular Tap the Magic Tree and Touch the Brightest Star, you will see how tiny seeds bloom into beautiful flowers. And by tapping, clapping, waving, and more, young readers can join in the action! Christie Matheson...
Dear zoo : a lift-the-flap book
Campbell, Rod
Other
Rod Campbell's classic lift-the-flap book Dear Zoo has been a firm favorite with toddlers and parents alike ever since it was first published in 1982. Young readers love lifting the flaps to discover the animals the zoo has sent--a monkey, a lion, and even an elephant! But...
Learning with Llama Llama : colors
Morrow, J. T.
Paper Book
Anna Dewdney's New York Times bestselling series continues with a new Llama Llama concept board book about understanding colors through food! Llama Llama wants to paint but all he has is his lunch! Join the fun as he gets creative with his meal and makes a portrait of our...
Peck, peck, peck
Cousins, Lucy.
Paper Book
"Not only has irresistible charm but in Cousins's signature fashion, there's a lot to learn. . . . There's a world of interactive enjoyment here." -- Booklist (starred review) Little woodpecker has just learned to peck. He's having so much fun that he peck-peck-pecks right...
See, touch, feel, create : a first sensory book to share with your baby
Priddy Books
Paper Book
Celebrate 25 years of Priddy Books! Inspiring a love of learning in over 200 million babies, toddlers, and young children. There's lots for baby to explore in See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book. This sturdy board book, with bright photographs of happy babies, is...
Moon : a peek-through picture book
Teckentrup, Britta
Paper Book
From the much-loved children's series that began with Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book comes an informative book with peek-through holes that show the moon's different phases with each turn of the page. Over deserts and forests, Arctic tundra and tropical beaches, the moon...
I love you like yellow
Beaty, Andrea
Paper Book
I love you like yellow. I love you like green. Like flowery orchid and sweet tangerine . . . Love comes in many forms. It can feel tart as lemonade, or sweet as sugar cookies. Slow as a lazy morning, or fast as a relay race. Love is there...
Little Blue Truck's springtime
Schertle, Alice.
Paper Book
Celebrate the beauty of springtime with the #1 New York Times best-selling Little Blue Truck! Beep! Beep! Little Blue Truck is out for a ride with his good friend Toad. The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming--it's a beautiful spring day! Who will they see along the way? ...
Too many carrots
Hudson, Katy
Paper Book
The bestselling picture book that Publisher's Weekly calls "simultaneously sassy and sweet." Rabbit loves carrots and that's a big problem! In this phenomenal bestseller, Rabbit loves carrots a little too much. In fact, his carrots are crowding him out of his cozy burrow. When his friends offer to...
This is a book of shapes
Kraegel, Kenneth.
Paper Book
The creator of King Arthur's Very Great Grandson and Green Pants switches gears with a slyly silly introduction to shapes--just watch out for the emus! First comes the circle. Then the square and the triangle. Then the . . . emu pushing a pancake wagon down a...
Cranky pug
Blabey, Aaron.
Paper Book
Pig the Pug is back in a silly, simple feelings-themed board book -- with mylar mirror! Perfect for sharing all year long, this board book introduces the littlest Pig the Pug fans to feelings and emotions. Is Pig cranky, happy, or sleepy? Plus, babies and toddlers will love the mylar mirror in...
You are light
Becker, Aaron
Paper Book
With a wondrously simple die-cut book, the Caldecott Honor-winning creator of the Journey trilogy brings his talents further into the light. This is the light that brings the day. Open this beautiful book to find a graphic yellow sun surrounded by a halo of...
Big red barn
Brown, Margaret Wise
Paper Book
Margaret Wise Brown's simple, rhythmic text about the cycle of a day on a farm, where a family of animals peacefully plays and sleeps, has charmed generations of children. As in her classic Goodnight Moon, Brown engages children and helps settle them down for sleep as they follow along...
We sang you home
Van Camp, Richard.
Paper Book
A celebration of the bond between parent and child, this is the perfect song to share with your little ones. In this sweet and lyrical picture book from the creators of the bestselling Little You, gentle rhythmic text captures the wonder new parents feel as they welcome baby into the...
8 little planets
Ferrie, Chris.
Paper Book
A delightfully fun, fact-filled planetary tale from the creator of the Baby University series! Travel around the solar system and celebrate what makes each planet unique! From Neptune to Mercury and all the planets in between, each one is different and each one is happy to be...
Construction site
McDonald, Jill
Paper Book
Learn from home and explore the world with these fun and easy board books! Fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site will love this vehicle-filled adventure in the hit Hello, World! board book series. Toddlers can learn all about the busy world of a construction site,...
Animals : a high contrast board book
Priddy, Roger.
Paper Book
A black cat against a white background, a white rabbit on black, a bold blue butterfly...the high-contrast pictures and colors in this beautifully illustrated book from Roger Priddy will captivate babies' attention and stimulate their developing sight as they look at and learn about their very first...

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