20 Recommended board Books for toddlers

Ten, Nine, Eight  by Molly Bang   

 A happy count-down to bedtime!  

The Three Bears  by Byron Barton

This retelling of the classic bears story with simple text and vibrant pictures has made this a favorite with children for more than 30 years. 

Blue Hat Green Hat: the Oops Book  

by Sandra Boynton “Blue hat, green hat, red hat, oops.” Three serious animals and one misguided turkey learn about colors, clothes, and getting dressed in this classic board book. 

Moo Baa La La La   by Sandra Boynton This sweet board book introduces animals and the sounds they make.  

Pajama Time!  by Sandra Boyton

“The moon is up. It’s getting late. Let’s get ready to celebrate. It’s Pajama Time! Bedtime has never been so much fun so hop into your pj’s and join the celebration!

The Big Red Barn  by Margaret Wise Brown; Felicia Bond  (illust) A day in the life of a farm. Simple, colorful illustrations make this book a perfect  introduction to farm animals.  

Armadillo Antics  by Bill Martin Jr. and  Bill & Michael Sampson; Nathalie Beauvois (illustrator) In rhyming verse, the reader encourages the armadillo to run, leap, dig, eat, and rest during his ighttime play. Bold, collage-like illustrations.

Baby Goes to Market  by Atinuke; Angela Brooksbank (illustrator) Baby and his mama shop at a bustling southwest Nigerian marketplace where Baby gathers a variety of foods, making Mama’s basket very heavy. A bright, bouncy read-aloud providing an introduction to numbers. 

 Can You Whoo, Too?  by Harriet Ziefert; Sophie Fatus  (illustrator) This fun, interactive book can be used to teach animal sounds to young preschoolers, yet contains facts about the various animals that older children will enjoy. 

 Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys, and Their Monkey Business  

by Esphyr Slobodkina A hilarious story of a peddler and a band of mischievous monkeys will have your child chanting along with the monkeys, “tsz, tsz, tsz”. 

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom  by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault; Lois Ehlert (illustrator)

A lively alphabet rhyme in which all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no—Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom!  An engaging way to learn the alphabet! 

 Clifford, the Big Red Dog  by Norman Bridwell   

Every child wants a pet. Meet Clifford, the biggest, reddest dog ever.  Look for other Clifford books.

Ada Twist, Scientist  by Andrea Beaty; 

David Roberts (illustrator) Young Ada questions everything, driving her parents crazy. When her experiments go too far, she is banished to time out. Will this curb her curiosity?  

Bee-bim Bop!  By Linda Sue Park; Ho Baek Lee (illustrator)  A young girl can’t wait for her mother to make bee-bim bop, a favorite Korean dish. Join this family (including the cutest dog) as they prepare to eat. Recipe for bee-bim bop included. 

Big  by Vashti Harrison  

For every child who has been ridiculed, this is the story of a girl with a big heart and big dreams. But she soon experiences hurtful words and attitudes. Larger than life, emotionally compelling illustrations. 

Blackout  by John Rocco  

On a hot summer night, the electricity goes out across the city. A young boy and his family find ways to pass the time and find true enjoyment in simple pleasures. This book encourages families to slow down and enjoy each other.  

The Book with No Pictures  by B.J. Novak  

This book has no pictures, but it does have super fun words on each page that will have everyone giggling. The person reading must read every word, no matter how silly. Kids will love having parents read this one! 

The Day the Crayons Quit  by Drew Daywalt; Oliver Jeffers (illustrator)  Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds notes all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! What can he do to make the crayons feel needed? Delightful pictures and handwritten notes make this a truly engaging book. 

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish; 

Fritz Siebel (illustrator) Amelia becomes the housekeeper for a new family. When she attempts the chores on her list, the results are hilarious! Check out the rest of the series. 

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman 

A young bird goes looking for his mother. How will he ever find her? The repetitive nature of the text makes this a great book for new readers. 

Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli; 

Pat Schories (illustrator) Meet Biscuit, the most adorable golden puppy ever. But it’s bedtime and he doesn’t want to go to sleep. Beginning readers will love the entire Biscuit series.   

Class Picture Day (Robin Hill School series) Ready to Read Level 1 by Margaret McNamara; Mike Gordon (illustrator) It’s class picture day but Emma has to wear an eye patch. She doesn’t want to look different from her friends, so can Dad come up with a solution?

Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type 

(Easy Reader edition) by Doreen Cronin; 

Betsy Lewin (illustrator) Farmer Brown’s cows have learned to type and they are giving ultimatums. A humorous tale of demands. 

Danny and the Dinosaur Mind Their Manners 

(I Can Read: Beg Reader Level 1) by Syd Hoff When Danny and the dinosaur think they will meet a real king at the museum, they brush up on their manners! From saying “please” to holding doors, can Danny and the dinosaur work on behavior fit for a king? 

Cam Jansen: The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds  by David A Adler; Susanna Natti (illustrator) Jennifer (aka “Cam”) Jansen has a photographic memory. Can she use her special skill to help catch jewel thieves? This series is a wonderful way to move young readers into chapter books.

Catwings   by Ursula K. Le Guin; 

S.D. Schindler (illustrator) Four tabby kittens are born with wings, which allows them to leave the dangerous city. But they find that country life has its own challenges.  These winged cats will capture the imagination of children.  First book in the series.  

The Courage of Sarah Noble  by Alice Dalgliesh 

In 1707, young Sarah Noble and her father traveled through the wilderness to build a new home for their family. “Keep up your courage, Sarah Noble,” her mother had said, but Sarah found that it was not always easy with wild animals and Indians nearby. A true story and timeless classic of early American life.  

Each Kindness  by Jacqueline Woodson; 

E.B. Lewis (illustrator) Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When her teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe regrets her missed opportunity for friendship.

Fables  by Arnold Lobel  Lobel has written his own series of entertaining fables, only 1 page in length. In true fable style, each story ends with a nugget of truth to consider.

Herbie Jones  by Suzy Kline; Richard Williams (illustrator) Herbie and his friend Raymond stumble into a bank robbery. When the robbers leave behind a dog, Herbie is determined to help find him a home, hoping that it will be his home. Don’t forget to read the other Herbie Jones books.

Because of Winn-Dixie  by Kate DiCamillo   

One summer day, 10-year-old India Opal Buloni goes down to the local supermarket for some groceries and comes home with a dog. But Winn-Dixie is no ordinary dog. It’s because of Winn-Dixie that Opal begins to make friends and finds the courage to ask important questions. 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever  by Barbara Robinson   The annual Christmas play will never be the same when the Herdman children are cast as leads. Their unique perspective of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth remind us all of what Christmas is really about. Fast-moving and funny. Makes a great read-aloud. 

Call It Courage  by Armstrong Perry   

Mafatu is terrified of the sea that took his mother’s life when he was a baby. He is a disappointment to his father and is ridiculed by his friends. So Mafatu sets out to prove to himself and others that he can conquer his fear. This legend is still told by the people of Hikueru. Newberry Medal

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau  

The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to dim. Can Lina and her friend, Doon, find a way to save the city? First in the Book of Ember series.

Dear Mr. Henshaw   by Beverly Cleary  

After his parents separate, 6th-grader Leigh Botts moves to a new town with his mother. Struggling to make friends and deal with his anger, Leigh loses himself in a class assignment in which he must write to his favorite author. When Mr. Henshaw responds, the two form a friendship that will change Leigh’s life forever.  Newberry Medal.

Esperanza Rising  by Pam Munoz Ryan   

An inspiring immigration tale set in the 1930s about a wealthy young girl who is forced to flee Mexico with her mother after her father's death. When her mother becomes ill, Esperanza must find a way to take care of her and earn money to live.