Reading is one of the best things you can do with your children throughout their lives. It’s never too early or too late to start reading to your little one.
Finding new books that pique your interest is key to making reading a fun and enjoyable part of your day.
You are reading: Books for 1 year olds
As your baby grows into a toddler, you’ll need to add to your home library. Finding the best books for 1 year olds is pretty simple and your toddler will thank you for adding to the fun and excitement of reading.
Now that your baby has grown into a toddler, he’s ready for some more exciting stories. They still like simple picture books, but a one-year-old can follow simple stories.
Your little belly might laugh at some of these best board books for 1-year-olds; we all love a silly book!
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why should you read to a 1 year old?
reading is more of a bonding moment, though it works fine for that. Young children love to snuggle up with their parents and read a book, but the evidence shows us that children who were read to when they were little do better in school.
Exposure to books is great for early literacy skills and offers several benefits, including:
- increase the size of your toddler’s vocabulary
- teaches children how to use words correctly
- begins the process of phonological awareness (understanding that words are made up of smaller sounds)
- teaches your toddler that the letters and marks on the page are words
- helps your child learn the alphabet
Flashcards and special reading games are great, but the real key to young children learning basic literacy skills comes down to being read to throughout their lives.
what is the reading level of a 1 year old?
Trying to decide if a book is the perfect reading level for your one-year-old or if it’s too advanced?
By the time your child is one year old, they will be able to read books that have complete sentences and may begin to identify objects in books.
It’s the perfect time to start asking questions, like “what does a cow say?” or “where’s the dog?” Between one and two years old, your child will begin to name familiar pictures and point to familiar objects.
Don’t be surprised when you find your toddler pretending to read books! that’s a great sign.
Between 18 months and two years, your child will have more patience and will enjoy real stories with plots. this is a good time to introduce rhyming books and nursery rhymes.
I realize that this is the time when my children start to have a favorite book that they ask to read every day. this ritual makes kids happy, even if you’re ready to scream after reading it for the 50th time that week!
what makes a book great for 1 year olds?
There is a wide variety of books for little ones, but the best ones depend on who reads them. If you want to read books to your child while sitting on your lap or at bedtime, you can opt for a higher level book with pages.
For your one-year-old’s independent reading, board books are the best option as they can turn the pages easily and are usually designed for young children.
board books with fun features make it even more engaging for your 1-year-old. these include:
- open pages
- lift flaps
- different textures
- touch and feel
- buttons that make sounds
young children always prefer books that rhyme and repeat themselves. eventually, they learn the rhymes and repeat them with you.
If your toddler has favorite things, like tractors or unicorns, grab some books on these topics. your child will love that!
21 best books for 1 year olds
If you want to add more books to your collection, check out some of these books that you and your toddler are sure to love.
1. the wonderful things you will be by emily martin
This adorable book is about a father’s love for his children forever. The Wonderful Things You Will Be celebrates the acceptance parents have for their children and talks about how a father wonders about all the amazing things his child will do in his life.
Without a doubt, The Wonderful Things You Will Be is a heartwarming book perfect for bedtime story time! however, it is not a book for your 1-year-old to read just because it contains thin pages.
2. first 100 words of roger priddy
every little kid needs this in their board book collection. this is the classic version, but they also sell a farm-themed book that little kids love.
This book has pictures of the top 100 most common words for young children. Start by reading the words and pointing to the pictures for your toddler, but as she gets older, you can ask her to point to the pictures when you say her name. It’s a great way to develop your one-year-old’s speech and vocabulary.
Later, this book helps to teach high-frequency words to its early readers.
3. where is the baby’s belly button? by karen katz
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This adorable book begins by asking where your baby’s eyes are and continues by asking about other parts of the body. all of them can be found under the flap.
Use this book to help teach your one-year-old about the different parts of his body. The flaps are thick and easy for little kids to pull up, so they won’t rip easily.
4. moo baa la la la by sandra boynton
ready to laugh? moo, baa, la, la, la is full of nonsense! you can imitate the sounds of different animals, and your child will undoubtedly laugh throughout the book. From horses to dogs and everything in between, this book is a great way to introduce your child to different animal sounds.
