While research indicates that infants and toddlers under 18 months shouldn’t have any screen time, for most parents, especially working parents, that isn’t a reality. Our advice? Ditch the parenting guilt and focus on quality when it comes to screen time. Our list of the best YouTube channels for toddlers highlights those that engage and entertain with fun and educational content (zero unboxing to be found). These channels challenge little minds and also encourage moving little bodies, so, when you do need to utilize a screen, here’s what your toddler should be watching.
The Snack Town All-Stars
Join in on the fun with Banana, Apple, Orange, and, Grape. These animated healthy snacks sing fun songs about eating good foods and there are even soothing lullabies for naptime. One of the most popular videos is Stay Healthy Shake, which encourages kids to get up and move. We love this for the times when you need a quick 15 minutes.
Blippi
With his orange glasses, suspenders, and bowtie, Blippi has taken the toddler world by storm. His educational content teaches young kids about everything from colors to numbers. Blippi’s whimsical and exaggerated mannerisms and the simple-to-follow lessons are brought to life with age-appropriate props and backgrounds. This not only appeals to toddlers but also keeps them engaged and entertained while they are learning.
PBS Kids
With live streams of many PBS kid shows like SUPER WHY, Daniel Tiger, and Rosie’s Rules, the PBS Kids YouTube channel offers educational and engaging content for toddlers. There are also full episodes of the newer PBS show Work It Out Wombats, which focuses on computational thinking. The show focuses on three main characters who also happen to be wombat siblings navigating an apartment complex and solving problems along the way.
Sesame Street
This YouTube channel features episodes from the long-running, award-winning children’s show. The compilations and themed content around important holidays and events are not only educational but interactive, too. Toddlers will love seeing all their favorite Sesame Street characters from Elmo to Grover sing and dance. With over 23 million subscribers, the YouTube channel is as popular as the show many parents grew up with and are now eager to share with their own children.
After revealing a surprise, real-life girl Gabby grabs her stuffed cat and says a few magical words. She then becomes a tiny animated figure who goes on adventures in her amazing dollhouse. Kids can watch full episodes of the Netflix show, Gabby’s Dollhouse, on the YouTube channel. They can also enjoy videos of simple crafts, songs, and educational content like learning the colors of the rainbow. Parents can enjoy some special bonding time with their toddlers during the crafting videos because young kids won’t be able to do these by themselves.
Ms. Rachel Songs for Littles
With over two million subscribers, Ms. Rachel’s soothing and melodious voice provides toddlers with lessons on letters, sounds, and numbers. The preschool teacher was inspired to create her channel after her own son was diagnosed with a speech delay. With a special focus on language development, Miss Rachel focuses on providing kids with an interactive experience they can follow along with. Her puppet sidekicks Herbie and Georgie also grab kids’ attention.
Danny Go!
According to the website, this YouTube channel is geared toward kids from 2-7. With catchy and fun songs like The Dinosaur Dance and Fire and Ice Freeze Dance, Danny Go! encourages kids to get moving by showing them simple dance moves they can easily do. There are a cast of regular characters like Mindy Mango, Tiny Danny, and scientist Pap Pap who provide movement breaks and educational lessons against colorful and engaging backgrounds.
This YouTube channel with more than 37 million subscribers appeals to toddlers with its simple and classic songs. Many videos feature old-school puppets or animated characters that will entertain and engage kids who will love singing and dancing along. From classic nursery rhymes like Humpty Dumpty to age-old songs like Skidamarink, this channel will keep your toddler on their toes.
CoComelon
With musical repetition and bright colors, this channel is perfect for toddlers. The repetition helps them to build their vocabulary and acquire early literacy skills with the use of nursery rhymes and songs. CoComelon also teaches toddlers about colors and numbers, and provides other important life lessons.
The Learning Station
This channel is fun and educational, focusing on everything from early literacy development to social and emotional learning. One of the most popular songs, Herman the Worm, has racked up 117 million views. Kids love the simple melody and silliness factor of the goofy song.
This literacy program features some of the most popular and entertaining celebrities reading kids’ books. Presented by the SAG-AFTRA foundation, kids will love the lively reading where celebs do a variety of voices and get truly animated. Parents may want to watch alongside their kids to see celebrities from Oprah to Jennifer Garner. In one particularly enticing entry, the late, great Betty White reads Harry the Dirty Dog.
These books for newborns are the perfect excuse for snuggle time
It’s never too early to expose kids to reading, but if you’ve wondered, “what can I read to my newborn?” you’re not alone. Rest assured, reading to infants is rewarding for parents and children alike. Books can be a touch point for important baby milestones, like first smiles, and the calming sound of a parent’s voice during story time helps to foster a positive association with books. The foundation for vocabulary and fine motor skills is laid. Plus: it’s just plain fun!
The non-profit, Zero to Three, advises parents to give newborns books that they can explore with all of their senses, including books they chew on, books that make noise or have different textures, and chunky books that are easier to grab. They also suggest taking breaks when you notice your baby showing signs of boredom like looking away, crying, or arching their back. So the next time you need a quiet activity with baby, pull out one of our favorite books for newborns, and remember to keep them around for years to boost all those skills as your little ones grow.
1. Indestructibles: Touch Your Nose! by Amy Pixton
You can’t go wrong with any of the books for babies in the Indestructibles series: they’re rip-proof, waterproof, lightweight, non-toxic, and full of bold contrasting colors and vocabulary. We’re especially fond of this one that encourages babies to “wiggle their feet and touch their toes” using adorable, bright illustrations.
2. Baby Hippo: Finger Puppet Book by Yu-Hsuan Huang
This sweet little finger puppet book gives babies a tactile experience while introducing their little hands to the idea of turning the pages of a book. Baby Hippo is one of several published by Chronicle Books that integrate finger puppet plushness in a die-cut, interactive book.
A high-contrast board book with a black-and-white design with cut-paper style imagery of amazing everyday things like a car, a cat, flowers, and more. Includes first words as baby begins to develop sounds and vocabulary.
