Books For 2 Year Olds - Selecting books for 2 year olds can be challenging at times. They have fairly short attention spans, so preferably you would want a book that has lots of engaging pictures, short sentences, and repeated words to improve their vocabulary. After two boys, I’ve compiled a list of toddler books that will help your 2 year old grow their love of books and develop their language skills.

I know there are whole bunch of other books recommended out there...like ‘Chica Chica Boom Boom’, ‘Guess How Much I Love You’, ‘Good Night Moon’ or ‘Corduroy’... I personally left them out as part of my list of best books for 2 year olds because while they also had a good message, my boys never really liked them as 2 year olds.

After weekly trips to the local library with my two books, I think it’s safe to say I’ve pretty much read most of the books recommended as must reads for 2 year olds.

And not all of them were my favorites nor my kids’. I’ve short listed ones that both I and my boys all enjoyed reading...books that we read over and over again.

So let’s dive into what I think are best books for 2 year olds:

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Books For 2 Year Olds

interactive toddler books

Where’s Spot - This is my favorite lift the flap books for both my boys. They enjoy finding spots in various places and all the animals that are hiding around the house.

2. Dear Zoo - Another favorite lift is the flap books. If your 2 year old loves animals (who doesn’t!), then this book will engage your child to read through the end.

3. Very Hungry Caterpillar - A very classic Eric Carle book probably most toddlers are introduced to as their very first Eric Carle book. It doesn’t have any flaps to lift but the hole and varying size of the book and the development of the story will definitely make this book entertaining for your toddler!

4. Where Is Baby’s Belly Button - Another great book that has flaps to open. A great book to teach your toddler body parts and what they are called, while also acting them out will make it a fun book to read together.

5. Press Here - A great interactive book that helps your toddler follow instructions and understand cause and effect. They will have a great time interacting with this book as they press and move the dots and shake the book.

toddler development books

6. Potty - This is definitely the time you start potty training! And reading this ‘potty’ book will certainly help your 2 year old understand what ‘going potty’ means. My favorite part is when the boy sits on the potty and waits and waits and tinkle tinkle toot, he succeeds in going potty in the toilet. Both my boys LOVED this book and was so happy when they ‘tinkle tinkle toot’ed in the potty chair!

7. It’s Not Yours - Teaching the concept of ‘sharing’ is definitely a tough subject for a 2 year old. But as parents, we have to try, right? This is a great book to teach them about sharing and friendship.

8. Curious George First Day Of School - If your 2 year old starting a preschool? This book helps them understand what first day of school will look like. If they are already used to Curious George character, then it will help them to ease the anxiety over going to a big place called school!

9. May I Please Have a Cookie? - 2 year olds are busy learning to speak and express themselves. This book is a great resource to teach them how to talk nicely when they are asking for something they want. A great gateway to teach kids how to ‘ask’, rather than ‘demand’ things in the house.

10. Piggy And Gerald - Waiting Is Not Easy - Who likes waiting? I certainly don’t. This book even teaches adults how to wait. And a great book to teach toddlers how to wait...because we all know there will be times when they will be waiting in lines to wash hands...wait to pay for things at a grocery store...wait for their turns. A great book to teach them how to wait as a toddler.

11. It’s Okay To Make Mistakes - If your toddler is anxious about not doing things the right way, then this is a great book to teach them making mistakes is okay! I love this book because it teaches kids that mistakes are not that bad!

12. The Going To Bed Book - One of my all time favorite bedtime story book for my kids. Just like other Sandra Boynton books, this book has short sentences on each page, has an engaging story line, while teaching kids about what going to bed looks like in an animal world….similar to how your toddler probably goes to bed!

Other best books for toddlers age 2 - Great Preschool Books For Storytime

13. The Pout Pout Fish - I think this is one of the great toddler books about feelings. If your toddler likes to ‘pout’ a lot or ‘whine’ about things, a great book to teach them gently about how to not ‘pout’ so much!

14. Llama llama Red Pajama - Just like other Llama Llama books, this book has a great story with great rhyming sentences. Also, teaches 2 year olds that there is no need to worry about mommy not coming back. A great book with a reassuring message. And especially if you have a toddler that keeps asking for mommy in the middle of the night!

15. Llama Llama Time to Share - Another great Llama Llama book that has a great message. Sharing is definitely a difficult concept to learn at this age but llama’s story will help your toddler understand the value of sharing with friends and others.

16. The Watermelon Seed - Do your children love watermelon? Do they NOT like the seeds? Well, this book will help them learn that eating seeds is okay! In a fun way….Whether they love the watermelon or not, it will be a fun book for you and your toddler to enjoy!

17. Little Blue Truck - A classic board book that you cannot miss! The book is engaging with all sorts of sounds the animals and the truck makes and teaches them a good message to be kind and friendly to others.

18. Giraffes Can’t Dance - A great book that teaches children not to be afraid to be themselves and try things without anxiety. This is another great toddler book about feelings. It helps your little one deal with big emotions and be confident to try new things...even when they think they can’t do it!

19. Where The Wild Things Are - Classic story you would not want to miss. My older one thought that this book is scary...he didn’t like seeing the pictures of the wild thing. But my second one doesn’t seem to mind at all! It teaches them to be brave and you can become a ‘king’ (leader) amongst big guys when you are brave!

20. Green Eggs and Ham - We can’t leave out Dr Seuss’s book! Green eggs and ham is a great book with rhyming words. Also, it teaches your toddler to try new food...even when it’s green eggs and ham! Because they might actually turn out to be good!

Do you have any other books that your 2 year olds liked? Do share in the comment below if there are other toddler books that you would recommend!