10+ Best Touch And Feel Books for 1-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect way to introduce your little one to the joy of reading? Touch and feel books for 1-year-olds are a fantastic choice! These interactive books are designed to captivate young minds and stimulate their senses through exciting textures and colors. Whether you're looking to snuggle up for story time or encourage independent exploration, these books are sure to delight. Keep reading to discover our favorite touch and feel books that will both entertain and educate your toddler.

Fun Touch And Feel Books for 1-Year-Olds

• Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
  • Genre(s): Children's Literature, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: A touch and feel book where young readers can pat the bunny, feel Daddy's scratchy face, and look in the mirror.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's interactive and sensory, making it a wonderful tool for engaging a young child’s senses and encouraging early literacy.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who are just beginning to explore the world around them through touch.

• That's Not My Puppy... by Fiona Watt, illustrated by Rachel Wells
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Touch and Feel Book
  • Synopsis: This book is part of a series that uses simple, repetitive text to introduce different textures, as each page features a different tactile element.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its repetitive phrasing and varied textures make it ideal for sensory development and language acquisition.
  • Perfect for: Young children who enjoy animals and exploring different surfaces.

• Baby Touch and Feel: Animals by DK
  • Genre(s): Early Learning, Sensory Book
  • Synopsis: This board book introduces babies to animals with tactile elements on each page that babies can touch and feel.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps develop sensory and language skills through vibrant pictures and varied textures.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who are developing their sensory skills and learning about animals.

• Never Touch a Dragon by Rosie Greening, illustrated by Stuart Lynch
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: This playful book discourages touching a dragon but invites readers to feel other silicone textures that are not like a dragon’s scales.
  • Why we recommend this book: The silicone touch-and-feel elements are unique and engaging, making reading a fun and tactile experience.
  • Perfect for: Little ones who enjoy playful, imaginative scenarios and interactive reading sessions.

• Where Is Baby's Belly Button? by Karen Katz
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap Book, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: This book asks questions about where different parts of the body are, with flaps that lift to reveal the answers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages interaction and body awareness, making it educational as well as entertaining.
  • Perfect for: Infants and toddlers learning about their bodies and enjoying books that involve play.

Educational Touch And Feel Books for 1-Year-Olds

• Touch! My Big Touch-and-Feel Word Book by Xavier Deneux
  • Genre(s): Early Learning, Sensory Book
  • Synopsis: This large format board book offers a tactile experience with textures on every page, accompanying bold, colorful illustrations that depict everyday objects and animals.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Vocabulary expansion, sensory awareness, object recognition
  • Why we recommend this book: The diverse range of textures and large, easy-to-understand images make it an excellent tool for sensory development and vocabulary building.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers developing language and tactile skills.

• Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy! by Sandra Boynton
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Touch and Feel Book
  • Synopsis: A cuddly collection of different animals with various textures that little hands can explore.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Sensory development, animal recognition, fine motor skills
  • Why we recommend this book: Sandra Boynton’s charming characters and the engaging, fuzzy features offer a fun and tactile reading experience.
  • Perfect for: Young children who love animals and interactive reading.

• Baby Touch and Feel: I Love You by DK
  • Genre(s): Early Learning, Sensory Book
  • Synopsis: This book features heartwarming pictures of babies and animals with touch-and-feel elements that celebrate love and affection.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional intelligence, sensory development, recognition of expressions of love
  • Why we recommend this book: It’s a gentle introduction to the feelings of love and care, combined with sensory exploration.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers beginning to explore emotional expressions and relationships through sensory play.

• Whose Knees Are These? by Jabari Asim, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Touch and Feel Book
  • Synopsis: Focused on a small child's knees, this playful book invites young readers to touch and feel while celebrating the parts of the body.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Body awareness, self-recognition, tactile interaction
  • Why we recommend this book: It’s a delightful and engaging way to teach toddlers about their bodies with interactive touch elements.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers learning about different parts of their bodies and enjoying playful discovery.

• Hello, Farm! by Maddie Frost
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Touch and Feel Book
  • Synopsis: This interactive book introduces farm animals through engaging textures and vibrant illustrations.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Animal recognition, vocabulary, sensory development
  • Why we recommend this book: The combination of tactile elements and colorful scenes makes learning about farm animals exciting and hands-on.
  • Perfect for: Young children who show interest in animals and farms, encouraging both reading and sensory exploration.