The artist set out to design a book that would soothe crying babies. She created this and other similar books, refining her designs to get favorable responses from babies and their parents. Full of high-contrast shapes, lines, and colors, babies will learn to discern between colors and objects.
You’re never too young to develop an insatiable appetite for books! Imprint the idea of books as a positive element in everyday life with a nearly indestructible book that celebrates books. The book itself stands upright to display the adorable book-themed art.
6. Crinkle, Crinkle, Little Star by Justin Krasner
Explore the night sky with this enchanting book that makes an appealing crinkle sound. Take a journey to the constellations with a lullaby and pages that are shimmery and tactile, stimulating sight, sound, and touch.
7. Rainbow Bath! Waterproof Bath Book by Rachel Halpern
A Baby Einstein book that doesn’t have to stay on dry land: this waterproof book for newborns is super durable and floats in water. Featuring Baby Einstein characters, explore the ocean from sea to ship to shore.
Not only is this full of mesmerizing imagery with dark-and-light contrast, but there’s also an embedded mirror so baby can see their own cute faces. The book is designed to be read like a book or spread out or stand up in front during tummy time!
A cloth book full of high-contrast black-and-white imagery, including playful animals and insects and bold patterns such as dots and shapes. The book can be expanded to lay flat, or the “pages” can be turned.
A soft, miniature book that attaches to the stroller or can be easily tucked inside a diaper bag, this one features images of common urban objects like buildings, a garbage truck, and a taxi. It makes a crinkle sound when squeezed, giving it that added tactile experience babies love.
Bold patterns and high-contrast images help introduce bébé to ocean creatures like starfish and jellyfish. We also love Hello, Baby Animals, a book in the same line.
This classic board book has already entertained generations of the smallest readers as the die-cut pages reveal a very special “who” at the end: a little mirror shows babies their own reflection.
Playful text and an embedded mirror invite babies to find their eyes, pat their cheeks, touch their noise, and more as they develop fine motor skills and identify with the cute characters throughout.
15. Making Faces: A First Book of Emotions by Abrams Appleseed
Photos of babies making an array of faces—happy, sad, angry, silly—help little ones begin to identify emotions and mimic the faces themselves. The images are set on white backgrounds to help create maximum contrast, and there's a little mirror so baby can practice!
If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.
Gone are the days where having a strong vocabulary only mattered on the SAT. Kids today—now, more than ever—need a solid vocabulary, not only for success in school, but also to express themselves in a way that empowers them to make an impact on the world around them. According to Boston Children’s Hospital, the most important thing you can do to help a child experiencing heightened stress and anxiety is to listen to them. And if they have the vocabulary (and emotional awareness) to express themselves, you’ve equipped them to take control of that situation. So whether you’re motivated to build toddler language development for school success or for social and emotional reasons, you’re winning at parenting. And these language development games and activities for kids can help you do it.
1. Read Together
We’ll bet you’re already practicing this toddler language development strategy in your home without even realizing it. According to Sandra Gatlin, a fourth-grade teacher with over 30 years of experience, “The key to a broad vocabulary is to foster a love of reading in your child. Whether from reading together as toddlers, or listening to them read to you as they develop their abilities, you cannot find a better way to expand your vocabulary.”
Extra Credit: Don’t stop reading to your kids, even after they can do it on their own. Choose a book that interests them that’s above their reading level, and “talk about what you’re reading, so you can work on comprehension, too,” adds Gatlin.
“My son doesn’t want to look at a workbook or sit still after he’s been at school all day,” mom and educator extraordinaire, Anne Hart, says. So she wrote sight words on Post-It notes and stuck them on the ceiling, near the baseboards, and behind doors throughout her house. Now, her son picks up a Nerf gun and gets prizes for shooting the right word that Hart calls out. We love this strategy that supports toddler language development and makes it fun in the process.
Extra Credit: Don’t stop at sight words. You can play this game with vocabulary words and definitions. Just write the word on the Post-It note, and read the definition out to your hunter, who’ll go “hunting” for the correct word.
3. Match and Go Seek
Another great toddler language development game, match and go seek, also involves Post-It notes. Make two copies of each word, then give one stack to your child, and place the other notes on corresponding items. For instance, give your child a Post-It note with the word “tree” written on it, then place another one on the trunk of a tree in the backyard. Get more creative and advanced as his or her vocabulary grows.
Extra Credit: The National Center on Improving Literacy reports that “remote literacy learning includes a mixture of literacy learning experiences that are teacher-led, family-led, and student-led. Parents have an important role in helping develop your child’s literacy skills.” Your involvement in growing your child’s vocabulary has never been more important.
iStock
4. Talk to Your Children
Tracy Cutchlow, author of Zero to Five: 70 Essential Parenting Tips Based on Science, says three-year-olds with whom parents regularly engage in contextualized conversation have IQs 150% greater than those whose parents don’t talk to them. And, since your child’s vocabulary can quadruple in their second year of life, you can’t start too early when it comes to talking to them.
Extra Credit: “It’s hard to know what to say to someone who doesn’t talk back,” says Atlanta preschool director Nancy Hill. “But I used to talk to my daughter so much when she was an infant that I’d be startled when my husband would come home and actually talk back to me!” She suggests listening to the sounds around you—like a bird tweeting, a truck rumbling, or a dog barking—then repeating the sound and labeling it as “bird,” “truck,” or “dog.”
5. Introduce Sneaky Synonyms
When your child tells you something, respond in a way that introduces a synonym for the word they used. For example, if your child says that the dog was “really big,” you might reply and say it sounds “gigantic.” Reading Rockets, a website dedicated to helping kids learn to read, suggests that parents keep new words active since kids learn by repetition and practice. Don’t just say it once. Instead, find ways to work it into your conversation multiple times.
