Which are the Best Toddler Stories
for Two-Year-Olds?

Two-year-olds love quality toddler stories!

Through caring for toddlers in nurseries (daycare) for years I have observed the reactions of hundreds of two-year-olds to many different toddler stories.

Below you'll find a child book review for some of the toddler books I've come across. I have especially picked firm favourites of many two-year-olds as well as pointing out problematic features to avoid.

I've also worked with many one-year-olds as well. I have found that generally one-year-olds prefer more simple stories than two-year-olds. (Of course, there's always exceptions.) If you have a one-year-old in mind, here's my reviews of stories for one-year-olds.

Would you like to check out educational toddler book reviews too?

For your convenience, there's two links to find each of the books. Choosing either the UK or USA version would hopefully save you on postage.

Have a browse through these children's book reviews and see if any would suit your toddler.

Educational Toddler Stories

Pros: Two years old is a perfect age to start to use stories to prepare and reflect on new experiences. Since birthday parties have specific rituals that are usually similar, reading about one can really help your toddler make sense of them, even after they've been to a few.

This toddler story follows Nellie and Ned though the whole process of receiving an invitation, making costumes, buying a present and the party at Larry's house.

This book can also grow with your child and help them through the initial stages of learning to read. Each page has a short sentence at the top and more detail at the bottom, so later on both of you may like to read it together.

Cons: Even though it says it's been updated, except for the cover it still looks the same as when I read it as a child (as far as I can remember, anyway). So the parents are Mr and Mrs Dunn and things look a little dated, but I don't think toddlers notice.

With so many parties happening at play centres, this book won't prepare a toddler for every party but at least it's a good starting point for a discussion about them.

Going to a Party (UK) Going to a Party (USA)

Doctor Daisy (Hardcover)
By Mandy Ross and Emma Dodd
Rating: 9/10

Pros: This toddler story was very popular with a 2 year old group in a nursery (day care center). It's Heart Healthy Day so Doctor Daisy goes on a jog then checks people's hearts throughout the day. There is a surprise as she sees Farmer Fred, as he has his pet mouse in his chest pocket. The toddlers enjoyed the steady pace of most of the story and got excited by the climax.

Cons: I was a little disappointed that it didn't give more insight into the other common practises children experience at the doctor. I have heard of two years olds loving a couple of other simple stories about doctors, which give a little more information. Maybe this is a better toddler story though.

Doctor Daisy (UK) Doctor Daisy (USA)

Fun Toddler Stories

Pros: I pretty much knew this and other Apple Tree Farm books off by heart, since two year olds asked me to read them so much. The title pretty much tells the story, but toddlers do like simplicity, don't they?!

This also has a short sentence at the top and more detail at the bottom of each page. So in a couple of years or so both of you might like to read it together. Even if children's tastes change they may seek the comfort of a familiar story to help them though the challenge of learning to read.

Cons: I can't think of any!

Woolly Stops the Train (UK) Woolly Stops The Train (USA)

Ted in a Red Bed (Paperback)
By Jenny Tyler and Stephen Cartwright
Rating: 7/10

Pros: Ted in a Red Bed is part of Usborne's Phonics Readers series. Each book focuses on a different rhyming patten, which helps children's awareness of phonics. Even though the publisher suggests that they're for three-year-olds and older, I've found two-year-olds enjoy this simple story and I've heard it's too simple for some four-year-olds.

It's a cute toddler story though. Ted goes to buy a bed and while trying them out he falls asleep in the one he wants. Ted dreams he's floating around a river and then awakes up to find that he has been delivered home with his bed. It has clear, colourful illustrations too.

Cons: Dr. Maria Montessori taught that we should provide young children stories which help them make sense of the world. Unfortunately this book tells toddlers that teddy bears and other animals talk and act like humans.

Animal characters in children's books are common practice, but I think we should try to see it from their perspective, keeping in mind that children cannot reason until six years old.

Ted in a Red Bed (UK) Ted in a Red Bed (USA)

Pros: This book actually has two versions, for the UK and USA. The American one is called Where's My Mom?. It's very handy as the word Mum or Mom this featured on every page.

I've observed two-year-olds love this simple and repetitive story. The baby monkey has lost his mother in the jungle and a butterfly tries to help. She asks what his Mum/Mom looks like but with the vague descriptions the baby monkey gives, the butterfly keeps on being mistaken until the end, where the butterfly explains that her babies don't look like her.

This toddler story is helpful in teaching descriptive and comparison words as well as the animals and other objects in the jungle. I love the realistic illustrations too.

Cons: I'm glad the animals are shown in their natural habits. It's a shame they're talking, but the story wouldn't work if they didn't, neither if they were humans.

Monkey Puzzle (UK) Where's My Mom? (USA)

Toddler Stories with a Difference

Pros: This is an excellent children's book! I've seen children from two to six year olds pour over this book for ages and return to it often.

You Choose is packed full of clear, colourful illustrations from volcanos to clogs and everything in between. Since childhood is a time of limited freedom, children feel empowered by being able to choose every aspect of their lives in this book. Even toddlers can get involved with this interactive child's story book.

As fun discussion naturally develops, it's perfect for extending their vocabulary. It is also an awesome tool for growing imaginations as many children use the pictures to create stories and games.

Cons: The cat talks but ah well, he only plays a small part in the whole thing. The pros definitely outweigh the cons so I'm giving it full marks anyway.

You Choose (UK) You Choose (USA)

Pros: Young children love to see what they experience reflected in books. Bedtime! is also a perfect introduction to different cultures. Each page features a clear yet true to life photograph of different children from all around the world with either a question or statement underneath.

The simple theme of getting ready for bed helps little ones to see that there's similarities between each of us as well as differences. The toddlers I shared it with were really engaged with it too.

Cons: I can't think of any!

Bedtime! (UK) Bedtime (USA)

I hope you found the reviews of these toddler stories useful.

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