10 Favorite Board Books for Toddlers

1. Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton – This book was my oldest child’s favorite book as a toddler. It was a book she asked me to read to her over and over, and one of only 3 books that she would always sit still for the whole book, usually more than one read in a sitting.


2. Tickly Under There and Can I Have a Hug by Debi Gliori – These are the two other books that Miss M would sit still for. They are both very, very short at only 4 pages each but the stories lend themselves well to fun actions you can do with your toddler sitting in your lap. These books brought guaranteed giggles every time.


3. But Not The Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton – This Boynton book was my Godson’s favorite as a toddler. I still remember the day I went to visit (years before I had my own children) and he brought me the book, sat in my lap and told me to read it again and again.


4. The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown – I borrowed this one from our local Early Childhood Family Education program when Miss M was a baby. I just loved the story.


5. Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino and Steven Kellogg – This is another book I first borrowed from the ECFE program. My son liked saying “NO!” every time the llama asked another animal if its mama was a llama.


6. We’re Going On A Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen – My son still loves this one and now he sings or chants the song.


7. The Foot Book by Dr. Suess – The board book version of this book is shorter than the original version, and just the right length for little kids who are just learning to enjoy reading. I like to read this one in different voices. The kids always love that goofiness.


8. Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson – I was given this book by my boss at my baby shower. The story is a cute one that tells kids that even though Mommy might leave them for a little bit, she will always come back. That’s the kind of message toddlers who are dealing with separation anxiety need to hear!


9. So Many Bunnies by Rick Walton – This was another baby shower gift from a coworker (did I mention I used to work for the ECFE program? That should probably be noted here since these books I was given were from people who know kids and families well). This book goes from A to Z as a mama bunny with 26 children puts each of her babies to bed in his or her own place that just happens to rhyme with his or her name. Rhyming and alphabet in a fun format!


10. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle – This book combines counting and learning fruit in a fun format. My kids were always interested in the holes in the book.

What are some of your favorite board books for toddlers?