14 Best Books for a 2-Year-Old- Enhance Learning and Activity in Your Toddler

Young mothers tremble when their child turns two years old. What is it they say again, the terrible twos? But, you know, two-year-olds aren’t that bad…. especially with a book clasped in their chubby little hands! This age is right to get your kid interested in books. The bright pictures in storybooks will excite them and encourage them to point and ask you questions. Reading aloud a story to a two-year-old can also be a very engaging activity as it can capture their attention and interest. It can also be a bonding experience between parent and child. Reading storybooks to children from an early age increases their vocabulary and gives them the exposure they need to what is around them. Check out our list of books for 2-year-olds.

Must-Have Books for a 2-Year-Old

Here we will cover a list of 14 must-have books for 2-year-olds, including activity books for 2-year-olds and story books for 2-year-olds:

1. Pegasus My 500-Word Picture Dictionary

If you want to start your 2-year-old off on learning some new words, here is the perfect book which offers 500 different words depicted through simple pictures. Your child can expand his vocabulary by pointing to the pictures and repeating the words associated with them. You can also help him by constantly sounding out the words as you point at the pictures. Soon, your child will be able to recognize things in the real world as well, thanks to having learned them from this book.

2. Stomp and Roar English

Among the musical books for 2-year-olds, this book stands out as a must-have. George, Peppa and their friends have to reach Grampy Rabbit’s Dinosaur Park, but first, they have to track down a dinosaur egg by going down a dinosaur slide and following some footprints. This book has 5 sound buttons which your child can push and listen for an interactive reading experience. It also includes a song with the lyrics so that your child can sing along!

3. Future Books Having Fun with Colour 1

This is a great one among colouring books for 2-year-olds which has a number of pages and pictures for your  child to colour in. Each page features a new illustration and will help your child to express himself artistically from an early age. Colouring books can help your child develop concentration and focus which will help him later on in his life.

4. Numbers Wipe and Clean Book

This is one of the best books for toddlers age 2. This book can help your child learn the numbers from 1 to 10 in a fun wipe and clean activity. It comes with pages that can be written upon and then rubbed clean later on so that your kid gets the chance to write the numbers, wipe clean and re-write as many times as he wants.

5. Wonder Colouring Book with Colour Hints Collection Set of 2

This colouring book has pages and pages of interesting and unique colouring pages for your child to colour in and promote his creativity. Each page has colour hints he can pick up on to pick a certain colour for a certain picture. This activity can help children improve their focus and concentration.

6. The Golden Fish Story Book

Reading books is an activity that can help young children pick up new vocabulary and become more confident in their communication. This book is an illustration-filled storybook which your child is sure to love. The book also has a moral ending as it revolves around a fisherman and his wife, on how greed and ambition bring about bad fortune.

7. Touch and Feel Jungle Animals Book

This book is perfect for your child to learn by touching and exploring. Each page has a picture which your little one can touch and feel. In this way, he can learn new things and names of animals in an easy and fun way.

8. Karadi Tales Rhyme Book

In the beautiful voice of Indian singer Usha Uthup, this audiobook is filled with songs about bhelpuri, mangoes, flowers and festivals. It will help your child get the true sense of an Indian childhood and learn a few unique rhymes which he will remember throughout his life.

9. 2-in-1 My Favourite Board Book of Fruits and Vegetables

This colourful board book has two topics – fruits and vegetables – which your child can learn about. Highly recommended by teachers, this book contains beautiful illustrations of different fruits and vegetables which your child can easily learn to name and remember.

10. 2-in-1 My Favourite Board Book of Colours and Shapes

An amazingly illustrated board book filled with different colours and shapes for your child to learn from an early age. This book is highly recommended by teachers and can help your child learn the concept of shapes and colours easily.

11. My Super Collection of Happy Bedtime Stories

This is a great choice for bedtime reading. This book is filled with classic stories that are rewritten in simple, easy-to-understand language, making them perfect for young children. The stories help create a relaxing bedtime routine and strengthen the bond between you and your child. 

