What Do You Put On A Toddler Bookshelf?
Age-appropriate books
When choosing books for a toddler’s bookshelf, it’s important to select age-appropriate books that match their developmental stage. Toddlers from 1-3 years old have different abilities and interests compared to babies or older preschoolers. Focusing on board books, picture books, tactile books, and books with rhymes or songs is key for this age group.
Sturdy board books with thick cardboard pages are ideal for toddlers, since they often still put books in their mouths and aren’t yet able to carefully turn paper pages. Choose board books with simple pictures or photos that name common objects a toddler can recognize, like animals, foods, vehicles, clothing, etc. Avoid board books with long stories, as toddlers have short attention spans.
Short picture books can capture a toddler’s interest while helping them associate words and images. Select picture books with familiar concepts they see in their daily life, and bright, colorful illustrations. Plot-driven picture books aren’t advised for this age, instead opt for books that highlight a single topic or idea. Rhyming books are excellent at this stage, helping toddlers pick up patterns in language.
Tactile books that incorporate touch-and-feel elements, lift-the-flaps, textures, or scratch-and-sniff stickers can allow a toddler to further engage with a book. Interactive elements like sliding tabs maintain their focus while learning cause-and-effect.
Choose books with rhymes, rhythms, chants, or songs to foster phonemic awareness and early literacy skills. Hearing patterns in language and relating them to the rhythm of a song helps toddlers acquire pre-reading abilities. Short sing-song books boost memorization and verbal skills.
Focus on the basics – sturdy books with 1-2 words per page, rhymes, photos of familiar items. As the American Academy of Pediatrics notes, reading with a toddler, even for just a few minutes a day, aids cognitive development at this crucial stage (Source).
Learning and Developmental Books
Some great books to put on a toddler bookshelf for learning and development include alphabet books, number books, shape books, color books, and animal books. Alphabet books with large, colorful letters and illustrations can help toddlers start to recognize letters and sounds (Great Books to Read to Infants and Toddlers). Books with simple numbers, shapes, colors, and animals allow toddlers to begin identifying these concepts. Sturdy board books work well since toddlers can turn the pages themselves and the thick pages are harder to rip.
The classic Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault is a fun alphabet book featuring rhyming verses and large, bold letters. For numbers and counting, try 1-2-3 Peas by Keith Baker which has cute illustrations of peas counting to 100. My First Book of Shapes by Speedy Publishing allows toddlers to trace different shapes on each page. Pantone Colors by Pantone LLC introduces colors in a visually striking way. For animal books, Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell has lift-the-flap fun. Having a variety of concept books on hand allows toddlers to start making connections and developing early literacy skills.
Interactive/Activity Books
Some of the most engaging books for toddlers are interactive or activity books. These books allow young children to participate and interact with the story through features like lift-the-flaps, touch-and-feel textures, and peekaboo surprises. According to Amazon, interactive books are a top choice for toddlers, with an average 4.6 star rating on over 5,000 reviews for this category (source).
Lift-the-flap books are excellent for developing fine motor skills and satisfying toddlers’ curiosity. Classics like Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill allow children to lift flaps on each page to reveal the puppy hiding behind. Other interactive favorites include Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell and Where’s Baby’s Belly Button? by Karen Katz. Touch-and-feel books like That’s Not My Puppy by Fiona Watt let toddlers explore different textures on each page.
Peekaboo style books are also engaging for young toddlers. These books have holes or shaped openings that reveal a surprise underneath. Some good toddler peekaboo books are Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Bliss and Peek-a-Boo Zoo by Nina Laden (source). Interactive books provide important sensory stimulation and hands-on learning for toddler development.
Books about emotions
Books that help toddlers identify and understand emotions are essential for development and emotional intelligence. According to this source, some great books that cover emotions like happy, sad, angry, and silly include:
Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang – helps kids understand feeling grumpy and how to manage the emotion.
The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions by Anna Llenas – each color represents an emotion that the main character experiences.
When I’m Feeling Angry by Trace Moroney – explores anger and ways to handle frustration.
Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberley and Anne Miranda – playfully covers feeling happy/glad and sad.
Using colorful illustrations and relatable characters, these books label emotions in a way toddlers can understand. Reading them together lets kids work through big feelings, build empathy, and develop emotional intelligence.
