When my daughter, Emma, turned one, I started asking my friends and searching the Internet for the best book recommendations for toddlers. I compiled a list of over 200 books, and we steadily read through that list all year long. As we went, we added new books that we found and loved, and removed the ones we weren't crazyabout. This post has been a long time coming, and I cannot WAIT to share with you. . . drum roll. . .
The best 100 books for a 1 year old
(at least. . . according to us!)Psst! If 100 books are a little overwhelming to you, I also have a post of just our top 20 favorite books for a 1 year old, and if you're looking ahead to what to read when your toddler turns 2, I've got you covered as well!
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A little bit about the list:
- I've included the Amazon links for each book. That way, you can click and read the description or page through each one before you put it on your wish list or library list. These links are all affiliate links. (Read my full disclosure statement here.)
- I included the links to several different versions of each book. Since we're talking about 1 year olds, I highly recommend the board book versions. (Unless your 1 year old is a whole lot less destructive than mine was...)
- As we read, we came across some favorite favorite books. As in, my daughter slept with them beside her in bed every night and we reread them so many times that she could "read" them back to me before she turned 2. These are highlighted in the list below, and I included the summaries from Amazon.
- If you want to just see my top 20 favorite books, you can find that condensed list here.
Download the PDF:
I also created a PDF version of this list for easy downloading, saving and printing. (Think: bring along to the library with you or email a copy to the grandparents.) If you're really ambitious, and want to try to read them all, I even included handy dandy check boxes for you.
| 1 |  | 10 Minutes till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann |
| 2 |  100 First Words (My Big Book of Lift and Learn) by Tiger Tales "Encourage your child to observe and explore our world with this bright, colorful board book! Striking photographs feature familiar animals, toys, clothes, food, and more. Comprised of more than 100 words and pictures, this interactive book is an excellent way to help your child build essential vocabulary skills by lifting the flaps and describing what he or she sees." | |
| 3 |  | Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman |
| 4 |  | Baby Touch and Feel: Animals by DK |
| 5 |  | Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, Jane Chapman |
| 6 |  | Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown, Felicia Bond |
| 7 |  | Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton |
| 8 |  | Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr., Eric Carle |
| 9 |  | Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault, Lois Ehlert |
| 10 |  | Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Kevin Lewis, Daniel Kirk |
| 11 |  | Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin, Randy Travis |
| 12 |  | Clifford Collection by Norman Bridwell |
| 13 |  | Corduroy by Don Freeman |
| 14 |  | Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Rod Campbell |
| 15 |  | Dinosaur in Trouble by Sharon Gordon, Paul Harvey |
| 16 |  | Dinosaur Roar! by Henrietta Stickland, Paul Stickland |
| 17 |  | Doggies by Sandra Boynton |
| 18 |  Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems "When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place- a pigeon! But you've never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book, children will love being able to answer back and decide his fate." | |
| 19 |  Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems "It's getting dark out, but one stubborn Pigeon is NOT going to bed! Children will love this interactive bedtime romp, which puts readers back in the driver's seat, deflecting Pigeon's sly trickery as he tries to escape his inevitable bedtime. Will you let him stay up late?" | |
| 20 |  | Doodle Bites: A Tilly and Friends Book by Polly Dunbar |
| 21 |  | Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss |
| 22 |  | First Words (Bright Baby) by Roger Priddy |
| 23 |  | Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow |
| 24 |  | Freight Train by Donald Crews |
| 25 |  Go, Dog. Go!by P.D. Eastman "Reading goes to the dogs in this timeless Beginner Book edited by Dr. Seuss. From big dogs and little dogs to red, green, and blue dogs, dogs going up and dogs going fast . . . who knew dogs were so busy?" | |
| 26 |  | God Gave Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren, Laura J. Bryant |
| 27 |  Good Night, Gorillaby Peggy Rathmann "Good night, Gorilla. Good night, Elephant. It's bedtime at the zoo, and all the animals are going to sleep. Or are they? Who's that short, furry guy with the key in his hand and the mischievous grin?" | |
| 28 |  | Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd |
| 29 |  by Sherri Duskey Rinker, Tom Lichtenheld "As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they'll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play!" | |
| 30 |  | Gossie and Friends Board Book Set by Olivier Dunrea |
| 31 |  | Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, Anita Jeram |
| 32 |  | Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins, Eric Gurney |
| 33 |  | Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson |
| 34 |  | Horns to Toes and in Between by Sandra Boynton |
| 35 |  How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?by Jane Yolen "Brimming with humor and familiar good-night antics, here is a playful peek into the homes of dinosaur children and their parents at bedtime. Perfect for sharing and reading aloud, this is one nighttime book your own little dinosaur will want to read again and again." | |
| 36 |  | How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers |
| 37 |  | I Like It When . . . by Mary Murphy |
| 38 |  | I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont, David Catrow |
| 39 |  | I Love You Through And Through by Bernadette Rossetti Shustak, Caroline Jayne Church |
| 40 |  I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa Mccourt "Lisa McCourt and Cyd Moore beautifully weave a reassuring tale of the love and affection of a parent. The imaginative son turns himself into a meat-eating dinosaur, a swamp creature and much, much more before being satisfied with the fact that no matter how stinky he is or how slimy of a creature he could possibly be, he is loved and nothing will change that." | |
| 41 |  | I Was So Mad (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer |
| 42 |  | If Animals Kissed Good Night by Ann Whitford Paul, David Walker |
