enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

9 books our toddler loves.

IMG_7622

When Ellerie was nine months old, I shared nine books we were loving.

It's crazy to think back on that time. Now, my two year old READS me the books. Based half on memory, half on pictures, she says the words as she turns the pages and my heart grows seven or eight sizes.

All of the books we loved then we still enjoy today and they remain in heavy rotation. There are some new favorites on the shelf though too. These are the ones she likes to listen to or play along with and they are the ones that I like to read, usually because they have great "flow" and are fun to say.

IMG_7629

Zoom – fun rhymes, cute illustrations and of course…colors!

IMG_7626

Mommy Hugs – probably the simplest book on this list, but so sweet. We hug each page.

IMG_7624

Little Blue Truck – the best message, fun animal sounds and SUCH a great rhythm to say. The companion book is good too.

IMG_7630

How Hippo Says Hello – simple and fun!

IMG_7623

Wheels on the Bus – a great book version of her favorite song.

IMG_7627

Mix It Up! – she's getting this one more and more which is so fun for me.

IMG_7628

The Paper Bag Princess – Ellerie loves this one and I LOVE that she loves it.

IMG_7631

Eight Silly Monkeys – she likes to act this one out which is a little intense.

IMG_7632

Dear Zoo – a classic and a favorite.

There are so many it's hard to pick just nine, but these are the ones we reach for over and over again (this week). I'd love to hear what your kiddos love(d).

*links are affiliate

Posted in ,

49 responses to “9 books our toddler loves.”

  1. Christina G. Avatar
    Christina G.

    The Paper Bag Princess is one of my favorites! I used to read it to my class all the time. I love all of his books.

    Like

    Reply
  2. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    Yay for children’s book! My kindergarten students can’t get enough of Mix it Up and Press Here – also by Herve Tullet.

    Like

    Reply
  3. am Avatar
    am

    The “Spot the dog” series is always in heavy rotation! Have you checked out the “Imagination Library” program? You register your child or children birth-5 years old and they receive a new book (Hardcover)–age appropriate– in the mail every month—It is free and one of the main goals is to promote exposure to literacy for little ones! Kids get so excited to have mail each month!

    Like

    Reply
  4. Alissa Avatar
    Alissa

    Mommy Hugs and hippos go berserk as well as Boynton’s Good night books are in heavy rotation here. In mommy hugs my 3 year old always says, “cygnet means baby swan mama” which makes me think she’s a genius. I agree about the “reading” it’s the best!

    Like

    Reply
  5. KimS Avatar
    KimS

    They look excellent. I remember my little sister’s favourites at that age were In the Night Kitchen and Where the Wild Things Are (which is one of my childhood favourites, too).
    I also loved (when I was a little older, maybe five?) the Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf stories, about a little girl who continually outwits a wolf who has decided to have her for dinner. Oh! And The Little Witch, that was excellent.
    I also loved the funny bones books when I was small, and they’re so much fun to read alound (in a dark dark town there was a dark dark street, and in the dark dark street there was a dark dark house…). I loved the illustrations and especially remember the ones of the dog being put back together wrong and getting his woof mixed up (fowo, foow, etc.).

    Like

    Reply
  6. michelle t Avatar
    michelle t

    Our favorite here was But Not The Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton. I used to act out the voices when I read this to them (now 16 yr old twin boys, 11 yr old girl). One of my favorite memories of when they were younger. Michelle t

    Like

    Reply
  7. Cerise Wade Avatar
    Cerise Wade

    Eight Silly Monkeys is one of our favorites too. We also love Giraffes can’t dance and I have a book I found somewhere of the I’m a Little Teapot that my Little just loves right now. Thanks for the list! Always looking for new books.

    Like

    Reply
  8. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Little Blue Truck is a favorite of both of my kids, and me too. They are 7 and 9 and we still read it together.
    We also loved The Bear Snores On, anything Sandra Boynton and Duck in the Truck by Jez Alborough
    I think you would love What Makes a Rainbow by Betty Ann Schwartz. The rainbow ribbons are so cute.

    Like

    Reply
  9. Carly Friesen Avatar
    Carly Friesen

    These are so sweet! The hippo one looks cute.
    We have a book store here in Toronto called “A Different Booklist” which has all kinds of awesome and inclusive kids books. There is one called “The Case for Loving” which talks about interracial marriage and “I Am Jazz” about a trans little girl. The reading level might be a bit too high, but they would be great in a few years 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  10. Katie Malooly Avatar
    Katie Malooly

    If Ellerie loves Paper Bag Princess, I’m sure she’ll love Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke. It is out of print now sadly, but worth the price on Amazon. It’s a great message and a wonderful story.

