Best Books For Toddlers

Books are truly our best friends. Nothing can beat the old-world charm of books. Holding a book, curling up on a sofa with our children and engaging them with an earful of stories is equal to heavenly bliss.

In children, they unlock the imagination, transport them to far-off lands and help them in better articulation. Moreover, they teach our children the importance of the value system by giving lessons/morals on kindness, humility and the community around them.

A habit of reading in children should be started early on. From cognitive functioning, vocabulary and language building, to better decision-making skills, a reading habit in children speaks volumes. But with options being myriad, a cliched problem of plenty sets in. When hunting for good reads for your toddler, it is always a question of what to choose. Illustrative, value-driven, wordless, autobiographies and tons of different genres appeal to parents when buying books for their toddlers.

On occasion of Book Lover’s Day, we have gathered some of the best choices from our community moms and curated a list of our favourite toddler reads.

Here is a shoutout to the best books for toddlers which will rouse their imagination and ignite their love for reading:

• A Room on the Broom

This is one of the best books for toddlers by the famous and everybody’s favourite author Julia Donaldson. Have you heard about a kind witch? Witch and kindness are opposites, aren’t they? This book showcases a witch and other animals as the story's main characters, how they overcome the conflict that keeps falling on every path and turn they take, ultimately emphasizing the value of kindness. Kindness begets kindness and Julia has essayed this with rhyming text and catchy illustrations that capture each character's sentiments and bring the story to life.

• Guess how much I love you

A heartwarming children’s story written by Sam McBratney revolved around the unconditional and unblemished love of Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare – the story's two main characters. Can one measure the love of another? Here both of them try to outdo in expressing their love for each other. They find creative ways to express their emotions, making it an adorable read for toddlers. Children can relate to this book as they see their parents loving them immensely and being there for them no matter what. A wonderful book for read-aloud.

• Are you my mother?

Our heart goes to this classic written by P.D. Eastman which follows a young bird who suddenly falls out of its nest. The bird is so small that it doesn’t know how its mother looks. Setting off on a journey to search its mother, the bird asks each animal that it encounters on its path. The question “ Are you my mother” gets different responses from each animal. A simple story but it will surely fascinate your children as it creates a curiosity in children to know what’s coming next and whether the bird and its mother will have a happy reunion.

• Gajapati Kulapati series

How can one not name this hilarious series? Written by Indian author Ashok Rajagopalan, this series is a must-have for early readers. Introducing new sounds, building vocabulary and at the same time with exciting illustrations and a funny storyline is what makes a book a win among toddlers. Touted as the best book for toddlers, it follows the adventures of a friendly and notorious elephant who loves to explore and play. In addition to being funny and adventurous, this series touches on topics like friendship, empathy and social skills.

• Amma tell me a story

If you want to introduce your little readers to mythology, then Bhakti Mathur’s collection is a wonderful way to begin. The repetitive and rhyming text with engaging illustrations aims to make mythology fun for children. All the books revolve around gods and festivals and talk about the significance of the same with an easy-to-understand text. Best book for bedtime read-aloud.

• Ikru’s first day of school

If you have plans to start a daycare or a playschool for your child, then begin with this book. This book is written by Sunaina Coelho. It is an engaging story about a young boy and his experiences on his first day of school. It is a wordless storybook that spikes curiosity in children with fun and captivating illustrations. The simple yet powerful story delves deeper into the fear of a child who is just beginning his foray into a school while at the same time bringing to life the varied and unexpected delights of the first day of school. Best book that teaches children to face fears.