I’ve been working with toddlers for nearly ten years. In that time, I’ve read A LOT of books. Following is a list of the five books that I consider to be the best written for children ages 18 to 36 months. These books are in no particular order.
#1) “Bear Snores On” written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman. Copyright date: 2002, published by Scholastic Books
“In a cave in the woods,
in his deep dark lair,
through the long cold winter
sleeps a great brown bear.”
Thus begins the story of our friend, Bear. Bear wakes up early to find a party in his lair. His friends are all there, but will they share their food and fun?
“Bear Snores On” is a rhythmic story that teaches children the importance of sharing and of being considerate. The illustrations are beautifully painted and appealing to children and adults. The repetitive nature of the story makes it simple to read, and simple for young children to follow along. Be prepared to read this one over and over again. You may wish to follow it with “Bear Wants More,” also by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman.
#2) “The Very Busy Spider” by Eric Carle. Copyright date: 1989, published by Scholastic Books
A very busy little spider finds herself approached by various farm animals as she tries to build a web. The story teaches persistence with lines such as: “…the spider didn’t answer, she was very busy, spinning her web…” Illustrated with Eric Carle’s amazing collage pictures, “The Very Busy Spider” has become just as renowned as “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and other Carle works. The story is short and sweet, perfect for toddler audiences! A bonus to this book: the spider’s web, the spider and the fly are all raised on the pages, making it a tactile experience for little fingers!
#3) “Where’s My Teddy” by Jez Alborough. Copyright date: 1992, published by Candlewick Press.
In classic Alborough fashion, “Where’s My Teddy” is full of adventure that is not too frightening for little minds, but still packed enough to keep them enthralled. The book has a rhyming nature that encourages young readers to shout out the lines after they’ve heard the story only a few times.
The premise of “Where’s My Teddy” can be summed up in the opening lines; “Eddie is off to find his teddy. Eddie’s teddy’s name is Freddie. He’s lost him in the woods somewhere. It’s dark and horrible in there.” Even adults cannot help but wonder what Eddie will encounter when he’s off to find his teddy bear.
#4) “Where The Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. Copyright date: 1963, published by Harper Collins Publishers
I’m not sure that there’s an adult today who has not memorized “The night that Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another, his mother called him, “WILD THING!” and Max said “I’LL EAT YOU UP!”….” The timeless story and well known illustrations have made the Wild Things infamous and classic. Although toddlers do not quite grasp the concept of real vs. make-believe, they are drawn to Max and the great times he has with the Wild Things. This is definitely a book to have on your shelf, even if you only read it for yourself!
#5) “No David!” by David Shannon. Copyright date: 1998, published by Scholastic Books
Every child ever born has been a David. The illustrations are crudely done, but embraced by young children. This is likely to be your little one’s first “gross out” book. Everything your child shouldn’t do, David does. Picking his nose, playing baseball in the house, jumping on his bed and running down the street naked, just to name a few.
The book is set with the first sentence; “David’s Mom always said “No David!” Poor David is always getting into trouble and it seems that “No!” is all he hears. However, at the end, when it really matters, David’s Mom lets him know that; “Yes Davey, I love you.”
This is the perfect book for those days when you just feel like David’s mom. It serves as a reminder to both child and parent/provider that no matter how bad the day is going, it’s those little hugs and “I Love You!”s that are the most important.
“No David” is the first of many stories written in the David series. There is also a potty training book that is quite entertaining.
These five books are not the only books I read to my class, but I do read most of them at least once a week. They are books that I feel inspire a love of the written word. They are simple, funny and heartwarming. Most importantly, children enjoy them and ask for them again and again. In my job, I could really ask for nothing more.
If you have not read these five books to a little person in your life, I highly recommend taking a trip to your local library and doing just that. I can promise that you won’t regret it.
Reference:
- Scholastic Books www.scholastic.com
