25 Best Books for Babies and Toddlers 2025

Animals Everywhere packs six vibrantly illustrated scenes with foldout pages and flaps that in our testing really pull kids into exploring habitats and naming animals—practical for vocabulary and focus-building play. We found the format encourages attention to detail as little hands open each reveal, but during our review the 12-page length felt brief for extended storytime and the 10.75" x 7.25" size may be cumbersome for toddlers to handle independently. Also note it may be a pre-order, so availability can be limited.

Gruffalo’s rhythmic rhymes and repetitive structure make it a favorite for boosting phonological awareness and helping little ones predict text—our testing confirmed toddlers love joining in on the cadence. The vibrant illustrations add theatrical flair and support comprehension, but during our review the predictability can feel repetitive after many readings and some families mentioned the creature’s description might be slightly scary for very young children. It’s a strong read-aloud pick if you want lively engagement with occasional spooky fun.

Dear Zoo Board Book is a compact classic that in our testing hooked toddlers with its sturdy flaps and repetitive storyline—perfect for naming animals and building early vocabulary. We found the interactive flaps make read-alouds playful and support memory through repetition, but our experience shows the flaps can be delicate and the slightly sharp edges may be a concern for babies, so supervise little ones. It’s ideal for short lapsit sessions as long as you check for wear.

Monkey Puzzle offers a warm, problem-solving tale with beautiful illustrations that in our testing kept toddlers engaged as the story teaches about different animals and their traits. We found the repetition supports memory and predictable structure helps early listeners follow along, but during our review some families said the plot grows predictable and the repeated refrain may feel too simplistic for older toddlers; it also lacks pop-ups or flaps for tactile play. Still, it’s a reliable read for animal-spotting and early comprehension.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea is a whimsical picture book whose charming illustrations and silly premise, during our review, prompted imaginative play and conversation at storytime. We found it’s excellent for encouraging creative thinking and acting out scenes, but our experience shows some readers spot dated gender-role undertones and question the lack of consequences for the tiger’s messier behavior. For home reading it’s a fun, theatrical choice—just be ready to discuss manners and sharing if kids ask.

Shark at Sister Tea (Hardcover) offers a poetic, gentle read with soft watercolor illustrations that, during our review, added charm and lullaby-like cadence to storytime. We found the lyrical language elevates the narrative and makes it a soothing pick for quiet moments, especially when you want something calm and reflective. That said, our experience shows the ambiguous ending may leave some families wanting closure, so be prepared to discuss the finale with curious toddlers after the last page.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes charms with rhythmic, rhyming text and charming illustrations that celebrate babies from many cultures — in our testing we found its repetition is soothing for bedtime and perfect for playful finger-and-toe interactions. Our experience shows the book’s diverse depictions help broaden early cultural awareness, but some readers noted illustrations risk stereotyping, and the focus on 'ten little fingers and ten little toes' may unintentionally exclude children with physical differences. Still, it’s a warm, cuddly read for laps and nursery routines.

George & Lenny tackles friendship and personal space with a simple, thoughtful story — during our review we found the message about boundaries lands well for toddlers learning social cues. The minimalist illustrations support the text but our experience shows they may not satisfy readers who prefer richer artwork, and the story’s simplicity could underwhelm older children seeking more complex plots. Practically, this is a nice short read to start conversations about sharing and respecting feelings during playdates or circle time.

Wolfie the Bunny blends humor and gentle mischief to explore new-sibling dynamics, and in our testing the imaginative illustrations and playful storyline helped children relate to jealousy and acceptance. We found the antics spark giggles and good conversation at storytime, though our experience shows the implied threat of violence may unsettle some parents of very young readers. Still, it’s a clever pick for families preparing for a new baby or for toddlers who enjoy slightly edgier humor wrapped in warm family themes.

Mustache Duckstache is a playful, illustration-forward pick whose humorous art really draws giggles — during our review we found kids light up at the expressive faces and silly situations. Because the book relies on minimal text, it’s excellent for very young listeners and visual storytelling, but our experience shows early readers hoping for practice may find it lacking and some readers felt the ending is abrupt. If you want a short, laugh-out-loud lap read or an expressive prop for acting-out faces, we found it’s perfect for quick car rides, daycare transitions, or as a silly mood-lifter.

Opposites is a bright, hands-on intro to basic concepts—during our review we loved the colorful art and lift-the-flap elements that make learning tactile and engaging for toddlers. We found the interactive flaps are great for short shared sessions and support vocabulary building, but our experience shows the delicate flaps can tear with enthusiastic handling and the concept may feel simplistic once kids grasp it quickly. For early learning routines it’s practical, just keep an eye on wear-and-tear.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt: My First 123 turns the classic into a hands-on counting primer—in our testing the finger trails are a standout, helping kids trace numerals and begin writing. We found the colorful, detailed illustrations keep little eyes engaged during number play, but our experience shows this edition has only a thin tie to the original story and a near rhyme in the middle can interrupt read-aloud flow. It's most useful for number practice rather than narrative continuity.