Extra Credit: Kids love telling stories. Give them a topic and have them tell you a story about it. This gives you ample opportunities to introduce sneaky synonyms in an organic way.
iStock
6. Use Word Play in Favorite Songs
Rhymes have always been used as a tool in learning, so it’s no surprise that kids love changing the lyrics for favorite songs. “When ‘Old Town Road’ was being played all the time on the radio, I changed the lyrics to I’m gonna take my mom to the grocery store, she’s gonna shop like she can’t no more…My kids caught on, and every time the song came on we’d make up a new grocery list, instead of singing the song’s actual lyrics,” said mother of four Renee Stafford.
Extra Credit: Along the same lines, you can kill plenty of time on long car rides by making a collaborative poem. One person starts the poem, then the next person adds a line, and on.
“Verbal and written vocabularies often don’t match up, with verbal vocabulary being stronger for many years because of the help of context clues within sentence structure,” says Prof. of Early Childhood Education and Literacy Meredith Cristofferson. One way to help bridge the gap? Have your kids write their own stories. It’s like working your back muscles to improve your abdomen’s strength. Creating context for words helps you develop your use of words, and helps you look for new ways to represent ideas.
Extra Credit: Give your kids a word bank and ask them to write a story using the words you’ve given them. Be sure and provide them with a list of verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs.
Wondering how to get your toddler talking? Theses games and strategies will move them beyond babbling in no time
Your child may not have any words yet, but they find ways to get their point across. While furious sobbing or tossing a bowl of applesauce may not be your preferred form of communication, trust me, these are good signs! When your child cries, gestures, or uses a facial expression, they’re expressing something: hunger, discomfort, frustration. They’re using nonverbal language, and that’s a stepping stone to speech.
Even before saying their first word, children make connections between their actions and getting their needs met. When your child cries and points to a toy, then you hand it to them, they’re figuring out these relationships so they can more easily communicate their needs later.
So never fear—at some point, your child will be able to express their wants more clearly than with screeching or tears. And as their caregiver, there’s a lot you can do to help that process along. Nurturing your child’s language development is time well spent. Not only does it help your child communicate, but it also supports literacy and comprehension, ultimately improving their academic success along with their emotional development.
Now for the best news: To help your toddler develop their language skills, the name of the game is play. Here are six fun and interactive playtime ideas to try at home. None of these is hard to build into your routine—and chances are, you’re doing some of them already.
1. Turn your home into a zoo—a noisy one.
Who doesn’t love animal sounds? They’re a perfect way to help your kiddo become more verbal. That’s because imitating sounds is a stepping stone to imitating words, and most kids get a kick out of meowing and mooing. To practice, gather up any toy animals you have. Or you can cut out pictures of animals from magazines or find some online to print out. Take turns showing these toys or pictures to your child and either making the sounds yourself or having your child mimic them.
If you’re feeling really creative, act out the animals as well. You can turn your hands into claws and “meow” like a cat or get on all fours and say “baaah” like a sheep. Encourage your child to copy you! One reason imitation is so important is that it teaches your baby the back-and-forth of communication, which is a foundation for early conversational skills.
2. Sing lots of songs (actual musical talent not required).
“Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” “Itsy, Bitsy Spider,” and “The Wheels on the Bus” are classics for a reason. Children love singing simple songs and nursery rhymes. Not only do they provide some great bonding time, but songs can also build vocabulary and help children learn and recognize the natural rhythm of speech.
There are lots of opportunities throughout the day to liven things up with music: Think car rides, chore time, bathtime, or waiting in line. And nursery rhymes that include hand gestures are another great way to teach your child imitation.
3. Get theatrical with a puppet show.
Inject some drama into your day with good old-fashioned puppets. Whether you’re using socks, brown lunch bags, or stuffed animals, it’s a great way to strike up a mock conversation between two lovable characters. Make sure your puppet asks your child’s puppet all sorts of questions (using silly and imaginative voices, of course).
4. Play a game of telephone.
And we don’t mean scrolling social media. For this, you can use a toy telephone, create one out of LEGOs or cardboard, or even use an old cellphone if you have one. Pretend that the phone is ringing and have your child “answer.” Whether they’re babbling into the receiver or using simple words like “hi” and “bye,” this activity helps set the stage for early conversation skills.
5. Make time for storytime.
You’ve probably heard it before, but it’s hard to overstate the importance of reading, even with babies and toddlers. Children start building the foundation for reading and writing in infancy. So when you establish a reading routine, you’re creating a good habit that will last a lifetime. Make storytime fun by choosing books that stimulate the imagination.
As you read, make sure to point to and label the pictures. If the page shows, say, a firetruck, you can engage your toddler by asking, “What sound does a firetruck make?” This will improve your child’s comprehension and expand their vocabulary.
Choose a few everyday items that your child is familiar with—a toy, a banana, a cup, a spoon—and place them on the table. Next, say to your child, “I spy something that starts with ‘bbbbb.’” Really exaggerate your sounds and give your child enough time to find the correct item—in this case, a banana.
Provide encouragement and a little assistance if needed, and if your child gets it right, pour on the praise! This game expands your child’s vocabulary and helps them make associations between sounds, words, and objects.
What if your child’s language doesn’t seem to develop at the rate you expect? Consider speaking with a speech-language pathologist. These communication experts can work with you and your child to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a potential language disorder or other communication challenge.
The earlier these issues are recognized and treated, the more progress your child will make. Make sure, too, that your speech therapist gives you additional language-building exercises to use at home with your child. When it comes down to it, you are your child’s best communication model.
Leanne Sherred, CCC-SLP, President and Co-Founder of Expressable, is acutely aware that communication is fundamentally human and vital to how we connect with others and express our feelings. Leanne champions parent-focused intervention and has developed a unique clinical model that is core to Expressable's product offering and value proposition.