Storytime Classics
Some of the most beloved children’s books of all time make for perfect additions to a toddler’s bookshelf. These storytime classics have delighted young readers for generations. Essential titles include:
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is a soothing bedtime story featuring illustrations of a bunny saying goodnight to various objects in its room. With its rhyming text and familiar ritual of getting ready for bed, this 1947 classic helps toddlers wind down at the end of the day (https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/books-for-children/classic-childrens-books).
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle follows the mesmerizing metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. With vivid collage illustrations and a clever die-cut format, this 1969 book introduces concepts like counting and the days of the week in an engaging way for little ones.
In Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill, lift-the-flap illustrations allow toddlers to participate in finding where the puppy Spot is hiding on each page. First published in 1980, this interactive book is fun for toddlers while also helping develop their fine motor skills.
Representation
It is important for the books on a toddler’s bookshelf to include diverse characters, abilities, and backgrounds The importance of children’s representation in literature … Representation allows children to see themselves reflected in the books they read, and also promotes understanding and empathy for others. Books with characters from different races, cultures, family structures, abilities, and more can broaden a toddler’s perspective of the world. Seeing underrepresented groups portrayed positively in books also builds self-esteem in children of those groups. Ultimately, representation promotes acceptance and celebrates the diversity that exists in the real world.
Organization
When organizing books for toddlers, it’s important to keep things at their level. Book baskets, bins, and low shelves they can easily access allow toddlers to explore books independently. Consider placing baskets or shelves near spaces where your toddler already spends time playing, like next to their bed or favorite stuffed animals (Pinterest). Adjustable shelves are another great option, allowing you to lower shelves as your toddler grows. Labeling bins or shelves can also help toddlers start to categorize books. Just be sure to limit the number of books in each storage option to avoid overwhelm.
Safety
When shopping for books for toddlers, it’s important to consider safety. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (https://www.cpsc.gov/FAQ/Childrens-Books), all accessible components of children’s products, including books, must comply with regulations on lead content. Books should be made of nontoxic materials, and have no small parts that could detach and pose a choking hazard for young children.
Look for sturdy board books made of thick cardboard or other durable materials that can withstand chewing and throwing. Avoid books with buttons, beads, or other decorations that could come loose. Books with sound chips or batteries should have secure compartments that require a screwdriver to open. Check any plastic parts to ensure they are too large for a toddler to swallow. Books promoted for infants and toddlers up to age 3 should meet higher safety standards.
Before purchasing, inspect book covers, binding, and pages for signs of damage or wear that could cause pieces to break off. Check online reviews and do the “shake test” to check for loose components. By carefully selecting age-appropriate books made of safe, nontoxic materials, parents can fill their toddler’s bookshelf with engaging reads that inform, entertain, and inspire a lifelong love of reading.
Durability
When choosing books for toddlers, durability is key. Toddlers are still developing their fine motor skills and coordination, which means books can easily get dropped, chewed on, and subjected to all kinds of rough treatment. The best books for toddler bookshelves are made from thick cardboard pages that can withstand tearing and repeated handling.
Look for indestructible books specifically designed for toddlers, like those from Indestructibles or the Indestructibles collection on Amazon. These books are made from ultra-durable paper and bound in chew-proof materials.[1][2] The pages are also washable, so you can simply throw them in the sink or washing machine to clean off drool, food, and anything else your toddler gets on them.
Having indestructible books that can withstand your toddler’s explorations will give you peace of mind while building their bookshelf. Just be sure to check on the recommended age range, as some may still contain choking hazards like googly eyes.
Rotate books
Keeping your toddler interested in reading means having a fresh selection of books to choose from. Rotating books is an effective way to do this. By changing out some books on the shelf every week or month, you can introduce new titles and reintroduce old favorites. This variety helps maintain your child’s curiosity and engagement with reading. According to sources, rotating books brings benefits like:
- Increased excitement and interest in reading
- Easier book selection with fewer choices available
- Books seem newer and more novel when reintroduced
- Takes up less space on the shelf
Some tips for successful book rotation include having a storage bin for books not currently on the shelf and keeping a consistent schedule for swapping books out. Rotate about 25% of books at a time so your toddler still sees familiar titles. You can organize rotation by theme, season, holidays, or your child’s changing interests. Just be sure to put away any books they become overly attached to. With a thoughtful rotation system, you can keep your toddler’s bookshelf contents captivating. (Source, Source, Source)
