Harper's Reads: Favorite Books for Toddlers

As a child and teen, I loved to read. Going to the library was one of my most favorite hobbies (serious nerd alert�it was walking distance from our house!) Maybe it was the only child in me---craving fun, imagination and adventure with every turn of the page. I would often read for hours on end and stay up late or wake up early just to finish those last chapters. If you grew up at the same time as me, you probably read Sweet Valley High, Babysitter's Club, Lurlene McDaniel books, R.L. Stein's "Fear Street" series and many, many others (not to mention books assigned at school!) I would also often go to the library and read books on whichever topic I happened to be "into" at the time. One time, I checked out like 15 books about dollhouses, the history of dollhouses, how to make dollhouse furniture, etc. I still don't know how I carried them all home.

I do a lot of reading nowadays--- tons of news articles (online and off), medical studies (for work), other work-related reading and of course, blogs, for fun. I don't read actual books for pleasure anymore. It's a shame because it was one of my favorite activities, but I always find other things I would rather be doing�or that need to get done (like seven loads of laundry and vacuuming endless grains of quinoa off of my hardwoods when Harper decides she's "all done"). I did start to read one book recently, recommended by my nutritionist, but I'll save that for another post.

When I was pregnant, I remember building Harper's library with old classics and new books and I couldn't wait to read to her. Though I still don't make the time for myself to read, I've enjoyed bonding through reading with Harper. I'm the type of reader who gets pretty "into it" with silly voices for different characters or parts of a book and as much enthusiasm as I can muster after working all day or before my morning coffee on the weekend.

Harper wasn't interested much in being read to (and wouldn't sit still) when she was younger. I seriously thought I was doing it wrong or something. I even remember asking on a message board at what age other mom's babies started to be interested in books. There, I realized that it was totally normal for my 4 month old not to care about or pay attention to books, but rather, enjoy chewing them. The more you know...

But at about 9 months or so, she started to pay attention to books and enjoyed them. By 10 months she downright loved them.

Now, she's obsessed with being read to. We spend a lot of time reading books, pointing things out in them, seeing if she can identify certain animals or items on pages. It's a fun way for us to spend time together and she loves it so much that she brings us book after book---and now, we can even ask her to bring us a certain book in a pile and 95% of the time she brings the right one.

Reading is even part of our morning routine---after Kevin finishes breakfast with Harper while I finish getting ready, she sits in his lap and they read together until I come downstairs. It's often a favorite moment of mine to see her sweet face look up at me as she hears me come down the stairs while they read.

We read a lot of the same books over and over and have too many to count---but I'm sharing some of Harper's favorites below!

Hello Highlights Books

This is actually a monthly subscription that Kevin's parents got for Harper and she LOVES these books. I love them too because there are lots of learning opportunities and a good mix of stories, songs and "can you find it" type pages. Highly recommend these!

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses

I love how dramatic Olivia is and the illustrations are fun. The story always makes me laugh at the end. 

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish  |  The Cat in the Hat

These are classics- my favorite is Cat in the Hat and Harper loves all of the rhyming in this one. It's just a fun story overall.

Baby Animals Fell & Find  |  Peekaboo Sophie!

Harper loves to make the animal noises of the animals in the first book and she loves to unveil the characters in the Sophie peek-a-boo book.

 Giraffes Can't Dance  |  Brown Bear Brown Bear

Giraffes can't dance is one of my all time favorite children's books. The rhyming is SO fun and the story is sweet. Brown Bear Brown Bear is one of Harper's favorites---I love the last page where we can practice identifying all of the different animals by asking her to "find the purple cat" etc...

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

This is a book I remember from my own childhood---a cute story with fun illustrations.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes  |  Love You Forever

I just love both of these books--- the first is a very cute story and we always touch and count the baby's fingers and toes--- and the second is a classic that also makes me emotional. Harper likes it when the baby throws things into the toilet, go figure.

Oh Dear, Geoffrey!

This book has the most stunning illustrations. I often think of how pretty they'd look framed in a nursery. Fun story too!

 Commotion in the Ocean

I bought this because it's the same author as Giraffes Can't Dance--- it's not as good as that book, but it's still very good and has lots of different fish and sea creatures to learn about with great little rhymes.

 Goodnight Houston  |  Go to Sleep, My Love  |  Goodnight Moon

I love all of these sleeptime books. I truly think every baby should have all three---but check first if they have a "Goodnight (Your City)" because it probably exists! Go to Sleep, My Love is just beautifully written.

The Giving Tree

I cry everytime I read the last page of this book. Sigh. It's a must-have.

What are your toddler's favorite books?!