5. playtown: a lift flap book by roger priddy
Little kids love flap books! This book shows the details of a working city like the airport, the grocery store, the hospital and other stores. It has over 35 flaps for your toddler to lift up and check out!
6. cows meow? by salina yoon
do cows meow? is the perfect book to talk about the sounds different animals make, and your little one will love imitating all the sounds. This book with lift-up flaps shows the sounds made by animals like sheep, frogs, cows, and ducks.
Your child will love and laugh a lot while reading this book!
7. polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear? by bill martin jr.
polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear? is a classic story for young children, and this version has buttons for your child to press to hear the sounds the animals make. When each animal appears on the page, your child can press the button; they will love this book!
8. hear a bear roar by eric carle
Does your child love animals? Eric Carle brings your toddler this amazing and colorful book with 30 animals and buttons for your child to press. Each page is colorful and engaging for young children to enjoy. It’s a must have for one year olds!
9. wild animals: a touch and feel book by little hippo books
Young children love to feel different textures, and this book is the perfect way to explore that feeling! they feel different textures that five animals have like the fur of a koala and the skin of an elephant.
Let your toddler explore her senses with this simple book.
lillypost book subscription
Don’t let your book selection be random. Try LillyPost’s book subscription for your little one so they have several new books arriving at their doorstep monthly! The board book box is ideal for children from 0 to 3 years old.
In each box, you’ll find four perfect reads that will bring so much joy to the baby or toddler in your life!
10. goodnight moon by margaret wise brown
every child needs to have good night moon in his collection; it’s been a classic for decades.
goodnight moon follows a bunny as he says goodnight to different objects around his house, like his socks, clocks, the moon, and gloves. Kids love the smooth flow of this book, and the rhymes make it a great introduction to reading.
It’s easy for kids to memorize and recite along with their parents and it’s a board book, so it’s perfect for your 1-year-old to turn the pages.
11. i love you to the moon and back by amelia hepworth
I love you to the moon and back follows a bear and her cub through the day. they splash in the water and climb a mountain, and share their love by touching noses, hugging and cuddling.
This is a sweet book to share with a toddler, and there are personalization pages at the beginning, so this is a great book for a one year old as a gift.
12. deborah diesen’s pouting fish
This is one of the best board books for 1-year-olds, but it’s also available in paperback.
pout fish follows this gloomy fish as he goes along and discovers that being gloomy and sad is not the best way to live your life. being sad is not your destiny! The book is full of bright colors and fun pictures for one year olds to enjoy with their parents.
13. if animals kissed each other goodnight by ann whitford paul
If animals said good night like us, what would that look like?
is a silly subject wrapped up in an adorable book for young children. This book follows a giraffe, a wolf, and a sloth as they say goodnight to their babies. each creature shows her love differently; I find this book endearing and the perfect book to read before bed.
Related post: 14 activities for 14-month-olds to develop skills and senses
14. dear zoo: a book with flaps up by rod campbell
Written in 1982, dear zoo is one of the best books for 1-year-olds. Kids love the flaps that lift up to reveal a new animal they’ll find at the zoo. They will find lions, a monkey, but will they find the perfect pet?
Read the book to find out! every little boy needs this book on his bookshelf.
15. Look who? by nina laden
peek-a-who is a book that is full of hidden animals that your toddler has to find. you lift the flaps and turn to the next page to find the answer.
is full of rhyming words and phrases that allow your child to engage in reading. Not to mention that all kids love funny sounds!
16. llama red pajamas llama by anna dewdney
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pajamas llama llama red is an iconic book for children. is a rhyming story about all the drama a little flame causes before bedtime. makes toddlers laugh hysterically, and the rhyme helps with early reading skills!
Your toddler will identify with some of the feelings that the baby llama has, while you will appreciate the sweetness and calmness that emanates from the mommy llama.
related post: 1-year milestones: typical development in your new toddler
17. where is the place by eric hill
spot is iconic in the world of young children’s books; everyone knows who spot is! this sweet book is a book that is lifted with a flap, and you look for the place.
where is the place?
Your one-year-old will love lifting the flaps to look for the spot, and when they finally find the spot, you can bet your child will be very excited. is a lovable story that has been around for several decades and continues to be a bestseller.
