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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?

OP posts:
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Original poster
JimandPam · 22/07/2024 11:02

Some wonderful recommendations here!

We adore Elmer, Mog, Spot series so lots along that lines

We do visit the library for those that ask but our nearest one is very small with a tiny kids section which means we don't get to the bigger one very often

We always buy second hand and recirculate the books once we've outgrown them

OP posts:
AgileGreenSeal · 22/07/2024 11:01

They are classics so you will already have them but my grandchildren loved being read any of Beatrix Potter’s and still enjoy reading them to themselves, especially at bedtime.

Biggest favourite was The Tailor of Gloucester .

RenoDakota · 22/07/2024 11:01

Bunny My Honey
Man on The Moon
Any Thomas the Tank Engine.

NannyR · 22/07/2024 11:01

Shark in the Park and Shark in the Dark by Nick Sharrett are huge favourites at the nursery I help in, also Handa's Surprise and You Choose.

babybythesea · 22/07/2024 11:01

Shirley Hughes - Alfie (there’s loads of Alfie books), Dont want to go. Dogger - the firm favourite. All books about situations children recognise and understand, and she illustrates them beautifully too.

Jill Murphy - Peace at last. The Large family series.

Quentin Blake - Mr Magnolia. Cockatoos. Mrs Armitage. Angelica Sprocket's Pockets.

John Burningham - Would you rather? Avocado Baby. The shopping list.

Pat Hutchins - Don’t forget the bacon.

wagram · 22/07/2024 11:00

Goodnight Moon
Mogs
Bear hunt
Tiger who came for Tea
Winnie the Poo
Edward Lear (Owl and the Pussycat, etc.)
Lauren Child's

Topaz89 · 22/07/2024 11:00

Sometimes I Feel Sunny (big favourite for all of mine. It was a free book my eldest got from the health visitor when he was little and it ended up becoming a family favourite.)

There’s No Such Thing as Monsters
Peppa Pig books
Alan’s Big Scary Teeth
Julia Donaldson books
The Bumblebear
Puss in Boots

angstridden2 · 22/07/2024 10:59

Julia Donaldson What the Ladybird heard series. Nick Parks books..beautiful illustrations. The dog detective….

earlymorningcurlewcall · 22/07/2024 10:59

Babar the Elephant has been a massive hit with my 2 & 4yos. The two year old was almost three when we bought them, as a year would make a big difference.

Julia Donaldson is good but they're all quite samey, I find.

Have a look at David McKee, too. Not now Bernard, Elmer and Mr Benn are firm favourites.

scarecrow22 · 22/07/2024 10:59

Slinky Malinky

Same family as Hairy Mac, but even better. One of the best on so many levels. How many toddler books have a "rapscallion cat"? I rest my case!

jannier · 22/07/2024 10:59

The whales on the bus,
Pete the cat series
Shark in the park
Shark in the Dark
The fish who could wish.

Take them to the library and let them pick the weeks books

Original poster
JimandPam · 22/07/2024 10:59

Longdueachange · 22/07/2024 10:57

We read and read and read Owl Babies. The "That's Not My" series, "Cock a Mo Moo" and "Chimp and Zee" were also favourites. My dc used to enjoy something new, but would also like going back to the aforementioned for comfort reading.

Yes to Owl Babies! This was one of the ones that surprised me!

We were given it and I thought it was such a rubbish story (although beautiful illustrations!) but the boys love it and often request it!

OP posts:
KingscoteStaff · 22/07/2024 10:58

You Choose
Traction Man
Biscuit Bear
Tatty Ratty (about a rabbit)
Lauren Child ones that are Not Charlie and Lola - eg That Pesky Rat

Teenagerantruns · 22/07/2024 10:58

Mine are adults now,but l think l could recite farmer duck if l had to😂
The docror zuss books, which l hated but read lots over the years.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 22/07/2024 10:57

All the Mog books, The Tiger Who Came To Tea and Poo In The Zoo* always went down well with Gdcs.

*I particularly liked that, because the rhymes actually scan - all too often they don’t and it really grates on me!

Totallywoah · 22/07/2024 10:57

Bear Mike Inkpen

The Bear Raymond Briggs

My son used to find these books hysterical.

Longdueachange · 22/07/2024 10:57

We read and read and read Owl Babies. The "That's Not My" series, "Cock a Mo Moo" and "Chimp and Zee" were also favourites. My dc used to enjoy something new, but would also like going back to the aforementioned for comfort reading.

scarecrow22 · 22/07/2024 10:56

DD (now 13) Rabbit's Nap. Every. Single. Night! Board book, but for toddlers.
Others included Alfie, A Squash and a Squeeze, The Snail and the Whale (quite a few JDs), Monkey Puzzle (until it gave her nightmares about losing her mummy!). If I can dig out the box I kept I'll add a few later.

I envy you. I miss reading to mine. It gradually stopped with DS in the last year....

MummyJ12 · 22/07/2024 10:56

Definitely anything by Julia Donaldson.
My 2 also really loved Giraffes can’t dance which is a beautiful story.

justkeepswimmng · 22/07/2024 10:55

JimandPam · 22/07/2024 10:50

Some wonderful suggestions so far, thank you

@justkeepswimmng we read Hairy McClairy (sp?) just last night! A firm fav here too

Yes thats the one!! There is a few Hairy Maclary but none as good as the first one "Hairy Maclairy from Donaldsons dairy)"

Clawdy · 22/07/2024 10:55

The Mr Men books
Where The Wild Things Are
Babar the Elephant

Pleaseleavemealone0 · 22/07/2024 10:55

Dear zoo.
Most Julia Donaldson.
The very hungry caterpillar.
We're going on a bear hunt.
When they started school they often got fixated on a book linked to the topic they were doing.

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 22/07/2024 10:54

Bastard Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's bleedin Dairy and ALLLLLL its companions.

Deliberationdivinationdesperation · 22/07/2024 10:54

My 2yo loves 10 minutes to bed little dinosaur, and the Oi Frog/Oi Dog/Oi Puppies series by Kes Gray. I keep meaning to buy the ones we've not got as she loves them

shellyleppard · 22/07/2024 10:54

The mog series, peepo, each peach pear plum, going on a bear hunt, the gruffalo and the gruffalo child....my two sons loved reading and still do (now 19 and 16) lol. May I suggest your local library if you have one?? They have a fantastic selection of children books and they sometimes do reading groups too