12. Good Behaviour Stories

“Good Behaviour Stories” is a fun book full of stories that teach kids about being nice and doing the right things. Each story uses easy words and colorful pictures to keep your child interested. It’s great for moms and dads who want to teach their kids to be good and polite. This book makes learning about good behavior really fun!

13. Pick N’ Stick Alphabet & Numbers Montessori Activity Book with Reusable Stickers

This book is a fun way for kids to learn. It combines the Montessori method, which is all about hands-on learning, with stickers that you can use again and again. Inside the book, your child can practice their ABCs and numbers by placing stickers in the right spots. This helps with fine motor skills (using fingers) and also helps with learning. The book is designed to make learning interactive and enjoyable so your kids stay interested and motivated while they learn.

14. Roar in the Jungle Sound Book

Discover the Roar in the Jungle Sound Book, where each page brings the jungle alive with sounds of animals like lions, elephants, and monkeys. It’s an interactive experience that adds a new dimension to learning about wildlife.

FAQs

1. How often should I read to my 2-year-old?

It’s beneficial to read to your 2-year-old daily. Establishing a reading routine, such as reading before naptime or bedtime, helps create a calming ritual and reinforces the habit. Even short reading sessions of 10-15 minutes can be highly effective in building their language skills and fostering a love for books.

2. How can I make reading more interactive for my 2-year-old?

To make reading more interactive for your 2-year-old, use a variety of engaging techniques. Utilize different voices for characters to make the story come alive. Encourage your child to point out and name objects in the pictures. Pause and ask questions about the story, such as “What do you think will happen next?” or “Can you find the dog in the picture?” Additionally, involve them in turning the pages and let them predict or tell parts of the story based on the illustrations.

3. How do books help develop a toddler’s emotional skills?

Books play a crucial role in developing a toddler’s emotional skills by exposing them to various feelings and social situations. Stories often depict characters experiencing a range of emotions, from happiness and excitement to sadness and frustration. Discussing these emotions with your child helps them recognize and understand their own feelings. Books can also introduce concepts of empathy and compassion as toddlers see how characters interact and resolve conflicts. 

4. What role do parents play in a toddler’s reading development?

Parents play a crucial role in a toddler’s reading development by modeling reading behaviors and providing a rich literary environment. Reading aloud to your child regularly helps build their language skills and familiarity with books. Demonstrate a love for reading by reading your own books and sharing stories about what you read. Encourage discussions about books, asking open-ended questions and prompting your child to express their thoughts and ideas. 

This is our list of the best books for two-year-olds. 2-year-old learning books are almost always light, colourful and fun. Children at that age are more attracted by bright illustrations and splashes of colour and, hence, will respond better to teaching with the help of such books. They can learn to pick up new vocabulary, new expressions and new rhymes. This will help them go on to become enthusiastic leaders, confident in their communication skills. It will also instil in them a love for books and reading, which will increase their IQ going forward.

However, parents also have to play an active role in introducing these learning books to their toddlers. Children at a young age have a very short attention span, so it is up to the parents to sit them down and take them through the activities of colouring, reading, and singing while having a book in front of them. Once the parents join in enthusiastically, the child will also follow suit and start involving himself more in the reading or colouring activity. You can be the starting point for him.

References/Resources:

1. Fluency; Victoria State Government; https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/english/literacy/readingviewing/Pages/litfocusfluency.aspx

2. Tips for Reading to Infants and Toddlers; National Education Associaton; https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/tips-reading-infants-and-toddlers

3. Learning to Read and Write: Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children; National Association for the Education of Young Children; https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/resources/position-statements/PSREAD98.PDF

4. Toddler Reading Time; Nemours Kids Health; https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/reading-toddler.html

5. Language & literacy in two-year-olds; Penn State Extension; https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/early-care/tip-pages/all/language-literacy-in-two-year-olds

6. 10 Tips to Help Your Child Fall in Love with Reading; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/school/Pages/10-Tips-to-Help-Your-Child-Fall-in-Love-with-Reading.aspx

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