Instilling a love of reading starts at a very young age. The stats don’t lie. By the age of two, a child’s brain is as active as an adult’s; by age three, their brain is more than twice as active as an adult’s – and it stays like that for the first 10 years of their life, says the Literacy Project. Furthermore, cognitive processes develop quickly in the first three years of life; by age three, 85 percent of a child’s brain is already developed. However, traditional education does not begin till kindergarten at the age of five.
That’s why it’s important to read with your toddler every day. Here are some of the top 2024 toddler books to check out.
When You Have to Wait
Nobody likes to wait their turn, but we must all learn this valuable lesson in patience from an early age. This picture book by Melanie Conklin does just that. This is a mindful, gentle picture book about learning to find the beauty in waiting. It is available January 9, 2024.
There’s No Such Thing as Vegetables
National Book Award Finalist and Newbery Honor winner Kyle Lukoff writes this hilarious picture book that exposes vegetables for what they really are―stalks, leaves, roots, and flowers. If you love the Our Universe series, you will love this newest installment. It’s illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi, and follows the story of Chester who want to eat a salad for lunch, and ends up learning a valuable lesson about categories and how they affect our understanding of the world.
Expected publication is February 27, 2024.
Lucky Dogs: A Story about Fostering Pups
This endearing picture book from critically acclaimed author-illustrator Joowon Oh showcases the special bond that forms between a little girl and her adorable foster dogs as they find a home together. Your toddler will learn messages of compassion and selflessness. It will be out on March 19, 2024.
Simple Thanks
Expected to be released April 9, 2024, this heartwarming picture book is by award-winning author Deborah Wiles and illustrator Bao Luu. This exuberant book pays tribute to nature, love, and gratitude – things that connect us all. Great for siblings!
A Rainbow in Brown
This illuminating story of self-love with color theory from debut author/illustrator Pavonis Giron is expected to hit shelves on March 5, 2024. Explore as Jo mixes all the colors of the rainbow to create new ones. As her imagination takes flight, she realizes that her favorite is a combination of all of them: brown.
When the Rain Came Down
This adorable picture book by Leslie Helakoski, illustrated by Keisha Morris, is a story about survival, resilience, and hope that can be found in community. Featuring evocative illustrations and lyrical text, When the Rain Came Down offers a powerful message of community-built resilience after a natural disaster strikes. Its expected release date is March 12, 2024.
Butterfly on the Wind
This magical picture book is about a deaf girl who creates a butterfly using sign language and then sends it on an adventurous journey around the world. As they circle back to her, the butterflies grow in strength and numbers, representing the love and support of the worldwide deaf community.
It was written and illustrated by deaf picture book creators author Adam Pottle and artist Ziyue, and is expected to be released on March 12, 2024.
While You’re Asleep
This is a funny and raucous meta picture book showing what animals do while you’re fast asleep. Emmy Kastner pens this tale about nocturnal animals and what they get up to at night, from flickering fireflies to foxes enjoying a nighttime festival. Expected publication is March 26, 2024.
The Quiet Forest
Written by Charlotte Offsay and illustrated by Abi Cushman, this picture book explores what happens when one small action leads to a snowball effect that disrupts the peace of all the animals. It is expected to be released on March 12, 2024.
Come Read With Country Home Learning Center
We are always in tune with the value of reading, and encourage books in all our programs, from infants to toddlers and older. Book your tour now and see how much we value knowledge through reading! Contact us today in San Antonio or Austin. In the meantime, plan to pick up one or more of these books in 2024. We’d love to hear about them.