Congratulations on surviving the first year of parenthood. Let’s face it the first year of parenting is toughest. We parent barely endure the eat-pee-poop cycle, then we jump to the baby meals, erratic sleeping patterns. End up having messy hair, dried puke PJs, and sleepless days. By the way, has anyone ever mentioned that you should also read books to your 1 year old is beneficial?
You might be saying, wait what.
We all are aware of book reading benefits in school-going children, and grownups. But many miss out that even young children need books. Before welcoming a baby at home, we prepare the home, make space in the room. We work on medical needs, read several parenting books to stay aware. In many cultures, an expecting mother hears soothing music or spiritual prayers like Garba Sanskar. But after the baby enters life we fall in the restless cycle, knowingly or unknowingly. Slow down there. Breathe.
Some of the developmental milestones to be achieved by your baby in the next 12 months are
- More independence. From crawlers, they would turn walkers and runners in the next few months.
- Communicate with words and gestures. Understand simple directions like “please sit down”.
- Show love to parents, caregivers, and familiar faces. In the meantime, begins separation anxiety.
- React to familiar words, stories, and songs.
- Connect the pictures with words.
- When frustrated expresses tantrums.
Why read books to your 1 year olds?
Reading books along with the above milestones gives an extra edge to a child’s development. Reading books aloud to babies is often related to their social and emotional development. Add thinking skills to it too.
Kids are absorbing new words daily as we talk with them. With books, they can give a picture of their words. It would boost their imagination when they recognize colors, shapes, letters, numbers, and read stories.
Related – Book for babies 0-12 months
How to choose the right books?
While selecting books for 1 year old child remember their abilities. Kids of this age are developing their pincer grasp, picking objects with thumb and a finger. They would like to turn pages of books. So, the pages should be strong enough to tolerate their exploration. It should be brightly illustrated and attractive for the child.
This is the age when kids attain a sense of familiarity with animal or bird characters, or screen characters like Peppa or adults in familiar roles. Hence stories around them do interest the child. Further theme books with related pictures and words are also liked by kids.
Repetition is another key. Songbooks and stories with simple plots are good choices.
Around 18 months or so children grow up to understand the cause and effect stories, like a situation and how the character overcomes it. A little more text than previous months is welcomed as well.
When to read books to children?
Any time of the day! Most prefers bedtime reading as that soothes children. That’s the reason it is often included in the night rituals of many families.
Many children enjoy reading while sitting on a parent’s lap (our almost 4 years old still loves it that way) or comfortably nearby. A way to connect with pictures as parent points and show them, making a fun experience.
Read aloud, make funny noises, silly expressions, or the one that goes with the book and let the child join you.
Months before the child turn two, you might notice a child taking lead in book reading. Filling words in paused sentences and more.
Oh yes, you would be reading those books in loop for number of times for days, even months. Enjoy reading, rereading books for your 1 year olds.
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20 amazing books for your 1 year old
Here are some wonderful books to add to your little one’s library. Enjoy reading them with your little one.
Moo Baa La La La:
Animals are the most loved characters by children. Sandra Boyton created this fun book perfect to read out loud. Go silly as you make animal sounds till the surprising singing pigs go la la la. A great book to engage and interact with young readers.
Where is Baby’s Belly Button?:
An easy to flap interactive book where little readers are asked about the baby’s body parts. The illustrations are charming and depict children from various ethnic groups. The is much loved at our home.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?:
Eric Carle’s books are perfect for children of this age. A simple yet beautiful book. The reader sees various colorful animals popping up in pages. Each animal describes other animals/birds they are looking at the moment. An instant hit for us and still read frequently.
First 100 words:
A nonfiction book that covers everyday familiar words and help children grow their vocabulary. Children would appreciate the less-in-more real pictures used in the book. The bright colored book is a page-turner for children.
Are you there little tiger?:
Usborne books are ideal for kids. Little tiger is hiding and reader has to seek. Children will love peeping through the holes and exploring the textured pages in this hide-and-seek board book. On the way they could spot monkeys, bears and more. There is a series of books from Usborne, and for kids who enjoyed That’s not my series would love this.
My Little Carry Book Things That Go by DK Books:
Kids love vehicles, don’t they? Introduce them to 10 moving vehicles with shiny images, and rhyming words. A feature that might make this book a hit is it bright handle, good enough to pretend to carry as a bag.
Peek a Who?:
A board book with colorful images, rhyming easy words, and a surprise mirror at the end. The book has it all. Little readers have to guess what’s hiding on the next page.
Owl Babies:
One of the cutest book ever. One night three owl babies wake up to find their mother is not present next to them. Together they wait and wonder about her return. Stunning illustrations showing the dark night and three worried babies waiting for their mother. It is a gentle story of reassurance that children need on separation from parents. Yes, you heard the book around separation anxiety. A great conversation starter.
Chocolate Mousse for Greedy Goose:
Julia Donaldson’s books are much much loved at our home. The books just like this have endearing illustrations, repetitive words, and silly stories. Welcome to the chaotic dinner party. There are hot macaroni, carrots, and chocolate mousse for all. Sadly, some animals have forgotten table manners. But the little reader would relate with them. Giggles assured.
Hug:
Pictures say a thousand words and this book is a perfect example. Almost wordless book with delightful illustrations says it all. A lovely tale of love and care in the community, interpret as home. A lonely chimp is lost in the jungle and needs a hug. Children would empathize and love Bobo.
One Mole Digging A Hole:
Spring is here and animals are working in the garden. Another Julia Donaldson book filled with rhyming words and beautiful illustrations by Nick Sharratt. The book encourages the reader to read along and count animals /birds along.
