Best books for 2 year olds
Last Updated on April 4, 2024
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I’ve recently starting reading books to my 2 year old, and it’s quickly become his favourite part of his bedtime routine, especially when we read interactive books for toddlers.
As well as being a nice way to end the day, reading to a 2 year old is a great way to spark their imagination, increase their attention span and language skills, and help them to learn about the world around them.
Here are some books for 2 year olds that you may like to try if you’d like to start reading to your 2 year old, and if you’d also like to make the reading experience as enjoyable and interactive as possible.
If you’re looking for book ideas for older children, I’ve also written best books for 6 year olds that have some fantastic chapter book ideas for older children.
Dinosaur Roar! The Tyrannosaurus Rex
Dinosaur Roar! The Tyrannosaurus Rex, by Peter Curtis, illustrated by Jeanne Willis, uses dinosaurs to illustrate above, below, lunch, grumpy, weak, strong and other concepts with short verses and colourful illustrations.
Books in this series include:
- Dinosaur Roar! The Tyrannosaurus Rex
- Dinosaur Boo! The Deinonychus
- Dinosaur Munch! The Diplodocus
- Dinosaur Stomp! The Triceratops
- Dinosaur Flap! The Oviraptor
- Dinosaur Snap! The Spinosaurus
- Dinosaur Whack! The Stegosaurus
- Dinosaur Whizz! The Coelophysis
- Dinosaur Squeak! The Compsognathus
- Dinosaur Honk! The Parasaurolophus
- Dinosaur Bash! The Ankylosaurus
- Dinosaur Chew! The Iguanodon
Rabbit’s Nap
Rabbit’s Nap, by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, was one of Ryan’s favourite books when he was 2 years old, and now it’s one of Thomas’.
It’s a lift-the-flap story about Rabbit trying to find somewhere to have a nap, but keeps getting interrupted by his noisy friends.
Books in this series include:
- Rabbit’s Nap
- Fox’s Socks
- Hide and Seek Pig
- Postman Bear
- Cat’s Cookbook
- Squirrel’s Snowman
- Mole’s Spectacles
- Badger’s Band
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle, is a classic, and is most likely a book that most adults have read at some point in their childhood.
It tells the story of a tiny caterpillar, who after hatching from an egg sets off to find something to eat, and over the course of a week eats all sorts of food, leaving a small caterpillar-shaped hole to show where he’s been before turning into a beautiful butterfly.
The holes are perfect for little fingers to fit through, giving the book an interactive feel.
Guess How Much I Love You?
Guess How Much I Love You? by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram, is a great book for 2 year olds to teach them about love.
Little Nutbrown Hare shows his dad how much he loves him by stretching as wide as he can, and hopping as far as he can.
His dad Big Nutbrown Hare shows his son how much he loves him by stretching wider, and hopping further.
In return Little Nutbrown Hare tells his dad that he loves him up to the moon.
Books in this series include:
- Guess How Much I Love You
- Guess How Much I Love You In The Autumn
- Guess How Much I Love You All Year Round
- Guess How Much I Love You In The Winter
- Guess How Much I Love You In The Spring
- Guess How Much I Love You In The Summer
- Guess How Much I Love You Here There and Everywhere
- Guess How Much I Love You Counting
- Guess How Much I Love You Colours
- Guess How Much I Love You Look What I Can Do
- Guess How Much I Love You One More Tickle
Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?
Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night, by Brianna Caplan Sayres, illustrated by Christian Slade, is perfect for vehicle lovers, and tells the story about many of our own bedtime routines, where vehicles ask for one more story, or one more song, before going to bed.
Books in this series include:
- Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?
- Where Do Steam Trains Sleep at Night?
- Where Do Jet Planes Sleep at Night?
- Where Do Speed Boats Sleep at Night?
- Where Do Diggers Trick or Treat?
- Where Do Diggers Say I Love You?
- Where Do Diggers Take Vacation
- Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas
- Where Do Diggers Hunt for Easter Eggs?
Grumpy Monkey
Grumpy Monkey, by Suzanne Lang, illustrated by Max Lang, is a book that’s also great for older children, because it helps them to deal with feelings that they may suppress, or not understand by telling the story of Jim the Chimpanzee, who needs to learn how to deal with being in a bad mood for no reason.
His friends give him ideas on how he can get out of his bad mood, but it just makes him even moodier, until he realises that you can learn to appreciate the different moods you have.
Books in this series include:
- Grumpy Monkey
- Grumpy Monkey Party Time
- Grumpy Monkey Up All Night
- Grumpy Monkey Freshly Squeezed
- Grumpy Monkey Oh, No! Christmas
- Grumpy Monkey Are We There Yet
- Grumpy Monkey Says No
- Grumpy Monkey Who Threw That
- Grumpy Monkey Valentines Gross-Out
- Grumpy Monkey Don’t Be Scared
- Grumpy Monkey’s Little Book Of Grumpiness
Duck & Goose: A Gift for Goose
Duck & Goose: A Gift for Goose, by Tad Hills, is full of bright colours, large font, and rhymes to help children understand different types of feelings.
Books in this series include:
- Duck & Goose: A Gift for Goose
- Duck, Duck, Goose
- Duck and Goose How Are You Feeling
- Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin
- Duck and Goose It’s Time For Christmas
- Duck and Goose Goose Needs A Hug
- Duck and Goose Here Comes The Easter Bunny
- Duck and Goose Go To The Beach
- Duck and Goose
You’re Two!
You’re Two! by Shelly Unwin, illustrated by Katherine Battersby, is a perfect book for 2 year olds because it’s all about being 2 and how special that is.
Goodnight Moon
Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd, is a really sweet rhyming book that helps little ones get ready for bed by telling the story of bunny, who says goodnight to things around him in a soothing and comforting way.
Oi Frog!
Oi Frog! by Kes Gray, illustrated by Jim Field, is another book that Ryan loved when he was 2, and one that we still read together even though he’s 6.
This book has many crazy characters in it detailing the types of things they sit on that rhyme, but ultimately mean that frog does not want to sit on a log.
Books in this series include:
What books do you recommend for 2 year olds?
