Read to Me: Books for Toddlers

Toddler Times

• Hands Can by Cheryl Willis Hudson. Photos by John-Francis Bourke. Candlewick, 2003.
  (jPS HUDS)
  Rhyming text and color photos show toddlers exploring the world with their busy hands.
• I Love My Mommy by Sebastien Braun. Hapercollins, 2004.
  (jPS BRAU)
  Animal mothers play, swim and cuddle with their babies.
  Also: I Love My Daddy
• I Love Trucks! by Philemon Sturges. Illustrated by Shari Halpern. HarperCollins, 1999.
  (jPS STUR)
  Bright illustrations of fifteen trucks with simple rhyming text.
  Also: I Love Trains! and I Love Planes!
• Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom. Simon & Schuster, 1986.
  (jPS CARL)
  A young bear playfully “wears” many things throughout the day.
• “More More More,” Said The Baby by Vera B. Williams. Greenwillow, 1990.
  (jPS WILL & JBOARD)
  In three vignettes with a common theme, toddlers ask loving family members for “more.”
• No More Diapers for Ducky! by Bernette Ford. Illustrated by Sam Williams. Sterling, 2006.
  (jPS FORD)
  The title says it all!
• Time to Get Dressed! by Elivia Savadier. Roaring Brook, 2006.
  (jPS SAVA)
  One toddler who wants to dress himself, one dad and one busy morning.
• Toddler Two by Anastasia Suen. Illustrated by Winnie Cheon. Lee & Low, 2002.
  (jBOARD)
  Two adorable toddlers celebrate things that come in pairs. (Also available in Spanish)

Beginning Concepts

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• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault. Illustrated by Lois Ehlert. Simon & Schuster, 1989.
  (jPS MART)
  The twenty-six letters race each other up a coconut tree in this stylish alphabet featuring a bouncy chant.
• Feast for Ten by Cathryn Falwell. Clarion, 1993.
  (jPS FALW)
  An African-American family goes grocery shopping and then cooks a meal in a clever story that counts to ten twice.
• My Car by Byron Barton. Greenwillow, 2001.
  (jPS BART & jBOARD)
  Sam talks about his red car and how he drives it.
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Philomel, 1969.
  (jPS CARL & jBOARD)
  A caterpillar eats through the days of the week and many familiar foods before turning into a butterfly. (Also available in many languages)
• We’ve All Got Bellybuttons by David Martin. Illustrated by Randy Cecil. Candlewick, 2005.
  (jPS MART)
  An interactive text that ends with tickles show similarities between human and animal children.
• What the Sun Sees; What the Moon Sees by Nancy Tafuri. Greenwillow, 1997.
  (jPS TAFU)
  A reversible book contrasting the activities of day and night.
• Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox. Illustrated by Judy Horacek. Harcourt, 2004.
  (jPS FOX)
  Learn about colors, opposites and more while trying to find the green sheep.

Songs & Rhymes to Share

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• Diez Deditos: Ten Little Fingers and Other Play Rhymes and Action Songs from Latin America by Jose-Luis Orozco. Illustrated by Elisa Kleven. Dutton, 1997.
  (j784.8 OROZ)
  Delightful Spanish-English collection with musical arrangements, pictograph directions, and whimsical mixed-media collage art.
• Down by the Station by Will Hillenbrand. Harcourt, 1999.
  (jPS HILL)
  All aboard! Sing along as the train picks up baby animals on its way to the zoo.
  Also: Fiddle-I-Fee
• Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and Other Action Rhymes by Zita Newcome. Candlewick, 2002.
  (j398.8 NEWC)
  More than fifty favorite nursery rhymes and songs playfully illustrated and easy to use.
  Also: Toddlerobics
• The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani. Whispering Coyote, 1993.
  (jPS TRAP & jBOARD)
  A famous spider has new adventures.
• Jamberry by Bruce Degen. HarperCollins, 1983.
  (jPS DEGE & jBOARD)
  “One berry, two berry, pick me a blueberry” begins this rhyme about a boy and a bear on a berry-picking adventure.
• Little White Duck by Walt Whippo. Illustrated by Joan Paley. Music by Bernard Zaritzky. Little, Brown, 2000.
  (jPS WHIP & jBOARD)
  A classic children’s song is staged with vibrant collage art.
• Sing a Song of Sixpence: A Pocketful of Nursery Rhymes and Tales by Jane Chapman. Candlewick, 2004.
  (j398.8 CHAP)
  An appealing collection of twenty-two nursery rhymes and three classic stories.
• Whose Shoes? by Anna Grossnickle Hines. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Harcourt, 2001.
  (jPS HINE)
  A lift-the-flap guessing game featuring a young lively mouse.
  Also: Which Hat Is That?