There are all types of books for toddlers to introduce them to reading and spark their imagination
With growing attention spans and endless curiosity, toddlers are the perfect audience for read-aloud books. They’re ready for all the humor, rhyming text and interactive elements that picture books have to offer. We’ve divided both new titles and classics into categories that are of high interest to youngsters and their parents. So whether you’re looking for the perfect bedtime tale or a story about friendship or vehicles, you’ll find it here with our top 40 favorite books for toddlers.
Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare compete to see how much they love each other in this classic bedtime story by Sam McBratney. Anita Jeram’s neutral-toned illustrations are the perfect calming visuals. Show your little ones how you love them to the moon and back each night.
As night falls, owl is awake and ready to observe the sleeping habits of other animals, like pigeons that sleep with one eye open and penguins who huddle in a bunch. This quick read, written and illustrated by Il Sung Na, gives readers time to luxuriate in the swirling, patterned pictures.
When Baby Llama has trouble falling asleep and Mama Llama doesn’t respond fast enough, all the drama ensues. Author/illustrator Anna Dewdney uses simple rhymes and charming illustrations to bring alive the pajama-clad character in a nighttime scenario parents will likely recognize.
With the help of natural elements like the clouds and the moon, family members sing their baby to sleep. It’s no wonder this bedtime story reads like a lullaby as author Atinuke based the text on a song her father used to sing. The illustrations by Angela Brooksbank are like a dream lulling your toddler to sleep.
In this longer version of the classic The Going to Bed Book, author and illustrator Sandra Boynton brings more bedtime shenanigans for toddlers to enjoy. It has all the animal characters and fun rhymes of the original board book, but now it’s bigger in size and includes a bonus song.
Author Candace Fleming and illustrator Lori Nichols bring the childhood concept of not wanting to sleep in your own bed to the farmyard. Will the animals ever settle down in their own beds? With a refrain that matches the title, this is one parents can relate to and toddlers will enjoy chiming in on.
Toddlers can explore and untangle common emotions—like sadness, anger and happiness—in a safe way with Anna Llenas' color monster. There’s a different color for each emotion with collage-style illustrations and a sweet surprise at the end.
The bright, childlike illustrations from author and illustrator Todd Parr express the many feelings and moods young children experience. With a silly and sympathetic approach to what can be a heavy topic, this book shows toddlers that all their emotions are okay.
A pouty fish spreads his gloomy mood all throughout the sea, and it seems no efforts to cheer him will work. It takes a big surprise to turn his frown upside down! Fun rhymes with repetitive verses by Deborah Diesen and colorful pictures by Dan Hanna add playful touches that will have young readers doing anything but pouting.
Once a seed goes bad, can it ever be good again? Toddlers will laugh out loud as they explore the answer to this question told from the unique point of view of a “baaaaaaaaaad” sunflower seed. Author Jory John’s amusing take on acting out is enhanced by the humor in the illustrations by Pete Oswald.
When a young child’s amazing block creation gets knocked down, different animals try to make it better. None of them quite get it right until a rabbit comes along to be by the child’s side and listen. Cori Doerrfeld’s expert use of straightforward language and white space combine for a story that arms toddlers with a way to deal with disappointment.
Breaking the fourth wall, a bus driver asks children readers not to let the pigeon drive the bus. Hilarity ensues as the pigeon’s pleading to drive the bus turns into a full-on tantrum! This Caldecott Medal winner by Mo Willems is the first of many pigeon stories that will delight young readers.
LouAnn is a bear who wants to fill up with doughnuts before hibernating, but her friends keep dropping by until there are no more left. Author Carrie Finison’s rhyming text includes a fun refrain that gets interrupted by the “ding dong” of a doorbell, and toddlers will love chiming in on it. Brianne Farley’s doughnut illustrations will make readers’ mouths water.
This book doesn’t need pictures to have little ones and adults laughing out loud! Author and actor B.J. Novak—yes, the one from The Office—exploits the fact that all the words in the book have to be said aloud to get readers to say all kinds of silly words and phrases.
Having just hatched, a little dinosaur explores the world. When Dinah sees a kiss, her attempts to try one go all wrong as she stomps, chomps and whomps her way into trouble. A silly read from author and illustrator David Ezra Stein with a main character to match!
It seems like it’s going to be a boring, rainy day for a grumpy bear. Add in a hula-hooping moose, a badger with an umbrella, and a sweater-clad rabbit, and it turns out being soaked maybe isn’t so bad. Author and illustrator Abi Cushman’s expressive characters bring so much personality to an already witty story.
This interactive book makes it okay for toddlers to break the one rule of not pushing the button. When they do, hilarious things happen with Larry the purple monster! Encourage your child’s curiosity in this first in a series of rule-breaking books written and illustrated by Bill Cotter.
In this Caldecott Honor book by Richard T. Morris, Bear sets out on the river alone. As each new group of animals comes along, they learn an adventure is better with friends. The expressive illustrations by LeUyen Pham bring the story and the characters to life for little readers!
Little Elliot is an elephant who often feels small in the big city. When he helps an even smaller creature, they form a lasting friendship. This is the first in a series of books by author and illustrator Mike Curato that are sweetly nostalgic with relatable themes for toddlers and older readers alike.
Penguin knows the pinecone he found in the snow belongs in the forest, but it’s hard to say goodbye to a new friend. The next time Penguin visits Pinecone, he sees how love can grow even when friends are apart. Author and illustrator Salina Yoon’s bright and straightforward illustrations will draw in young readers.
A boy’s imagination and the perfect sandcastle bring a dragon friend to life. The illustrations by Howard McWilliam add to the mischief in this delightful story by Jodi Moore. It will keep toddlers laughing and guessing whether the dragon is real.
When a pinecone pokes fun at Stone, Stick stands up for him and a friendship forms. Then it’s Stone’s turn to help when Stick gets in trouble. The sparse, rhyming text written by Beth Ferry is filled with a cleverness that is matched by the lively illustrations of Tom Lichtenheld.
Any child with a favorite stuffed animal or lovey will relate to the friendship between a girl and her bear in this tale by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Dan Santat. Parents will also enjoy being along on the journey as the girl grows and her relationship changes with her stuffed animal.
