List of Top 14 Rated Books for 2 Year Old Toddlers
#1 The Very Hungry Caterpillar
A baby caterpillar hatches from its egg and proceeds to grow and eat his way through the book. He eats many different types of foods until he gets sick and much rest. So he spins a cocoon for himself where he stays for two weeks.
At the end of that time, a beautify butterfly emerges from the cocoon with wonderful, bright colored wings. This classic has sold over 30 million copies and is considered perhaps the most popular book for 2 year olds.
#2 Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See
A timeless classic, this children’s book has little in the way of plot, but instead focuses on helping a toddler associate colors and meanings of objects.
The storyteller flips through the pages and presents an image of various animals such as the brown bear, yellow duck and green frog and so on. The storyteller then asks the child what they see. This helps a child identify animals and colors in an easy, fun way.
#3 Love You Forever
Written by Robert Munsch. I have a special fondness for this book, since I read it to my two boys when they were little and now I’m reading it again to my grandson.
It’s about how we love our children unconditionally, all through the circle of life. This book is a must read for any parent or grandparent!
#4 The Runaway Bunny
Written by Margaret Wise Brown. This book reminds me of the ‘terrible twos,’ when our precious babies start that transition into independence. It’s about a little bunny that insists that he will run away.
And with every threat from his silly bunny heart, his loving mother insists that no matter where he runs away to, she will follow him. Hmm…maybe I should read this again to my teenager!
#5 On the Night You Were Born
Written by Nancy Tillman. This book is a great kids book for a reason! It touches my heart as I remember how cozy it was reading this to my little ones! This book is a must read for all parents because all children deserve to know how special that they are to us.
In fact, On the Night You Were Born paints the most wonderful picture of the magic that we felt when our babies first entered this world. What a special way to let our babies know how much that we love them!
#6 You Are My I Love You
Written by Maryann Cusimano Love. ‘I am your quiet place; you are my wild.’ To me, this one line sums up parenting in nine little words.
This book moves me to tears each time I read it to my babies, and now, again, as I listen to my son read it to my grandson.
This is one of the best kids books ever written and it’s a must read for any parent or parent to be.
#7 The Giving Tree
Written by Shel Silverstein. I’m not going to give away the story, but I will give you my favorite line from this book.
‘Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy.’
Shel Silverstein is a master, and this classic has been delivering to us for decades, and if you read this to your little one, you’ll see why it is one of the most popular kids books ever written.
#8 Dear Zoo
Written by Rod Campbell was published in 1982. This fun flip book, now with pop-ups, is a colorful book full of animal surprises.
One of the best kids books since it was released, it continues to be a favorite. Besides its simple format that is easy for toddlers to follow, they can learn about animals and some of their most outstanding characteristics.
The interactive pages will keep them pulling this one off the shelf for years to come.
#9 Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
Is the clever brainchild of Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld. For those who have children that prefer the mud, gears and all things trucks this is one of the best stories for kids out there. Knowing that even the big trucks stop for the night will have rambunctious little ones off to sleep in no time.
The rhythmic verse and richly textured yet soft illustrations make an easy transition from playtime to sleepy-time. Unforgettable characters, beautiful and fitting pictures and color come together to make it one of the best books for 2 year olds.
#10 Where’s Spot?
Written by Eric Hill earned its place in children’s literature by being the first lift-the-flap book ever published. This fun little book is adorable and kids love it. They feel as though they are right there with Sally looking for Spot, not knowing what they will find next.
That curious, lovable and playful pup has stolen hearts for over thirty years and is still going strong. There are many books for children, this just happens to be one of the most memorable. Also, this is the first book in a series. Children can follow Spot and his friends through even more adventures with each subsequent story.
#11 The Going-To-Bed Book
is another Sandra Boynton winner. One of the silliest bedtime stories for kids, this is sure to be an instant hit. It is a standout among other books for two year olds and older toddlers. Going to bed will seem like fun when you grab this zany book off the bookshelf.
Brushing teeth, bathing, putting on pajamas and other get-ready-for-bed activities won’t feel so much like chores when you can do them with a rhino, bunny, moose and all their friends.
#12 My Truck Is Stuck!
Authored by Kevin Lewis and illustrated by Daniel Kirk remains one of the best books for two year olds because it teaches young readers about the very simple way of beeping, repairing and the ins and outs of hauling.
When a dump truck got stuck somewhere in the desert road, the driver flags down four vehicles driven by different breeds of people to help him tug and tow his truck. However, no matter how the four vehicles pull the truck in unison, the truck still won’t go. This one of the most enjoyable books for 2 year old will surely take the reader into a fun ride.
#13 Poems to Learn by Heart
If you want one of those baby books that can inspire, comfort or challenge not only the children but also the young adults, the Poems to Learn by Heart by Caroline Kennedy is a perfect choice. The book offers all kinds of poem that joyfully celebrates every moment of a child’s young life.
Watching a sunset, laughing with friend or strolling with a pet can be a source of great poems that can be shared forever. The poems in this book explore not only ordinary emotions of young and young at heart but also the more deep experiences shared in the family and friends.
#14 Press Here
Many children love reading Press Here by Herve Tullet because of the magical journey it gives to the readers. One of the top baby books for toddlers, this book is filled with surprising instructions that guide the readers into lots and lots of fun and surprises.
The basic rule of the book is quite simple and that is the reader should only press the yellow dot on every page of the book. It has become one of the best books for preschoolers because it allows the readers to maximize their power of imagination by providing who-knows-what-will-happen-next story plot.
These fourteen books for 2 year olds are the perfect gifts that will help a child understand more about the exciting world around them. I could go on and on about my favorite classics for toddlers, but I’ll let you go with just these few. Remember to cherish you little ones and read to them as often as you can!
I’ve always loved reading. When I was young, I read everything that had words on it, including cereal boxes, newspapers and fortune cookies. I loved the library as a child and I read almost all the award winning books for children. Even today, I still love rereading some of the best kids’ books, like the Anne of Green Gables series.
When I became a mother, I researched all over again the best baby books. My burning desire was to instill in my baby, and then babies, a love for reading. I believe that daily reading to your baby is essential for instilling that love for learning and reading.
I think that the toddler stage was one of my favorites. In fact, I had the most fun looking for books for 2 year old kids. Now that I am a grandmother, I again find myself reading again some classic books to my grandson. If you have a toddler, hopefully you’ll find this list of my favorite books for two year olds helpful and inspiring!
- You might be also interested in books for 3 year olds.