The best books for 2-year-olds

This adorable story of Max and his monsters has entertained children for years. After dressing up in his wolf costume, Max wreaks so much havoc (sound familiar?) that he is sent to bed before dinner. That night, his bedroom transforms into a forest, and he is taken to where the Wild Things are. A classic, this book makes the perfect nighttime story for all those loveable little monsters out there.

A book that needs no introduction, if you haven't already got your toddler The Very Hungry Caterpillar, what are you playing at? Snuggle up wand read as one very hungry caterpillar eats his way through the week.
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Another classic that has stood the test of time, this beautiful story of Sophie and her very hungry tea-time guest is a must if you’ve got an animal lover in your blood. It’s purr-fect. Why not plan a tea party for your own hungry tigers at the weekend?

This fun, rhythmic and repetitive book by Michael Rosen is a great way to encourage children to repeat phrases! Plus, the illustrations in this little book are beautifully done in watercolours. We're going on a bear hunt; will your toddler join?

Giraffes can't dance, or can they? This funny, touching and triumphant book is a joyful read for children. We love a story that has a simple moral. In this case, it’s about daring to be different and finding your own confidence.

Room on the Broom is a favourite – and tells the story of a kind witch and her cat who invite three other animals (a dog, a bird and a frog) to join them in travelling on her broomstick. The witch and her cat fly happily over forests in the night, but when a stormy wind blows away the witch's hat, bow and wand, who will retrieve them for her? Perfect for a bedtime read.

This book is great for little ones who might be starting to potty train! It's easy to follow along, and when Pirate Pete uses his potty correctly, tots can press the 'cheer' button for a noisy reward. It’s the perfect matey for a little one who is starting to use the potty. There's even a Princess Polly's Potty if your little one prefers this character.

As we all know, brushing our teeth is the best way to look after them. This board book about brushing teeth is a lovely way to encourage tots to brush away, with the help of the lovely crocodile. Your little one will be smiling a-plenty after brushing their gnashers.

Your little one will be channelling their inner palaeontologist with this dinosaur-themed Where’s Wally book. Most importantly: can your little one find the missing dinosaurs? This lovely book tests children’s puzzle-solving skills. We love this roar-some addition to the list.

You can't take an elephant on a bus or ask a whale to ride a bike! With hilarious and clever rhyming, this book will definitely have your little one in fits of giggles! We love this because it is over-flowing with animals causing total disaster as they try to travel in the most unsuitable of vehicles.

What toddler doesn't love Peppa Pig? Join Peppa on her class trip to the zoo! What animals will she see?

This book can introduce your little one to a lot of rhyming and can encourage them to repeat the sounds they hear in the book, with a moo-mo! Hoo hoo! And a cocker-doodle-do, what else can Mr. Brown do?

This lift-the-flap book will help your tots discover all the colours of the rainbow with Roald Dahl, the world’s favourite storyteller. It’s perfect for little hands.

2 little chiddlers waiting for their friend. Can you spot 1 enormous crocodile hiding in the grass? This book is a great way to teach children all about numbers and counting, with a fun little storyline.

Join Winnie the Pooh as he gets ready for bed, in this delightful story with peep-through holes to play peep-o!

Maisy’s adventures have been translated into 28 languages and sold over 25 million copies. You can now find more than 150 stories full of letters, numbers, and shapes for your baby to learn, all featuring the wonderfully illustrated mouse.

The Baby's Catalogue is a lovely picture book of objects and scenes from a baby's world. The content of this book has made it a classic addition to your nursery library.

Peepo! Is set in the early forties, showing an unpretentious vision of a baby's contented life based on Allan Ahlberg's own working-class childhood.