Best Books for 2 Year Old
There's a good reason why "Goodnight Moon" has been a classic bedtime story since 1947 when it was first published. This sleepy tale is about a little bunny tucked snuggly into bed, who says, "goodnight" to objects around the room or seen from the window. By the end, the lights are out, the moon is high, and the little bunny says, "Goodnight stars. Goodnight air. Goodnight noises everywhere." We think this story is as sweet as a lullaby. The illustrations, which alternate between bold colors and monochrome, are soothing and attractive for little readers, and our voice tends to grow softer and softer until the last page.
The color palette is not as diverse as other books in our review, but we don't think it matters much since you may be reading it at bedtime. We highly recommend this book to friends and family. Also, see if you can spot the little mouse hiding around the green room.
Other bedtime-related books to check out include Guess How Much I Love You and Good Night, Gorilla.
The Pout-Pout Fish is a fishy tale about Mr. Fish who feels unhappy, spreading the "dreary-wearies all over the place." Other sea creatures notice Mr. Fish's mood and advise on how to turn his frown upside down. Will Mr. Fish cheer up? Swim from page to page to find out. We think the rhyming text is creative, playful, and catchy.
The story is slightly longer than others in our review, but the repetition lines are swift to read thanks to the text's cadence. We appreciate the fun illustrations of underwater life, with lots of details to see. We think this picture book is an excellent addition to your tot's library, and caregivers will not mind reading it over and over.
The First 100 Box Set is excellent for early learners and talkers. Whether your baby enjoys looking at the pictures or your budding toddler is discovering and practicing vocabulary, like numbers, colors, shapes, animals, etc., this set is a hit. The books are durable and may endure lots of page-turning, plus they include colorful, eye-catching photos.
The books include pictures of other babies and familiar objects, which will catch your child's attention. The books do not offer a storyline, just labels, but your child will benefit from listening to vocabulary and repetition. If you seek educational books to build your child's vocabulary and language development, we think this set is a bookshelf must-have. Plus, with three books in the collection, it is budget-friendly.
Press Here is a brilliant and unique interactive book, providing screen-free entertainment. Follow the instructions and let the magic begin as dots move, change colors, multiply, and grow. Will the yellow dot return to normal? Explore the pages to find out.
A tot may need some assistance here and there, but it won't take long before mastery. We think this fun book will bring giggles and smiles to both children and adults, and we believe it is a must-have book for your toddler's reading list.
The Wide-Mouthed Frog is curious about what the other creatures like to eat until he meets the alligator… "splash!" The pop-up illustrations are large and adorable for any age, plus the educational lesson of learning what other animals eat is a perk.
Unfortunately, this book is short, and we wish the frog would meet more characters. We also understand pop-up books provide movement and excitement, but they are fragile, and children are not always gentle creatures. However, don't let these flaws stop you. We believe reading and using a book is more important than allowing it to collect dust on a bookshelf. We recommend this funny pop-up book to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Plus, have a stab at giving each character a different voice.
Blue Hat, Green Hat is simple in text, yet silly, and toddlers delight yelling, "oops!" Every animal tries on clothing, each wearing a different color; however, the last animal just can't get it right and messes up the pattern. This adorable story is written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton, and the illustrations are charming and simple, plus they teach about colors and clothing in a silly way.
The book is a quick read, but the story will keep you smiling. If you seek humor, this amusing book is perfect for younger audiences, and it is one we often reach for during storytime.
We think Sandra Boynton is a talented children's literature author and illustrator, especially for this age group, and we think you may also like Moo, Baa, La La La! and Doggies.
Giraffes Can't Dance is a tale about individuality, confidence, and overcoming challenges. At the jungle dance, the warthog's waltz, the rhinos rock 'n' rolled, the lions tango, but Gerald, the clumsy giraffe, he can't seem to dance. Will Gerald find his rhythm? This book offers humor, rhyming lines with a catchy cadence, and colorful illustrations full of details.
The book is slightly longer than other books in our review, but we recommend this endearing story, and we think it is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who will have a longer attention span.
Each Peach Pear Plum is a pure delight and a British classic. Written in an "I spy" format, you must find beloved fairy tale characters hiding in the illustrations, like Tom Thumb, Mother Hubbard, Cinderella, and more. With rhyming words and Mother Goose nostalgia for caregivers, we think this book is a must-have. Also, the hide-and-seek concept is fabulous and encourages interaction.
Keep in mind, the author is British, and to rhyme, you may need to take a stab at a British accent for a word or two. Who knows, it may make you giggle. We recommend this book to all ages and believe it is undoubtedly bookshelf worthy.
The lift-the-flap feature of Where's Spot? makes this book a baby's favorite. Indeed, babies love to open and close the flaps and spend lots of time reading. Also, the warm pictures and simple text make this book perfect for early readers. So, see if you can find Spot, a mischievous but adorable puppy.
