My Two-Year-Old's Essential Summer Reading
We’re moving in two weeks. We have packed over thirty boxes of books, but we’ve left out one shelf per family member to read for the summer. The rest got packed.
I wasn’t sure at first if my two-year-old would understand the concept of “favorite books” — everything tends to be a favorite at this age — but she really did pull her top picks off the shelves without any prompting from me.
I think I want to try this out in future, even when the confines of space don’t force us to. She has an easier time finding the books she really wants me to read (not to mention an easier time putting the books away when she’s done).
Whether you’re picking out a gift for a toddler, or looking for some summer reads to expand your collection, here are thirty essential titles from our young connoisseur.
Press Here by Henre Tulle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Peek-a-Boo! by Janet & Allen Ahlberg
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
Dancing with Degas by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise rown and Clement Hurd
God’s Garden of Blessings
Olivia by Ian Falconer
Choose Your Own Journey by Susie Brooks and Tracy Cottingham
Play Hide & Seek with Fox
Sunday Shopping by Sally Derby and Shadra Strickland
The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty
Little Toot by Hardie Gramatky
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Joffe Numeroff and Felicia Bond
“Stand Back,” Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!” by Patricia Thomas and Wallace Tripp
La Mer by Angele Delaunois and Mylene Henry
King Bidgood’s In the Bathtub by Audrey Wood and Don Wood
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Who’s There, Spot? by Eric Hill
Wynken, Blynken, & Nod by Eugene Field and Johanna Westerman
Twirl by Emily Lex
On Noah’s Ark by Jan Brett
1001 Things to Spot In the Sea
Turtle and Me by Robie H. Harris and Tor Freeman
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet & Allen Ahlberg
Blueberries for the Queen by Katherine Paterson
Treasury of Paddington by Michael Bond and R.W. Alley
The Lion & the Mouse, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Jesus Loves Me by Tim Warner
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, illustrated by Peter Spier
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth and Laura Huliska-Beith
The Frog and Toad Storybook Collection by Arnold Lobel
The Day God Made You by Rory Feek
Sweeter Than the Sweetest Honey: A Little Daily Grace Book
Baby’s First Slide and See Farm
The Classic Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Sleepyheads by Sandra J. Howatt and Joyce Wan
Good Dog, Carl! by Alexandra Day
God Bless You & Goodnight by Hannah C. Hall and Steve Whitlow
Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers and Marla Fraser (an absolute favorite of mine and the kids’, hence its missing spine)
Never Touch a Spider!
I Love You to the Moon and Back by Tim Warner