Best Books for 1-Year-Olds: 2025 Picks

Get ready for serious silliness as you mimic animal sounds throughout this book. Starting with cows and sheep and moving to a horse, dog, and cat, your baby will laugh all the way through.

This short board book is a fun way to introduce babies to different animals and the noises they create. The simple illustrations make it a wonderful, calming read for energetic one-year-olds.

This colorful book is full of cleverly hidden objects that rhyme with “who” and the sounds they make. It starts with “Peek-a…” but rather than lift a flap, you turn the page to find the answer through the die-cut window.

With repetitive phrases and rhyming words, this book provides an interactive reading experience. Your child will love the surprise mirror at the end.

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Take a trip to the farm without leaving your house with this cute, colorful, and picture-filled book. Immerse yourself in the world of farm animals, fresh produce, machinery, and daily chores.

This farm-themed book is excellent for building your baby’s vocabulary and helping them associate words with photographs. It is a great tool to explain how life on the farm works.

This cute, colorful book starts by asking where the baby’s eyes are. Upon opening the sturdy flap, you will find his eyes under a hat. It continues asking about other body parts hidden under various items.

This is a fun, interactive way to help your baby learn their anatomy. Soon enough, your child will point to their own eyes, mouth, and belly button on command.

Watch adorable animals get ready for bed in this soothing classic. With darkness falling all around, the story starts with a mommy mouse telling her little one to sleep. The creative rhymes and watercolor illustrations help soothe your child after a busy day.

A little frog introduces you and your baby to his friends who live by the pond. You will meet a duck and her newly hatched ducklings, fish, turtles, and a bunny rabbit.

This vividly colored book asks questions and lets you find the answers under a thick flap. It is great for interactive reading and learning. The chunky board pages are perfect for little hands learning to turn pages independently.

The story starts with a little mouse asking if his mommy will be his sunshine on a cold day. She reassures him that she will be, and he asks if she will be his rainbow when it is dull and gray.

The book uses weather elements to subtly ask if Mommy will always be there, even when we lose our way. This heartwarming story inspires affection, warmth, and security.

The baby is tired and crying. The whole family, including the pets, offer kisses to calm her down. From 10 kisses on the baby’s toes, this book counts down to one final kiss on her sleepy head.

Mommy and baby can act out these kisses during reading time. It reinforces your affection for your baby and teaches counting simultaneously.

The cute bunnies on the front cover are enough to hook your wee one. This animal book is perfect for little hands that like touching books and exploring textures. Each page showcases a different animal and what they might feel like in the wild.

The pages are easy to turn, encouraging your baby to interact with the book. With its simple yet engaging layout, your child can follow along and stay engrossed in the sensory experience.

The baby takes a trip to the zoo, hoping to see a baby tiger. He searches all over but finds different animals instead. Finally, he finds the baby tiger hiding in the tall grass.

This book uses repetitive phrases and beautiful illustrations to draw you in. Your baby will enjoy lifting the flaps to find the different animals while learning their unique sounds.

This book starts by highlighting that hands reach, flowers bloom, fish swim, and the stars shine. These are just some of the fascinating things your child loves to witness.

The high-contrast black and white illustrations are amazing for visual development. It uses full-page art and short red text to help your baby comprehend how different things work.

Colorful and beautifully illustrated with die-cut pages, this book tells the story of a little bear cozy in his den. We follow him as he lays down pinecones, hunts for twigs, and cuddles with his family.

The book carries a reassuring message about how cozy sleep can be. Its unique layering and finger puppet feature allows for interactive reading and giggles.

This is the story of Little Guy, Little Pumpkin, and Little Bird, three babies who have lots of fun with their parents and grandma. From belly kissing to swinging in circles, the babies simply cannot get enough fun and demand more.

Doing some of the fun stuff you read in the book will undoubtedly turn this into a favorite. Act out the enjoyable antics within the story for maximum engagement.

What better way to count than using delicious fruits? This book contains numbers one to 10 and fruits that match. Set on a white background, your baby will find it easy to search and count the fruits.

This book teaches your child what different fruits look like, but it also provides a challenge. A unique cut-out allows you to turn the pages on the top and bottom half separately, allowing for matching games as your toddler grows.

Wander the world as you say goodnight to crickets, owls, ducks, and other adorable creatures. This twist on Eric Carle’s classic introduces your little one to the famous hungry caterpillar and his friends.

It provides one final activity before bedtime. With flaps to lift, your 1-year-old can interact with this lovely rhyming story before winding down for a good sleep.

Would you like a book that allows your baby to connect with their dad? This story lets your little one say hello to various animal babies and their dads. The best part is the texture on each page, such as a shiny nose or soft tiger stripe.