Keep in mind, the flaps may tear over time, but we think this possibility is worth the gamble. From about six months and on, your baby may be ready to explore liftable flaps, and we believe this book is perfect for your baby's first lift-the-flap book.
If you like this book, we think you will also enjoy Where is Baby's Belly Button?
The Wonky Donkey is a quirky and silly book about a donkey, and as the story unfolds with silly wordplay and pictures, you learn more details about the donkey.
We understand why this book is popular. The silly, tongue-twister rhymes are a selling point of this book, and they are funny-sounding when you read them aloud. However, we feel the content isn't inclusive. The donkey is essentially being ridiculed for its differences, and we think the message encourages bullying behaviors and name-calling. Words are powerful, and since we believe inclusiveness, compassion, and love starts early through actions and words, we think you should pass on this book, especially as there are better rhyming books on the market that do not alienate people or animals for the things that make them individuals.
If you are looking for a book about inclusiveness of differently-abled individuals, perhaps for an older child, check out We're All Wonders. Based on the true story of Auggie Pullman, this book explores why being different isn't a bad thing.
Why You Should Trust Us
BabyGearLab has been testing baby products for the past decade, and, over this time, we have created extensive testing methods to rate and rank baby gear. The combination of our experiences and knowledge has made us experts. Leading our review is Molly Bradac, Senior Review Editor, Nanny, plus previously an Early Learning Specialist for AmeriCorps. In this position, she created and promoted school readiness within preschool and kindergarten classrooms. It is safe to say, Molly has read countless children's books to babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, and she can effortlessly recommend top-notch books that are enjoyable for children and pleasant for parents to read. Since there's a good chance your child will ask you to read a favorite book over and over again, it's essential to make sure it's a good one. For this review, BabyGearLab purchased each book and completed hands-on testing (lots and lots of reading and page-turning) to evaluate performance.
Analysis and Test Results
To rank our lineup, we read each book to multiple little testers. We assessed each one for exciting features and stories that may appeal to younger audiences, along with book format.
Features
Make reading a positive experience for your child by building a library with various books and features. Since babies explore books using their senses, incorporate books with sensory stimulation. For instance, Where's Spot? with liftable flaps is an exciting feature for younger audiences as it keeps little hands busy. Honestly, if your baby sits and plays with the flaps over and over again, which may not seem like reading, this activity is fun for them and encourages reading. Also, babies like pictures of people and everyday objects, especially those with bright and bold colors, and we think the First 100 Box Set is perfect for pre-literate babies. The only book in our lineup that offers pop-up illustrations is The Wide-Mouthed Frog, which can be thrilling for little ones to experience. Books in our lineup that offer rhythmic lines include, The Pout-Pout Fish and Giraffes Can't Dance, and, if your child wants to read these books on repeat, have no fret, they are fun for parents to read.
If you seek humor (a big selling point for babies and toddlers), we suggest Blue Hat, Green Hat. Also, for toddlers who enjoy "I-spy" books, the Each Peach Pear Plum is an excellent match for this age group. It offers illustrations of beloved characters, with some playing a game of hide-and-seek - see if you can find them. The most interactive book in our lineup is Press Here, hands-down a fun book as it requires your tot to follow a sequence of requests.
Regardless of which books you choose, we recommend offering a diverse selection of books with exciting features, plus follow your child's interest to get them engaged. In our opinion, nurturing a love of books and reading starts early.
Book Format
Children's books come in many formats, including board books, hardcover books, and paperback books. We suggest keeping books in easy to reach locations and offer durable books because, let's face it, children don't always handle items with care. The go-to book format for babies and toddlers are board books. The thicker pages are harder to bend or damage, and, once your little one develops fine motor coordination, they can more easily turn the pages themselves. Be warned that your little one may mouth, teeth, and drool on their board books, and you may notice some wear and tear.
However, hardcover books provide a hardcover, but the pages are standard, and they can easily rip when in the hands of younger children. The same is true for paperback books. We think this is a factor to consider when purchasing a book, but don't let it be a deal-breaker. All of the books in our review are board books, except for The Wide-Mouthed Frog and The Wonky Donkey.
Benefits of Reading
The human brain is truly amazing, and it develops at an extraordinary rate; in fact, science shows that 80 percent of a child's brain forms during their first three years. Therefore, within this window of time, the simple act of reading to your child significantly impacts their development. It creates neural connections, and those brain connections strengthen, link, and build over time, which set the stage to do everyday tasks in life, such as thinking, communicating, learning, etc. All of these skills create success in school and beyond. And the benefits don't stop there. Reading is a bonding experience between caregiver and child. It provides a safe and nurturing environment that promotes a love of reading. So, don't hesitate or feel silly reading, singing, and playing with your child, even as a newborn. During the early years, the interactions you have with your baby are rich in learning and make all the difference.
Conclusion
Books are magical, and we think you'll enjoy creating your baby's first library. With many children's books to choose from, our lineup includes top-notch books that will help kick-off your baby's collection. So, snuggle up with your little one and read away.
— Molly Bradac