Maisy Big, Maisy Small is a bright, colorful board book that uses bold illustrations to teach opposites, and in our testing those visuals really helped little ones grasp contrasting ideas. We found the art is cheerful and attention-holding for lapsit sessions, but our experience shows some opposite pairs aren’t true opposites and that could confuse beginners. The book’s length is also on the long side for babies, so I’d recommend it for slightly older toddlers who can handle a longer read.

First 100 Words is a budget-friendly, photo-driven board book whose vibrant colors and sturdy pages help toddlers link everyday words to real objects — in our testing the clear photos supported early language and pointing. We found the tactile board construction stands up to rougher handling, which makes this a practical grab-and-go for outings. That said, our experience shows some content feels dated (rotary phones, cassette players), so pair it with contemporary picture books to reflect kids’ current surroundings.

Where Is Baby's Belly Button?: 25th Anniversary Edition is a classic lift-the-flap favorite whose interactive design and vibrant illustrations made it a hit in our testing for teaching body parts playfully. We found kids light up at the flaps and the short, tactile format is ideal for busy laps and quick learning bursts. That said, our experience shows the flaps can tear with rough handling and some readers find the book too short or small, so it’s best for supervised, short sessions or as a stocking stuffer.

Love You Forever remains a powerful pick for quiet bedtime moments; during our review we found its repetitive lullaby and heartfelt lines make it an emotional go-to for showing enduring parental love. The book’s ability to evoke strong sentimental responses is a practical benefit when you want comfort or night-time routine consistency. That said, our experience shows the mother’s later actions and some illustrations strike readers as unsettling, so prepare for mixed reactions in group or classroom settings.

Blueberries for Sal charms with its gentle tale and quaint illustrations; we found the mix-up between a child and a bear cub creates just enough suspense to keep toddlers engaged. In our testing the book’s black-and-white illustrations were evocative and nostalgic, though our experience shows kids used to vivid color might take time to warm up to the palette. Also keep in mind the story’s cozy human-bear interaction could give younger listeners unrealistic ideas about wildlife, so use it as a conversation starter.

The Snowy Day shines with simple, relatable text and timeless, captivating illustrations that in our testing resonated across ages and cultures. We found its gentle pacing works wonderfully for calm storytime and for introducing seasonal vocabulary, though during our review some parents said the narrative can lack excitement for older toddlers and the minimalistic art may not hold every child’s attention. Use it as a cozy read that sparks conversation about weather and sensory experiences.

Touch & Feel Stroller Book - Animals is a clever travel companion: in our testing the bright colors, cute illustrations, and soft elastic strap made it easy to attach to strollers and keep little hands entertained on the go. We found the strap is a practical feature for walks and errands, but our experience shows some pages lack tactile elements and the textures can be too subtle for sustained interest. Because it’s short, it’s best as a quick distraction during outings rather than a primary playbook at home.

Touch & Feel Farm Book is a compact, sturdy board book with bright illustrations and a handful of textures that engage little fingers — during our review we appreciated the durable cardboard construction and travel-friendly size. We found the tactile bits capture attention on short trips, but our experience shows some pages offer limited or minimal textures that aren’t always distinguishable, which might disappoint kids expecting more sensory variety. It’s a solid pick for on-the-go play, but plan to supplement with richer tactile toys at home.

See, Touch, Feel by Priddy packs tactile fun into a durable board book—during our review we found the variety of textures and bright images engage babies and toddlers and stand up to rough handling. The interactive bits make it useful for quick sensory sessions, but our experience shows it can be heavy for little hands and the short page count won’t hold older toddlers for long. Some parents said a few textures aren’t very pronounced, so pair this with other tactile toys to extend play and exploration.

Goodnight Moon Padded Board Book keeps the classic bedtime rhyme in a toddler-friendly, durable format — in our testing the padded board stood up to rough handling and the soothing rhythm worked well for winding down. We found the illustrations still captivate young readers, though our experience shows some copies arrive with minor damage and certain pages in black-and-white may not engage every child. If you want a sturdy, familiar bedtime read, this edition is a practical, low-mess option for nightly routines.

Hello, Bedtime’s high-contrast black-and-white illustrations are designed to captivate newborns and support early visual development; in our testing we found the simple shapes and greetings work great for short lapsit sessions. The sturdy board construction with rounded corners feels durable and safe for curious little hands, which makes it a practical pick for the first months. Our experience shows the limited color palette and the use of multiple languages can confuse older babies as they begin to notice more hues, so it’s best as an early visual starter rather than a long-term favorite.