50 Fun books for 1-3 year olds

(By Sandra Boynton) A delightful bedtime book featuring animals getting ready for bed in a silly, rhythmic way. The playful rhymes and soothing storyline make it perfect for winding down at night.

(By Eric Carle) This beloved classic follows a hungry caterpillar as it eats its way through various foods before transforming into a beautiful butterfly. The interactive die-cut pages and vibrant illustrations help teach counting, days of the week, and healthy eating habits.

(By Patricia M. Scarry) A timeless story about a little bunny imagining different future careers, from being a firefighter to a musician. Through each possibility, the bunny dreams of ways to help others, ultimately realizing that being a loving father is the most special role of all. The warm and gentle illustrations complement the heartfelt message, making this book a comforting and nostalgic read for generations of families.

(By Chris Ferrie) A collection of science-themed board books that introduce young readers to fundamental STEM concepts in a simple and engaging way. With bright illustrations and easy explanations, this set makes learning about physics, chemistry, and math fun and accessible.

(By Dr. Seuss) A lively and imaginative book that introduces children to different shapes and silhouettes through Dr. Seuss’s signature playful rhymes. The book encourages creativity and observation, helping children recognize the world around them in a fun and engaging way. The bold, black-and-white illustrations enhance the focus on shapes, making it a unique early learning book.

(By Mo Willems) Elephant and Piggie plan an imaginary road trip, gathering all their supplies, only to realize they forgot the most important thing: a car! A hilarious and engaging book that teaches problem-solving and teamwork.

(By Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault) A lively, rhythmic alphabet book where letters race up a coconut tree, only to come crashing down. The catchy rhymes and bold, colorful illustrations make learning the ABCs fun and engaging for young readers.

(By Garth Williams) A beautifully illustrated board book introducing young readers to various farm animals and their babies. The gentle text and classic illustrations make it a timeless choice for little animal lovers.

(By Sandra Boynton) An energetic and interactive book that encourages kids to clap, stomp, and dance along with a group of lively farm animals. The bouncy rhymes and engaging illustrations make it a hit for young children.

(By Mo Willems) In this Elephant & Piggie story, Piggie is excited to play outside, but unexpected rain changes their plans. A fun and relatable book about adaptability and finding joy in unexpected situations.

(By Roger Hargreaves) The very first book in the Mr. Men series, introducing the mischievous Mr. Tickle, who uses his extraordinarily long arms to tickle everyone he encounters. With playful storytelling and charming illustrations, this book captures children’s imaginations while delivering humor and a touch of whimsy. The Mr. Men series has remained a childhood favorite due to its simple yet engaging storytelling and memorable characters.

(By Mo Willems) Another favorite from the Elephant & Piggie series, this book explores themes of friendship and sharing when Piggie’s new toy breaks. The humorous dialogue and expressive illustrations make it perfect for early readers.

(By Mercer Mayer) This classic Little Critter book helps young children understand what it’s like to welcome a new sibling. Told from the perspective of Little Critter, it captures his excitement, confusion, and occasional frustration as he adjusts to his baby sister. With humorous and relatable moments, such as trying to play with the baby but realizing she’s too little, the book provides a gentle way to introduce children to the changes that come with a growing family. Mayer’s expressive illustrations and simple text make it a reassuring and engaging read.

(By Leslie Patricelli) A hilarious and interactive counting book that encourages kids to bark along with different types of dogs. The simple yet engaging text makes it a fun read-aloud experience.

(By Sue Williams) A repetitive and predictable story that follows a young child encountering different animals while on a walk. The rhythmic text and bright illustrations make it a great book for early language development.

(By Nina Laden) A simple yet interactive book featuring die-cut pages that reveal surprise endings to a series of rhyming "peek-a-who?" phrases. A great first book for babies and toddlers.

(By Sandra Boynton) A fun, rhyming board book that introduces animal sounds with Boynton’s signature humor and charming illustrations. A great read-aloud choice for babies and toddlers.