    Like

    Reply
  11. Alyssa Avatar
    Alyssa

    Have you read Beautiful Oops? I think you’d both love it and there is a song that goes with it.

    Like

    Reply
  12. Brandie Avatar
    Brandie

    I will definitely be checking some of these out for my 16 month old. Our long running favorite is Bugs Galore. We stumbled upon it in a gift shop and the illustrations and rhymes are so awesome! Happy reading!

    Like

    Reply
  13. jessica o'brien | @jessohbee Avatar
    jessica o’brien | @jessohbee

    friends of ours gave us “punk farm” as a nod to scott’s guitar playing right when mila was born. it’s old mcdonald but with musical instrument noises instead of animal noises. mila loves belting it out! “flip flap fly” has great word play mila loves for awhile and “one mitten” is huge for her right now.

    Like

    Reply
  14. Kathy Ellen davis Avatar
    Kathy Ellen davis

    These are great books!
    Some other favorites:
    ALL THE WORLD
    Anything by Salina Yoon (the legion books are great)
    Anything by Joyce Wan too.
    Ame Dyckman has great ones for early readers.
    So does Kevin Henkes.
    Mem Fox is the QUEEN of rhythmic books for kids. I love WHERE IS THE GREEN SHEEP, YOO HOO LADYBUG, and KOALA LOU but she’s got TONS!
    EVERYWHERE BABIES might be a good one when the baby comes. Also, THERE’S GOING TO BE A BABY.
    Anything and everything Beach Lane Books publishes!
    GO AWAY BIG GREEN MONSTER
    And that’s all I can think of right now. I’m a picture book writer so I read TONS of kidlit for research and pleasure 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  15. Kathy Ellen davis Avatar
    Kathy Ellen davis

    That’s a great one! I’ve met the author/illustrator; he has many more great books too. That is my go to gift for a musical family!

    Like

    Reply
  16. Kathy Ellen davis Avatar
    Kathy Ellen davis

    Yes! I’m glad you mentioned Jez! I forgot about HUG and WHERE’S MY TEDDY? both classics 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  17. julia Avatar
    julia

    good list! we have little blue truck leads the way and i’m sorry, i had to hide it because i just couldn’t bear to read it one more time! dear zoo is very well loved in our house as is paper bag princess (we have my copy from when i was a kid- a lifetime favorite!). ethan is super into dr. seuss and will sit through the lorax, cat in the hat, green eggs and ham, and one fish two fish…just fascinated! when we read the lorax, he interjects with comments like “brown barbaloots sad. go find food. swomee swans sad. can’t sing. that water icky!” i love it. i’ve found one fish two fish to be a really awesome book since almost every page is a different character and he’s memorized all their names and what they do. i love hearing him randomly say things from his books during the day.

    Like

    Reply
  18. julia Avatar
    julia

    also! for a new baby (which we have coming too!) the baby tree has been a big hit around here lately.

    Like

    Reply
  19. Vivid Avatar
    Vivid

    We have and enjoy a few of these two! My three are huge fans of all the Llama Llama books and Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett. Lots of fun rhymes & lessons.

    Like

    Reply
  20. Whitney Jordan Avatar
    Whitney Jordan

    What a fun list! I haven’t heard of any of these so I’m putting them on my wish list for my 2 year old. We love The Pout Pout Fish, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, You are My Sunshine and any Daniel Tiger books.

    Like

    Reply
  21. jadell Avatar
    jadell

    We love The Seven Silly Eaters and you must check out Silly Sally and any others from that author. Enjoy!

    Like

    Reply
  22. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Some of my daughter’s favs were Jamberry by Bruce Degan, Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear by Nancy White Carlstrom and Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb. Thirteen years later and I still know ever word LOL

    Like

    Reply
  23. Melissa C Avatar
    Melissa C

    As she gets older try the Piggie and Elephant series by Moe Willams. HILARIOUS! 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  24. Holly H Avatar
    Holly H

    Little blue truck is my favorite to read, it just flows so nicely. My little guy is loving Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See right now. We have a matching blanket, and he loves pointing out the animals and repeating the noises they make.

    Like

    Reply
  25. Tiffany M. Avatar
    Tiffany M.

    My kids loved Bear Snores On, any of the flap books by Katz, and the Five Little Monkey books.

    Like

    Reply
  26. Julia Avatar
    Julia

    We love Dear Zoo at our house too! A new favorite for my 3 year old is Giraffes Can’t Dance… super cute, with a good message as well:)

    Like

    Reply
  27. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    Gonna check out some of the other ones! My son has had Little Blue Truck since he was born and it is his all time favorite book. He’s two now..

