Why it’s important to read with toddlers (1-3 years)

Reading, talking about books and sharing stories every day helps your toddler’s development in many ways.

Benefits of reading to your toddler

• Helps your toddler learn language at 1-2 years and language at 2-3 years
• Builds your toddler’s early literacy skills, ready for reading later in childhood
• Helps your toddler learn to enjoy books
• Stimulates your toddler’s imagination and helps them learn about the world
• Can build early understanding of diversity if you read a range of stories from diverse cultures
• Develops your toddler’s social skills and skills for managing emotions
• Supports your toddler’s mental health
• Sets your toddler up to do well at school
• Creates a precious time for bonding with your toddler

You can start reading to your child as early as you like – the earlier the better.

What to expect from reading with your toddler

At this age, reading with your toddler is all about having fun with books and spending special time together. Talking with your toddler about books helps them learn language and will help them learn to read later.

At 1-2 years

• Holding, patting or chewing favourite books
• Making noises when looking at pictures – for example, engine noises when they see pictures of cars or trucks
• Bringing favourite books to you

At 2-3 years

• Pointing to familiar objects in pictures and naming them – for example, ‘Shoe shoe’ when looking at a picture of a shoe
• Answering questions about books or picture in books – for example, ‘Where’s the tree?’
• Pretending to read books by turning pages and saying familiar words
• Joining in when you sing familiar songs and nursery rhymes – for example, saying ‘Baa baa’ when you sing ‘Baa, baa, black sheep’

How to read with your toddler

Tips to help your toddler learn through reading at 1-3 years

• Encourage your toddler to choose books. Be prepared to read your child’s favourite books many times, but gently offer new books too.
• When you choose the books, try books like Where is the green sheep?, which have repetitive words and phrases.
• Encourage your toddler to hold the book and turn the pages slowly. Make plenty of time to look at the pictures, and talk with your child about what they see.
• Use the rhythm of the book’s words to bounce your toddler on your knee. Or pat your toddler’s back in time to the rhythm.
• Ask your toddler to point to pictures. For example, ‘Where’s the puppy?’
• When you’re sharing a story that your toddler knows well, encourage them to repeat or fill in familiar words and phrases. Or try pausing and letting your toddler finish sentences. For example, ‘Moo said the …?’
• Ask your toddler to name, describe or act out what they see on the page. For example, ‘What’s that? That’s right – it’s a monkey. What is the monkey doing? Can you jump up and down like that monkey?’
• Read, sing and tell stories with your toddler in whatever language you feel most comfortable speaking.

Tips to make the most of reading at 1-3 years

• Make a routine and try to share at least one book every day.
• Create a comfortable, quiet reading space. It could have a pile of books and soft cushions. Turn off the TV, radio and phones so your toddler can hear your voice and focus on the book.
• Hold your toddler close or on your knee while you read, so they can see your face and the book.
• Use your voice, gestures and facial expressions to engage your toddler and help them understand the meaning of words and pictures.
• Try out funny noises and sounds, and use different voices for different characters – play and have fun!
• Make connections between pictures and your toddler’s life. For example, ‘Look! They’re eating an apple. You like apples too, don’t you?’
• Follow your toddler’s lead. There might be days when your toddler doesn’t want to spend a long time reading, and that’s OK.

What are the best books for toddlers?

Toddlers often enjoy books with rhyme, rhythm and repetition. Rhyme, rhythm and repetition encourage your toddler to join in, which helps them learn.

Your toddler’s interests will guide you when you’re choosing new books. Your toddler learns best when they’re interested in what you’re reading together.

What to look for in books for toddlers

• Stories that you can read in 4-5 minutes
• Simple stories with a beginning, middle and end
• Sturdy pages that are easy for toddlers to handle
• Textures like fabric or collage in the illustrations
• Pictures or illustrations of simple, familiar objects
• Playtime topics that relate to toddler experiences
• Favourite topics, like cars, trucks, trains, fairies, pets, stars, planets, music, castles, the ocean, princesses and other children
• Formats like lift-the-flap, pop-up and moveable pieces
• Stories about different cultures or characters who show cultural diversity

Book recommendations for toddlers

Here are books your toddler might enjoy. Many of these books have the rhymes, rhythms and repetition that toddlers love.

Classic books for toddlers

• Dear zoo by Rod Campbell
• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
• The Hairy Maclary collection by Lynley Dodd
• Spot by Eric Hill – for example, Spot goes on holiday and Spot goes to the farm
• The very hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle
• Where is the green sheep? by Mem Fox

Books about a child’s world

• Each peach, pear, plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• Gone fishing with Nana by Frances Haji-Ali, Linsay Haji-Ai and Karen Briggs
• I went walking by Sue Williams
• The Whose … series by Jeanette Rowe, which includes Whose baby? and Whose nose?
• Why I love Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft

Books about activities

• Aussie twos like to … by Magabala Books
• Bush tucker counting by Maureen Glovers and Gabrielle Fry
• Choo choo clickety-clack by Margaret Mayo
• Dig dig digging by Margaret Mayo
• Our library by Donna Rawlins

Books about animals

• A is for Australian animals by Frané Lessac
• Animals in my garden by Bronwyn Houston
• Boo! by Margaret Wild
• Cheeky animal by Shane Morgan
• Crocodile beat by Gail Jorgensen
• Moo, baa, la la la by Sandra Boynton
• Pig the pug series by Aaron Blabey
• Rumble in the jungle pop-up book by Giles Andreae
• Ten little owls by Renee Treml
• Toddlerobics animal fun by Zita Newcome
• The very cranky bear series by Nick Bland
• What do you call a baby … By Kamsani Bin Salleh

Books about daily life

• Cuddle time by Libby Gleeson
• Going for pippis by Wilaaran Laurie and Tori-Jay Mordey
• On your potty by Virginia Miller
• Peepo by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• Sharing by Aunty Fay Muir, Sue Lawson and Mulgo Watson
• Ten little fingers and ten little toes by Mem Fox
• Time for bed by Mem Fox
• What colour are your knickers by Sam Lloyd

Books about toddlers

• Aussie toddlers can by Magabala Books
• Body: My first chunky board book by Dorling Kindersley
• I’m hungry by Rod Campbell
• This is me! by Sally Morgan

Books about transport

• Bapa’s last canoe by Maree Mcarthy
• Freight train by Donald Crews
• Want to play trucks? by Ann Stott
• The wheels on the bus by Penny Dann

For more story ideas, you could check out our storytelling videos. Let storyteller Anne E. Stewart introduce you and your toddler to ‘Mook Mook the owl’, ‘The crocodile’ and ‘The old lady and the mosquito’.

Why it’s good to take your toddler to the library

You can join your local library and borrow books for free.

Also, library staff will be able to recommend books for you and your toddler to enjoy. Many libraries also offer free story time sessions for toddlers and their parents or carers.

Why not try out our library activities with your child?