You guys… it is 2026. Happy New Year! 🎉✨
We made it. We survived the holiday season. And now we’re officially in that beautiful, fresh-start January energy — and I am so here for it.
To kick off the year, I thought it would be really fun to share something close to my heart: my favorite baby and toddler books. These aren’t necessarily tied to a strict age range. When I first sat down to make this list, I thought I’d organize it from birth to age three — but that list got very long, very fast.
A lot of the books we love for toddlers I’ve already shared in my Toddler Books We Love series (I think there are three episodes now), so I’ll link those in the show notes if you want to revisit them.
What I did notice while making this list, though, is that I’m incredibly drawn to books that:
- rhyme well 🎶
- have great flow and cadence
- are genuinely fun to read out loud
- have beautiful illustrations
- and tell a simple, sweet story
Basically — books I don’t mind reading six times in a row.
Our youngest is currently 16 months old, and even our older kids still love many of these books. Our three-year-old is especially obsessed with several of them. So while I’m calling this a “baby book” list, just know these books stretch well beyond babyhood.
🎧 Listen to the Episode
A Quick (Unpopular) Opinion First 🙃
You know when your child hands you a book and you immediately think, ugh?
For me… that book is Harold and the Purple Crayon.
I know. I know. It’s a classic. Everyone loves it.
But I don’t love the illustrations, I don’t love the flow, and I don’t enjoy reading it. It just doesn’t do it for me.
And that’s okay.
Reading should be fun — for parents too. So this list is very much based on books I genuinely enjoy reading aloud.
My Ride-or-Die Baby Books 🐄📘
Sandra Boynton (Forever and Always)
If there is one baby author I will stand behind forever, it’s Sandra Boynton. Absolute chef’s kiss. 💋
Our favorites:
- The Going to Bed Book
- Not the Hippopotamus
- Barnyard Dance (so fun to sing and dance along to)
- Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great
- A to Z
These books are rhythmic, joyful, short, and endlessly rereadable. They’re my gold standard for baby books.
Rhyming & Sing-Song Favorites 🎵
- Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse
- There’s a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake
I also love books that are based on songs:
- Baby Beluga
- Five Little Ducks
- Down by the Bay
- Shake My Sillies Out
- The Wheels on the Bus
Fair warning: once your toddler figures these out, they will want them read again and again and again. At a certain point, we lovingly removed the Raffi books from rotation because… no one wants to read Wheels on the Bus 30 times in one sitting. 😅
Before that stage though? They’re fantastic.
Dr. Seuss (Selected, Not All) 🎩
I’ll be honest — I don’t love most Dr. Seuss books. The illustrations can feel creepy, and many of the stories are long. That said, a few are worth it:
- Green Eggs and Ham
- The Cat in the Hat
- Ten Apples Up On Top
- Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb (especially the board book version)
These are better suited for toddlers and preschoolers than babies, but they’re still fun in moderation.
Other Books We Truly Love ❤️
- The Gruffalo
- Room on the Broom (I’ll read this any day of the week)
- Little Blue Truck
- My Octopus Arms
- Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
- Dinner at the Panda Palace
- The Littlest Yak
- One Leaf, Two Leaves: Count With Me
- Bats at the Beach
- Zanda Xander’s Panda Party (a delightful tongue twister)
Classics Worth Keeping
- The original Madeline books (stick with the originals)
- The Donut Chef by Bob Staake
- Goodnight Moon (not my favorite cadence-wise, but my husband loves it — so it stays)
- Goodnight [Your City] books — we have Goodnight St. Louis
Best Books for Building Vocabulary 🗣️
These aren’t necessarily “fun reads,” but they are incredible for language development:
Richard Scarry (All-Time Favorites)
- Best Word Book Ever
- Cars and Trucks and Things That Go
- The Best Lowly Worm Book Ever
These books are phenomenal for helping toddlers learn vocabulary — clear illustrations, simple labeling, and everyday scenes that kids recognize.
Two Bonus Learning Favorites 🎓
BrainQuest
Perfect for ages ~3 and up. These question cards grow with your child and are great for preschool and kindergarten readiness.
Big Bird’s Sesame Street Dictionary
This is a hidden gem. It’s an eight-volume vintage set (1970s–80s), and while they’re out of print, you can sometimes find them on eBay.
They do an incredible job explaining complex concepts in simple, visual ways. We loved them so much that I hunted down a full set — and even gifted them to a cousin.
Final Thoughts 🤍
I gravitate toward books that:
- flow beautifully
- are engaging for kids and adults
- feel joyful to read aloud
- and don’t make me dread story time
Yes, “Where’s Your Nose?” books are cute — but reading should also be genuinely enjoyable. If a book has great rhythm, great art, and a story you wouldn’t mind repeating, it’s a win.
Thanks so much for tuning in. I hope you found a few new books to add to your shelves — and I’ll see you back here next week 📚✨