Boston Public Library
Books for Toddlers
Booklists for Kids


Barton, Byron. THE THREE BEARS.
Bold bright illustrations and simple text make this classic perfect for a younger audience.

Calmenson, Stephanie. ZIP, WHIZ, ZOOM!
Many different vehicles take us to grandma's house.

Carle, Eric. THE VERY BUSY SPIDER.
The spider is so busy spinning his web, he can't stop to play with the farm animals.

Carroll, Kate. ONE RED ROOSTER.
Count the animals on the farm.

Demarest, Chris. NO PEAS FOR NELLIE.
Nellie would rather eat a big furry spider or a warthog than eat her peas.

Hale, Sarah. MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB.
Popular nursery rhyme illustrated with beautiful photography.

Hellen, Nancy. OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM.
With each turn of the page, animals appear in this popular sing-along book.

Jorgensen, Gail. CROCODILE BEAT.
When crocodile is awakened by the happy noise of the jungle animals, he's ready for dinner.

Krauss, Ruth. THE CARROT SEED.
Nobody thinks the carrot seed will come up, but the little boy knows better.

Martin, Bill. HERE ARE MY HANDS.
This poem celebrates hands, feet, ears, and other parts of the body.

Marzollo, Jean. PRETEND YOU'RE A CAT.
Can you meow like a cat, fly like a bird, or climb like a squirrel? Children pretend and imaginations soar.

McCarthy, Bobette. TEN LITTLE HIPPOS.
They put on a show in this counting book.

Miller, Margaret. WHERE DOES IT GO?
Children have fun finding the right and wrong places to put their possessions.

Norworth, Jack. TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME.
Sports fans of all ages will sing-along as the Brooklyn Dodgers strike out.

O'Brien, Mary. COUNTING SHEEP TO SLEEP.
Everyone on the farm goes to sleep but the sheep.

Polushkin, Maria. KITTEN IN TROUBLE.
Kitten likes to play but "oh-oh, kitten's in trouble."

Rosen, Michael. WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT.
On this beautiful day, "we're not afraid"; we're going to find a bear despite all the obstacles in our way.

Tafuri, Nancy. SPOTS, FEATHERS, AND CURLY TAILS.
A guessing book for the very young.

Van Laan, Nancy. THE BIG FAT WORM.
A big fat bird tries to eat a big fat worm when along comes a big fat cat.

Walsh, Ellen Stoll. MOUSE PAINT.
Children learn about colors in this witty cat and mouse tale.

Watanabe, Shigeo. HOW DO I PUT IT ON?
Little bear puts it on wrong and in the process teaches children how to put it on right.

Wellington, Monica. MR. COOKIE BAKER.
He makes delicious cookies for all his customers.

Wood, Audrey. SILLY SALLY.
She travels to town going backwards upside down.

Young, Ruth. GOLDEN BEAR.
He does everything with his human companion.


Compiled by Joanne Goodman, Fields Corner Branch, Boston Public Library, 1994.