10+ Best Books for 1-3-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect books for 1-3-year-olds that will captivate, educate, and entertain your little one? Choosing the right books during these formative years is crucial for their development and can be a delightful experience for both of you. Whether you're starting a nighttime reading routine or just looking for daytime educational activities, we've compiled various lists of books for 1-3-year-olds that are sure to spark joy and curiosity. Keep reading to discover our top picks that your toddler will love!

Fun Books for 1-3-Year-Olds

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This beloved book follows a caterpillar as it eats its way through a variety of foods before finally pupating and emerging as a butterfly.
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces young readers to counting, the days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly, all through vibrant illustrations and simple text.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who enjoy colorful illustrations and learning basic concepts.

• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
  • Genre(s): Bedtime Story, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: In this calming bedtime story, a young rabbit says goodnight to all the familiar things in the softly lit room.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its rhythmic, gentle words and lulling illustrations make it a perfect bedtime read, helping children wind down for the night.
  • Perfect for: Young children who need a soothing story to help them prepare for sleep.

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Rhyming Book
  • Synopsis: A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck—all parade across the pages of this delightful book.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its repetitive and rhythmic text paired with bold, colorful illustrations captivates children while helping them learn colors and animal names.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers beginning to learn basic concepts and enjoy repetitive, rhythmic texts.

• Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap Book, Animal Book
  • Synopsis: A child writes to the zoo asking them to send a pet. The zoo sends a series of unsuitable pets that are all sent back for different reasons, until they finally send the perfect pet.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's interactive with flaps to lift on every page, which keeps toddlers engaged and helps develop their motor skills.
  • Perfect for: Young children who enjoy interactive reading and animals.

• Peek-A Who? by Nina Laden
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: This simple, predictable book plays with rhymes and surprise endings with peek-a-boo cutouts throughout.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its playful text and peekaboo themes delight toddlers while encouraging play and interaction with the book.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who love playing peek-a-boo and enjoy engaging, interactive books.

Educational Books for 1-3-Year-Olds

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
  • Genre(s): Alphabet Book, Rhyming Book
  • Synopsis: In this lively story, the lowercase letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh no - Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom!
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Alphabet recognition, rhythm and rhyme, early reading skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines playful text with bold colorful artwork to make learning the alphabet fun and engaging.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers who are beginning to learn the alphabet.

• Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Bedtime Story
  • Synopsis: This gentle story features Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare as they express their love for each other in ever larger and more imaginative measures.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional intelligence, creative thinking, parent-child bonding
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a heartwarming read that beautifully illustrates the boundless nature of love between a parent and child.
  • Perfect for: Young children and their parents, ideal for bedtime reading.

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Seasonal Book
  • Synopsis: This book captures the adventures of a young boy named Peter as he explores the city on a snowy day.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Observation skills, understanding seasons, exploration and curiosity
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a timeless story that celebrates the simple joys of a fresh snowfall through the eyes of a child.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers experiencing the wonders of snow, or any child who enjoys stories of exploration and adventure.

• Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap Book, Animal Book
  • Synopsis: In this playful book, children are invited to hunt for Spot, the little yellow puppy, who is hiding somewhere in the house.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Problem-solving skills, animal recognition, interactive reading
  • Why we recommend this book: Its interactive lift-the-flap elements make reading a fun, engaging activity that also helps develop fine motor skills.
  • Perfect for: Young children who love playing hide and seek and enjoy books with interactive elements.

• Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Animal Book
  • Synopsis: This story follows three baby owls, Sarah, Percy, and Bill, as they wake up one night in their hole in a tree to find that their mother has gone. They sit on a branch and wait, wondering when she will return.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional resilience, understanding emotions, family bonding
  • Why we recommend this book: It addresses themes of separation anxiety and reassurance with soothing text and soft, expressive illustrations.
  • Perfect for: Young children who may have fears of separation and parents looking to comfort them.

