The MoM Team loves books and we are particularly keen to get our hands on some top 10 book lists based on age. 

In the absence of finding one that fitted our Australian market, Story Mama has compiled a list based on their family’s favourites.

Without further ado… here are the top 10 picture books for 2 year olds:

1. The Little Yellow Digger, by Betty & Alan Gilderdale

This is the perfect picture book for little lovers of both diggers and mud. When out digging out a drain, the little yellow digger gets stuck in the mud. So they bring in a bigger digger, and a bigger digger….This is a very cute and classic rhyming tale about the underdog saving the day.

2. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See, by Eric Carle & Bill Martin Jr.

Your little one will enjoy spotting the brightly colourful animals on each page or even guessing which animal is next. This is a very simple, rhyming story featuring Eric Carle’s iconic illustrations.

3. Meg and Mog, by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski

We love introducing a classic book to a new generation and Meg and Mog have been a childhood institution for over 30 years. You may even remember this one from your own childhood. This is the board book edition of the story that started it all. In this story Meg goes to a spell party and accidentally turns all of her witch friends into mice. The story is full of bright primary colours and has a touch of slapstick humour.

4. Rudie Nudie, by Emma Quay

Heart-warming, Bath time fun little charcoal children who like to run around naked. (and let’s face it, what toddler doesn’t!) This board book is perfect for busy and sticky little hands. Told in rhyme, this children’s book captures the fun bath-time can be. We love the energetic little charcoal characters and are pretty sure most little kids and their parents will relate to this one.

5. Where is the Green Sheep, by Mem Fox & Judy Horacek

This is a book full of sillyness that has captured the imagination of children as multicoloured sheep get up to all sorts of antics – they dive, they surf, they juggle. We are yet to meet a kid who hasn’t enjoyed looking for the Green sheep. I love how the hunt for the green sheep never fails to entertain my little one after many, many, many, reads. This is now a book I can read from memory.

6. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury

In this classic, a family goes on adventures through rivers, grasslands, snow and caves to find a scary bear. Told in part black and white and part colour, Helen Oxenbury’s illustrations are lovely. The sing-song repetition of the language makes it a great fun read aloud. Your little one will love making the sound effects “swishy, swashy, swishy, swashy….”

7. Dear Zoo, by Rod Campbell

In this lift the flap picture book a Zoo sends a child inappropriate pets until they finally get it right. This books celebrated it’s 30^th birthday in 2012. We love how this book is still relevant and enjoyed by modern kids and how much they love discovering the animals behind the flaps. This is also a great way to start your little one learning animal names.

8. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, by Mo Willems

In this story a Pigeon dreams of driving a bus. It is both silly and hilarious.

9. Press Here, by Herve Tullet

In this New York Times bestseller, you follow the instructions and colourful optical illusions unfold. This is a highly interactive and colourful story and perfect for toddlers. The magic doesn’t seem to fade with multiple readings either. This makes a great gift.

10. Guess How Much I Love You? By Sam McBratney & Anita Jeram

Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown attempt to out do each other in how much they love each other. This book has sold more than 22 million copies and is published in 37 languages. It is now a Disney television series and you can get all sorts of merchandise. The quote “I love you to the moon and back” comes from this timeless classic.

So there you go, there is our Top 10 picture books for 2 year olds.

Have we included your family’s favourite? We would love to hear what they are in the comments below. Tell us – what was your 2 year olds favourite story?

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