Besides those features, this is great for developing sensory skills and vocabulary. A surprise mirror at the end reveals your child’s reflection, too.

This dynamic book brings Scottish nature to life as Skye the puffling goes on a sneaky adventure. One morning, Skye escapes from her burrow and tumbles off the cliff before being picked up by a gannet.

Told through rhythmic rhyming and accompanied by watercolor illustrations, this is a fun, fast-paced tale to read to impatient babies and toddlers.

This charming book is perfect for settling your little one down for a nap or nighttime. It follows a bear and its cub as they go through their day together, playing in water and climbing mountains. The bear explains how all these little moments are special signs of love. It is a meaningful way to tell your little one how much you adore them.

While one-year-olds won’t understand the mischievous humor in this yet, it engages parents during long reading sessions. This book follows Bear, who has lost his hat. When he discovers what happened to his hat, he seeks revenge.

While you can buy this as a board book, the paperback version is great for reading to your little one while they are playing or eating.

Parents, are you looking for a book that will genuinely make you laugh? This hilarious book about a small donkey is filled with random rhymes and details. As part of the Wonky Donkey series, this is about a small donkey who is almost as cute as your one-year-old.

From the creator of the beloved book Dear Zoo comes the farmyard version, Oh Dear! Grandma sends little Buster out to the farm to gather eggs.

Your little one has to open the flaps to reveal the cow, pig, and other cute creatures before the eggs are finally found. This exciting adventure improves fine motor skills and teaches children about farm animals.

Usborne Sound books are a family favorite. The buttons are easy to press, which eases frustrated one-year-olds. This particular book follows a variety of sea creatures.

When your little one presses the buttons, they will hear thunder crashing, birds cooing, and boats honking. It is great for reading together or independent play.

There are dozens of books in this Jellycat series featuring giraffes, elephants, and sheep. These books feature various textures, including velvety ears and hairy manes, providing an excellent opportunity for sensory exploration. Each story in the series features a silly tail that sticks out of the top of the book.

In this book, five little creatures hide behind soft, felt flaps. Babies and toddlers find felt flaps much easier to open than stiff paper ones, making this a great option for your one-year-old.

The beautiful illustrations are exciting to study, and the variety of creatures helps your little one learn about new bugs. There is also a special surprise mirror on the final page.

Babies love animal noises and often start copying them quickly. This book has buttons that produce noises like a puppy woofing and a penguin chick chirping.

The buttons are a little tricky for small fingers to press, so we suggest parents help out. If your child likes this book, there are plenty more in the “My First” series.

This hidden gem features two finger-sized holes that parents can use to wiggle their fingers and pretend to be the baby’s legs. Follow the funny babies as they wake up, eat breakfast, and go through their day.

From the bright pictures to the cut-out holes, this stimulating story makes for a great interactive reading experience. Your baby will soon try to poke their own fingers through the holes.

Parents who prefer quiet books might want to look away, but this book provides enough laughs to make the noise worth it. Each page features a lift-the-flap section as creatures try to tickle the moose.

The last page shows a little boy who finally succeeds in tickling the moose; lifting that flap unleashes uncontrollable laughter. It is a wild, noisy adventure.

This fun silicone touch-and-feel book offers a variety of textures. With each shark having its own unique feel, kids can engage in sensory exploration using their fingers.

On each page, one shark disappears until only one is left. This theme helps them with counting, noticing differences, and fine motor skills.

Simple rhyming is easier for babies to understand than elaborate lyrics. Not only will it capture their attention, but it will also introduce them to basic words such as “tall,” “ball,” and “bee.”

This fun book is a great introduction to Dr. Seuss. If you loved him growing up, this is a great one to start with when reading to your baby.

Meet 10 doggies in this funny and noisy counting book. The first page features one dog, the next has two, then three, and so on. Each new dog is a different breed, which keeps young readers engaged.

This book teaches counting as the numbers one through 10 appear. The charming illustrations are perfect for babies and parents to enjoy together.

One of the most magical aspects of parenthood is looking at your child and wondering about the amazing things they will do. This book celebrates the uniqueness each child holds.

Told in lyrical rhyming verse, the story follows children as they grow and develop. Their hearts are kind, their talents blossom, and their parents remind them that they are deeply loved for who they are.

If you are reading to a group of tots or have twins, this book is fantastic for reading together. It is also just dandy for one-on-one reading time.

It follows a variety of animals, asking which noises they make. It offers a few wrong answers before you lift the flap to reveal the right one. This book teaches animal noises in a silly, interactive way.

