Toddler Book Reading Recommendations

So, I am stepping out on a limb and trying something new in light of our Coronavirus Pandemic as people have been asking for ideas to do with their toddlers and for book suggestions. It's pretty rare that I blog about personal things on my photography blog, but I think it's about time and I know my clients appreciate it. Over the next few months, as things are being shifted around, I will try to blog about recommended books for kids, things to do with kids at home, things that are helpful to add to your baby registry, and the like. These are just things that I have personally learned from life experience and from others that have gone before me. I hope you find these suggestions helpful and PLEASE leave comments below (so we can learn from each other). I will try to update this list as I hear of new things! Enjoy!

TOPICAL BOOKS

Alphabet:

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

Alphablock by Christopher Franceschelli

A B See by Elizabeth Doyle

All the Awake Animals are Almost Asleep by Crescent Dragonwagon

Llama Llama Loves to Read by Anna Dewdney

Around the World:

I Just Want to Say Goodnight by Rachel Isadora

Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown

The Water Princess by Susan Verde

This Is the Way We Go to School: A Book About Children Around the Wolrd by Edith Baer

Art:

The Dot by Peter Reynolds

Clive and His Art by Jessica Spanyol

Cooking:

Pizza Day

Curious George Makes Pancakes by Margret Rey

Tony's Bread by Tomie dePaola

Dinosaurs and Dragons:

Rosa loves Dinosaurs by Jessica Spanyol

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Ruben

Diversity of Life in the US and Embracing Difference

Rosa's Wish

Psalm Twenty-Three by Tim Ladwig (Christian)

Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Pena

Yoko (Asian Food at School)

Last Stop on Market Street

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

The Elmer Series

Farm Animals:

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Friendship:

Making a Friend by Tammi Sauer

Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World by Margret Ray

Peep and Ducky

Wet Hen by Molly Coxe

Henry and Mudge Series (Only Child and Dog)

Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

Finding Kindness by Deborah Underwood

Miss Fannie’s Hat by Jan Karon

Numbers:

Countablock by Christopher Franceschelli

Sports:

Rosa Plays Ball by Jessica Spanyol

Soccer in Brazil

Maisy Plays Soccer

Tools:

Tap Tap Bang Bang by Emma Garcia

Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too by Anna Dewdney

Vehicles (Cars, Trucks, and Constructions):

Choo Choo, Mabelle the Cabel Car, and Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Rosa loves Cars by Jessica Spanyol

Toot Toot Beep Beep by Emma Garcia

Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Emma Garcia

Little Blue Truck

The Little Engine That Could

Little Excavator

Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Dushkey Rinker

Digger, Dozer, Dumper by Hope Vestergaard

Freight Train by Donald Crews

BEDTIME

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

I Just Want to Say Goodnight by Rachel Isadora (also an "Around The World" book)

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Dushkey Rinker (also a Vehicle book)

Sleepy Bears by Mem Fox

SEASONS

Springtime Books:

Raindrop Plop

Peep and Ducky Rainy Day

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carte

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

Goose and Pig and the First Day of Spring by Rebecca Bond

Summertime Books:

Jamberry by Bruce Degan

At the Beach by Anne Rockwell

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Fall time Books:

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak

Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

Apple Farmer Annie by Annie Wellington

Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell

Wintertime Books:

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner

Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas by Julia Rawlinson

The Mitten by Jan Brett

The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett

ACTIVITY/FLAP BOOKS

Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Rod Campbell

Maisy's Big Book of Words

Maisy's Big Book of Learning

Very First Book of Things to Spot: Out and About by Usborne Books

P is for Potty (Sesame Street Lift-the-Flaps) by Naomi Kleinbery

LIFE CHANGES/FIRST EXPERIENCES

Losing a Tooth:

One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey

Moving:

The Littlest Family's Big Day by Emily Winfield Martin

Girl Moves with Kat

Building a House

New Sibling Books:

Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats

What Baby Needs

I'm a Big Sister/Big Sister

Overnight at Grandparents:

Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa by Anna Dewdney

Anne and Snowball

Plane Ride:

Maisy Goes on a Plane by Lucy Cousins

Potty Training:

Potty by Leslie Patricelli

P is for Potty (Sesame Street Lift-the-Flaps) by Naomi Kleinbery

Daniel Goes to the Potty by Maggie Testa

Preschool:

Stanley's School by William Bee

Llama Llama Loves to Read by Anna Dewdney

Ming goes to School (with her grandad)

Swimming Lessons:

Maisy Learns to Swim by Lucy Cousins

Llama Llama Learns to Swim by Anna Dewdney

Song Books

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson

Over in the Meadow

What a Wonderful World

We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

Other Toddler Favorites and Classics

Each Peach Pear Plum by Allan Ahlberg

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Lentil by Robert McCloskey

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

Corduroy AND A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

Are You My Mother by

Lucky Ducklings by Eva Moore

The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin

Ada Twist, Scientist; Iggy Peck, Architect; ETC. Series (all in the same class) by Andrea Beaty

A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jack Keats

Go Dogs Go

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Five Little Monkeys

Knuffle Bunny

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Note: I also recommend getting Highlights and Ranger Rick Magazines for Kids