Monkey Puzzle:
A little monkey is separated from his mother and a butterfly helps him. A sweet, funny, and of course with rhyming texts for little readers. The reunion tale is poetic and shares a message – of how miscommunication and assumptions divert us from our need.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom:
An alphabet story where lowercase letters race to climb up the coconut tree. Eventually, they fall, and their relative, uppercase letter rescues them. A fun story without a dialogue yet engaging letter pictures. Perfect to use for years and start learning alphabets.
Counting kisses:
A sweet story about kisses a baby needs to fall asleep. Perfect for bedtime reading. Learn and talk about numbers in the cutest way.
Ten little fingers and ten little toes:
The charming book with simple verses and lovely drawings of adorable children would attract readers. The underlying message of we all are similar despite our physical appearance makes the book endearing.
Up up up down:
A lovely book about a dad and a toddler covering their day with the concept of opposite like up and down, yum or yuck. Another favorite aspect of the book is showcasing a working mother and stay at home father. It celebrates fatherhood breaking stereotypes.
Press here:
The interactive book is about cause and effect in the simplest yet engaging manner. Each page instructs the reader and sees the magic happen next. The unique book encompassing the power of imagination would be loved. A good investment for years to come.
Guess which hand:
Fun to read and playbook. It c
Potty:
Kids have laughs reserved when you talk about pee or poop. This book has led many kids to get interested in the potty seats. How? You have to get a copy and try.
On the night you were born:
The book is beautiful. Every parent loves their baby and this book expresses the emotion in verses. It would turn parents emotional. But wait this is a children’s book. Right? The book is whimsical with enthralling pictures. Parents might save this one for years to come and reread aloud.
Guess how much I love you:
For bedtime, this is your go-to book. A simple story of the love of a parent and child. No matter how much the children love you, a parent’s love can’t be measured.
For our child we started collecting these age appropriate books once he turned about 7 months or so. Keeping these books handy before we actually started reading helped us.
Picture credit – Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
We have a good number of books for this age group but not every child needs lots and lots of books. Keep reading the same book for long before introducing a couple more to the bookshelf. Oh did you realized we have actually shared about 21 books? As we couldn’t resist sharing the last one.
Wow, so many options. My son is 1.5 now and I can choose few from your list . And yes, putting reading habit during childhood is important.
Happy reading!
This is such a useful link for new parents. We have many of these titles which my son loved as a kid. I had to search a lot to find which books to buy when he was a baby. Such a. List is so handy.
Glad to hear this!
books are an absolute must have as part of growing up. great selection of books you have recommended. definitely sharing this.
Happy to hear this.
That’s very helpful tips that not every child needs lots of book. This list of book 1year comes handy. Bookmarking this post for future reference.
Thank you!
It is a great collection of books for a 1-year-old toddler. To introduce reading in kids good and eye-catchy books are very important where lots of pictures tell the story itself.
Agree!! Thanks for reading!
Books are colorful and child like to flip the pages and develop the motor skill too. Liked your suggestions in the post, shall gift to my cousin child.
Thank you!
Such an exhaustive list of books, I am sure kids would love reading and imagining these amazing read in their growing years. Books are the best way to bond and creative imaginative skills in kids.
Thank you, Dipika!
Oh my God..noooo! The first year is the easiest! It only gets tougher later!!! Having said that, thanks a lot for sharing such a good list of books ?
At times I have this conflict in mind, which age is easiest as a parent. 😉
I so agree with you on this even I used to read books to my 1 year old. No doubt he loves reading books by himself today. To be honest from these books that you have mentioned my son would surely pick 1-2 still.
Isn’t it so satisfying to watch kids loving books?
This post reminded me of all our sounds and board books we had. My son loved those velcro cloth books and touch and feel, push and pull books, these are some great recommendations and we can see few of our favourites too 🙂
Glad to hear that, Gunjan. 🙂
I am in a mom’s group! I just realised that 🙂 I am a grandmother now and I love reading to my grandsons. Amazing collection you have listed out in detail.
Thanks for visiting 🙂
I have read to my son ever since he was in my womb, and I believe it is incredibly important to read to them from the beginning. Glad to see that most of these books are in my son’s library.
That’s wonderful, Noor.
That is quite a comprehensive list and I can see a few recommendations that are my absolute favorite. I have saved this and would be sharing with a few of my friends who are new-moms, I am sure they will love this post 🙂
Thanks for visiting 🙂
Wow! That’s an amazing list that you have drawn up. I wasn’t aware of so many names in this list. I will share it with new mothers in my circle. Thanks!
That’s great, Mayura!
I remember reading few of these to my kid at early stage . He loved to listen & watch the expression on my face while I was busy narrating .
And that surely feels awesome.
Wow love the list Pragnya. You had shared really great collection of books for 1 year old kids. I m sure this list will help a lot to parents making right choices for their young babies.
Thanks for visiting Surbhi.
Reading to kids at such an early age really helps to make them fall in love with books and stories. Good recommendations. Will forward this to my friends as well.
Thanks for visiting, Varsha 🙂
This post made me do time travel when I used to read stories to my son. 🙂
Love this list of books for 1 year olds. My son had a different version of First 100 words 🙂
Thanks for visiting 🙂
Wow…Pragnya this is such an amazing list of books. This is really helpful for a parent of one year old kids. I am going to share this with my friends and relatives for sure.
Thanks for visiting 🙂
My daughter love books but the little one only want to listen and read, now this list is going to help me a lot in selecting a few for him
Thanks for visiting 🙂
wow from the above i only have the 100 words book. i guess the 1 yr old books that I had were quite different from these.
Reading happily is all that matters 🙂
I do very agree with you about reading books to young kids. This is something I have followed for my kids. Result is they love books and storytelling. We have read almost all the books you have mentioned in this post.
Yay! Readers are leaders.