Ages 2 to 4
- Ask Mr. Bear
- By Marjorie Flack
1932
When you imagine children's-book illustrations, it's Flack's artwork you're likely picturing. The plot—a boy seeks animals' advice about a gift for his mother—makes for a masterpiece.
- Little Pea
- by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
2005
In this bizarro world, a baby vegetable craves spinach for dessert and is loath to eat his sugary treats for dinner. The humor is spot-on: Parents smile knowingly; kids cackle. Preview the entire story on Lookybook.
- Round Is a Mooncake
- by Roseanne Thong
2000
An introduction to basic shapes and Chinese culture, all rolled into one. When "square" is represented by tofu-and-radish cakes and "rectangle" by a cricket cage, you know you're in for a treat. Preview the entire story on Lookybook.
- Mouse Paint
- by Ellen Stoll Walsh
1989
Adorable mice stomp through puddles of paint to mix new hues. More than just an education in primary and secondary colors, it also boasts a genuine plotline and MoMA-worthy illustrations.
- Little 1
- by Ann & Paul Rand
1962
Ultramod artwork, inventive wordplay, and an honest-to-goodness narrative—in which 1, the loneliest number, seeks some companionship—make this the hippest counting book you'll ever find. Preview the entire story on Lookybook.
- The Little House
- by Virginia Lee Burton,
1942
Told from the point of view of a tiny rural house swallowed up by urban sprawl, this environmental fable (written way before its time) will have you misty-eyed and packing for the country.
- Jenny's Birthday Book
- by Esther Averill
1954
City life can be great, too! Witness the fun had by the posh title kitty as her (literal) hepcat pals treat her to a night on the town in a storybookish Manhattan. Even the font is sophisticated.
- The Backward Day
- by Ruth Krauss
1950
Young readers will revel not only in the silliness of a boy's made-up holiday but in the willingness of his family to play along. Marc Simont's charming artwork captures their reactions perfectly.
Next Page: Books for Ages 4 to 6