Challenging Touch And Feel Books for 1-Year-Olds

• Touch and Feel Farm by DK
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Touch and Feel Book
  • Synopsis: This book takes toddlers on a tactile adventure around a farm, encouraging them to explore various textures associated with farm animals and equipment.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces more complex textures like bumpy tractor tires and sticky honey, which are less common in touch and feel books.
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a sensory-rich experience that goes beyond simple touch, helping to develop both tactile sensitivity and knowledge of the farm environment.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are curious about farms and ready for more diverse sensory experiences.

• Busy Zoo: A Touch-and-Feel Book by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Interactive Book
  • Synopsis: Kids can explore different zoo animals through touch and feel elements, from the scaly skin of a lizard to the rough hide of a rhino.
  • Why this book is challenging: The variety of textures paired with detailed descriptions of each animal's habitat and behavior offers a more comprehensive sensory and educational experience.
  • Why we recommend this book: It’s an engaging way to learn about animals while building sensory and cognitive skills through interactive play.
  • Perfect for: Young children who have an interest in animals and enjoy interactive, educational activities.

• My First Touch and Feel Picture Cards: Colors and Shapes by DK
  • Genre(s): Early Learning, Educational
  • Synopsis: This set of cards helps toddlers learn colors and shapes through tactile elements that encourage hands-on learning.
  • Why this book is challenging: It combines tactile exploration with cognitive skills by requiring children to match touch-and-feel elements with their corresponding colors and shapes.
  • Why we recommend this book: These cards offer a multi-sensory approach to learning basic concepts, which can enhance memory and recognition skills.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers beginning to learn about colors and shapes, who benefit from interactive and tactile learning tools.

• Animal Kisses: A Touch and Feel Book by Barney Saltzberg
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Sensory Book
  • Synopsis: This delightful book invites young readers to feel different types of animal kisses, from a sticky frog kiss to a fuzzy bear kiss.
  • Why this book is challenging: The concept of 'kisses' introduces emotional expressions associated with sensations, making it a unique sensory and emotional learning experience.
  • Why we recommend this book: It’s a fun and affectionate way to explore feelings and textures, encouraging empathy and sensory recognition.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who enjoy affectionate interactions and are learning about emotions and textures.

• Touch and Feel Wild Animals by Julie Aigner-Clark
  • Genre(s): Children's Non-Fiction, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book allows children to discover wild animals through touch, featuring elements like a tiger’s smooth stripes and an elephant’s rough skin.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces less familiar, more exotic animals and their unique textures, providing a more advanced sensory experience.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps broaden a child’s understanding of wildlife while engaging their sense of touch, enhancing both their knowledge and sensory skills.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and young children fascinated by wild animals and eager for a hands-on learning experience.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Touch and feel books are a fantastic way to introduce your little one to the joys of reading. These books, designed with various textures, not only entertain but also help in the sensory development of 1-year-olds. Here are some exercises you can incorporate while reading touch and feel books to make the experience more enriching for your child.

• Explore Together
  • What it is: Sit with your child and explore the book together, page by page.
  • How it helps: This encourages bonding and helps your child associate reading with positive emotions.
  • Tips: Point to and touch each texture as you describe it aloud, showing excitement and curiosity.

• Name the Textures
  • What it is: Ask your child to name or identify the textures they feel.
  • How it helps: Enhances vocabulary and cognitive development by connecting words to sensory experiences.
  • Tips: Keep the descriptions simple, using words like "soft," "rough," or "bumpy."

• Follow the Finger
  • What it is: Guide your child’s finger along the paths or textures in the book.
  • How it helps: Improves motor skills and the ability to follow directions.
  • Tips: Make this a fun game by pretending the finger is a little animal hopping from one texture to another.

• Create a Story
  • What it is: Encourage your child to create a story based on the textures and images they see.
  • How it helps: Stimulates imagination and narrative skills.
  • Tips: Ask open-ended questions like "What do you think happens next?" or "Why is the puppy soft?"

• Guess the Texture
  • What it is: Cover your child’s eyes and let them feel a texture, then guess what it is.
  • How it helps: Enhances sensory recognition and memory.
  • Tips: Cheer and clap when they guess right to make it more rewarding.

• Count the Textures
  • What it is: Have your child count the different textures found in the book.
  • How it helps: Introduces basic math skills and the concept of counting.
  • Tips: Assist by pointing to each texture as your child counts.

• Match the Textures
  • What it is: Find objects around the house that match the textures in the book.
  • How it helps: Helps connect the reading experience to the real world.
  • Tips: Start with easy matches like a soft pillow or a rough towel.

Incorporating these exercises while reading touch and feel books with your 1-year-old can greatly enhance their learning and enjoyment. Each activity not only makes the reading process more interactive but also deepens your child's understanding and appreciation of the world around them. So, grab a book, and let’s make reading a sensory adventure!