Animal Tales

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• Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner. Chronicle, 1999.
  (j595.7 Barn)
  Fascinating facts and simple rhymes for the youngest bug lover.
  Also: Stars, Stars, Stars
• Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. Little Simon, 1986.
  (jPS CAMP & jBOARD)
  Told in a lift-the-flap format, a child asks the zoo to help find the perfect pet. (Also available in several languages)
• Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins. Candlewick, 2005.
  (jPS COUS)
  Meet Little Fish and tour the sea in this brightly illustrated book by the author of the popular Maisy books.
• In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming. Holt, 1993.
  (jPS FLEM)
  Energetic, rhyming text and lush paper collages introduce pond animals through the seasons.
  Also: Mama Cat Has Three Kittens and In the Tall, Tall Grass
• Jump Frog Jump by Robert Kalan. Illustrated by Byron Barton. Greenwillow, 1981.
  (jPS KALA)
  A cumulative tale in which a frog tries to catch a fly without getting caught itself. (Also available in Spanish)
• Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes. Greenwillow, 2004.
  (jPS HENK)
  A kitten finds mishap and adventure when he thinks the moon is a bowl of milk in this 2005 Caldecott Award Winner.
• This Little Chick by John Lawrence. Candlewick, 2002.
  (jPS LAWR & jBOARD)
  Bold woodcut pictures bring to life a familiar rhyme in which a chick visits barnyard animals and learns new sounds.
• Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill. Putnam, 1980.
  (jPS HILL)
  Help find the popular puppy in this lift-the-flap adventure. (Also available in many languages)
• Whose Baby Am I? by John Butler. Viking, 2001.
  (jPS BUTL)
  Wild animal babies are joined by a parent when you turn the page in this gentle question and answer book.
  Also: Whose Nose and Toes?

Especially for Bedtime

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• Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann. Putnam, 1994.
  (jPS RATH & jBOARD)
  A comical story about a zookeeper, his wife and the animals he thinks he has locked up for the night. (Also available in Spanish)
• Goodnight, Goodnight Sleepyhead by Ruth Krauss. Illustrated by Jane Dyer. HarperCollins, 2004.
  (jPS KRAU)
  A toddler bids goodnight to her surroundings in gentle verse.
• How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Mark Teague. Blue Sky, 2000.
  (jPS YOLE)
  A rollicking rumpus of bedtime antics told in rhyme. (Also available in Spanish)
  Also: How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? and How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?
• Hush!: A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho. Illustrated by Holly Meade. Orchard, 1996. (jPS HO)
  Mother hushes all the animals in the countryside so that her baby can sleep in this quiet story with a surprise ending.
• Hush, Little Baby by Brian Pinkney. Greenwillow, 2006.
  (jPS PINK)
  A favorite lullaby is retold with whimsical scratchboard illustrations of a loving African-American family.
• Max’s Bedtime by Rosemary Wells. Penguin, 2004. Musical arrangements by Adam Stemple. Candlewick, 2006.
  (jBOARD)
  With help from big sister Ruby, Max finds his favorite red rubber elephant at bedtime. (Also available in Chinese)
  Also: Max’s First Word and Max’s New Suit
• Piggies by Audrey Wood. Illustrated by Don Wood. Harcourt, 1991.
  (jPS WOOD)
  Little pigs with distinct personalities cavort on a child’s fingertips until bedtime. (Also available in Spanish)
• Shhhhh! Everybody’s Sleeping by Julie Markes. Illustrated by David Parkins. HarperCollins, 2005.
  (jPS MARK)
  All the community helpers are sound asleep and a toddler is too.

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