best buys
The best books for two-year-olds
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Making time to share books with your toddler is invaluable as it helps them start to understand the world around them.
Two-year-olds have a short attention span, so choose books that are relatively brief with a simple storyline.
Stories about familiar, everyday activities are always popular, such as shopping, cooking or going to the park.
Look for books that have repeating rhymes and hand gestures to copy. Those with simple counting exercises are a good idea, too.
Bright colours and interactive features such as textures and flaps are also still very popular with this age group.
1. Fox's Socks by Julia Donaldson
Macmillan Children's Books
*Board book with lift-up flaps
*Written by the author of the Gruffalo
*Beautifully illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Poor old Fox has lost his socks – can you help him find them? Are they in the kitchen or under the stairs? Are they inside the clock or hidden in a chest?
Your toddler will have hours of fun helping him find them!
2. Dinosaur Roar! by Henrietta Strickland
Macmillan Children's Books
*Buggy book version of the classic tale
*Combines rhyming text and striking illustrations
*Uses simple words, repetition and rhyming to engage young readers
Part of the Dinosaur Roar! range of titles, this book uses rhyming text and funny, lively illustrations to introduce the concept of opposites to little ones.
3. WOW! Said the Owl by Tom Hopgood
Macmillan Children's Books
*An engaging book all about colours
*By an award-winning picture book author and illustrator
*Children will learn about nocturnal creatures, too
The little owl decides to stay awake all day so he can see what its like and discovers a world bursting with lots of different colours – but will he prefer it to night time?
4. How to Brush Your Teeth with Snappy Croc by Jane Clarke
Red Fox Picture Books
*A story to help encourage toddlers to clean their teeth
*Engaging rhyming text for toddlers to enjoy
*Bold, colourful images
This book is all about brushing teeth and features a loveable little crocodile. It's part of a wider range of stories showing everyday activities from a toddler's life.
5. Bear on a Bike by Hannah Shaw
Alison Green Books
*Simple story about a bear's efforts to deliver a parcel
*Easy-to-follow text and comic illustrations
*Images by artist Hannah Shaw
Bear is delivering a present to Mouse – but how is he going to get there?
He rides on a bike, a lorry, a bus, a trolley – with lots of adventures along the way.
Will he ever get to Mouse? Your little one will love following his journey.
6. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Two Hoots
*A classic bedtime book first published in 1947
*Beautiful retro-style images
*Simple, easy-to-read and follow story for very young children to understand
This simple tale of a little bunny being tucked up in bed and saying goodnight to all the familiar things in his room, one by one, has lulled generations of children to sleep.
7. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam Mc Bratney
Walker Books Ltd
*Another well-loved classic children's book
*Teaching children about the concept of loving and caring
*Little ones will love repeating the text and actions along with the story
How can you show someone how much you care? The story of how Little and Big Nutbrown Hare try to express their love for each other has become a home library must-have.
8. We're Going On a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Walker Books Ltd
*A funny (and slightly scary) story about a family looking for a bear
*Lots of repetition so little ones can join in
*Published more than 25 years ago, it's still a firm family favourite
Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest!
Read on:
- Classic children’s books every family needs
- The best books about starting school
- The top 10 toys for one-year-olds (that are educational and fun, too!)
This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase from Amazon. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