(By Tasha Tudor) A classic counting book with delicate, vintage-style illustrations and poetic text. The gentle storytelling and timeless imagery make this a soothing and educational read for young children.

(By Lois Ehlert) A vibrant book that introduces children to the process of planting and growing flowers in a garden, while teaching colors and nature appreciation. The bold, collage-style illustrations are visually appealing for young readers.

(By Karen Beaumont) A rhythmic, sing-song book about a mischievous child who paints everything in sight. The vibrant illustrations and playful rhymes make this book an energetic and engaging read.

(By Al Perkins) A fun and quirky book that celebrates different kinds of noses, from tiny ones to long ones, introducing young readers to body awareness in a humorous way. The playful rhyming text is engaging for little ones, and the Dr. Seuss-style illustrations add a lively and whimsical touch. This book is an entertaining and educational read-aloud choice for preschoolers.

(By Sandra Boynton) A fun, rhyming book that introduces young readers to different types of dinosaurs, from happy to sad, tiny to huge. Boynton’s playful text and adorable illustrations make this an entertaining introduction to dinosaurs for little ones.

(By Marion Dane Bauer) A lift-the-flap book that encourages babies and toddlers to explore their own bodies by revealing hidden parts, such as toes under socks or noses behind hands. The interactive format and gentle illustrations make it an engaging and educational read.

(By Chris Ferrie) An introduction to astrophysics for young readers, using simple language and bright illustrations to explain concepts like gravity and black holes.

(By Scholastic Teaching Resources) A collection of 25 short, simple books designed for early readers, helping them develop confidence and basic literacy skills through engaging, repetitive text.

(By Mo Willems) A humorous and heartfelt story about a toddler, Trixie, who loses her beloved stuffed bunny and can’t express what’s wrong. The expressive illustrations and relatable theme make it a great book about communication and problem-solving for young children.

(By Janet Ahlberg) A beautifully illustrated book that follows a curious baby’s day through a series of "peepo" moments, where children can peek through cut-out holes to the next scene. Set in a traditional 1940s home, the book captures everyday moments such as mealtime, playtime, and bedtime. The rhyming text has a soothing, repetitive structure, making it an excellent choice for reading aloud. With its warm, detailed artwork and engaging format, Peepo! is a timeless favorite for young children.

(By Nancy E. Shaw) A humorous, rhyming story about a group of clumsy sheep who go on a bumpy jeep ride. The short, simple text and playful illustrations make it a fun and engaging early reader.

(By Jez Alborough) This nearly wordless picture book tells the heartfelt story of a little chimpanzee, Bobo, who longs for a hug. As he wanders through the jungle, he sees different animal families embracing, making him feel increasingly lonely. With only the word “hug” repeated throughout, the expressive illustrations perfectly convey Bobo’s emotions, from hope to sadness and finally joy when he is reunited with his mother. This simple yet powerful story highlights the importance of love, comfort, and connection, making it a favorite for young readers.

(By Jon Klassen) A clever and darkly humorous tale of a bear searching for his lost hat, told through simple dialogue and expressive illustrations. The story’s dry wit and unexpected ending make it a favorite for both kids and adults.

(By Chris Ferrie) A simple yet engaging introduction to rocket science, explaining basic physics concepts in a way that toddlers can understand. The bright visuals and minimal text make it a fun and educational read.

(By Janet Ahlberg) A delightful interactive book that engages babies and toddlers through the classic game of peek-a-boo. Each page features a cut-out hole revealing part of the next scene, inviting little ones to guess what’s coming next. The charming, vintage-style illustrations depict the daily life of a baby in a warm and nostalgic manner. Rhythmic text and engaging visuals make this book an enjoyable read-aloud experience that encourages curiosity and interaction.

(By Ruth Strother) This board book breaks down aerospace engineering concepts into simple, engaging language for toddlers, making science fun and approachable.

