Books to Grow On: 18 months-3 years

Compiled by the librarian members of the American Library Association-Children's Book Council Joint Committee, April 2003

Able to name familiar pictures, turn one page at a time, and carry a book around the house. Able to concentrate on simple stories, but still needs a great deal of one-on-one interaction and physical activity.

  • Be Gentle! Miller, Virginia. Candlewick, 1999
  • Book! George, Kristine O'Connell. Illustrated by Maggie Smith. Clarion, 2001
  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Martin, Bill Jr. and Eric Carle. Henry Holt, 1992
  • Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Martin, Bill Jr. and John Archambault. Illustrated by Lois Ehlert. Little Simon, 1989
  • Color Zoo. Ehlert, Lois. HarperCollins, 1989
  • Come Along, Daisy! Simmons, Jane. Little, Brown, 1998
  • Construction Zone. Hoban, Tana. Greenwillow, 1997
  • Dinosaur Roar! Stickland, Paul and Henrietta Stickland. Dutton, 1994
  • Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs. Barton, Byron. HarperCollins, 1989
  • Hello, Lulu. Uff, Caroline. Walker. 1999
  • How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? Yolen, Jane. Illustrated by Mark Teague. Blue Sky, 2000
  • In the Tall, Tall Grass. Fleming, Denise. Henry Holt, 1991
  • Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? Carlstrom, Nancy White. Illustrated by Bruce Degen. Simon and Schuster, 1986
  • Little White Duck. Zaritsky, Bernard and Walt Whippo. Little, Brown, 2000
  • Maisy's ABC. Cousins, Lucy. Candlewick, 1995
  • Max's First Word. Wells, Rosemary. Dial, 1998
  • "More More More," Said the Baby. Williams, Vera. Greenwillow, 1990
  • Mouse Mess. Riley, Linnea A. Scholastic, 1997
  • On Mother's Lap. Scott, Ann Herbert. Clarion, 1992
  • Silly Little Goose! Tafuri, Nancy. Scholastic, 2001
  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Potter Beatrix. Warne, 1999
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Carle, Eric. Philomel, 1981
  • The Wheels on the Bus. Raffi. Illustrated by Sylvie K. Wickstrom. Random House, 1998
  • You're Just What I Need. Krauss, Ruth. Illustrated by Julia Noonan. HarperCollins, 1998

Additional Titles
Building a Home Library: 0-3 Years
The American Library Association (ALA)-Children's Book Council (CBC) Joint Committee, with cooperation from the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Quicklists Consulting Committee, created this bibliography to provide guidance to parents, grandparents, and others interested in assembling a high-quality library for their children at home.