It is important to learn about different kinds of weather to know how to dress. This book shows sunny, rainy, and cold weather while highlighting the right outfit for each day.

Additionally, it provides fascinating information about UV rays and wind, and clarifies why mornings are colder than the afternoon. This educational book is vivid and captivating.

The Little People, Big Dreams series takes kids through the lives of incredible people, including scientists, activists, and artists. Featuring stunning illustrations and straightforward sentences, this book narrates the inspiring journey of Frida Kahlo from a young girl to a painter. This story instills boldness and bravery in your child early on.

This book follows an owl, puppy, rabbit, pig, and bear as they wait hopefully by the window for something amazing to happen. The minimalistic pictures and straightforward sentences are captivating for little ears.

Waiting is an important lesson for kids to learn. While this book is great for one-year-olds, it is also useful for older kids as it reinforces the importance of patience.

Learn to count using this interactive board book with lifelike 3D ladybugs. Your little one can feel through the book as they count the ladybugs from one to 10. The adorable bugs and lyrical rhymes make this a fun way to educate your child about numbers and nature.

This classic story about persistence has been a favorite since 1930. It follows a happy little engine carrying toys and fruit over a mountain. When she breaks down, she asks other trains for help, but they all pass by.

Finally, Little Blue Engine appears and takes on the challenge. With repeated affirmations, I think I can, I think I Can, she drives the difficult journey to the city. It is a great reminder that your little one can do anything.

Discover the magic of winter in this adorable book following Peter, who wakes up to a huge snowfall one morning. Children will enjoy the abstract illustrations and vivid colors. Join Peter as he makes snow angels and a snowman, enjoying every moment of this incredible day.

We are big fans of sensory books for one-year-olds. Many babies are nervous about different textures, but books like this provide a safe space to explore.

In this story, they can feel an elephant’s leather or a koala’s fur as they say hello to various wild animals. With fun rhyming on each page, parents can tell their babies all about the animals they encounter.

We are big advocates for daily reading. If you aren’t sure what to read, this book includes 30 classic nursery rhymes that little ones will love. Each one looks like it has been hand-embroidered onto the page, making for a beautiful addition to the shelf.

Your little one will love popular classics like Twinkle Twinkle, Old MacDonald, and Old Mother Hubbard.

Start the day with a book. What is sweeter than this lovely story about a toddler who says peekaboo to his mother, father, puppy, and other beloved characters?

This book is fantastic for babies because it involves an exciting game of peekaboo while introducing them to words and pictures they will soon recognize.

Babies learn from tactile experiences, making this book a fantastic way to introduce them to the alphabet. On each page, you will find textured letters that babies can feel with their fingers. Each letter is paired with a textured object that starts with the same letter.

This groundbreaking book allows children to trace the letter’s shape and say the name, helping them understand the basics of the alphabet.

This book follows 10 tiny babies taking part in silly antics like spinning around and wriggling their toes. Together, they all join in and have fun.

Your little one can copy the actions, learning new skills and funny things to do. It is a hilarious book that will have you both laughing from the very beginning.

Meet grumpy Pout-Pout Fish on this deep-sea adventure as he encounters friends trying to cheer him up. Babies will love the gorgeous images and rhyming scheme. It is even more exciting if you do funny voices for each character.

Will his friends improve his mood? Or will he spend the rest of his days stuck with a sad look on his face? Warning: this book might lead to lots of kisses from your toddler.

Little Leo loves Wednesdays because he attends Baby Time class with his mom and friends. This happy book shows how much fun it can be to get out of the house and spend time with other babies. If your little one is nervous about attending classes, this book helps show them the joy of friendship.

Most babies love water. This easy-to-follow book teaches them where water is and what it sounds like. Follow the river as it moves to the sea or the ocean where the whales live.

This beautifully illustrated book is a calming choice for reading sessions. It teaches little ones how water can take multiple forms, from rain to oceans.

At this age, your baby will be involved with mealtimes, but feeding a one-year-old has challenges. This book teaches little ones table manners and nutrition.

While babies won’t grasp the concept fully, it is a great introduction to washing hands, using utensils, and saying “thank you.”

While one-year-olds might not be super empathetic yet, this book sets the groundwork for understanding different emotions. Each page features a baby with a different expression, including happy, sad, and surprised.

Can you help your baby understand the various expressions and copy them? It is an excellent resource to capture your child’s curiosity about their peers.

Meet Jules, the kitten who wants to hug the entire world. He makes a Hug To-Do list that stretches long across the ground. As he wanders through the world, he hugs everyone he meets.

This heartwarming story features lovely watercolor images that will capture your toddler’s interest. Soon, you might have a chronic cuddler on your hands.