Guide: The Books We Keep Coming Back To (From Baby to Toddler)

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Feb 6

The books my daughter has loved from baby through toddler—and a few new additions that help with the emotional chaos of being three.

Every night, my three-year-old picks a few books for bedtime.

Usually 2 or 3. Sometimes 4 if she's negotiating hard.

And here's what I've noticed: no matter how many new books we bring home from the library, or how many we get as gifts, she keeps coming back to the same ones.

Books we've had since she was a baby. Books we've read hundreds of times.

Some of them she's outgrown and then circled back to. Some of them have grown WITH her — she notices different things now than she did at 6 months, or 18 months, or 2 years old.

So this isn't a comprehensive list of every kids book ever. This is just our list—the books that have survived multiple stages, the ones she keeps pulling off the shelf, and a few newer ones that have helped us navigate the emotional rollercoaster of being three.

If you're looking for books that actually stick around, these might be worth trying."

The books we’ve had since she was a baby

These have been on our shelf since the beginning—and somehow, they still work. She loved them at 6 months, and she still asks for them at 3.

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Sheep in a Jeep

“Sheep in a Jeep” is a fun rhyming book that tells the story of sheep — you guessed it — driving a Jeep! And the havoc that ensues. It’s short, and a good read that has lasted from baby through toddler as another chosen favorite.

Slumberkins books

The Slumberkins books focus on a specific emotional education elements like growth mindset, routines, gratitude, change, conflict resolution, etc. Each book also pairs with a stuffy. We loved the Narwhal book and more recently got the sloth book for routines.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” by Helen Oxenbury has become a favorite over time. My daughter will go on bear hunts in our home and enact all the sounds from the various places they have to walk through to find the bear.

Our Little Adventure to the Farmers Market

“Our Little Adventure to the Farmers Market” by Tabitha Paige is a sweet book, but I think what appeals to me is it feels very calm when reading it. It’s like the cadence and the illustration style makes it feel not rushed and just peaceful. I love the simplicity and beauty in it. Tabitha Paige is also a licensed speech pathologist and it has a section for basic vocabulary for early language development.

Who Will Tuck Me in Tonight?

“Who Will Tuck Me in Tonight?” by Carol Roth will always have a special place in my heart because it was while reading this book my daughter laughed at me for the first time. It is really a cute story and fun book.

Guess How Much I Love You

“Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney hasn’t been around that long (published in 2019) but somehow feels timeless, and that it’s been around for much longer. The tale of two nutbrown hares and how much they love each other mirrors what my daughter and I say now and is an endearing read.

Anything Sandra Boynton

If I could choose one author, and one only – it would be anything by Sandra Boynton. I love the unexpected and silliness of her books. I personally would read "Belly Button Book” on my own with it’s catchy song, and books like “But not the hippopotamus” and the sequel “But not the armadillo” are also some of my personal favorites.

Goodnight Moon

“Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown is an undisputed classic. And rightfully so. We’ve read this book so many times, we often look for things in the illustrations on each page — like finding where the mouse went.

Additionally, we’ve also read on repeat “The Runaway Bunny.”

If You Give a…

The “If You Give a Pig a Pancake,” and “If you Give a Mouse a Cookie,” and all the “If You Give a…” books by Laura Numeroff, are all very entertaining. I think about them often in terms of “If You Give a Mom Time to Rest…” and what that actually turns into (ie. not rest), and making that it’s own book. Until then, we’ll enjoy this series.

Good Night, Gorilla

“Good Night, Gorilla” by Peggy Rathmann is so simple, and also so fun. I don’t want to spoil it, but the monkey does get out of the cage at the zoo, unbeknownst to the zookeeper. And the following sneaky events are probably what is so fun to a baby and a toddler alike.

Finger Puppet Books

Finger puppet books have been a staple in our house. We’ve had a variety of them, and you can’t go wrong. The Itsy Bitsy Spider one that we have has been a favorite because she knows the song so well too. She’s also loved the different baby animal finger puppet books as well.

Baby Signs

This introduction to speaking with sign language, by Joy Allen, was extremely helpful for us as parents when our daughter couldn’t talk yet, and it is also still a useful reminder for basic words.

What Should I Wear? Activity Book

This is a Melissa & Doug soft activity book — I initially got it when my daughter was a baby for quiet time during church, but she continues to love and use it. The only downside is keeping track of the doll!

Eric Carle Collection

Eric Carle’s books have a distinctive storyline and illustration style. I think they’re beloved by most, but wanted to highlight them here as well as they sincerely do grow with kids from baby to toddler.

Press here Board Book

The “Press here” board book by Herve Tullet is a fun way to make something static into an almost interactive animation with interactive colorful dots. It’s simple and fun. I’m excited to try his other books as well.

Melissa & Doug Poke-a-Dot!

I love this interactive book that feels like popping bubble wrap but sturdier and helps with counting!

My Big Wimmelbook®―Dinosaurs: A Look-and-Find Book (Kids Tell the Story)

This dinosaur seek and find book has been a staple since she was one! She loves looking for the different dinosaurs and it’s been especially helpful on trips.

Llama Llama Series

The Llama Llama series by Anne Dewdney is so fun. The stories are simple, short, and effective. We’ve been reading these since she was a baby and she’s now three and still likes to read them!

The ones that help with big feelings

Being three means BIG emotions. These books have been more recent additions to our collection, and they’ve helped us navigate bringing words to those emotions that are difficult to describe when you’re little (and honestly, even as an adult).

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A Little SPOT Learns Kind Words

“A Little SPOT Learns Kind Words” by Diane Alber has been extremely helpful in providing language to emotions in a way my toddler can understand. It’s even helped describe my own emotions better, and it’s helped my daughter practice ways to get her “angry spot” down by breathing. I highly recommend this book.

Hands Can

“Hands Can” by Cheryl Willis Hudson, is a pretty straightforward focus on what hands can do, and not so much on what they shouldn’t do (like hit).

Little Dinos Don’t Bite

“Little Dinos Don’t Bite” by Michael Dahl was a helpful reference, through the frame of a dinosaur, what is and isn’t ok to bite. Somehow that’s not so obvious to a toddler, but we’re getting there!

I hope you were able to find some new titles and inspiration! Please share your personal favorites whether on this list or some I may be missing out on.