It is never too early or too late to start reading to your little one.
Reading to your child is an awesome way to spend time together and also slow down after a busy day.
In this post, we have compiled the best books for 1 year olds that will pique their interest and make them love reading.
1. The Wonderful Things You’ll Be by Emily Martin
This amazing book for little kids is about a parent’s love for their baby.
It is the perfect book for goodnight story time. This book celebrates all personalities and their potentials from brave and bold to creative and clever.
It has rhyming texts, beautiful gatefolds, elegant and moving illustrations, and it can serve as a great gift for any occasion.
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However, you shouldn’t let your 1 year old read this book on his own because the pages are thin and he can tear them.
Check it out on Amazon.
2. First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
Every child needs this book. It has pictures of the 100 most common first words for toddlers.
You start by reading the words and pointing to the pictures for your child. Then overtime, you can ask him to point to the picture when you call the word.
This is also a great way your build your child’s vocabulary and speech.
This little bright board book will help your little one learn some essential first words and pictures. There are 100 colored pictures to look at in this book and talk about.
The words are simple to read and learn for 1 year olds.
Check it out on Amazon.
3. Where is Baby’s Belly Button? by Karen Katz
Looking for a book to teach your 1 year old about body parts? You got it here.
It starts by asking where your baby eyes are, then goes on and ask about other parts of the body and the best thing about this is that all of them can be found under the flap.
The flaps are easy to lift and they are also thick which helps in resisting tear.
The texts are playful and vibrant, and the illustrations are patterned to keep your child mesmerized as they search for their body parts.
Check it out on Amazon.
4. Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton
This is a comedy book for 1 year olds. It is full of silliness. You and your child get to mimic different animal sounds and this will make your child laugh all through the book.
It is a fun and great way to introduce your child to different animal sounds.
Check it out on Amazon.
5. Playtown: A Lift-The-Flap Book by Roger Priddy
Toddlers love flip-the-flap book and your child will love this as it has over 70 flaps for him to lift up and check out.
This book for 1 year old shows the details of a working town like the airport, hospitals, grocery store, and other shops.
Your child has much to explore, discover, and learn inside this busy book. The flaps reveal cross sections of different scenes and different jobs in construction as your child learns what each person is, places, and pieces of equipment that contributes to construction site.
Every page of this book has fun flaps for your child to lift and learn more about the picture above. The back of the book contains a big page to fold out which reveals a bustling construction scene.
Check it out on Amazon.
6. Do Cows Meow? by Salina Yoon
This is another book that teaches your little one about sounds different animals make and your toddler will enjoy mimicking all the sounds.
It is a lift the flap book that shows what sounds animals like ducks, cows, frogs, and sheep makes. It will make your toddler giggle as you both read the book and mimic the sounds together.
A simple book with rhythm and lots of fun and highly educational.
It is brightly illustrated and on each page is a giant mouth flap that lifts to reveal a new animal sound.
At the end, your child can open the 2 barnyard gates to see and say all the animal sounds again.
Check it out on Amazon.
7. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr.
This is a classic story for 1 year olds and it has buttons your child can press to hear the sounds that animals make.
Your child will love this book because as each animal appears on the page, he will press the button and they will make their sounds.
Please note that this book will create lots of noise and fun as you read it with your child.
Your child will chant the rhythmic words, and pretend to be the zoo animals in this book.
At the last page are the pictures of all the animals featured in this book.
Check it out on Amazon.
8. Hear Bear Roar by Eric Carle
This amazing colorful book introduces your child to 30 animals and buttons for him/her to press.
Each page of this book is colorful and attractive. This sound book has hands on interaction to engage your young child and it teaches them how to connect words with pictures and also builds their vocabulary.
It stimulates their imaginations and does much more.
Check it out on Amazon.
9. Wild Animals: A Touch and Feel Book by Little Hippo Books
This book will explore the sensory aspect of your toddler as they will feel different textures as they read.
These textures are of 5 animals like the Elephant’s hide and the Koala’s fur.
There are also fun and rhyming texts about each animal as your child feels their material on every page.
Your child will keep coming back to this book because as he reads it, he will:
- Pet the Elephant’s leathery ear
- Touch the smooth dolphin
- Pat the friendly lion
- Feel the scaly skin of a lizard
- Tickle the cuddly koala’s ear
Check it out on Amazon.
10. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
This book has been a classic for decades.
It tells a tale of a little bunny as he says goodnight to different objects around his house like the moon, the mittens, his socks, the clock, etc.
Your child will fall in love with the gentle flow of this book and the sweet rhymes that makes a great introduction to reading.
It is also easy for kids to recite along with their parents and memorize the book. Your 1 year old can easily turn the pages because it is a board book.
Check it out on Amazon.
