Great books for toddlers include those with big bold images, little text on each page, and rhyming or repeating text. This is also a great age to introduce simple counting and alphabet books.
Pants, by Andreae Giles
E Andreae
A rhyming celebration of all sorts of pants, from "giant frilly pig pants" to "no pants at all."
My Car, by Byron Barton
E Barton
Sam describes in loving detail his car and how he drives it.
Little Green, by Keith Baker
E Baker
A young boy paints the flight of a hummingbird as it zips, loops, and zigzags around his garden.
Baby Danced the Polka, by Karen Beaumont
E Beaumon
It's nap time at the farm, but one un-sleepy baby has a different plan... Baby wants to dance.
Big Red Barn, by Margaret Wise Brown
E Brown
Rhymed text and illustrations introduce the many different animals that live in the big red barn.
Ten Seeds, by Ruth Brown
E Brown
Toddler book with wonderful illustrations to introduce counting and to show how seeds turn to plants.
Old Mother Hubbard by Jane Cabrera
E Cabrera
Light-hearted illustrations accompany this version of the familiar nursery rhyme about an old woman and her playful dog.
One for Me, One for You by C.C. Cameron
E Cameron
Rhyming text introduces the concepts of counting and simple arithmetic.
It’s Time! by Kathleen W. Deady
E Deady
An assortment of barnyard animals each talk to each other in turn about something special to happen.
Sailaway Home, by Bruce Degen
E Degen
A young pig imagines fantastic adventures in the sky and sea, always being able to return home at day's end.
Flyaway Katie, by Polly Dunbar
E Dunbar
On a gray, gray day, a young girl named Katie finds that adding colors to her life brightens up her day.
Gilberto and the Wind, by Marie Hall Ets
E Ets
A young boy finds in the wind a playmate of many moods: one that can sail boats, fly kites, blow dirt, and turn umbrellas inside out.
Over in the Meadow, by Paul Galdone
E Galdone
There are many versions of this old nursery rhyme, but this one has especially engaging illustrations.
Three Little Kittens Illustrated by Paul Galdone
E Three
Three little kittens lose, find, soil, and wash their mittens.
Four Friends in the Garden, by Sue Heap
E Heap
Florentina the bear, Rachel the rabbit, Seymour the sheep, and Mary Clare enjoy a day in the garden chasing a butterfly and drinking lemonade.
Where's Spot? by Eric Hill
E Hill
A mother dog finds eight other animals hiding around the house before finding her lost puppy. Flaps conceal the animals.
No, No Jack! by Ron Hirsch
E Hirsch
A playful dog continually hides things in the closet, and his family makes him them return every time--except for one.
Chugga, Chugga Choo Choo, by Kevin Lewis
E Lewis
A rhyming story about a freight train's day, from loading freight in the morning to retiring to the roundhouse after the day's work is done.
Bunbun, the Middle One, by Sharon Pierce McCullough
E McCullough
Bunbun is always the bunny in the middle, and in a muddle.
While you were Chasing a Hat, by Lilian Moore
E Moore
A story in rhyme about a girl chasing a hat in the wind as the wind moves many other things.
Surprise! by Sally Noll
E Noll
Verses featuring the numbers from one to ten describe a young girl's surprise when she opens her birthday present.
Goldie is Mad, by Margie Palatini
E Palatini
A little girl is very upset when her baby brother drools on her doll, but during a time-out, she thinks of some of the things she likes about her brother.
Sheep in a Jeep, by Nancy Shaw
E Shaw
Records the misadventures of a group of sheep that go riding in a jeep.
This is the Farmer, by Nancy Tafuri
E Tafuri
A farmer kisses his wife in the morning and starts a cycle of events involving all the farm animals. A book with large bright illustrations suitable for group reading.
Noisy Nora, by Rosemary Wells
E Wells
Nora is feeling neglected and so decides to get attention by making as much noise as possible, much to the chagrin of her family.
More, More More Said the Baby, by Vera Williams
E Williams
Three babies are given loving attention by a father, mother and a grandmother.
Lucky Song, by Vera Williams
E Williams
The song a little girl hears, describes how everything she need is provided by her extended family.
Noisy Barn, by Harriet Ziefert
E Ziefert
Rhyming text describes the sounds that various farm animals make as they all head to the barnyard.