It’s never too early to start your child on reading books. Reading with your kids can be some of the most rewarding and educational moments you spend with them, so why not assemble a library of books your toddler will enjoy?
Here are six eight books our group of thought leaders enjoyed as children and recommend for your next storytime.
Oh the Places You’ll Go
My favorite book to read to my toddler kids is Oh The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss. The storyline came from a commencement speech that Dr. Seuss gave, which in itself is inspiring. Beyond that, the message is something kids should hear (that life isn’t all fun) and the illustrations are on point. Highly recommended read whether you’re a toddler or a dad.
Brett Farmiloe, Markitors
The Polar Express
A seasonal classic, nothing ever got me in the mood for Christmas like The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Once that book came out from the shelf beside the tree, it was officially Christmas time. The book brings out such excitement for everything holiday, from frosting cookies and drinking hot cocoa to running down the stairs in our pajamas singing carols.
Francesca Yardley, Threads
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
The classic If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff was the ultimate storytime book growing up. The story was simple, understandable and had plenty of pictures. Not to mention it was all about cookies. As a kid, that’s all you need. As a parent, I’m sure the lesson of cause and effect is a nice bonus, too.
Ryan Nouis, TruPath
Old Yeller
My favorite book as a child was Old Yeller by Fred Gipson. It was the first book I read cover to cover. I hadn’t realized that reading could be so enjoyable until then.
Tony Baumer, Old Grey Tiger Consulting
The Rotten Old Car
My mom would take me to the library over and over again to get The Rotten Old Car by Geraldine Kaye. I always loved cars and art and the story included both. Recently I found it online and bought a copy. I see an important tie in with interests as a child and things we do as an adult.
Mark Jamnik, Enjoy Life Daily
Alice in Wonderland
My favorite book is Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. It is such a fun and adventure-filled book. I remember reading it as a child and imagining myself as Alice. It was an adventure I would really want to be a part of. When the movie came out, I was really excited because I could finally see the things I’ve been imagining as a child in front of me.
Lesley Reynolds, Harley Street Skin
Great Expectations
I used to have a lot of fun reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens aloud to my brothers each day before we went to sleep. I had received the book as a prize for winning an English vocabulary competition. Although I found it painfully slow in the beginning, I gradually fell in love with it. Everything in the novel reflected originality, every character was relatable, every sentence was mesmerizing.
Rameez Ghayas Usmani, PureVPN
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
One day in my school library, I picked up a slightly odd looking book called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I found the creative exploration of word choice both delightful and refreshing, which led me to re-reading the lengthy series several times. Notably, Hitchhiker’s Guide isn’t really a children’s book, but it is fairly ageless in the concepts and characters it develops.
Michael Alexis, Teambuilding