When you are a first time mum to a toddler it can be hard to know what type of books are there for them.
I experienced many types of books with my toddler, and through that, I got to know what was good and less good.
Not all books types are great for 2-year-olds. Some can only be used from 3 years old and upwards.
For this article, I will list books types that are best for toddlers, age 2-4 years.
Table of Contents
1. Board Books.
Boards books contain many things but most of it is about alphabets, colours and numbers and some even about activities. These books are perfect for your 2-year-old.
I started to read to my child when she was around 1 year old, and it was about the alphabet. She threw the book and damaged it easily.
The same thing happens with other kinds of books at the age of 2. Boards books are thick and most of them involve activities you need to do
Your toddler will be drawn to that and it won’t be easy to break. Board Books are good for 0 and 4-year-olds, so they can constantly be used.
Therefore, they do last longer.
2. Activity Books.
Activity books can come in many book types like mentioned above board books, but also just normal books. Why are activity books interesting?
These books engage your toddler in thinking. Children at this age have a short attention span so you need to constantly keep them hooked.
What does the book want you to do? Clap your hands, stamp your foot, etc. It can also be used for toddlers to play with others.
It encourages physical activities, thinking and even some motor skills.
These books are mainly good for 3 to 4-year-olds. The reason for that is they understand better and react when asked to do something.
Through my experienced 2-year-olds are not good with activity books. Even if your child understands they won’t find interest in doing it.
Activity books also create a good family time, making even the grown-ups join in the fun. It will also make your preschooler learn many things.
It makes them engaged in conversations.
3. Alphabet Books.
As you heard and seen alphabet books or number books does help as well. These types of books were the first thing I had.
Suitable from 0 to 4 years old. There are many alphabets books types. Some are short, simple and with big images.
Others are longer and have smaller images and many of them. I prefer the first one to be used on 0 to 2-year-olds and the latter 3 to 4-year-olds.
When at that age your child would like to see bigger pictures to get fascinated.
Books play a big part in your toddler learning the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colours so they are definitely one of the best books types for toddlers.
Some books only include the alphabets others only numbers, but you also have others that are combined with the colours and shapes.
These books types are the reason why toddlers learned the alphabet at age of 2. So, they are a big pro and I absolutely recommend these books.
4. Picture Books.
Picture books are also great for kids. Mostly focused on 3-year-olds and upwards.
Younger ages won’t really comprehend the pictures and don’t know what’s going on there. When you give them the book they will just throw it away or damage it.
Your 3-year-old would however look at the colours, the designs, etc.
They will be fascinated. It’s a good opportunity for them to use their imaginations and try to talk. Explain what the images are trying to tell them.
Make up their own story. Super great for their language skills, communication skills with other children and it teaches them to think as well and be calm.
It’s good to start with a big, thin book with a few images. So many images can confuse children easily.
5. Word Books.
Word books as you can guess are more 3 to 4-year-olds, but some parents would like to start early as well.
I did kind of with my toddler, but these were more focused on the alphabet.
Word books are great to use for the language you are speaking. Whether it’s English, Spanish, etc.
It can be words that are located in the house to make it easier. Like a spoon, table, sofa, etc. It teaches your toddler all the things she or he can see in the household.
These books types make learning more fun and easier. It can also be used to do activities.
Your toddler can point out where the sofa or lamp is. With word books, they will soon start to use these words in no time.
Do you why these books are also important? Teaching and showing these items can work, but if they have something to touch and engage with it will make it more interesting.
6. Potty/Toilet Training Books.
We are talking about toddlers after all, and this is the age they have to leave nappies/diapers so parents try out many methods to see if it works.
I like many other types of books. Potty training books are also excellent for toddlers between the ages of 2 and 4.
These books can be board books or just normal books. Both work. It encourages activities and your toddlers get rewards when they initiate certain actions.
I do consider these kinds of books types to be one of the best for toddlers.
7. Sticker Books.
Stickers can have drawings of your toddler’s favourite characters. It can also be a book about activities you do with stickers.
Not that good with 2-year-olds as they won’t understand it fully.
Sticker books just like some above encourage team play and a lot of thinking. These books can be from the alphabets, numbers, colours, etc.
Some have many pages and involve a lot of tasks that are meant for older children. You should keep it simple for your toddler.
They are still learning and being bombarded with too many activities is not good.
8. Colouring Books.
Although it’s not really the best book type for the average toddler. It’s still good for your 4-year-old. Drawings of the alphabet, vehicles, house items, etc are examples.
Colouring will make your toddler memories and remember how they look and it also encourages them to start and write.
Colouring books makes them know more colours and be confident in what they know.
Drawing within the lines is also something they learn at this age. This creates concentration and learning from a young age, and will make it easier when they start school.
So, it’s best for older toddlers.
9. Series Books.
Many adults love to read series books because the first one ends in a cliffhanger and you always have the urge to continue reading.
The same thing can happen to children books and toddler books are not an exception.
You have tiny book series which can be anything. The alphabets which have been broken down to many books or fantasy story.
Although they can not fully read, it does encourage them to engage and according to studies it’s also a good way to make your toddler love books and reading.
Reading develops a child’s vocabulary and makes them very good at listening, understanding and writing. Over the years they will do great in that language.
So, yes these book types are indeed best for toddlers.
10. Poetry Books.
Although not my field of expertise, through my search these books types are good for toddlers as well.
It usually involves rhymes and is meant to teach your toddler a language. Teaching phrases and sentences and such.
This is more directed towards your 3 and 4-year-old. It’s a good way for them to engage more in a language.
Also excellent to use when your toddler is already speaking and is an early speaker.
These books are not imaginary and don’t involve any kind of task. Well, some don’t. It’s just about your toddler hearing you read to them about a certain animal.
It can also be about family, their body, etc. They can themselves view the book and try to guess images. (Which can turn it into an activity book).
Factbooks are good for toddlers because it informs them more about reality and things around them. It also makes them aware of the world.
Learning about new counties and such. It looks deep and more suitable for older children but starting at this age is also good.
As you can see the list is long and the more your child grow the longer it will be.
At this age your toddler has opened up their mind to learn so they will have an interest in any things.
As mentioned above your toddler have a short interest span so these books types will always keep them engaged and interested.
Toddlers develop differently so you can’t really tell if they will like all of these books and how well they will react.
According to studies, the more you read the more they will catch up and implement it. So, you continue to read to them to make them engage in it.
Read this article on Healthline, which explains why reading to or with your child is important.
Which of these have you not tried before? What were your toddlers react to the ones you have tried?