Best books for 2-year-olds

  • 1 to 3 years

Two-year-olds can often follow a simple story and love joining in with lively actions or guessing what will happen on the next page. Stories are a fantastic – and fun – way to introduce toddlers to everyday activities, too. Here’s our pick of brilliant books we think your child will love.

  • Follow the Trail: Minibeasts

    by DK 

    2022 2 to 4 years 

    • Board books
    • Interactive
    • Non-fiction

    This fun book offers lots of interaction, from the trails (which are great for fine motor skills and getting used to tracing, a precursor to learning to write) to the information about the natural world. 

  • Where’s Mr Lion

    2017 0 to 4 years 

    • Board books
    • Interactive
    • Picture books

    Five beautifully illustrated spreads show a series of friendly savannah animals hiding behind bright felt flaps. You’re in for a treat on the final page too.… There’s a mirror!

  • Fox’s Socks

    by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler 

    2015 0 to 6 years 

    • Board books
    • Classics
    • Interactive
    • Poetry and rhyme

    Mr Fox has lost his socks! Where could they be? A getting dressed’ book, a hide-and-seek book and a lift-the-flap book, all rolled into one! The ultimate question, of course, is will Fox find his socks?

  • The Elephant and the Bad Baby

    by Elfrida Vipont, illustrated by Raymond Briggs 

    1973 0 to 4 years 

    • Classics
    • Picture books

    One day, an elephant offers a baby a ride through the town, and the set off on a great adventure.

  • How to Brush Your Teeth with Snappy Croc

    by Georgie Birkett, illustrated by Georgie Birkett 

    2015 0 to 4 years 

    • Board books
    • Poetry and rhyme

    The little girl in this delightful board book takes Snappy Croc through each teeth-cleaning step: from squeezing out the toothpaste to brushing round and round, and showing off her sparkling smile at the end.

  • Dinosaur Roar!

    by Henrietta Stickland, illustrated by Paul Stickland 

    2016 0 to 6 years 

    • Classics
    • Interactive
    • Picture books

    This book is an absolute winner, which soon has toddlers joining in with the rhyming words – and admiring the fabulous dinosaur pictures. 

  • Old Macdonald Had a Farm

    by Camilla Reid, illustrated by Jill Howarth 

    2024 2 to 4 years 

    • Board books
    • Interactive
    • Poetry and rhyme

    Young children will love singing along to the familiar nursery rhyme Old Macdonald while learning to count to five in this delightful, interactive board book.  

  • Suki Cat Astronaut

    by Grace Habib 

    2024 2 to 4 years 

    • Board books
    • Interactive

    Help Suki zoom to the moon by pushing and pulling the sliders. Interactive and with charming illustrations, this would be perfect for sharing with toddlers. 

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar

    by Eric Carle 

    1994 2 to 6 years 

    • Classics
    • Picture books

    Little fingers will love to follow the very hungry caterpillar as he munches his way through the pages of this classic, colourful, interactive picture book.

  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

    by Bill Martin, Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle 

    2007 2 to 9 years 

    • Classics
    • Picture books
    • Poetry and rhyme

    An all-time favourite that introduces different colours through simple text, presented in a satisfyingly repetitive pattern.

  • WOW! Said the Owl

    by Tim Hopgood 

    2016 2 to 6 years 

    • Board books

    Everyone knows that owls are nocturnal but one curious little owl decides to take a long nap at night so she can stay awake during the day.

  • Have You Seen Elephant?

    by David Barrow 

    2015 2 to 6 years 

    • Around the world
    • Funny
    • Picture books

    This hilarious book – about an elephant who wants to play hide and seek – will delight children and adults with its offbeat humour and beautiful illustration.

  • A Busy Day for Birds

    by Lucy Cousins 

    2017 2 to 6 years 

    • Picture books

    This is a bright, lively book, full of cheerful rhyme about the many different kinds of birds in the world. It is drawn with very distinct pop-art colours that really zing and grab your attention from the get-go.