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Original poster

What book did your toddler children love you reading to them?

236 replies

JimandPam · 22/07/2024 10:45

My two boys are at the age where they are absolutely loving story time before bed. They are 2 and 4 so a great age to enjoy a good story

We have really exhausted our book collection and I wondered what story you cherished reading your children at this age/they cherished you reading to them?

We have all the classics but I've been surprised when gifted books I would never have bought myself as they gone down so well

I know it is cheeky using AIBU but I wanted to put an order in World of Books tomorrow for the weekend!

So what were your much loved books?

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MonsterasEverywhere · 17/05/2025 15:08

I can heartily recommend the nature themed books by Nicola Davies. They are really lovely.

justusandthecat · 17/05/2025 15:02

Mine are 3 and 4, current favourites are

the snail and the whale
cat in the hat
green eggs and ham
The Elmer books
the dinosaur that pooped a planet

Meadowwild · 02/10/2024 15:33

Very young:
Each Peach Pear Plum. They loved that so much I had to buy replacement copies. And all the That's Not My books

What Do People Do All Day
Harry The Dirty Dog
Where the Wild Things Are
Room on the Broom
Tiger Who Came to Tea
Snail and the Whale
Alfie
There was one about bears hibernating and one about a little owl learning to fly too - they loved those but I forget the names

RonObvious · 02/10/2024 15:00

Hugless Douglas. Kitchen Disco (although that wasn't much of a calm down book, as we used to sing and act it out), and the 13 storey (etc)Treehouse books are great fun.

Luminousnose · 02/10/2024 14:58

Another vote for Slinky Malinki - particularly Slinky Malinki Opens the Door (with his pal Sticky Beak Sid).

Oh, and Nothing by Mick Inkpen still brings a lump to my throat.

TeaandHobnobs · 02/10/2024 14:41

All the Elmer the Elephant books

There are cats in this book

mrslme · 02/10/2024 14:17

My girls loved 'Click, clack, moo Cows that type

WWGD · 02/10/2024 13:54

Dear Zoo

hashimotosucks · 25/07/2024 07:55

Might have been said but Mo Willems Knuffle Bunny trilogy and his pigeon books- don't let the pigeon drive the bus etc

Sunshine9218 · 25/07/2024 00:17

My 2 yo is obsessed with Charlie and Lola books.

Also
Grandad Pot
My Mum and Dad make me laugh

spiderlight · 24/07/2024 17:40

I keep coming backj to this thread - just remembered Dogger! Another dog-themed one that I can barely even think about without crying is 'Nancy Nuttall and the Mongrel' by Catherine Cookson - probably more for age 5-7, but one of my absolute favourites because of the lovely old rescued mongrel we had when DS was that age.

Wordsmithery · 24/07/2024 08:28

This thread is bringing back lots of happy memories 😃
If anyone reading this has been inspired to think about their own childhood reading, there's a great book called Bookworm by Lucy Mangan. Very nostalgic, warm and funny.

RenoDakota · 23/07/2024 15:41

KekseKekse · 23/07/2024 00:43

Jane Hissey's Old Bear Stories.

I bought a book which contained the stories 'Old Bear', Little Bear's Trousers', 'Little Bear Lost' 'Jolly Tall' and Jolly Snow'.

I loved reading this to DS over 20 years ago. So much so, that it was one of two books I couldn't give away.

Just looking at the cover takes me back to a wonderful time.

Aw, never read the books but we always used to watch Little Bear on Nick Jr, just before bedtime. This brings back such happy memories.
My two are 23 and 20 now.

Funnywonder · 23/07/2024 14:55

We had one called 'Please Don't Chat to the Bus Driver' which my eldest loved so much. It was great for using your voice expressively because it almost did the job for you. My youngest liked 'The Day the Dragons Came', again very expressive and with clever rhyming and plenty of repetition, which is great for getting them to join in.

MouseofCommons · 23/07/2024 13:46

All the Mick Inkpen books. Which a lovely mumsnetter once gave me as a secret santa back in the day, it's still in the bookcase.

Womanofcustard · 23/07/2024 13:45

Anything by Dr Seuss! (It was a long time ago)

Floatlikeafeather2 · 23/07/2024 13:43

Peepo and also Burglar Bill by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. In fact, anything by them. All books by Shirley Hughes. My kids are now in their late 40s but still remember these fondly (and read them when they come home!). They also loved any Michael Rosen poetry.

Whiskeywithwater · 23/07/2024 13:42

Some Dogs Do, by Jez Alborough (I think). Really sweet, lovely message and fun to read. My DS loved it and it sometimes brought a little tear to my eye

DriveMeCrazy1974 · 23/07/2024 13:26

Years ago, my toddler son loved We're Going on a Bear Hunt and also, T'was the Night Before Christmas. Each Peach Pear Plum was also popular too.

parkrunpal · 23/07/2024 13:03

okayhescereal · 23/07/2024 12:35

Yeah I know them so well by now that often I pick up one JD book but recite another and wait to see how long it takes DC to notice that the pictures are Zog but the words are all Tiddler 😂

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This is excellent 👏

TheShellBeach · 23/07/2024 12:48

Six Dinners Sid is wonderful.

Especially if you've got a cat

spiderlight · 23/07/2024 12:35

Oh, I've just remembered 'Fortunately, Unfortunately', which was great fun.

okayhescereal · 23/07/2024 12:35

parkrunpal · 23/07/2024 12:25

Ditto, and mine’s almost 17 😅

Mine loved all of the above plus some vintage Ahlberg … Burglar Bill, Peepo, Mrs Wobble the Waitress

Show quote history

Yeah I know them so well by now that often I pick up one JD book but recite another and wait to see how long it takes DC to notice that the pictures are Zog but the words are all Tiddler 😂

parkrunpal · 23/07/2024 12:25

TheYearOfSmallThings · 22/07/2024 10:53

I can still recite Tabby McTat from beginning to end, and my son is now nine.

Ditto, and mine’s almost 17 😅

Mine loved all of the above plus some vintage Ahlberg … Burglar Bill, Peepo, Mrs Wobble the Waitress

AhBiscuits · 23/07/2024 12:24

I read Zog and the Gruffalo about 14 thousand times at that age. I can still recite them off by heart.