The die-cut pages of Eric Carle’s wildly popular story about a hungry caterpillar create an interactive experience for toddlers. The illustrations are colorful, and the story is playful. As the caterpillar eats its way through the days of the week, it also finds a way into the hearts of readers.
When toy bear Corduroy notices he has lost a button, he goes on a nighttime adventure to find it in the department store he calls home. When morning comes and his button is still missing, it takes the love of a little girl to show Corduroy what home really is. This classic character from author and illustrator Don Freeman has been sparking the imagination of young readers for more than 50 years!
Join in on the wild rumpus as misbehaving Max sets off on the journey of a lifetime to the island of the Wild Things. The distinct and detailed style created by author and illustrator Maurice Sendak earned him a Caldecott Medal. It’s a tale that has entertained generations of readers!
In a celebration of the imagination, author and illustrator Crockett Johnson lets little Harold use his purple crayon to create this classic tale. Toddlers will see themselves in the character of pajama-wearing Harold and delight in the twists of what he draws with his purple crayon.
Toddlers get a fun introduction to the alphabet as all the letters climb up the coconut tree. The chanting text by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault reads like a song, and the bold illustrations by Lois Ehlert add movement to the story.
A spirited cast of animals accompanies Little Blue on a ride where they lend a helping hand to a dump truck that gets stuck in the mud. Alice Schertle’s rhyming text is filled with truck and animal sounds, and Jill McElmurry’s illustrations bring out the quirkiness of each character. This is the first in a series of adventures to take toddlers on a ride!
Young readers will experience the unique feeling of watching a freight train roll by as they turn the pages of this concept book about colors. Author and illustrator Donald Crews doesn’t need many words to create a sense of movement, and the bold Caldecott Honor illustrations will help toddlers learn their colors.
This quick read by Amy Novesky fits the attention spans of toddlers. The high-contrast reds against the greyscale illustrations by Sara Gillingham will be of high interest to any truck enthusiast. So many ways to love a truck and each other!
Roll into bedtime as the tough trucks of the construction site settle down for bed. Toddlers will see that the trucks have a bedtime routine a lot like their own and that even cranes snuggle up with teddy bears. The rhyming text by Sherri Duskey Rinker and soothing sunsets of Tom Lichtenheld’s illustrations will lull little ones to sleep.
This tale about a tired race car will have your toddler shifting down for bed rather than racing around the house. With rhythmic stanzas by author Sharon Chriscoe and dreamy, nighttime scenes from illustrator Dave Mottram, it’s a great, relaxing read for energetic youngsters.
Reinforce counting skills in a subtle, fun way when a truck gets stuck in a pothole. Sharp rhymes by Kevin Lewis include a refrain for toddlers to repeat during the reading. Illustrator Daniel Kirk includes a mystery of the truck’s disappearing load that will have youngsters wanting to take another look at the book.
In this touching read-aloud book from Emily Winfield Martin, a parent muses on all the possible things their child could become. Toddlers will love looking at all the different babies and children, especially in the wordless gatefold that beautifully demonstrates the book’s message in picture form.
Celebrate the diversity of a classroom in this tale by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman in a bright palette of colors. The rhyming text with the refrain of “All are welcome here” is an inclusive introduction to school for any toddler about to start a more structured daycare or pre-k setting.
The lyrical text by Deborah Underwood reminds readers of all the ways the outside world influences their lives, even when inside. The Caldecott Honor ink and watercolor illustrations by Cindy Derby invite readers into the beauty of nature in this thoughtful reminder of what awaits outside.
From a weekend tea party to a kiss at bedtime, this sweet ode to families of all types by author and illustrator Sophie Beer shows some of the ways they share their love. The vibrant illustrations are eye-catching and detailed enough for repeat reads.
The award-winning team of author Jacqueline Woodson and illustrator Rafael López explore what it feels like to be different. The young characters discover that even though it can be hard, sharing your differences creates a space in the world for everyone.
From her first cries to the first day of school, Daisy’s extended family celebrates all the ways she is wonderful. This encouraging read about unconditional love by Donna Gephart is complete with illustrations by Francesca Chessa that showcase the vibrant personality of the young main character.
If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.
The holidays are just around the corner, and as we inch closer and closer to the end of December, you may have realized you’re missing just one more special gift for your little one. With toys, clothes, and arts and crafts already checked off your list, it can be challenging to find that perfect stocking stuffing or extra addition under the tree.
If you’re feeling stumped, Simon & Schuster’s vast selection of beloved award-winning books for tiny hands makes for a wonderful present. Not only are you encouraging a love of life-long reading, but you’re also keeping the spirit of their inner child alive for years to come. Plus: reading one picture book to kiddos each day exposes them to about 78,000 words a year!
To help you find the board and perfect books, we’ve compiled six reads that’ll fill them with the holiday spirit.
Books for Baby
Simon & Schuster’s indestructible board books are perfect for little oneslearning to explore their senses—from babies to toddlers.As an added plus, your youngsters will have a love of reading instilled in them at an early age with books that ensure to celebrate, educate, and entertain.
A heartwarming, poetic board book, Curls follows the story of four friends who style their natural ringlets in different ways. The book instills confidence and pride, so little ones can appreciate and learn to love their distinct features.
Written by acclaimed author Karen Katz, this peek-a-boo book makes for an adventurous and playful reading experience. Each page touts a simple lift-the-flap feature, so kiddos can begin to identify parts of the body, from the head and toes to ears and nose. The ending of the book even adds a special mirror so your adorable baby can see themselves!
The sixth installment of Joan Holub’s This Little series, This Little Dreamer highlights ten important people who made history—which all started off with just a dream that turned into reality! Both kiddos and parents will love this inspirational read that features vibrant illustrations and kid-friendly facts to bring out hope within all of us.
