In our previous article, we wrote about how you can choose quality books for children below 18 months old. Today, we’ll delve into the specifics for children aged 18 months to 4 years old.
This period marks the toddler age, characterised by emerging language skills as they begin to babble and string together short sentences. It’s the perfect time to support their development through the enchanting world of books.
Books play a pivotal role in fostering both writing and reading abilities simultaneously, laying the groundwork for literacy skills. They also serve as windows to new experiences, allowing children to explore diverse perspectives and aspects of the world around them.
That’s why picking the right storybooks tailored to toddlers’ interests is instrumental in nurturing their growth and curiosity. In the following sections, we’ll share our curated list of recommended titles, and tips on how you can engage your child effectively with books.
Selecting books for toddlers (18 months - 4 years)
Children are naturally curious, more so at this stage. To capitalise on this, choose topics that resonate with their interests while introducing new vocabulary and concepts to expand their knowledge.
Let’s say you’ve noticed that your child loves rabbits and already knows that rabbits have long ears and are furry. Consider then exploring books that delve into various other aspects of rabbits’ lives, such as their dietary habits. This not only maintains their interests, but also introduces them to new ideas and words.
Before making your selection, take a moment to flip through the book to gauge its potential to captivate your child’s attention. Is it something that you think would hold your child’s interest?
A good idea is to opt for picture books, as they tend to be visually engaging and can stimulate a toddler’s imagination. Look for interactive features such as pull tabs, lift flaps and textured pages, which enhance the reading experience.
Choose books with straightforward sentences as well. These are easy for your child to understand and follow during read-aloud sessions. You can also incorporate primers for numbers, colours and the alphabet to reinforce foundational learning.
Finally, an extra tip for parents: Select books that you won’t mind reading over and over again as chances are, if your child likes it, you’ll be reading it every day! Embracing this repetition is key to fostering their love for reading and nurturing their growing curiosity and comprehension skills.
Selecting books for toddlers (18 months - 4 years)
Children are naturally curious, more so at this stage. To capitalise on this, choose topics that resonate with their interests while introducing new vocabulary and concepts to expand their knowledge..
Let’s say you’ve noticed that your child loves rabbits and already knows that rabbits have long ears and are furry. Consider then exploring books that delve into various other aspects of rabbits’ lives, such as their dietary habits. This not only maintains their interests, but also introduces them to new ideas and words.
Before making your selection, take a moment to flip through the book to gauge its potential to captivate your child’s attention. Is it something that you think would hold your child’s interest?
A good idea is to opt for picture books, as they tend to be visually engaging and can stimulate a toddler’s imagination. Look for interactive features such as pull tabs, lift flaps and textured pages, which enhance the reading experience.
Choose books with straightforward sentences as well. These are easy for your child to understand and follow during read-aloud sessions. You can also incorporate primers for numbers, colours and the alphabet to reinforce foundational learning.
Finally, an extra tip for parents: Select books that you won’t mind reading over and over again as chances are, if your child likes it, you’ll be reading it every day! Embracing this repetition is key to fostering their love for reading and nurturing their growing curiosity and comprehension skills.
Engaging your child during storytime
Before we get to our recommended book list, let’s explore some tips on how to make the most of story books for toddlers.
Empowerment through choice: Allow your child to pick out their book or even hold it while you read together. This fosters a sense of involvement, enhancing their enthusiasm for reading.
Interactive reading: Read aloud to your child and encourage them to echo or read simple words independently. This interactive approach strengthens their language skills and boosts confidence in reading.
Engaging narration: When reading aloud to your child, use expressive voices and gestures to bring the story to life for them. React to pivotal scenes to maintain your child’s interest and captivate their imagination.
Real-life connections: Whenever possible, draw parallels between the story and your child’s daily experiences. This will enrich their understanding and foster a deeper connection with the narrative.
These strategies mirror our approach in our playgroup programmes, where storytelling is integral to daily activities as part of our literature-based approach. We even incorporate role-playing based on classic nursery rhymes, an activity you can consider replicating at home or during playdates! Encourage your child to embody specific characters or play dress up as their favourites, facilitating imaginative exploration. By discussing the emotions of the characters they’re playing and relating them to real-life experiences, we provide a holistic and meaningful learning experience for theml.
Our book recommendations for toddlers (18 months - 4 years)
1
Green by Laura
Vaccaro Seeger
(Caldecott Honor Book)
An ode to the many shades of green, this book is full of stunning paintings displaying the colour as it appears in nature.
2
Oops, Pounce,
Quick, Run! An
Alphabet Caper
by Mike Twohy
(Theodore Geisel)
Packed with thrilling and dynamic images, this picture book takes the reader through an epic chase involving a ball, a dog, and a book – and the alphabet!
3
Stop! Bot!
by James Yang
(Theodor Seuss
Geisel Award
(2020, winner)
Made up of three books, this boxed set offers another great way to encourage curiosity in little ones. With the books’ inserts, babies can actually feel the soft fur of the bunny, the cat, and the puppy.
4
The Bear in My
Family by Maya
Tatsukawa
(2021 Theodore
Geisel Honour)
Charmingly illustrated with soft and soothing colours, this book offers a humourous take on sibling relationships that children will recognise and love.
5
Fox the Tiger
by Corey R. Tabor
(2019 Theodore
Geisel Winner)
Cute illustrations and simple lines come together in this story of a fox that admires tigers and decides to become one.
Let us further support your child’s language development
Our recommendations above are to help you lay a strong foundation for your child’s skills in early literacy. However, if you are eager to nurture their growth beyond home, consider the literature-based approach at Star Learners. Our centres are equipped with an array of award-winning books, ensuring that every child is exposed to enriching stories from infancy.
We also actively collaborate with parents to reinforce storytelling at home, fostering a seamless integration between learning environments. If you’re interested in learning more about our unique approach and how it can benefit your child, enquire with us or register for a virtual tour at any of our 44 Star Learners centres island-wide!
