Toddler refusing books

[bothbusyandbored]

Toddler (18 months) seems to be disenchanted with the old favourites of acorn wood / that’s not my / flip flap books and I’m wondering what else to try.

She isn’t interested in ‘older’ books like Gruffalo, tiger who came to tea etc yet, she does seem to prefer a book she can interact with a bit but seems bored of the ones she has. I’m a bit lost as DS loved Acorn Wood at this age.

Any help? I feel guilty I’m not reading to her much.

My DS is the same age and loves lots of the Eric Carle books. They’re not interactive in terms of flaps etc., but they facilitate making lots of animal noises or doing actions as you read them. You could try Brown Bear, Head to Toe or The Very Busy Spider. They’re our faves and he’s obsessed with books.

Thank you - I’ll have a look!

Nursery rhyme books? Lots of actions to do etc. I know a lot of people see nursery rhymes as 'singing' rather than 'reading' but at this age the skills are all the same.

Do you have the whole Acorn Wood set? For years and years there were only 4, but they've released at least 6 new ones in the last couple of years and are due to release even more this year I believe.

Axel Scheffler, illustrator of Acorn Wood, also has some lovely books of his own. Pip and Posy vooks are lovely. Not interactive, but very simple and charming. There's also a set about farm animals which are lovely for this age:- Higgly Hen, Portly Pig etc.

Lucy Cousins has some great books for this age too. Hooray for Fish and A Busy Day for Birds are two which spring to mind.

We're Going On a Bear Hunt is very interactive and usually starts grabbing attention around this age.

Richard Scarry books have loads to talk about

Do you have You Choose?

We’ve got all the acorn wood ones (DS was a huge fan, and there are two new ones I bought - dormouse and frog, I think.) She used to like them but I think she just got bored.

Bear Hunt doesn’t enchant her; definitely had to have some action like lift the flap or touch. (DS loves bear hunt now but I think she’s just a bit too young.)

It will come. Leave it for now and return to it.

My son likes

Car car truck jeep (about cars but sung to baa baa black sheep), whales on the bus and go go pirate ship are all a similar tone

All about me

Usborne lift the flap, we gave the farm, sleep and zoo one but may be a bit older

Peekaboo moo

Peck peck peck

Where's my car?

See touch, feel

Chuffa chuffa choo choo

Nursery rhe books

Puppet books so we have a very hungry catipilar ons and a peppa pig one.

When my children liked the Acorn Wood books they also enjoyed Rod Campbell lift the flaps books, particularly Noisy Farm, Oh Dear! and Dear Zoo…

What about ones that make sounds.

the usborne sound books are good and my 18 month old loves the don’t tickle the … range

my 18 month also loves ones that have you pulling on things. For example the spot slide and seek books. The Tom fletcher there a little xxx in my book and peekaboo …

tiddler by Julia Donaldson.

How about popping into your local library? Our local one has a huge selection of children’s books which you can borrow and try out on your little one without having to buy. I also find some charity shops a good place to find hardly used children’s books.

I second a library if you have one with a good children's section. Mine used to like walking around taking books off shelves and putting them back again just as much as being read to.