| 43 |  | If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff, Felicia Bond |
| 44 |  | It's Okay To Be Different by Todd Parr |
| 45 |  | Jamberry by Bruce Degen |
| 46 |  Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Taleby Mo Willems "Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood Laundromat. But the exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Trixie realizes somebunny was left behind. Using a combination of muted black-and-white photographs and expressive illustrations, this stunning book tells a brilliantly true-to-life tale about what happens when Daddy's in charge and things go terribly, hilariously wrong." | |
| 47 |  | Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle, Jill McElmurry |
| 48 |  Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, Jill McElmurry "Little Blue Truck is a joyful cacophony of animal and truck sounds that will have youngsters beeping and quacking—and begging for one more go-round! Along the way, readers see that it pays to be kind to our animal friends . . . if we show a friendly respect to others, we’re more likely to get help when we’re, say, stuck in the muck in a truck." | |
| 49 |  | Little Elliot, Big City by Mike Curato |
| 50 |  | Little Monster's Bedtime Book by Mercer Mayer |
| 51 |  | Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Jen Corace |
| 52 |  Llama Llama Red Pajamaby Anna Dewdney "In this infectious rhyming read-aloud, Baby Llama turns bedtime into an all-out llama drama! Tucked into bed by his mama, Baby Llama immediately starts worrying when she goes downstairs, and his soft whimpers turn to hollers when she doesn't come right back. But just in time, Mama returns to set things right. Children will relate to Baby Llama's need for comfort, as much as parents will appreciate Mama Llama's reassuring message." | |
| 53 |  | Love from The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle |
| 54 |  | Love Monster by Rachel Bright |
| 55 |  | Maisy 7 Picture Books Collection Set (Maisy Dresses Up, Maisy Goes Shopping,Maisy Tidies Up,Maisy's Bathtime,Maisy's Bedtime, Maisy Makes Lemonade, Maisy Makes Gingerbread) by Lucy Cousins |
| 56 |  | Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! by Dr. Seuss |
| 57 |  | May I Please Have a Cookie? by Jennifer E. Morris |
| 58 |  | Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh (Paperback) |
| 59 |  | My First Busy Book by Eric Carle |
| 60 |  My Big Book of Lift and Learn: 100 First Animalsby Caterpillar Books "Encourage your child to observe and explore our world with this bright, colorful board book! Striking photographs feature familiar animals, toys, clothes, food, and more. Comprised of more than 100 words and pictures, this interactive book is an excellent way to help your child build essential vocabulary skills by lifting the flaps and describing what he or she sees." | |
| 61 |  No, David!by David Shannon "Over fifteen years after its initial publication, NO, DAVID! remains a perennial household favorite, delighting children, parents, and teachers alike. David is a beloved character, whose unabashed good humor, mischievous smile, and laughter-inducing antics underline the love parents have for their children--even when they misbehave." | |
| 62 |  | Old Hat New Hat by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain |
| 63 |  | Olivia by Ian Falconer |
| 64 |  | One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel |
| 65 |  | Owen by Kevin Henkes |
| 66 |  | Pat the Bunny (Touch and Feel Book) by Dorothy Kunhardt |
| 67 |  | Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by James Dean, Eric Litwin |
| 68 |  | Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony |
| 69 |  Pottytime for Chickiesby Janee Trasler "Learning to go potty is tricky for the Chickies! With engaging rhymes, endearing illustrations, and a soft padded cover, this book is perfect for babies and toddlers to enjoy." | |
| 70 |  | Press Here by Herve Tullet |
| 71 |  | Put Me In the Zoo by Robert Lopshire |
| 72 |  | Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton |
| 73 |  | Something Good by Robert Munsch, Michael Martchenko |
| 74 |  | Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox, Helen Oxenbury |
| 75 |  | The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman Hardcover |
| 76 |  | The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak |
| 77 |  | The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee |
| 78 |  | The Day Louis Got Eaten by John Fardell |
| 79 |  | The Going-To-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton |
| 80 |  | The Goodnight Train by June Sobel, Laura Huliska-Beith |
| 81 |  | The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson |
| 82 |  | The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, Ruth E. Harper, Nancy M. Leak |
| 83 |  | The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, George and Doris Hauman |
| 84 |  | The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood, Audrey Wood |
| 85 |  | The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone, Michael Smollin |
| 86 |  | The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen, Dan Hanna |
| 87 |  | The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd |
| 88 |  | The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland |
| 89 |  The Very Hungry Caterpillarby Eric Carle "The classic edition of the bestselling story written for the very young. A newly hatched caterpillar eats his way through all kinds of food." | |
| 90 |  | The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin |
| 91 |  | There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly! by Lucille Colandro (Board book) |
| 92 |  | Toddle Waddle by Julia Donaldson, Nick Sharratt |
| 93 |  Waiting Is Not Easy! (An Elephant and Piggie Book)by Mo Willems "Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In Waiting Is Not Easy!, Piggie has a surprise for Gerald, but he is going to have to wait for it. And Wait. And wait some more..." | |
| 94 |  | The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli |
| 95 |  | We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury, Michael Rosen |
| 96 |  | Welcome to the Zoo by Alison Jay |
| 97 |  | What Color Is Your Underwear? by Sam Lloyd |
| 98 |  Where Is Baby's Belly Button? A Lift-the-Flap Book by Karen Katz "Karen Katz's adorable babies play peekaboo in this delightful interactive book. The sturdy format and easy-to-lift flaps are perfect for parents and children to share." | |
| 99 |  | Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak |
| 100 |  | Where's Spot? by Eric Hill |
What do you think of our choices? Are there any that you would add that we didn't have on our list? Please let me know in the comments. And if you do decide to try to read them all, I'd love to hear about that as well. Happy reading!
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