Ethan has recently really gotten into reading, both having mommy & daddy read to him and “reading” on his own during independent play. We have SO MANY books we love so I’ve complied a list of our top 10 current favorites below, specifically for ages 18 months – 2 years.
Poke-a-dot! books
We have a couple of these books and they are absolute lifesavers when you need a few moments to yourself. Ethan will sit down and quietly pop the bubbles on his own for upwards of 10-15 minutes sometimes which is HUGE for a 19 month old. These books are not only great for sensory play but they are educational as well. Each book teaches counting 1-10 and features a different set of animals (i.e. farm animals, sea creatures, dinosaurs).
Never Feed A Yeti Spaghetti
Any of the Make Believe Ideas Ltd. books are sure to be a hit with your little ones, but this is my current favorite. Again, as with the Poke-a-dot! books, there is a sensory aspect as each page features a cut out with a different shaped set of felt “teeth” cooresponding to the creature on the page. The silly little rhymes make for a quick & easy read and there are several different versions of this book available. Our next purchase is going to be “Never Feed a Queen a Jellybean” for sure!
Never Touch a Shark
Another favorite from Make Believe Ideas Ltd., this series features pages of touch & feel silicone textures and silly rhymes warning of the dangers of messing with sea creatures. When Ethan was younger, he would gnaw on the front cover of this book ALL day long and that’s usually how we could tell he had a new tooth breaking through. Now, he loves to flip through the pages and feel the creatures as he follows along with the story. We own 4 of these books already and I have a feeling we’ll be investing in a few more before too long. The great thing is, there are a ton of them to choose from!
Little Raindrop
I can’t get enough of this sweet book. The colors and illustrations are so beautiful and I love that it’s educational as well as entertaining. The book gives a quick overview of the water cycle as you follow a raindrop’s journey from the clouds to the Earth and back again. The concept itself may be a little advanced, but the story is simple enough to hold a toddler’s attention and the pages are filled with beautiful pictures for them to flip through.
The Pout-Pout Fish
This book quickly became a staple in new parent’s book collections and it’s 100% worth the hype. The story is uplifting, the rhymes are silly and fun, the illustrations are comically expressive and there are several Pout-Pout Fish books now available to continue the series. There are holiday books, books about going to school, books for children that are afraid of the dark…there’s something for everyone with this fun fish!
You’re My Little Honey Bunny
Another collection that offers a book for nearly every holiday – the “You’re My Little…” line. We have all but I believe one of these books and they are ones that I will buy for every new parent I know. Each book features a sweet rhyming story about the love between a parent and their child and the chunky pages make it easy for your little honey bunny to flip through the book with you. There are die-cut shapes to add depth to the pages and provide an interactive experience. These are the PERFECT addition to stockings, Easter baskets, etc.
Together
This one makes both my husband and I so emotional every single time we read it. It’s a super sweet story about spending time together as a family and not sad in any way, but I tear up 9/10 times I read it to Ethan. I think it’s probably because the words are so simple yet so full of the love that parents feel towards their babies that you can’t help but feel like it was written just for you.
Llama Llama Red Pajama
Another classic, Llama Llama has been Ethan’s “go to” book for a few months now. We got to a point where we were reading this book upwards of 10 times in a row…multiple times a day. We had it memorized it no time! Llama Llama also has a line of holiday books and books to deal with specific situations, such as missing your mama or learning to share. Llama Llama also has stuffed animals to go along with the books and there’s even a Llama show on Netflix now! This is a series that your child can grow up with.
My Dad Is Amazing!
Why is Ethan obsessed with this book? I honestly have no clue. It’s quite short and there’s not much in terms of a plot or story but the kid goes crazy for this book. I will say that the colors and illustrations are really fun. This book is BRIGHT – we’re talking neon yellows, hot pinks & bright oranges. I also appreciate that it celebrates dads for their qualities instead of the “traditional dad role”, as many books do. Instead of saying that dad is amazing for going to his important job and working hard, it praises dad for being strong and silly and sweet.
Stir Crack Whisk Bake
Ok, I saved the best for last. I LOVE THIS BOOK! Ethan enjoys it but he’s still a smidge too young to truly appreciate it. This is an interactive book and every page has an activity for the child to do: tap the eggs to crack them, tilt the book to pour the batter, blow on the cupcakes to cool them & so on. This book not only offers a fun and interactive experience, it actually walks them through the basic steps to baking cupcakes. Just buy the book – you won’t regret it!