For kiddos from three to six, Simon & Schuster’s picture books can keep them entertained for hours. With playful art, fun stories, and special bonding moments during storytime, these books will capture the whole family’s attention. You’ll also revel in the joy as you watch your child achieve milestones with their first attempts at independent reading.
Keeping friends is quite the challenge for Fluffy McWhiskers, a precious kitten that makes anyone who looks at her explode into fireworks and balls of sparkles. In an effort to keep people safe, Fluffy opts for a haircut that only makes her even more adorable, causing her to run away. With this sweet book, your kiddo will learn about self-acceptance and creating friendships in unlikely places.
An extended version of Sandra Boynton’s bestselling book The Going to Bed Book, this deluxe picture book helps kids get nestled into bed and ready for a long night’s rest filled with dreams. With gentle rhyming and color illustrations, you and your child will feel heavy eyes just in time for bed.
From the authors behind The New York Times’ bestselling book, Parker Looks Up, this touching picture book follows another Parker Curry journey: learning to open your heart. While Parker has her role of big sister down to a T, she is faced with the challenges of being a real dancer and a real friend. Youngsters will enjoy this uplifting story about making friends and self-expression.
I help mamas find style, sanity, and sisterhood! As a mom to two boys, my parenting and lifestyle blog shares fashion, home, and kids ideas to make life easier and more beautiful.
With 2 young boys, our house quickly became overwhelmed with battery-operated toys that are SO loud, yet take so much creativity away from playtime. A year ago, I set out to remove these toys from our home and intentionally replace them with educational, open-ended play toys that enrich young minds and can be enjoyed for years. Here are my favorite educational toys and books for toddlers and preschoolers!
1
Nilo Kids Table
A special place just for them
$249.99
NILO makes all-wood tables that can be used for generations! With the raised edge, toys can't fall off, which makes this table perfect for messy activities, eating, and even preschool activities. Our kids have enjoyed having their own special place to sit together.
Kinetic sand is magical stuff. It sticks together (without being sticky!) so kids can enjoy sand without finding it all over the house. This encourages imagination, and they can use the mini sand buckets to build castles and other treasures.
The best way to practice shapes, letters, and numbers
$8.89
Forget printables! This wipe off book allows kids to practice their shapes, letters, and numbers over and over again. It's loaded with educational, fun photos!
Magnatiles are truly the most genius toy! Kids can imagine for hours, creating rockets, houses, flowers- anything they can dream up. Some kits even come with attachable wheels to create big cars!
Perhaps the most treasured board book of all, this is the story of a caterpillar eating his way through the week, and eventually turning into a beautiful butterfly.
February is a month of love: from I Love to Read in schools to kindness, this is the top month for showing kids the love of a good kids book list. Here are our favorite new titles in children’s publishing coming out in February.
Tiny Travelers Puerto Rico Treasure Quest
Encantos
The third book in the Tiny Travelers series takes readers on a journey from San Juan to Vieques. Created by a team of parents with multicultural backgrounds, the series promises a celebration of diversity with hidden treasures on every page. Great for kids of all ages, the interactive book is packed full of beautiful illustrations and rhyme-based storytelling.
Pig the Pug is back, and this time he's globetrotting. Everywhere he goes, he offends the locals and causes mayhem. Aaron Blabey's newest edition to the popular series is sure to garner giggles. The perfect addition to any vacation or road trip reading lists.
Spring is Here!, illustrated by Calres Ballesteros, is part of the Changing Faces series of board books for toddlers by Abrams Appleseed, reinforcing cause and effect with the turn of every page. As new animal friends come out to play on a sunny spring day, readers will love seeing their faces change when the page is turned, thanks to a venetian blind element built into the book.
From the beloved brand Highlights comes a new set of picture books for kids. One, in an A-Z format, this book will show kids all the different ways they can bring a little kindness into the world. Think helping with chores, delivering cookies to a neighbor, standing up for what’s right and more. The other does the same in counting form and featuring a diverse cast of kids and beautiful illustrations, these are both excellent books to read aloud in a classroom or at home before bedtime.
Introduce your toddler to the legendary E.T., with this adorable interactive board book. Help E.T. find the right word to describe what going on in the picture by turning the wheel at the side. From what he likes to eat to what he wants to do with the phone, this sweet dose of nostalgia will be enjoyed by everyone.
Little mole is sad, so his mother takes him out of his dark, underground burrow to search for hope. They find it in flower bulbs that will become daffodils, trees that will grow green leaves in the spring, and a chrysalis where a butterfly will soon emerge. Close your eyes and imagine what's to come, Mama says, showing little mole that there's always hope when you're in a dark place. This sweet lesson shows kids how to endure their own challenges and find hope around them.
Just breathe.... This book provides a guided meditation that shows kids how to focus on their breathing and stay calm even when they have troubling thoughts in their head. Illustrations show how thoughts can feel—flitting like butterflies, stomping like monsters or popping like bubbles—while reassuring kids that even scary thoughts pass and that mindful breathing, just ten deep breaths, can put us at ease.
Meet Cornelius J. Sparklesteed. He has a secret. He’s a unicorn!! He also lives in Hoofington, where lots of nasty rumors about unicorns get passed around. They’ve gone so far as to announce that unicorns aren’t welcome. So, Cornelius designs fabulous hats to conceal his secret, and along the way, garners the admiration of friends and even the mayor! This shiny, sparkly book is a delightful read, and more importantly, shows that sometimes, different isn’t just weird, it’s AWESOME.
This alphabet book stars women artists including iconic painters like Georgia O’Keefe and Frida Kahlo but also puts the spotlight on lesser-known artists like Mirka Mora, Judith Leyster and more. Each page has a short explanation of the works that define each artist (for example, legendary photographer Dorthea Lange is X is for EXposure), and if older kids want to learn more, the back pages have extended biographies. Beautiful illustrations complete this lovely picture book that's bookshelf worthy.
