10 Best Board Books for Toddlers
Updated 04 September 2020
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Author
Daniel is our primary content producer here at TheToyZone. He is a big kid at heart and a self confessed geek. His mission is to find toys that kids will treasure, researching and writing about toys he wants to play with himself.
Finding suitable reading material for a toddler isn‘t an easy task. They are just as likely to eat the thing as they are to look at it. So with that in mind, board books are the ideal solution. Their thick paperboard construction makes them durable (not edible) and the colorful illustrations are perfect to water the little one‘s flowering imagination.
But how do you find the perfect board book to gift? Look no further, we‘ve done the research and found the 10 best on the market. Our list features the books with the strongest reviews from parents and removed any with multiple fake reviews. Read on to find out which books made our list!
1Dream Big, Little One (Vashti Harrison)
This book is meant to introduce children to 18 historical trailblazing black women. It is easy for toddlers to hold with small hands. Plus, it is filled with beautiful illustrations designed to spark a toddler's imagination.
What we love
- The book has 26 beautifully illustrated pages
- It shows how women have contributed to the world for generations
What We Don't Like That Much
- It only comes in board book form
2If Animals Said I Love You (If Animals Kissed Good Night)
This is a beautifully illustrated book that follows the love of different animals and their babies. Each page has an easy to read passage to help toddlers learning to read and it uses an easy to read font.
What we love
- This book has a total of 24 pages
- It is made from quality board material
What We Don't Like That Much
- This book is apart of a series, but it is sold separately
3The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a classic childhood book that comes with bright and vibrant illustrations with a fun storyline. It contains punched holes in the pages that follow the caterpillar’s journey of eating, which is entertaining for most toddlers.
What we love
- This book comes with a total of 26 pages
- It is made from high-quality board material
What We Don't Like That Much
- It comes in board and paperback form, but they do not provide the same experience
4Where's Spot?
Where's Spot? is a traditional toddler's book that helps to promote curiosity. It is brightly illustrated with vibrant colors to keep their attention. Plus, it comes in board book form that is durable for toddlers to play with and enjoy without ripping out the pages.
What we love
- Each book is made from durable board material
- Every page gives the toddler a new sense of curiosity
What We Don't Like That Much
- The flaps inside the book could be thicker
5The Going-To-Bed Book
This book is designed to help toddlers prepare for bed. It goes over different routines and it is an excellent book that they will enjoy learning to read with you at bedtime.
What we love
- This book is illustrated with soft colors to be soothing at bedtime
- It follows a family in their nightly bedtime routine
What We Don't Like That Much
- The pages could be thicker to make them easier to turn
6Where Is Baby's Belly Button? A Lift-the-Flap Book
This is a brightly illustrated board book that is designed with easy-to-lift flaps, making it interactive for toddlers. It comes with a total of 14 pages and it can also be purchased in hardback if desired.
What we love
- The book provides an interactive experience for toddlers
- It was written by a well-known children's book author, Karen Katz
What We Don't Like That Much
- It is part of a series, but it is sold separately
7Peek-a Who? (Lift the Flap Books, Interactive Books for Kids, Interactive Read Aloud Books)
This book follows an owl character with a catchy rhyming text that is memorable for toddlers. It comes in board and hardcover form and each page is beautifully illustrated with unique peek-a-boo cutouts to add a little something extra to the reading experience.
What we love
- This board book comes with a total of 10 pages
- All the words revealed in the cutouts rhyme with the word "Who"
What We Don't Like That Much
- The board pages could be thicker
8Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book
This is a lift the flap book that introduces toddlers to various popular animals that can be found in the zoo. They used beautiful illustrations for the pages and an easy font to make it easier for toddlers to follow the works and read them.
What we love
- This book comes with 18 pages
- It is one of the best board books for toddlers because it introduces them to different animals
What We Don't Like That Much
- This book only comes in board and hardcover form
9Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (Board Book)
This book was written to help toddlers with their alphabet. It was illustrated by Lois Ehlert, a bold and cheerful Caldecott Honor illustrator. Each page is designed to bring the alphabet to life to make it enjoyable to learn with various rhymes.
What we love
- This book uses rhymes to help toddlers learn their alphabet
- It can even be chanted like a song
What We Don't Like That Much
- This book can only be purchased as a board book or for Kindle
10The Story of Rock
This book was written to teach toddlers about the history of rock and covers various famous musicians, like Elvis Presley and David Bowey. Each page is illustrated to provide toddlers with a creative way to learn about some of this music genre's history.
What we love
- The book has a total of 24 pages
- It was written for toddlers whose parents love rock and music and want their toddlers to learn
What We Don't Like That Much
- It is a part of a music book set, but all other additions are sold separately
