Best books for two-year-olds

I recently wrote about our favourite books for one-year-olds so I thought it only natural to follow up with our favourite books for two-year-olds! A two-year-old will have a slightly longer attention span, so these books are slightly longer, with a slightly more detailed story, but most importantly they are fun to read for both adults and children. It is really important that you as an adult will enjoy these stories as you will be asked to read them over and over and over again.

Hairy MacLary from Donaldson's Dairy, by Lynley Dodd is probably the book I have read the most times to my children since becoming a parent nearly 10 years ago. Everyone in our family loves it. It helps that the main character Hairy MacLary reminds us of our own dog but even so this is still a fantastic book (and series - there are many more books about these characters, all sharing the fantastic exploration of language and rhyme). Reading this book aloud is a joy. Lynley Dodd enjoys experimenting with language and is not afraid to use long words that are not often found in picture books. The dogs who all meet up and go off on a walk are all lovable, individual characters and there is a repeated refrain for children to join in with. Fantastic.

Each Peach Pear Plum, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

This is a very clever book. The rhyming text encourages children to find a particular nursery rhyme or fairytale character who is hiding in the beautiful detailed illustrations. It is fun for children to join in with the simple text, but the real fun comes from poring over the pictures and talking about the tiny details as you search for each character. A great book for language development and developing observational skills.

Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell

This is a slightly longer book and it doesn't rhyme, but the story is one that children really engage with. Three baby owls wake up one night to find their  mother has gone. The story follows them and how they deal with their anxiety - 3 different characters react in 3 different ways - and of course their mother comes back in the end. Children find this story very reassuring- mummy may go away, but she always comes back in the end. There is also a repeated refrain to join in with... "I want my mummy!" And the illustrations are beautiful.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen

This story is perfect for joining in with and acting out. It has everything: fun, excitement, adventure and even a hint of danger... Children love to run squealing from the bear at the end! The repeated refrain will stay in your head for ever, but it is a very useful one to have up your sleeve.. particularly on walks when the children might need a bit of entertainment...."We're going on a bear hunt. We're going to catch a big one. What a beautiful day. We're not scared!"

So much fun. And so many learning opportunities from drama to geography. A real gem.

Duck in the Truck, by Jez Alborough 

Another book beloved by my children, especially my son. When he  was 2 it felt like we read this book constantly. But it is fun. Duck gets his truck stuck in the mud and many other animals with their own modes of transport join in to help him free it. The rhyming is the real star of this book and helps children to join in as you read it.

So these are our favourite books for two-year-olds. What are your favourites?