Top five storybooks for toddlers

With Christmas looming, I thought I’d recommend a few of our favourite storybooks, in case any of you are in need of stocking filler ideas.

Topping the list in our house at the moment is a book called “Ssssh! Duck Don’t Wake the Baby” It’s all about poor Duck who just wants to go for a drive in his truck with his friend Goat. But he has to wait while Goat looks after Baby. First Baby is playing with his toys, then Baby has to have his milk, and finally Baby has to go to sleep. Goat asks Duck to help clean up while Baby sleeps. But can Duck put everything away without waking the Baby?! Little Man loves this story – especially the unexpected pop-up surprise towards the end.

Next on our list is the story of The Crunching Munching Caterpillar. The little caterpillar nibbles his way through leaf after leaf, all the while wishing he could be just like a beautiful bird and fly. One day he meets a friendly butterfly who seems to know a secret he doesn’t. The caterpillar gets very tired from all the crunching and munching and falls fast asleep. And do you know what happened when he woke up? We do!! This is a lovely story but bright colourful illustrations to grab any toddler’s attention.

Actually I have a confession to make here. The Gruffalo isn’t one of Little Man’s favourites – it’s one of mine. Little Man would rather read his Fireman Sam annual than read this – but if it’s my turn to pick a book this is one of my first choices. I just love reading the sing-song rhyme and following the little mouse as he journeys through the woods outwitting all the creatures that he meets along the way. Some books were meant to be read aloud and The Gruffalo is definitely one of them.

Next on our list is Tombliboo Trousers on the Ninky Nonk, a storybook from the In the Night Garden collection. This book was the very first storybook that Little Man started personally requesting we read to him. And as soon as we finished it, he’d ask us to read it “again, again!” It can be a tongue twister in places because things in the Night Garden have such funny names, the Tombliboos included! But it’s one I enjoy reading aloud – and that’s saying something given how many times I’ve read it!

Last on our list of current favourites is a classic given the “Touch ‘n’ Feel” treatment. The Three Little Pigs was one of my favourites when I was little, so I’m delighted that it’s one of Little Man’s favourites too.

So those are just five of our favourites at the moment. What storybooks does your little one love? Any recommendations for us to add to our bedtime story collection?