4 Types of Great Books for Toddlers

A great question popped up on X that can’t be answered in a short reply. So, I’ll answer the question here.

Quick. Tell me.

What are some great books to read to toddler-aged children?

Books that will capture their imagination, while imparting timeless values.

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What Are Some Great Books to Read to Toddler-Aged Children?

Read any book where you will pause and talk.

Toddlers will get the most out of reading if it’s an interactive, conversational experience. The book choices you make should provide conversation fodder to get a discussion going.

There are many categories of books that will work. My favorite types of great books for toddlers fall into four categories: books with characters that show emotion, books based in reality, books with beautiful illustrations, and books that put pictures to songs.

If these categories overlap, that’s great, too!

Read on for examples in each category.

5 Great Books for Toddlers With Characters that Show Emotion

Once you know to look for characters that show emotion, you can find hundreds more books like the five listed below. These books will help you start great conversations about emotions and how they affect the decisions that characters have to make.

1. “Little Toot” by Hardie Gramatky and illustrated by Mark Burgess

Little Toot is sad and lonesome in this illustration on page 19 of “Little Toot.”

2. “Lucky” by Gus Clarke

A stray dog in a pound loses hope that he’ll be adopted in this illustration on page 31 of “Lucky.”

3. “The Little House” by Virginia Lee Burton

A little house feels sad and lonely in this illustration on page 31 of “The Little House.”

4. “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler

A fox runs away from a mouse in fear in this illustration on page 9 of “The Gruffalo.”

5. “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak

Max makes mischief by menacingly chasing his pet dog in this illustration on page 11 of “Where the Wild Things Are.”

5 Great Books for Toddlers Based in Reality

The great educator Maria Montessori closely observed children during her career and concluded that books based in reality are the best type of book for kids ages 0-6.

I’ve read hundreds of reality-based fiction and non-fiction picture books to my kids. Here’s a reading list if reality is your thing. Plus, I’ve featured five below to entice you to read more in this category.

1. “The Relatives Came” by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Stephen Gammell

Illustration on page 26 of “The Relatives Came” where the visiting relatives eat garden fresh foods and help out with the chores.

2. “Summerbath Winterbath” by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Elsa Warnick

Illustration on page 14 of “Summerbath Winterbath” where Althea rocks her baby brother on the porch swing.

3. “I Know a Lady” by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrations by James Stevenson

Illustration on page 25 of “I Know a Lady” where the little girl Sally wonders about the childhood of her elderly neighbor.

4. “A Nest Full of Eggs” by Priscilla Belz Jenkins and illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell

Illustration on page 15 of “A Nest Full of Eggs” where a child observes a pair of robins feeding their four baby birds.

5. “Martha” by Gennady Spirin

Illustration on page 19 of “Martha” where Ilya watches his mother nurse a crow back to health.

5 Illustrators to Dazzle Your Toddler’s Imagination

Another approach to reading with toddlers is to simply find an illustrator you both love and buy everything they’ve illustrated for children.

Here are 5 great options:

1. Charles Santore – Santore’s illustrations are known for their rich detail and vibrant colors, bringing classic tales to life with a realistic and enchanting touch.

Snow White enters the dwarves’ home in this illustration for “Snow White” by Charles Santore.

2. Jan Brett – Brett’s work is characterized by its intricate borders and detailed backgrounds, often featuring lush, elaborate scenes that complement the story’s main action.

Annie brings corn cakes to the wild animals in this illustration for “Annie and the Wild Animals” by Jan Brett.

3. Jerry Pinkney – Pinkney’s illustrations are celebrated for their expressive watercolor technique, capturing the essence of characters and settings with a fluid, dynamic grace.

The smallest billy goat encounters the troll in this illustration by Jerry Pinkney for “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.”

4. Warwick Hutton – Hutton’s illustrations are noted for their clear, subdued watercolors and a simplicity of line that conveys depth and emotion in stories drawn from folklore and mythology.

Hades takes Persephone to the underworld to be his bride in this illustration by Warwick Hutton for “Persephone.”

5. Lisbeth Zwerger – Zwerger’s style is distinguished by its whimsical, airy quality, with delicate watercolors that bring a dreamlike and poetic dimension to classic fairy tales.

A little girl meets a wolf on the way to visit her grandmother in this illustration by Lisbeth Zwerger for “Little Red Cap.”

5 Great Books for Toddlers that Put Pictures to Songs

Young kids love books that can be put to song.

Here’s five books that you can sing instead of read:

1. “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s My Favorite Things” illustrated by Renée Graef

Sing about “snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes” in this illustrated scene from “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s My Favorite Things.”

2. “Over in the Meadow: A Counting Rhyme” by Olive A. Wadsworth and illustrated by Anna Vojtech

Sing about “an old mother turtle and her little turtle one” in this illustrated scene from “Over in the Meadow: A Counting Rhyme” by Olive A. Wadsworth.

3. “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” by Richard B. Smith and Felix Barnard and illustrated by Tim Hopgood

Sing about how the “snow is glistening” in this cover illustration for “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.”

4. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver and illustrated by Christopher Canyon

Sing about “Shenandoah River” in this artistic scene from “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”

5. “Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton and illustrated by Eric Puybaret

Sing about “a land called Honalee” in this illustrated scene from “Puff the Magic Dragon.”

Cultivating Curious Minds Through Conversational Reading

The true essence of reading great books to toddlers lies in turning each story into an interactive dialogue, enriching their experiences and understanding of the world.

I invite you to share the books and stories that have sparked the most engaging conversations with your little ones.

Ready for more adventures in reading? To inspire your family’s reading journey further, explore our list of “Great Authors of the Western World.” This list will give you exposure to timeless authors that have captivated readers for generations.