10 Books Perfect for One-year-olds
One of my wishes for Sawyer is that he develops a true love for reading. It seems like kids these days so quickly become glued to the latest device - iPads, touches, TVs (read my view on that here)! Sure, there is likely a time and places for games and gadgetry, but I want the real fun and joy to come from live play and getting lost in a book. I look forward to the day that "one more" bedtime story becomes 15. I look forward to when Sawyer grads some of his favorites and runs over to me, wanting to read together.
And he certainly has enough to choose from! And while we constantly rotate the books we're reading, he has glommed on to a few favorites that he does actually point to or bring to me to read him (melts me heart every time).
While I wish I could list 25-30 books we are loving at the moment, I'll try and keep it to 10.
Sawyer's Reading list - 10 Books perfect for 1 year olds
This book is a charming introduction to colors, shapes, and animals. Each page features a different surprise where textured shapes magically turn into colorful creatures.
Sawyer loves touching all the different textures and we've learned all of the animal names (GUANAS! = iguanas, KALAS! = koalas
) and most of the shapes.
Interactive tip: I also ask Sawyer what sound all these animals make (when applicable). After we find the duck, I ask, "what sound does the duck make?" Whether he tells me or not (he normally does), I "quack, quack, quack!"
Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever
An oldie, but a goodie! We actually have the version I read as a baby. This book is requested on a daily basis and is responsible for teaching Bean more words than we can count! He finds so much delight in shouting out the words and pointing to them with pride.
Interactive tip: I ask Bean to point to words or repeat new words that I am pointing to. I say, "where's the……PUMPKIN!" and have him point to it - if he doesn't remember I say - Ah! THERE'S the pumpkin and point to it myself.
The Mister and I bought this book when Borders was going out of business and it quickly became one of Bean's favorites. It features many interactive pages with lit the flap, push tabs and turning wheels, all while learning about shapes, colors, numbers and opposites.
Interactive tip: I have Sawyer point out animals or colors that he knows on every page
I Love You Through and Through
A rhyming story of unconditional love and adorable illustrations of a toddler and a teddy bear who declare "I love you through and through!" The cute illustrations portray a young child's happy side, sad side, silly side, mad side, and more!
Interactive tip: Sawyer and I act out the pages, for example, when it says "i love your fingers," we wave our fingers. When it says "I love your mad side," we make angry faces.
Where's Spot
We actually have the board book version of this, which I recommend due to expected wear and tear. In this lift-the-flap book, we tray and find Spot, an adorable;e little doggie who's late for dinner! Is he in the piano? Is he under the stairs? After finding other familiar animals, there he is in his basket!
Interactive tip:In addition to uncovering each animal, I also make sure to say the color of the item where the animal is hiding - for example, is he under the YELLOW stairs? Sawyer also has a little Spot stuffed animal, which we bring out when we read the book.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
A classic! Children will immediately respond to Eric Carle's flat, boldly colored collages. Combined with the singsong text, it's an incredibly fun book for us to read.
Interactive tip: When I read this book to Sawyer, I turn the page a few words early so he can tell me what the animal is. For example, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? I see a red …" (turn the page!) _______ -wait for him to fill in the blank once he sees the animal. Repeat once he says it "Bird! looking at me." He gets so much fun out of this.
The Noisy Farm
The Mister and I bought this book at the same sale as "My Pets." In fact, it's made by the same publisher - igloo books. I couldn't find it anywhere other than on the UK Amazon, so that's what I've linked to above. This book became an instant favorite. It includes shakeable multi-coloured balls for making great rattling sounds and a die-cut handle makes the book portable and easy to carry.
Interactive tip:After we read each page, we identify the color of the animals and then count them. Then at the end of the book when it reads "the goat, ducks and piglets say bye-bye!" I say "let's wave bye-bye to the piglets, say bye-bye!" and we wave. This was when Sawyer said "bye-bye" for the first time
If Waffles Were Like Boys
Such a whimsical book - perfect for your little adventurer! I LOVE books that are aimed at boys and this one did not dissapoint. Perfect for bedtime (although we read it all day, as well!), this funny and tender celebration of boyhood will have you seeing their world in a whole new way.
Interactive tip: On each page, we find other items that we know and point to them. Bean also loves saying "Woah!" when we get to the fireworks page.
On The Night you Were Born
This book is still a bit long for Sawyer, but it is my absolute favorite. A truly beautiful story that nearly brings me to tears every time I read it. Sometimes he'll sit through the whole thing and it is such a treat!
Where Is Baby's Belly Button
Karen Katz's adorable babies play peekaboo in this delightful interactive book. The sturdy format and easy-to-lift flaps are perfect for parents and children to share.
Interactive tip: When we find the baby's eyes in the book, I ask Bean, "Where are Mama's eyes? Where are Sawyer's eyes?" and we point to them. Same for nose, hands, etc.
Bonus Pick - any of the "Bugs" books by David Carter. Sawyer LOVES these books and they really should make the list. But most of them are at Grandma's house so they are easy to forget about. But please check them out - you and your kids will love them.
I could truly go on and on about many other books that we love, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few favorites, but at the risk of writing my own novel, I tried to keep it short. We certainly have seasonal favorites that we bring out according to the upcoming holiday (like Easter Bugs!), but these are the ones that Sawyer comes back to over and over and over again.
Do you have any books to add to the list? Please share!
Be sure to also check out our Spring reading list!
Shannon is a first-time mom and the founder and creator of The Daily Balance , a Web site updated daily with advice, tips and personal stories to help others find balance in their lives. From food to fashion, motherhood, fitness, inspiration and recipes, The Daily Balance is the perfect tool for those who "want it all."
