HomeDiscoverChildren's articlesThe best books for one-year-oldsThe best books for one-year-oldsby Ladybird team·min read·Image: Alex Francis/Penguin From soothing bedtime tales and touch-and-feel playtime books to beautiful gifts, we’ve hand-picked the best of the bunch for one-year-olds. Early learning books Little Pop-Ups: Little Red Riding Hood by Nila Aye (2020) Little ones can learn their first colours and the tale of Little Red Riding Hood in this charming pop-up book. With every turn of the page, there’s a fun central pop-up with a colour for children to discover. And the tale of Little Red Riding Hood outwitting the big bad wolf merges perfectly. This is a great one to read together at playtime. When your little reader is ready for learning all about numbers, switch over to Little Pop-Ups: Cinderella Baby Touch: Food (2021) Your baby is probably onto solid foods now, so teach them about the most important meal of the day (that's all of them, by the way). From breakfast which includes toast and cereal to healthy, yummy snacks, Baby Touch: Food is a great introduction to all the different grub your little one will be trying in the very near future. Baby Touch: ABC (2021) It’s never too early to introduce your baby to their first letters and this touch-and-feel book will be one you turn to again and again. Small hands will love exploring the textured patches while the bright, contrasting colours will encourage their sensory development even further. From aeroplane to zebra, this is a colourful and beautiful first A-Z book for all! Little Pop-Ups: Hansel and Gretel by Nila Aye (2021) This beautiful Ladybird Little Pop-Ups book is perfect for parents and toddlers to snuggle up together to enjoy. Introduce your child to the popular tale of Hansel and Gretel with the added excitement of the integrated pop-ups along the way. Each of Nila Aye’s gorgeous pages features a centre pop-up with a highlighted word for your child to learn and recognise. Baby Touch: 123 (2021) Counting is something we do with our babies right from the day they are born, whether it’s counting their fingers and toes or singing songs with numbers. It’s never too early to start and this playbook is a great choice for babies because it is also fun and engaging. The textured patches encourage interaction and play, while the numbers are displayed in bold colours with bright accompanying illustrations. Baby Touch: Get Dressed (2021) We might do it every day but getting dressed can still be fun! Use the tabs to touch and explore different clothing items and outfits as you help your baby learn their first words. With textured patches to touch, feel, and explore as well, this bright and beautiful board book really will engage young children. Getting dressed has never been so exciting! Books for playtime Baby Touch: Opposites (2020) Baby Touch: Opposites is a wonderful and fun stepping stone to teaching little readers about, well, opposites! From big and small, up and down, quiet and loud – learning all about opposite concepts helps improve children's ability to describe things. Plus, little hands will love the touch-and-feel patches. Baby Touch: Seasons (2021) With each season that passes, your little one is growing and learning more and more. So, prepare them for the different weather ahead with Baby Touch: Seasons. From spring and summer to autumn and winter, there are so many different things for children to look forward to as the seasons roll around. Which time of the year will be their favourite? Is that you, Little Bear? by Rob Hodgson (2021) Can you help Mama Bear find Little Bear? She thinks he’s somewhere in the forest but every time she thinks she’s found him, a different adorable animal pops out to say hello! Each spread in this cute book features a sturdy flap that children can slide back and forth. It will not only help develop fine motor skills but will also encourage imaginative play. Will Mama Bear and Little Bear be reunited? And can you spot the little ladybird on each page too? Baby Touch: Vehicles Tab Book (2019) The vehicle-shaped tabs on this interactive board book make turning the pages lots of fun, and older babies will love exploring the stimulating touch-and-feel areas on each spread. From cars and diggers to fire engines and boats, there are lots of interesting vehicles to discover and talk about. Great for introducing your toddler to some new words, the colourful illustrations and fascinating textures also make this a wonderful book for play. Bedtime books In the Night Garden: Time for Bed (2019) Perfect for encouraging even the most sleep-resistant toddler to say goodnight, this In The Night Garden board book features much-loved characters from the popular CBeebies show. Igglepiggle should be getting ready for bed like his friends Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka – but instead, he wants to play. Will he ever go to sleep? This is a lovely bedtime story to enjoy together, introducing the wonderful world of books with the help of some favourite friends. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: Ladybird Touch-and-Feel Rhymes (2016) Ladybird’s touch-and-feel collection of nursery rhymes features five bedtime classics designed to help your one-year-old drift off to sleep. The pages of these illustrated versions of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; Wee Willie Winkie; Hush-a-bye, Baby; Hey Diddle Diddle and Rock-a-bye, Baby use a variety of interesting textures and engaging patterns – including glittery moons, fleecy blankets and sparkly stars – to stimulate your baby and encourage gentle bedtime interaction. In the Night Garden: Bedtime Stories from the Night Garden (2017) This In The Night Garden collection features ten stories inspired by the well-loved CBeebies bedtime show. Join Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and the Pontipines on a series of adventures, including finding Igglepiggle’s lost red blanket and discovering why Makka Pakka’s trumpet is making a funny noise. With recognisable characters and lots of beautiful illustrations, this treasury of tales will be a welcome addition to any Night Garden-loving toddler’s bookshelf.