    Like

    Reply
  28. Jamie Avatar
    Jamie

    My 3-year-old loves Giraffes Can’t Dance, anything Dora or Diego, Press Here (I’ll add Mix it Up to his list), or anything else he can get us to sit down and read. Or better yet, just tell him a story. = )

    Like

    Reply
  29. Nedda Toofer Avatar
    Nedda Toofer

    So cute! Have you tried TINE Tags yet? You can record yourself reading the book via a sticker and an app and when you’re not around to read the book to your toddler, the sitter could scan the tag and it would be as if you were reading to the kids while traveling or at work… It’s pretty cool! http://www.tinetag.com

    Like

    Reply
  30. abby - www.littlecityadventurs.com Avatar
    abby – www.littlecityadventurs.com

    My son really likes the Blue Truck book too!

    Like

    Reply
  31. marcela Avatar
    marcela

    Ohhh we don’t have any of these, I need to check them out!
    My son loves the “Pigeon” series by Mo Willems, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!” was the first one we got and it’s hilarious! Now we have them all and read them all the time.
    http://www.bookdepository.com/author/Mo+Willems

    Like

    Reply
  32. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    we love press here too! So fun. 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  33. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    yes! Love spot and the lift the flap books.
    and WOW. have not heard of that! I’ll look it up. thank you!

    Like

    Reply
  34. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    oh yes! Love Giraffes can’t dance. My favorite one to read.

    Like

    Reply
  35. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    yay Rainbows! I’ll check it out. We love HUG here too.

    Like

    Reply
  36. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    oh yes, we adore that. I don’t know the song though!

    Like

    Reply
  37. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    FUN! I’ll look for it.

    Like

    Reply
  38. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    such fun tips! Thank you!!

    Like

    Reply
  39. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    haha! so funny that you hid it! I have to do that with some too.

    Like

    Reply
  40. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    LOVE the Llamas. We just have the pj one. Will have to look into the others!

    Like

    Reply
  41. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    I remember Jamberry from my childhood! Love that.

    Like

    Reply
  42. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    Oh yes, that’s a wonderful one! Perfect when they are just a year old too. 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  43. elise blaha cripe Avatar
    elise blaha cripe

    I’ve heard about those! Have yet to try.

    Like

    Reply
  44. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    I’ve never commented here before, but children’s books are my favorite! My almost two-year-old son loves Bear Sees Colors (which doesn’t exactly rhyme, but it’s close enough), Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Chicka, Chicka, Boom Boom and Where is Baby’s Belly Button? I can give you a huge list of great storytime books, but those are for a little bit older crowd =)

    Like

    Reply
  45. Elizabeth L Avatar
    Elizabeth L

    My two year old’s recent favorites are Yawn! By S. Symes and Roadwork by Sally Sutton. They both have great rhythm. We also have read Dear Zoo so much we both have it memorized!

    Like

    Reply
  46. Angie Avatar
    Angie

    When Lauren was two and three, we only read three books for weeks. They were the Little Pea, little oink, little hoot series!! At six yrs old, she still loves it!

    Like

    Reply
  47. ErinBaynham Avatar
    ErinBaynham

    Love this list! I’m gathering books for my newborn, so I’ll check these out.

    Like

    Reply
  48. Meredith Avatar
    Meredith

    Great post!! We have Zoom and The Little Blue Truck. They are popular in our house too. 🙂 I actually also wrote a similar post for my blog a few months back titled “6 Books for Children that are Fun for Adults Too”. There are some good ones in there that Ellerie might like such as Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type. Dragons Love Tacos is another silly book that we love. I figure it can’t hurt to always keep their little libraries growing and rotating! 🙂
    http://everydayenthusiastic.com/6-childrens-books-that-are-enjoyable-for-adults-too/

    Like

    Reply
  49. Rachael S. Avatar
    Rachael S.

    Have you seen “Maple” by Lori Nichols?? Ellerie NEEDS it and you will love it. My son adores it. Also, Steve Light has two good ones, “Have you seen my Dragon?” (love the design here) and “Zephyr takes Flight.” (yay for adventurous girls!) Love them so much. I second the “Bugs Galore” book, which my husband says reads like a poetry slam. HA! and also the “Pout, Pout Fish” which is just fantastic. Also all the Bear books – “Bear Snores on,” “Bear Counts,” “Bear sees Colors,” and especially “Bear says Thanks.” There’s an excellent Christmas one too. And for the season, “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson.
    All the Richard Scarry books full of words are a huge hit around here as well. I love the intricate details of “What do People do All Day?” and “Busy, Busy Town.” Basically the best vocabulary builders!
    Also, I read the book recommendations on this former librarian’s blog. She has three little girls and reads to them a great deal. Very good books around there if you haven’t seen them yet!
    http://www.everyday-reading.com/
    Love these lists and comments!

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to Cerise Wade Cancel reply