(By Sandra Boynton) A rhythmic and humorous book about a shy hippopotamus watching other animals have fun, until she finally joins in. A great book about inclusivity and social confidence.

(By Eric Carle) A wordless counting book featuring a variety of animals traveling on a train to the zoo. Carle’s signature collage-style illustrations make each page visually appealing, while the lack of text encourages storytelling and number recognition.

(By Audrey Wood) A beautifully illustrated and imaginative book that follows ten playful piggies as they dance, sing, and make mischief on a child’s fingers. The lyrical text and expressive illustrations bring each piggie to life, teaching young readers about numbers and fingerplay. The book’s gentle humor and rhythmic storytelling make it a delightful choice for bedtime or interactive reading.

(By Mem Fox) A gentle and soothing bedtime book featuring different animal parent-and-child pairs getting ready to sleep. The lyrical text and soft illustrations create a calming nighttime read.

(By Crockett Johnson) A whimsical story about a young boy who uses his imagination and a magical purple crayon to draw his own adventures. This book encourages creativity, problem-solving, and independent thinking.

(By Eric Carle) Inspired by a true story of a shipment of rubber ducks lost at sea, this book follows ten little rubber ducks as they drift across the ocean. Each duck encounters different sea creatures, from whales to flamingos, before one finally finds a home with a real duck family. With Carle’s signature collage-style illustrations, the book teaches counting, directions (east, west, etc.), and introduces young readers to various marine animals. A final interactive quacking sound at the end adds an extra element of fun.

(By Melanie Gerth) A counting book featuring raised ladybug figures that disappear one by one as the pages turn. The tactile design and colorful illustrations make it a great interactive learning tool for toddlers.

(By Dr. Seuss) A playful and engaging alphabet book featuring Seussian nonsense words, whimsical illustrations, and catchy rhymes to make learning letters fun and memorable.

(By Roger Priddy) A classic vocabulary-building book for toddlers featuring 100 everyday words accompanied by real-life photographs. The bright and simple design makes it easy for young children to recognize objects, improving their language and early literacy skills. This durable board book is ideal for interactive reading and first-word learning.

(By Jez Alborough) A humorous and slightly spooky story about a boy who loses his teddy bear in the woods and encounters a giant bear with a tiny teddy. The rhyming text and playful illustrations make it an engaging bedtime read.

(By Eric Carle) A charming book that teaches both counting and colors as ten rabbits gather different vegetables from their garden. The vibrant illustrations and simple text make learning fun and interactive.

(By Olivier Dunrea) This simple yet charming story follows Gossie, a little gosling who loves her bright red boots and wears them everywhere. When she loses them, she searches high and low until she discovers a surprising solution. With minimal text and warm illustrations, this book captures the essence of early childhood curiosity and friendship. Gossie’s story is relatable for toddlers, making it an excellent first book for independent reading.

(By Karen Katz) A sweet and tender bedtime book that encourages cuddling and bonding between parents and babies. The story counts down from ten kisses on tiny toes to one final goodnight kiss, making it an interactive and affectionate reading experience. Karen Katz’s bright, cheerful illustrations and gentle rhymes make this book perfect for winding down before bedtime while reinforcing early counting skills.

(By Jules Feiffer) A funny and surprising story about a dog named George who meows, quacks, and moos instead of barking. His puzzled mother takes him to the vet, leading to a hilarious twist. A great read-aloud choice with a fun, unexpected ending.

(By Mo Willems) Part of the Elephant & Piggie series, this hilarious story follows Elephant as he panics over birds nesting on his head. The simple text and expressive illustrations make it a perfect book for early readers.

(By Sandra Boynton) A humorous and engaging book that playfully explores different body parts, from horns to toes, in Boynton’s signature style. The rhythmic text and silly illustrations make it a fun and interactive read for toddlers learning about their bodies.