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.
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Oxenbury, Helen
Paper Book
Celebrate 30 wonderful years of We're Going on a Bear Hunt in this special anniversary edition of the much-loved family favourite.We're going on a bear hunt. We're going to catch a big one. Will you come too? For thirty years, readers have been swishy-swashying and splash-sploshing through this...
That's not my parrot
Watt, Fiona
Paper Book
An exciting new title in the best-selling touchy-feely series Join five colourful parrots in this jungle-themed addition to the UK's favourite touch-and-feel baby book series, That's not my....Babies and toddlers will delight in the bold illustrations and touching the fuzzy, furry,...
Dear zoo
Campbell, Rod
Paper Book
Lift the flaps and join in the fun with Rod Campbell's classic, Dear Zoo, with bright, bold artwork and a whole host of favourite animals. 'I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet . . .' Young children will love lifting the flaps to discover the animals...
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
Join Hairy Maclary and his friends on their first ever adventure in this golden 40th anniversary edition of the beloved rhyming classic! Hairy Maclary is off for a walk in town, and on the way he's joined by many furry friends of all shops and sizes, from Bottomley Potts (covered...
Where's Spot?
Hill, Eric
Paper Book
This bigger, brighter paperback edition of Eric Hill's iconic first lift-the-flap book celebrates 30 years since first publication in hardback. The simple text and colourful pictures will engage a whole new generation of pre-readers as they lift the picture flaps...

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