11. I Love You to the Moon and Back by Amelia Hepworth
This is an interesting story of a bear and her cub as they go through their daily activities. They climb a mountain together, splash in the water, and share their love by cuddling, hugging, and touching noses.
This book is a collection of sweet gentle rhymes, perfect for sharing with your little bundle of joy.
Check it out on Amazon.
12. The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
This book for 1 year old is available as a board book and also as paper back.
It tells the story of a glum fish who goes about and then discovers that being sad and glum is not the best way to live his life.
Being sad is not his destiny.
This book is interesting, has bright colors, and fun pictures to attract children to read.
One of the rhymes in this book is:
Deep in the water,
Mr. Fish swims about
With his fish face stuck
In a permanent pout.
Can his pals cheer him up?
Will his pout ever end?
Is there something he can learn
From an unexpected friend?
Check it out on Amazon.
13. If Animals Kissed Goodnight by Ann Whitford Paul
This silly topic is wrapped in an adorable book for toddlers. It tells of a wolf, a sloth, and a giraffe as they tell their babies goodnight.
This book explains to little children how different creatures show love in their own way.
It is one of the best books to read before bedtime.
By reading this book, your little child will know that Giraffe and his calf would stretch their necks high, the wolf and his pup would kiss and then howl, and the sloth and her baby would move so slow.
Check it out on Amazon.
14. Dear Zoo: A Lift-The-Flap Book by Rod Campbell
Although written in 1982, this book still remains one of the best books for 1 year olds. It is a flap book and kids will enjoy lifting it up to show the new animal that they find at the zoo.
They will find a monkey, they will find lions, and even an Elephant. But will they find a perfect pet?
This book is beautiful, with bright and bold artwork that attracts kids. It has a catchy refrain with lots of favorite animals.
Check it out on Amazon.
15. Peek-a-Who? by Nina Laden
This wonderful book is full of hidden animals that your child has to find. He will lift flaps and turn to the next page to find the answer.
It has lots of phrases and rhyming words that help your child participate in the reading. It also has lots of funny sounds which your child will love. There are also lots of colorful pictures.
The curiosity to know what’s hiding on the next page and the bright and beautiful illustrations will keep your little one engaged all the way to the end of the book.
Check it out on Amazon.
16. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
This iconic book for little children is a rhyming story of all the dramas little Llama causes before bedtime. This story makes kids laugh hysterically and the rhymes help their early reading skills.
Your toddler will also be able to identify with some of the feelings baby Llama has.
As you read this book to your child, you will appreciate the reassurance and gentleness that comes from mama Llama.
Check it out on Amazon.
17. Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
This is an interesting lift-a-flab book where your child will have to search for Spot.
He/she will enjoy lifting the flaps up to look for Spot and when Spot is found, your child will be so excited.
This adorable storybook for 1 year olds has been around for decades and still continues to be a best seller.
Check it out on Amazon.
18. Bright and Early Dr. Seuss Books
Dr. Suess is a very popular author of Children books and this is one of his most popular board books for children. You won’t go wrong with this collection.
This book contains 4 popular books your child will love including Tens Apples Up on Top and Hop on Pop. The books are made short and written for toddlers to enjoy.
It also contains lots of rhymes that help develop early reading skills.
Check it out on Amazon.
19. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
This children book has been a classic for over three decades and it is one of the best books for 1 year olds.
It is an alphabet chant that kids love. In this alphabet rhyme, the letters of the English alphabets race up a coconut tree.
The interesting thing about this book is that your child will have to find out if there will be enough room for them.
A lively alphabet rhyme from the book is:
A told B,
and B told C,
“I’ll meet you at the
top of the coconut tree”
Check it out on Amazon.
20. Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
This is another good board book for 1 year olds.
This book is a story of Gerald the Giraffe who wants to do nothing else but dance.
However, giraffes don’t dance. His crooked knees and thin legs make dancing difficult for him.
But a friends helps Gerald and he finds his tune and starts dancing.
Apart from being an interesting read for children, this story book teaches young minds from their early age that they can do anything they want to do.
Check it out on Amazon.
21. Corduroy by Don Freeman
This is an adorable story of Corduroy who lost his button and he has to go through the department store where he lives to find his button.
Every kid and even adults will love Corduroy.
Check it out on Amazon.
22. Just One You
This book teaches 1 year olds that they are unique and that there is nobody else in the whole world like them.
This book is a big plus if your child loves Sesame Street because all the Sesame Street friends like Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird will be there to tell your child how truly special he/she is.
As your child reads this book, he/she will discover the ways they are unique, it will build their self-esteem, and encourage them to believe in themselves always.
The intro of the book reads:
This is a story that’s all about you,
and all the spectacular things that you do.
So please come along and we’ll show you it’s true:
there is just one and only wonderful YOU!
You’re strong and you’re brave; you’re a grand superhero.
You give one hundred percent. You never give zero!
