A few days ago I shared a booklist with ten books I love for newborns. Today I wanted to continue the thought of curating of a home library and share thirty books I especially love for toddlers. These are the books that somehow survive being chewed on, rained on, slept with, and carried around the house for weeks at a time.

If you want even more ideas, I also have a list of twelve additional favorites that easily could have made this one.

1. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson : A clever little mouse invents a terrifying creature to outwit predators, only to discover the Gruffalo might actually be real. This is a new favorite for us.
2. What Should Danny Do? (series)  by Adir Levy and Ganit Levy : These interactive books help toddlers and young children learn about choices and consequences in a fun “choose your own story” format.
3. Mother Bruce  by Ryan T. Higgins : A grumpy bear accidentally becomes the adoptive mother of a group of determined goslings.
4. Giraffes Can’t Dance  by Giles Andreae : A clumsy giraffe discovers that everyone can dance when they find their own rhythm.
5. The Monster at the End of This Book  by Jon Stone : Lovable Grover begs readers not to turn the pages in this hilarious and surprisingly clever interactive classic.
6. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell : A child writes to the zoo asking for a pet and receives a series of increasingly amusing animals instead. We have the lift the flap version of this.
7. Sing a Song of Seasons collected by Fiona Waters : A beautiful collection of seasonal poems that invites children to notice the quiet magic of the natural world all year long. This is a great first introduction to poetry, and the illustrations are stunning.
8. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie  by Laura Numeroff : One small favor spirals into a delightfully chaotic chain of events.
9. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey : A duck family searches for the perfect home in bustling Boston in this gentle classic about perseverance and family.
10. The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!  by Mo Willems : The hilariously dramatic Pigeon becomes obsessed with getting a puppy without understanding what puppies are actually like.
11. Press Here  by Hervé Tullet : With simple instructions and colorful dots, this interactive book feels almost magical to young children.
12. Du Iz Tak?  by Carson Ellis : Told in an invented insect language, this whimsical story celebrates curiosity, community, and imagination. Your kids will LAUGH.
13. They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel : A single cat is viewed from many different perspectives, encouraging children to think about how everyone experiences the world differently.
14. Farmhouse  by Sophie Blackall : Inspired by a real abandoned farmhouse, this richly detailed book imagines the everyday lives once lived inside its walls. I cry everytime.
15. Roxaboxen  by Alice McLerran : Based on a true childhood memory, this nostalgic story celebrates imaginative play and the worlds children create together.
16. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson : Armed with only a purple crayon, Harold draws himself into one adventure after another.
17. Corduroy  by Don Freeman : A teddy bear missing a button longs for a home and discovers the joy of being loved just as he is.
18. Anatole  by Eve Titus : A proud French mouse secretly works as a cheese taster and teaches readers about dignity and self-respect.
19. Memoirs of a Goldfish  by Devin Scillian : A goldfish’s peaceful life becomes increasingly crowded in this funny story about sharing space and family life.
20. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs  by Judi Barrett : In the town of Chewandswallow, food falls from the sky until the weather becomes dangerously delicious.
21. Horton Hears a Who!  by Dr. Seuss : Horton the elephant protects an entire tiny world living on a speck of dust, reminding readers that every person matters.
22. The Little Engine That Could  by Watty Piper : A determined little engine teaches generations of children the power of perseverance and optimism.
23. The Kissing Hand  by Audrey Penn : A mother raccoon reassures her nervous child with a simple gesture of love before school begins.
24. The Mitten  by Jan Brett : Woodland animals squeeze into a lost mitten one by one in this cozy winter folktale adaptation.
25. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!  by Jon Scieszka : The Big Bad Wolf finally gets to tell his side of the famous story in this hilarious fairy tale.
26. Good Night, Gorilla  by Peggy Rathmann : This makes me think of my nephew. He couldn’t get enough of this book! A mischievous gorilla quietly follows the zookeeper home in this nearly wordless bedtime favorite.
27. Mix It Up!  by Hervé Tullet : Children are invited to tap, shake, and mix colors in this hands-on exploration of creativity.
28. The Dot  by Peter H. Reynolds : A hesitant young artist learns that a single small mark can spark confidence and creativity. Big Bob Ross vibes.
29. Any good quality nursery rhyme collection  Look for editions with rich illustrations and complete traditional rhymes, since nursery rhymes build rhythm, memory, vocabulary, and phonological awareness in young children.
30. Z Is for Moose  by Kelly Bingham : Moose’s determination to star in every letter of the alphabet turns a simple ABC book into complete chaos. I love to give this as a birthday gift for one or two-year olds.