Helena Ku Rhee's wonderful new picture book tells the story of little Daniel, whose parents work as night janitors, usually while he sleeps. When the babysitter can't make it, Daniel has to go along with his parents to the big glass building they clean. Little does he know it is the land of the Paper King. Inspired by Rhee's own parents, this is the story of hardwork and imagination, and a reminder to be kind. Beautifully illustrated by Pascal Campion.
Olympia, Washington-based paper artist, Nikki McClure, released this beautiful book about the power of creativity and community at the end of February. It follows a family for a day in a small town, wondering with each turn of the page, what these hands will make. Will they make a fiddle? Fire from a stack of wood? How about a beautiful bouquet or a house for swallows? McClure’s recognizable art showcases the potential of each possible creation in the most compelling way.
Discover 30 activities designed to get your child to 'chill out, tune in and open up." Each beautifully illustrated card features an animal or a natural element with 3 thought-provoking exercises that will empower your child to be more present and mindful.
"When someone opens a door to you, go forward." Young Frances Perkins spent her life heeding the wise words her grandmother taught her as a little girl. Kathleen Krull's The Only Woman in the Photo tells the story of Frances Perkins, the first woman to ever sit on a presidential cabinet. Perkins became Franklin D. Roosevelt's trusted advisor, and it is Perkins you can thank for such things as child labor laws, unemployment insurance and social security. Illustrations by Alexandra Bye bring the life and times of this persistent, fearless trailblazer to life.
A beautiful picture book based on the life and journey of who most consider the father of modern art. This lovely work follows the life of the painter Paul Cézanne, who never gave up, even when the Parisian critics rejected his work, never gave up his mission to be a great painter, and was always evolving in style and technique. And yes, he really did have a parrot!
Geraldine and the Most Spectacular Science Project
Geraldine is a spunky second-grade student who loves science but sometimes has a hard time paying attention in class. When her teacher announces the science contest, she’s determined to take the prize. With lots of hard work, a pile of everyday stuff, and tons of confidence (she doesn’t let her fellow students' whispers get her down), Geraldine creates something truly amazing. A great story for kids who like to dream. (Available Feb 28th)
Michael Rex's new books will introduce young readers to the very important, and very distinct, difference between a fact and an opinion. Using robots, of course, kids can begin to understand the concepts, learn why it's important to have opinions, and when to stand up for the facts. A great reminder in an election year.
Just in time for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, this beautiful book explores all the wonderful things Earth does as she awakens in the spring, tends to animals, pours down rain, colors autumn leaves, and sprinkles white snow over the tiny seeds waiting to bloom again. With intricate dye-cut pages, this interactive book allows readers to explore beautiful illustrations that bring the poetic prose on the pages to life.
Follow along to see what kind of trouble one of the most famous droids in history gets into when you read author Caitlin Kennedy’s next installment of the Droid Tales.
From first-time author J.M.M Nuanez comes a story about a girl named Jack and her gender non-confirming little brother Birdie. A beautifully written tale about loss, sibling relationships, and how love and understanding can grow and thrive, even for the most unexpected families. Strong characters and flowing prose make this stunning debut a must-read book for 2020.
"My own son thinks Brian McCann is funnier than I am," writes Ellie Kemper. And Conan O'Brian says, "Brian McCann has that unique ability to write comedy that a seven-year-old and a middle-age man will both find hilarious."
Acclaimed comedy writer Brian McCann invites you to visit Wannabe Farms, where farm animals do anything but what they are supposed to do. The rhyming prose, accompanied by Meghan Lands' illustrations, is reminiscent of a Shel Silverstein book if the sidewalk had ended on a farm where the animals had refused to take the garbage out.
From the shot buzzer to the dimensions of the court, basketball is full of math and this photo-centric book by author James Buckley Jr. (with a foreword by Kobe Bryant) brings the excitement of the game to math concepts kids encounter every day. Read up on amazing statistics and learn how to track the stats of your favorite basketball stars, learn how to use geometry and physics to improve your bounce pass and discover sports trivia and activities at the end of every chapter. Available Feb. 4.
We Had to Be Brave: Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport
Harrowing real-life stories come to life in award-winning author Debrah Hopkinson’s non-fiction retelling of families torn apart by Nazi Germany. With interviews, photos and detailed research, Hopkinson approaches what might be, for middle-grade kids, their first non-fiction account of the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust, with incredible details and readable prose. An important contribution to YA literature.
The Quest for the Crystal Crown (The Story Pirates Present)
Random House
Based on an original idea by a real kid! The third book in The Story Pirates Presents series, it's like two books in one. The first part is the story about an enchanted city, and the second part of the book is all about how to create your own fantasy adventure, including creative writing tips and tricks.
Before Hermione and Katniss, there were brilliant queens, clever villagers and brave girls who were saving the world around them—even if you’ve never heard their stories. Now is their chance to shine in this lovely collection of folktales from China, Russia, Persia, India, France, Germany and more. These strong protagonists are ideal role models for young girls.
We were at the playground, my toddler and I. He was in the sandbox, ever so carefully scooping sand with his blue shovel and pouring it into his little yellow bucket, his movements still uncoordinated, his aim imprecise, more sand landing back in the sandbox than in the bucket.
His knit brow confirmed how very hard he was working to fill that bucket. So one would think he’d welcome some assistance—those buckets don’t fill themselves—but when another toddler pitched in with his green shovel, mine shrieked!
Good citizen that I am, I dove forward to correct mine, “Share…” I started to say. But the other child’s mom was faster than I. She turned to her own toddler. “Sorry, buddy,” she said, “but our friend is still using that bucket. He isn’t ready yet.” (Or something to that effect—it was over a decade ago now.)
But to the best of my recollections, she then handed her child a dump truck and said, “This truck needs to bring sand to the building site to build a building. Let’s help the driver!”
AND HER CHILD DID IT. AND MINE KEPT FILLING HIS BUCKET. AND NO ONE MELTED DOWN. AND THEY WERE BOTH HAPPY.
I was amazed.