Check it out on Amazon.
23. Little Blue Truck
The Little Blue Truck is a series with lots of animal characters and interesting stories. The Little Blue Truck is the main character in all the series and how he passed through a muddy country road and he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck.
Luckily, the Little Blue Truck has made friends with a pack of farm animals along his route and they are willing to get Little Blue Truck, their pal back on the road.
This book – The Little Blue Truck is an interesting cacophony of truck and animal sounds that will get your child quacking and beeping.
This book also teaches kids that it is good to be kind to our animal friends. It also teaches them to show friendly respect to people and they will likely get help when they are in difficult situations.
They have books for every season and occasions including birthdays.
Check it out on Amazon.
Benefits of Reading to Your 1 Year Old
It helps you bond with your child
Reading time is bonding time. The bond between you and your child gets stronger as you read to them and they snuggle up with you.
A research reveals that reading to children supports a solid parent-child relationship. Kids feel secured when they are read to and it helps them to view literacy in a positive way.
Improves listening skills
Hearing a story aloud being read involves some levels of listening and comprehension on the part of the child. This, in turn, will build listening and understanding skills in that child.
Experts made us know that listening is a skill children must acquire before they can read themselves.
Language and cognitive development
A study reveals that babies who are talked to or read to score higher in cognitive development and language skills than kids who were not read or talked to.
Another research also confirms it and went ahead to say that this link extends from childhood into their teenage age. It says that verbal interactions between parents and young kids promotes higher language and IQ scores up to the age of 14.
Bigger vocabulary
Experts at the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning explain that reading to kids will help expand the variety and number of words they use.
Books contain words that you don’t use in your everyday communication with your child. So when you read to your child, you would use more specific names for animals, plants, or more descriptive words and that’s how your child learns more words.
A study reveals that kids who are read to regularly in the 5 years leading up to kindergarten are exposed to 1.4 million words more than kids who weren’t read to during those years.
Boosts attention span
Reading to kids will help develop their concentration and attention span says an expert.
Reading to kids will also help them learn how to sit still, develop a longer attention span, and even improve their retention skills.
Boosts creativity
Books and stories opens up a whole new world to kids, it helps them have vivid imaginations which helps in feeding their creativity.
And creativity, according to experts is important for kids to develop interest and ideas. It also boosts their emotional health.
Frequently Asked Questions On Best Books for 1 Year Olds
What is the reading level for a 1-year-old?
Parents worry if a book is the perfect reading level for their 1 year olds or if it is too advanced for them.
You can read books with complete sentences for a 1-year-old child and you can also ask them to start identifying objects in the books.
What makes a book great for 1 year olds?
Well, this depends on who is reading the book to them. If you want to read books to your child while he/she is sitting on your lap or at bedtime, you can choose books of higher levels.
If you want your 1 year old to read independently, then go for board books. 1 year olds can easily turn the pages and this type of book is made specially for young children.
There are board books with lots of fun features to make reading engaging for your little ones and some of them are:
Also, toddlers like rhyme and repetition, so get books that have rhymes and let them learn and repeat it with you.
How can I get my 1 year old to like books?
If you feel like your toddler is always busy playing or may never like books, you don’t have to be discouraged. Start by reading to him/her at least once daily.
You pick a specific time to do so, it can be bedtime or naptime or anytime they feel calm and relaxed.
Give your child full attention when reading to him and also encourage his participation while doing so.
How can I get my 1 year old to participate in the reading?
The tips below will help you do so effortlessly:
- Give your child an option of at least three books and let him pick out the one he wants to hear
- Show him how to turn the pages of books
- Talk about the pictures you find on the book and ask your child to find things on the pages.
- When he is old enough to repeat familiar or repetitive phrases, allow him finish the sentence.
The tips above will get your child involved in the reading process.
How can I read to my 1 year old?
- Read to your toddler when he/she asks you to do so
- Use different voice tones for different characters when reading to children. This will bring the story alive for them and make the reading an exciting one
- Read slowly, even if you have things to do. Toddlers need to hear stories slowly so that they can understand what is happening.
- Talk about the pictures in the story books. Point out what is happening in the pictures, talk about the expressions on the faces of the characters, and name things that they find in the pictures.
Later, you can ask your child to point out different things they see in the book.
- Ask open ended questions while reading as your child gets older. You can ask him/her what they think will happen in the story.
- Don’t expect your child to sit still as this isn’t required. Your child can be actively listening to you while playing, coloring, drawing, building with blocks, etc.
- Have fun while reading and always show that you are having fun while doing so. If your child perceives that you are not having fun while reading, he or she won’t have fun either.
They learn from you that reading is fun.
Conclusion
Reading to 1 year olds has many advantages which includes bonding and language development. This post contains important tips to help you start reading to your child and some of the best books for 1 year olds.
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