18. bright and early dr. seuss books
dr. Seuss is one of the best children’s book authors. But he can start his toddlers early and buy them this little blue box of bright, early board books. If he’s looking for board books for 1-year-olds, he can’t go wrong with this collection.
In this game, you get four popular books that your toddler will love, like jump on pop and dozens of apples on top. These books are shortened and made easier for young children to enjoy, and most focus on rhyming to help develop early reading skills. rhyme is a necessary skill.
Best of all, these are board books, so one set will outlast all of your children!
19. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
chicka chicka boom boom has been a classic for over thirty years, so you know it’s one of the best books for 1-year-olds.
This book is an alphabetic song that children love. In this alphabet rhyme, the letters run through the coconut tree, but will there be enough room for them all? Oh no! you will realize that there is no room for everyone.
For decades, children and parents have enjoyed this fun book, memorizing their favorite parts of the story.
Related Post: 14 Simple Activities You Should Be Doing With Your 1-Year-Old
20. giraffes can’t dance by giles andreae
If you’re looking for another option for the best board books for 1 year olds, you need Giraffes Can’t Dance.
This book follows Gerald the giraffe who wants to do nothing in life but dance, but giraffes don’t dance. Her skinny legs and crooked knees make dancing too difficult for Gerald, but with the help of a friend, Gerald finds her tune and starts dancing.
what a great book to teach our kids from a young age that they can do whatever they want!
21. don freeman corduroy
Corona is another one of the best books for 1-year-olds that I think every child should have on their bookshelf. Whether your child is one or five years old, corduroy is a lovable story. follows corduroy who lost her button, and has to go through the department store where she lives to find her button.
every child and adult loves corduroy!
22. only one
there is no one else in the whole world like you! chances are your 1-year-old likes sesame street. In this book, Elmo, Big Bird, and the rest of the Sesame Street friends are here to tell you how special you really are.
23. little blue truck
little blue truck is a series of books with many animal characters and of course the little blue truck. they have books for every season and holiday as well.
how to get my 1 year old to like books
If you didn’t read to your child during childhood, don’t feel bad. many parents wait to start reading to their child; it’s never too late.
When your toddler is busy, it may seem like he’ll never like books, but he will. The first trick is to read to your one-year-old at least once a day or more.
Pick regular times to read to your one-year-old; Naptime and bedtime are the two most common times to read because your child is relaxed and calm. always give your child your full attention when reading and encourage your toddler’s participation while reading.
Here are some other tips for getting your one-year-old to like books.
- Let your child choose the book. give your child a choice of three books and read the one he wants to hear.
- show your toddler how to turn the pages.
- Talk about the pictures and ask your child to find things on the pages. ask what they see and point out our emotions in the images.
- When your child is old enough to repeat familiar or repetitive phrases, let your child finish the sentence. this helps your child learn more about reading than he thinks.
tips for reading to young children
Not everyone is comfortable reading aloud to your child; sometimes it’s a skill you have to work on as a parent, but the benefits make it worth it. reading together should be fun, not a chore!
here are some tips for reading to young children that make the experience better for you and your child!
- read to your young child when asked. sometimes that means you have to read the same book over and over again, but it fosters your toddler’s love of books.
- use different voices for different characters while reading. Not only does this make reading for your one year old more exciting, it brings the story to life for your child.
- always read slowly. now is not the time to speed read, even if you have things you need to finish for the day. young children need a slow story to help them understand what is happening.
- talk about the pictures. point out what is happening in the pictures, the expressions on the characters’ faces, and name the things they might spot. later, ask your child to point out different things he sees in the book.
- ask open-ended questions. As your child gets older, ask him what he thinks will happen in the story. ask what they think the characters might feel as the events in the story unfold.
- You don’t need to sit still. remove the expectation that reading to your child requires them to sit still; That is not reality. your child listens well while he colors, builds with blocks or plays. Even if your child doesn’t look at you, it doesn’t mean he isn’t interested or listening.
- always have fun. If your child thinks he’s not having fun while she’s reading, she won’t either. your one-year-old needs to know that reading is fun.
Finding the best books for 1-year-olds isn’t hard; look for colorful books with fun stories or plots that your toddler understands. you can find so many books that your child will love; There’s an endless selection available for toddlers, so start stocking your bookshelf!
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