31 Books Every Parent Should Read to Their Child

31 Books Every Parent Should Read to Their Child

Did you know?

Reading aloud with your child is the single most important activity that leads to language development and promotes early literacy skills.

How frequently you read to your child has a direct effect on the development of their cognitive and literacy skills later in life.

Reading to them 6 to 7 days per week has the same effect as being almost 12 months older!

So, for babies and toddlers, 15 - 20 minutes everyday is the recommended amount of time you should set aside for reading aloud with them.
[In addition to the reading they do at preschool & daycare.]

Here at Little Lukes, we realized time is of the essence! So, even if you can’t find time to set aside for reading with your child, try multitasking! If your toddler is comfortable and able to read outloud without you, have them read to you while your folding laundry, cooking or even driving.

Make reading part of your daily routine!


  1. The Kissing Hand - (Penn, 1993)

  2. Love you Forever - (Munsch , 1995)

  3. The Rainbow Fish - (Pfister, 1992)

  4. Goodnight Moon - (Wise Brown, 1947 )

  5. The Foot Book - ( Dr. Suess, 1968)

  6. Guess How Much I Love You - (McBratney, 1994)

  7. Madeline - (Bemelmans, 1939)

  8. Junie B. Jones - (Park, 1992 - 2013)

  9. Penguin Pete - (Pfister, 1987)

  10. Dick and Jane - (Gray, Sharp, 1930’s - 1970’s)

  11. The Loudest Roar! - (Taylor, 2002)

  12. The Very Hungry Caterpillar- (Carle, 1969)

  13. Love You Like Crazy Cakes - (Lewis, 2000)

  14. Little Critter Series - (Mayer, 1975 - 2000’s)

  15. Sleepy bears - (Fox, 1999)

  16. The Hundred and One Dalmatians (Smith, 1956)

  17. Olivia and the Missing Toy - (Falconer, 2003)

  18. Eloise - (Vassilieva, 1955)

  19. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - (Martin Jr., Archambault, 1989)

  20. The Giving Tree - (Silverstein, 1964)

  21. My No, No, No Day - (Patterson, 2012)

  22. The Poky Little Puppy - (Smith Lowrey , 1942)

  23. Giraffes Can't Dance - (Andreae, 1999)

  24. Pete the Cat - (Litwin, 2008)

  25. Sleepy Dog - (Ziefert, 1984)

  26. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site - (Duskey Rinker, 2011)

  27. I Love You This Much - (Hodges, Buchanan, 2001)

  28. Morris the Moose - (Wiseman, 1959)

  29. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? - (Martin Jr., 1967)

  30. Where the Wild Things Are - (Sendak, 1963)

  31. I Love You Stinky Face - (Mccourt, 1997)

Now that we’ve provided you with Little Lukes Reading List, you may be wondering; ‘what now’? The answer is simple: Get Reading! 

Little Lukes