Tips for Sharing Books with Toddlers

* Read to your child
* Recite nursery rhymes and sing songs to your child
* Have children's books available at home
* Attend storytime programs at the library
* Take your child with you to the library when you check out books
* Be enthusiastic about books
* Sit with your child in your lap or close to you when you read together
* Hold the book so your child can see the pages clearly.
* Allow participation in the story - encourage questions and comments about what you are reading.

And remember...

There are endless opportunities for learning throughout your child's day:

* Recite nursery rhymes or sing songs while bathing or changing diapers.
* Play music or tell stories during car trips.
* Point out everyday objects while walking, shopping, cleaning, playing, etc...

Toddler Storytimes at the Library
Typically, all registered storytimes are held in the fall and the spring. Check the Children's Events page for the current schedule and registration procedures.

Mother Goose
Rhymes, picture books, stories, flannel boards, music and movement for walking babies up to two years with an adult. (Main Library)

Two's Company
A special toddler program just for two year olds with an adult, with an emphasis on reading aloud and movement activities. (Main Library)

Toddler Time
An active caregiver-child program that encourages growth of motor and cognitive skills through one-on-one participation in songs, rhymes, flannel boards, finger plays, stores and movement activities for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 year olds. (Harry Bennett Branch)

Beginnings
An interactive caregiver-child storytime featuring stories, songs, finger plays, flannel boards and movement activities for ages 2 1/2 to 3 1/2. (Harry Bennett Branch)

Mother Goose Plus
Rhymes, stories, flannel boards, music and movement for toddlers ages 1 1/2 to 3 years with an adult. (Weed Branch)

Great Reads for Toddlers

All books are located in the EPIC section of the Library unless otherwise noted.

Baby Says by John Steptoe. Toddler Bin
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer.
Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker.
Cock-a-Moo-Moo by Juliet Dallas-Conte. Toddler Bin
Color Farm by Lois Ehlert.
Crunch Munch by Jonathan London. Toddler Bin
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell.
Dinosaur Roar by Paul Strickland.
Ducks Like to Swim by Agnes Verboven.
The Everything Book by Denise Fleming. Concept Bin
Fire Truck by Peter Sis.
Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Hi, Pizza Man! by Virginia Walter.
Honk! by Chris Demarest. Toddler Bin
I Like Books by Anthony Browne.
I Like it When... by Mary Murphy.
Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino.
I Went Walking by Sue Williams.
Jump, Frog, Jump by Robert Kalan.
Lunch by Denise Fleming.
Maisy at the Farm by Lucy Cousins.
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara Joosse.
Mr. Bear Says: "Are You There Baby Bear?" by Debi Gliori.
Old Mother Hubbard by Jane Cabrera.
Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora. Toddler Bin
Peek-A-Moo by Marie Torres Cimarusti.
Piggies by Don and Audrey Wood.
Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky.
Silly Little Goose! by Nancy Tafuri. Toddler Bin
Sitting in My Box by Dee Lilligard.
Splash! by Flora McDonnell.
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang. Concept Bin
The Chick and the Duckling by Vladimir Suteev
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
This Little Chick by John Lawrence.
Tom and Pippo's Day by Helen Oxenbury. Toddler Bin
Wait Till the Moon is Full by Margaret Wise Brown.
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen.
What Shall We Do with the Boo-Hoo Baby? by Cressida Cowell. Toddler Bin
Where Does the Brown Bear Go? by Nicki Weiss.
Who's in My Bed? by Helen Piers.
 

Take a look at some of our other booklists for toddlers and beyond!

100 Best Picture Books
Some of the greatest picture books out there - specially selected by Ferguson's children's librarians.

Art from Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
copyright 1996 by Kevin Henkes
reproduced by permission of
Greenwillow Books, a division of 
Harper Collins.

Things That Go
Young children love watching vehicles that move, and they love reading about them too. 

Illustration from My Car
by Byron Barton
HarperCollins, 2001, used
with permission of
Harper Collins.

Picture Books to Read Aloud
A list of the best books to read aloud - as selected by Ferguson's children's librarians.

llustration copyright (c) 1998 by
Rosemary Wells from "Read To
Your Bunny," published by
Scholastic Press, an imprint of
Scholastic Inc. Used with
permission.

Music for Toddlers

Animal Nursery Rhyme Time by Kidzup.
Baby Beluga by Raffi.
Baby Face by Georgiana Liccione stewart.
The Best of Baby Songs by Hap Palmer.
Blanket Full of Dreams by Cathy Fink.
Cada Nino/Every Child by Tish Hinojosa.
Circle Time: Songs & Rhymes for the Very Young by Lisa Monet.
Dances for Little People by William C. Janiak.
Diaper Gym by Kimbo Educational.
The Green Grass Grew All Around by Phil Rosenthal.
Hello Everybody by Rachel Buchman.
I Will Hold Your Tiny Hand by Steve Rashid.
Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on His Toe Leg Knee by Jim Gill.
Lullabies and Love Songs by Tanja Solnik.
Mainly Mother Goose by Sharon, Lois & Bram.
Morning Magic by Joanie Bartels.
Raffi in Concert by Raffi.
Razzama Tazzama by Ellen A. Feldman.
Shake it to the One that You Love the Best by Cheryl Warren Mattox.
Sing Along with Bob by Bob McGrath.
The Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes by Jim Gill.
So Big: Activity Songs for Little Ones by Hap Palmer.
Songs and Games for Toddlers by Bob McGrath.
Star Dreamer by Priscilla Herdman.
Swingin' in the Rain by Maria Muldaur.
Toddlers on Parade: Musical Exercises for Infants and Toddlers by Carol Hammett.
Toddlers Sing Playtime by Music for Little People.
Watermelon by Marcia Lewis.
We All Live Together by Greg & Steve.
Where is Thumbkin? by Kimbo Educational.

Books for Parents
Take a look at our Parenting Collection located in the first floor Children's Room. Here is a sample of some of the titles you'll find there.

The Amazing Newborn by Marshall H. Klaus. 155.422K63 A.
Babies Need Books: Sharing the Joy of Books with Children from Birth to Six by Dorothy Butler. J 028.162 B Parents' Collection
Choosing Books for Children: A Commonsense Guide, 3rd Edition by Betsy Hearne. J 028.55 H Parents' Collection
The Eentsy, Weentsy Spider: Fingerplays and Action Rhymes by Joanna Cole. J 793.4 C
I'll Tell You a Story, I'll Sing You a Song: A Parents' Guide to the Fairy Tales, Fables, Songs and Rhymes of Childhood by Christine Allison. J 808.8 A Parents' Collection
Infants and Mothers: Differences in Development by T. Berry Brazelton. J 649.1 B Parents' Collection
The New Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. J 372.6 T Parents' Collection
Pat-a-Cake and Other Play Rhymes by Elaine Martin. J 398.8 P
Ring-a-Ring-o' Roses and a Ding, Dong, Bell: A Book of Nursery Rhymes by Alan Marks. E 398.8 R
Touchpoints: Your Child's Emotional and Behavioral Development by T. Berry Brazelton. 305.231 B827t
What to Expect the First Year by Arlene Eisenberg. 649.122 E36 W
Your Baby and Child: From Birth to Age Five by Penelope Leach. J 649.122 L
Your One-Year-Old: The Fun Loving, Fussy 12-to-24-Month-Old by Louise Bates Ames. J 649.122 A Parents' Collection
Your Two Year Old: Terrible or Tender by Louise Bates Ames. J 649.122 A Parents' Collection

Take a look at some of the programs, resources and services the library offers for children from birth to 5 years. Birth to Two Years, Two to Three Years, Three to Five Years