My son was in early intervention and I shared this with his in-home educator, Carol. She lit up and told me this kind of ownership-first approach was being done in early childhood classrooms. She wondered aloud if the sandbox mom was a teacher.
Carol explained that toddlers can fool us into thinking they’re further along in their understanding of the world than they are because they walk and talk some, but they’re just emerging from babyhood and aren’t yet at a stage where they can understand sharing.
“Remember Dr. Spock?” Carol asked. “He said it’s pointless to ask a toddler to share!”
Here’s what Carol—and, as I read soon thereafter, other toddler development experts—had to say about why:
For one thing, toddlers still can’t firmly grasp that they are wholly separate people from everyone else. They test this new hypothesis in part through ownership: “I own, therefore I am.” They’re not being selfish, they’re being self-ish—“If it’s mine and not yours, I’m not you.”
For another, toddlers haven’t yet solidified their concept of object permanence. If they give up an item, will it still exist to be enjoyed by them again? As far as they’re concerned, the jury’s still out on that.
Toddlers don’t have a sense of time yet, either. They exist in the here and now. Later, in 10 minutes, tomorrow—all of these divisions of time are meaningless terms, so they need to enjoy the object right now, their way.
And have you noticed that they don’t yet have great impulse control? They want what they want, when they want it and in just the way they want it.
“But Jack shares with me,” I said to Carol. “He gives me Goldfish when he’s eating some.”
“And sometimes he takes them back, too,” she pointed out. She explained that he’d been experimenting in just the earliest way with the sharing I’d modeled for him, but he didn’t yet quite know why, or that it was “sharing” per se. When he did, I could certainly say, “Thank you for sharing!”—but if he rescinded the sharing, I could just note that as well, in a neutral way: “And now you need it back. Okay.”
“But I don’t want him to grow up selfish,” I protested.
“No he won’t—quite the reverse,” she replied. She explained that foisting the act of sharing on him before he’s ready can backfire. She explained that he could wind up stuck in the “not sharing” phase a lot longer.
As it turns out, it’s important to understand that our toddlers are not yet developmentally ready to understand sharing and also important for our responses to them to allow for that fact. This helps them gain the mastery over the concepts of selfhood and object permanence they need to move more seamlessly into willing turn-taking and then sharing.
“Don’t worry,” I remember Carol saying. “He’ll be generous, you’ll see.” And he was. And he is—exceptionally so.
What Carol explained led me to do further reading on my own (on this and on toddler development in general) and led to our teaming up, Carol and I, to write a series of books for toddlers about the moments they face in their daily lives that are difficult for them—including ownership and what we call “pre-turn-taking” and “pre-sharing.”
Even though our children are teens now, thank you, Mom-of-Other-Kid-in-Sandbox!
Rhona Silverbush studied psychology and theater at Brandeis University and law at Boston College Law School. She currently coaches actors, writes, tutors and consults for families of children and teens with learning differences and special needs. She is co-authors with Carol Zeavin for the first three books in the Terrific Toddlers series, published by Magination Press.
Kids get lost in fantasy and fiction every day, but sometimes you want to shake things up and make them think in a whole new way. The following list of new-releases in the kid’s non-fiction category will keep them learning, laughing and loving the world. Read on for our picks.
image courtesy Lonely Planet
1. Lonely Planet Kids: First Words
Beat summer brain drain by learning a new language with your kiddo! Lonely Planet—your favorite travel guide and phrasebook publisher—presents a new series with young readers in mind. Recently released First Words: French and First Words: Spanishintro kids to 100 words they’ll love to learn complete with pictures and simple pronunciation guides. In addition, you can go online with the kids to listen to interactive audio guides to help perfect their inflection.
2. Wicked Bugs (Young Readers Edition): The Meanest, Deadliest, Grossest Bugs on Earth
Amy Stewart has wowed us through the years with her bestselling Wicked Plants, Wicked Bugs and The Drunken Botanist. There’s even been a Wicked Plants Coloring Book!. Now for the first time, her book is available for a younger audience. This edition of Wicked Bugs is just as cool and creepy as the original, it’s incredibly informative and written with Amy’s unique sense of humor and quirk. Pre-order it now because it’s coming out August 8, just in time for those last lazy days of summer bug hunting!
What happens when you take a compact-sized book and fill it full of facts and detailed drawings about minature things? You get a trip around the world for the tiny! This “pocket-sized collection of small-scale wonders” includes places to visit small things (pygmy rabbits, model railroads, th world’s smallest post office) is full of illustrated maps, funny facts, in-depth descriptions and more. If you are over the age of 40 you probably will need a magnifying glass to read this one, which is why it’s the perfect travel companion for your next road trip. It will keep the kids absorbed and you’ll learn a thing or two along the way. Ages: 6-9 Cost: $9.99 Buy it online at Amazon
image courtesy amazon.com
4. This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Life of Seven Kids from around the World
Follow seven kids from Japan, Peru, Uganda, Russia, Italy, Iran and India to learn what a day in the life entails. Be enchanted by different traditions and reminded of common experiences: the perfect armchair travel book for children to explore the world.
War is never an easy topic to talk about with kids but Soldier Song tells the true story of the Civil War in a way that kids can digest. Lest you think it is inappropriate or too brutal, this nonfiction picture book is actually full of beautiful illustrations and demonstrates the power of music, a bright moment in one of the bloodiest battles in history. Help the kids learn about U.S. history without giving them nightmares!
Science books for toddlers? Yes, please! These super cool books that kids of any age can handle are great for early intro to atoms, proving even a toddler can learn chemistry. There are currently three books in the just-released series: My First Science Textbook: Protons and Neutrons; My First Science Textbook: Atoms and My First Science Textbook: Electrons. As an added bonus, they are available in hardcover and board-book formats!
Ages: 2 and up Cost: $29.99-$44.97 for a set of three Find them online at geniusgames.org
What’s your favorite new non-fiction book for kids? Tell us in a comment below and we’ll add it to our list!