Challenging Books for 1-3-Year-Olds

• Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Imagination
  • Synopsis: This book features a rabbit who uses a simple box in various imaginative ways, showing that it's not just a box but so much more.
  • Why this book is challenging: It encourages creative thinking and imagination beyond the literal, asking children to envision a box as various objects.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes creativity and imaginative play, which are crucial for cognitive development at this age.
  • Perfect for: Young children who enjoy using their imagination and parents who want to encourage creative thinking.

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Rhyming Book
  • Synopsis: A clever mouse uses the threat of a terrifying creature to keep from being eaten by predators, only to encounter the mythical Gruffalo itself.
  • Why this book is challenging: It features rich vocabulary and rhyming text that can help with phonemic awareness but may be complex for very young readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its rhythmic, rhyming narrative and a clever plot provide an engaging and humorous reading experience.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who love a good story and parents who appreciate books that entertain while they educate.

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Rhyming Book
  • Synopsis: Sam-I-Am persistently follows the unnamed character, trying to convince him to try green eggs and ham in various locations with various companions.
  • Why this book is challenging: The use of simple vocabulary repeated in creative ways helps build early reading skills but the concepts and persistent narrative can be challenging.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches persistence, creativity, and the benefits of trying new things.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are just starting to grasp reading concepts and enjoy playful, repetitive text.

• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Rhyming Book
  • Synopsis: A kind witch invites various animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat, leading to adventures and new friendships.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative builds on themes of friendship and sharing with a rhythmical, lyrical storytelling style that might be complex for younger readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a story of kindness, inclusivity, and teamwork, presented through engaging rhymes and beautiful illustrations.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy stories about animals and magical adventures.

• Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Rhyme, I Spy Book
  • Synopsis: This book invites young readers to spy familiar nursery characters like Tom Thumb and Mother Hubbard hidden in beautifully detailed pictures.
  • Why this book is challenging: It combines rhymes with visual discovery, encouraging children to interact with the text and illustrations to find hidden details.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes observational skills and familiarity with classic nursery rhyme characters in a playful format.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who enjoy interactive reading and playing 'I spy' games.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Introducing your little ones to the world of books early on can set the stage for a lifelong love of reading. Here are some fun and engaging exercises designed for 1-3-year-olds that can help nurture their reading habits from a tender age. Each activity is simple yet effective in making reading a delightful part of their daily routine.

• Read Aloud Daily
  • What it is: Dedicate time each day to read stories aloud to your child.
  • How it helps: Enhances vocabulary, listening skills, and helps them understand the rhythm and patterns of language.
  • Tips: Use different voices for different characters to make the reading sessions more engaging and fun.

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Flip through a picture book and discuss the images before reading the text.
  • How it helps: Encourages imagination and helps children connect visuals with words, boosting comprehension skills.
  • Tips: Ask open-ended questions about the pictures to encourage your child to express thoughts and feelings.

• Interactive Reading
  • What it is: Encourage your child to point at and name objects in the book as you read together.
  • How it helps: Builds vocabulary and helps with word-object association.
  • Tips: Praise your child for each successful identification to boost confidence.

• Sing-Along Books
  • What it is: Use books that can be sung or have rhythmic cadences.
  • How it helps: Makes reading a fun activity and improves memory and phonemic awareness.
  • Tips: Let your child try to sing along or fill in the ends of lines to engage more actively with the text.

• Book Choice
  • What it is: Allow your child to pick out books they want to read during your reading sessions.
  • How it helps: Encourages independence and makes reading a more personal and enjoyable experience.
  • Tips: Guide your child by pointing to a few options and letting them make the final choice.

• Story Reenactment
  • What it is: Act out stories with your child after reading them.
  • How it helps: Enhances comprehension and recall; helps children connect emotionally with the story.
  • Tips: Use simple props or costumes to make the reenactment more exciting and memorable.

Incorporating these exercises into your daily routine will not only make reading times special but also instill essential early literacy skills in your child. Remember, the goal is to make reading fun and engaging, so keep the sessions light and enjoyable. Happy reading!