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Toddler books that contain humans

62 replies

burgersraven · 03/11/2026 07:00

I feel like is a bizarre question but can anyone recommend books for a 2 year old that depict human beings? We have a lot of books at home and get them out of the library, and it pisses me off how often we're talking about the pictures and I have to say something like "the octopus is fixing the train isn't it" or "look the crocodile is putting the fire out". I feel children's illustrators are allergic to drawing people, maybe they don't want the minefield of accidentally over representing a certain group so they get round it by representing nobody. Or they're bad at drawing people, and animals are easier. Or the publisher has told them that animals are more fun. But the problem is, it teaches them nothing about animals and it teaches them nothing about whatever the book topic is.
I'm good for sort of "first word" type books that have people in, we have some of those. But I would love recommendations for any other toddler books that include people, either nonfiction type books, or stories that feature humans doing everyday physically-possible activities.

OP posts:
thehonscupboard · 04/11/2026 18:05

The Zeki series by Anna Mcquinn is perfect for toddlers. All very relatable stuff from toddler’s days, depicted with real people.

WhatSymmetry · 04/11/2026 20:02

Owhatfuckeryisthis · 04/11/2026 12:16

Dodge Goodbye Mog for a long time though. Mine, at about 4, when I read it to her said "Why did you do that Mummy?" It is good for explaining death to youngsters though.

I never got it for DD as I knew it would be too sad! 😭

drspouse · 04/11/2026 20:04

Babies Everywhere is great, and I second/third the Ahlbergs.

jellybee · 04/11/2026 20:23

Harry and the bucketful of dinosaurs! Lovely depiction of a multi generational family.

thisismeithinkorisit · 04/11/2026 23:31

burgersraven · 03/11/2026 07:34

Ooh! How exciting to get so many replies so quickly, that's a surprise for one of the lesser-used subforums! Thank you for so many lovely suggestions everyone!
@Jadetheobscure1989 argh they don't have max and nana go to the park! I've seen this book on social media but I can only find US links!
@thisismeithinkorisit by nonfiction I mean like "trains go clickety clack down the track" as opposed to a story with characters. The point is it's NOT an octopus story, it's supposed to be about trains yet they put animals in the human roles. It's still nice to read and have the rhythm of the words and it's still a fun book but if you get into talking about the pictures and what's happening in the book, you end up teaching them stupid things that aren't true about animals OR trains. Do you see?

honestly, I think you're over thinking. my eldest loved his crockery clack along the track book. he never polar bears could drive a train or that giraffes like to go to the beach to play. we have books about a pigeon who wants to drive the bus /get a puppy / eat cookies. at no point did any of my kids believe this was real life.

saying ooh look at the octopus using all his arms to drive the train whilst making tea and waving at the hippo isn't teaching them anything.

but your child, you gotta read it, and reading smeth5tbst doesn't make you want to hack your brain is always a win, which is why I included books with humans. I concede we do often have conversations about whether unicorns and dragons were ever real, but that's cos I refuse to say no 🤣🤣

thisismeithinkorisit · 04/11/2026 23:34

vickylou78 · 04/11/2026 11:16

We read lots of Topsy and Tim!

my sympathies. this too shall pass x

vickylou78 · 05/11/2026 07:22

thisismeithinkorisit · 04/11/2026 23:34

my sympathies. this too shall pass x

Yes thankfully we are onto other books now! But there was a time when Topsy and Tim ruled! Haha

Kote · 05/11/2026 07:31

Not sure how easily available they are in the UK but we love Emily Winfield Martin books. The illustrations are lovely.

Pepperlee · 05/11/2026 07:35

Hildergard2 · 03/11/2026 07:21

I agree with you. Helen oxenbury, John Birmingham and Shirley Hughes are also great

I read Shirley Hughes to my youngest who's now 47 and then to my grandchildren. Her illustrations are wonderful.

BrandiedAromatics · 05/11/2026 07:45

Percy the Park Keeper, Nick Butterworth.

Ifeeltheneedtheneedforcoffee · 06/11/2026 13:08

Little red by bethan woolvine.
There is also the hansel and gretel one as well
Maybe slightly older more preschool or reception age but my dd loved them. They need to be familiar with the original stories

Smokeywater · 06/11/2026 13:19

I read that it avoids racist risks - so if a blue baboon is being ostracised it obviously can't be due to his skin colour - or it could be but that won't be the reason in the book. So all these cartoons with animals, dinosaurs etc avoid all the risks of sexist/racist stuff they'd have to manoeuvre if they were people

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