Last updated on September 8th, 2023 at 02:34 pm
Reading is one of the most important skills that children learn. And it’s something that you can encourage in your children from a very young age. Keep reading to see our favorite books for one year olds.
Reading to our children has so many developmental benefits, even beginning as early as infancy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading with your children regularly to help develop “focus, curiosity, social skills, as well as expand their imagination.”
Even before babies can talk, hearing spoken language helps build their vocabulary and develops parts of the brain associated with mental imagery and understanding narratives. Not to mention, sitting together and sharing a book is invaluable bonding time with your kiddos!
Here is a list of 10 books for one year olds that will spark your child’s imagination and begin a lifelong love for books and reading. So, next time you sit down to read to your twins, consider one of these book recommendations from the Twiniversity Mom Squad.
Books for One Year Olds
1. Look Look! By Peter Linenthal
Illustrated with black, white, and red cut-paper art, this book will catch the eye of babies ready to look and learn. This book features short descriptive sentences and corresponding images of a car racing, a cat stretching, and flowers blooming.
WHY TWINIVERSITY LOVES IT: This made our list of books for one year olds because high-contrast books help babies’ eyes focus better, increasing their attention spans. Look Look! will be sure to captivate your babies through toddlerhood.
2. Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth
A cheeky story that counts down as ten little ladybugs disappear one by one- and then come back at the end!
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WHY TWINIVERSITY LOVES IT: My twins loved reading Ten Little Ladybugs as babies because they got to touch and feel the 3D ladybugs as we flipped the pages together. It was also a great way to introduce them to numbers and counting!
3. The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner
This fun pop-up book follows a frog who loves to use his wide mouth. Learn with him about the eating habits of other creatures in the great outdoors, from the blue-feathered bird to a furry brown mouse.
WHY TWINIVERSITY LOVES IT: One year olds will love the immersive effects of the 3D pop-ups, and there is a lot of opportunity for parents to do different voices while reading.
4. Always Twins by Teri Weidner
A book for twins about twins! Always Twins tells the story of duckling twins who realize although they are not always alike, they are “always twins.”
WHY TWINIVERSITY LOVES IT: I love books that highlight the unique twin relationship about being twins but also being different. Plus, your one year olds will love seeing these adorable ducklings on their twin adventure!
5. My Tree and Me by Jo Witek
A charming book about growth through the seasons and a little girl’s very special friend. Children will see this little girl’s appreciation of nature as they are also figuring out their place in their environment and how to interact with it.
WHY TWINIVERSITY LOVES IT: I personally love books that show kids the value of nature. Plus, the cutouts in the pages and whimsical illustrations are too special not to share.
6. Press Here by Herve Tullet
This interactive children’s book containing colored dots and allows you and your child to embark on an adventure together by following the instructions on the book’s pages. When you rub the dots, they change color, clap over the dots they grow, tilt the book, and the dots slide around, presenting a colorful array of images.
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WHY TWINIVERSITY LOVES IT: I love the durability of a board book, especially an interactive one! Your baby will love following the silly instructions, and it is guaranteed to evoke giggles from both of you.
7. Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox
A rhyming book about babies around the world. The illustrations show diverse pictures of babies from around the world who all have something in common: ten fingers and ten toes! Your babies will love noticing their own fingers and toes while reading this book, as it exposes them to adorable babies from a variety of backgrounds.
WHY TWINIVERSITY LOVES IT: Babies love looking at babies. This book is one of my favorites for one year olds because the rhyming is fun, and a perfect bedtime story.
8. Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett
Take your kids (and yourself) on an adventure with the Tickle Monster! This loveable monster with big puffy mitts has just flown in from Planet Tickle. His mission is to bring joy and laughter to Planet Earth. How? By tickling any child who happens to follow along in this book.
WHY TWINIVERSITY LOVES IT: We’ve all heard (and been) the tickle monster, so you know giggles and laughter are coming with this book! We love how interactive this book is; your kids will want to be the tickle monster just as much as you do!
9. I Love You So… by Marianne Richmond
This is a book about a parent’s love for their child and reassures them that you still love them no matter what–despite grouchy moods, household destruction, or physical separation.
WHY TWINIVERSITY LOVES IT: This book leaves you with all the feels! It rhymes just enough (this is not Dr. Suess), but it has meaningful words for parents and kids. It leaves your kids with the reassurance of your love but also reminds you that no matter what happens, love is what is most important!
10. The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak
A book with no pictures might seem boring. But not this one! Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. NO MATTER WHAT! Even if the words say . . .BOO BOO BUTT. This is one of those books your kids will want you to read repeatedly!
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WHY TWINIVERSITY LOVES IT: Although full of silly vocabulary, this book is cleverly written to grab the attention of even your youngest child. Plus, if you read this before bed, you’ll go to sleep with visions of giggles and laughter playing in your head. Who doesn’t want to end the day like that?
We started reading to our twins during their first year, and now they are almost three and look forward to picking out their own books from the library and reading together every night before bed (and so do I)! I hope you enjoy our list of books for one year olds as much as my twins and I have!
What are your favorite books to read to your littles?
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Maddison Ellison is a mom to vibrant and mischievous twin toddler girls. She works as a nurse in the Denver metro area and enjoys getting outside with her twins, husband, and sheepadoodle, Rosie. Maddison is inspired by health, wellness, the magic of everyday life, and of course, coffee.
