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
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We're going on a bear hunt
Rosen, Michael 1946-
Paper Book
Beloved for more than 30 years, this award-winning classic from Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury celebrates the joys of an afternoon outdoors with family. We're going on a bear hunt. We're going to catch a big one. Will you come too? Join a father and his four...
Baby animals black and white
Tildes, Phyllis Limbacher.
Paper Book
This charming, best-selling board book introduces eight adorable baby animals, featuring high-contrast black-and-white illustrations perfect for babies from birth to age two. Research has shown that infants respond more readily to contrasting black and white images, making this book an ideal...
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Tullet, Hervé
Paper Book
The longest-running picture book on the New York Times bestseller list! "Tullet's brilliant creation proves that books need not lose out to electronic wizardry; his colorful dots perform every bit as engagingly as any on the screen of an iPad.... The joy is...
Hello hello
Wenzel, Brendan
Paper Book
In this brilliant follow up to the Caldecott Honour-winning They All Saw a Cat, bestselling author Brendan Wenzel presents a chain of animals of dazzling variety. Each one is different from the last, yet each is also linked by at least one common trait: some obvious, some more subtle. As...
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
THE all-time classic picture book, from generation to generation, sold somewhere in the world every 30 seconds! A sturdy and beautiful book to give as a gift for new babies, baby showers, birthdays, and other new beginnings! Featuring interactive die-cut pages, this board...
Where is the green sheep?
Fox, Mem 1946-
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 1927-2014
Paper Book
With its bold blue cover, this board book edition of Eric Hill's classic story featuring everyone's favorite puppy is just as iconic as the first lift-the-flap edition.   "Spot is one of the essential experiences of childhood." --Parents magazine
Noni the pony
Lester, Alison
Paper Book
Meet Noni, a pony who's as zippy and fun as she is thoughtful and kind. Introducing Noni, the friendliest, funniest, and friskiest pony you'll ever meet! When she's not racing and chasing with her best pals Dave Dog and Coco the Cat, she's busy making sure they feel cozy...

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