The magical world of children's books is something that stays with you through the years, which is why it’s a real gift to pass on a love of reading from the start. There are a number of benefits to reading with a child, not only does it help improve vocabulary and language skills, but it’s a great way to develop children’s imaginations and improve concentration. Plus, it’s a fun way to bond!

It’s always fun to relive childhood classics, so here we’ve picked out three classic books for toddlers, as recommended by the Book Trust.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea (Judith Kerr)
 
A beautiful picture book with timeless appeal, the illustrations bring the story to life in a fun and memorable ways.
 
The story starts with Sophie and her Mummy enjoying tea one day, when in walks a tiger who demands to join them! After eating everything he can see, he moves on to Daddy’s supper, before clearing out the fridge.
 
Of course, Daddy’s no fool and the next day he suggests everyone goes out for dinner, followed by a very big tin of tiger food! It certainly makes hungry reading, even for fussy eaters!
 
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle)
When it comes to toddler books, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is right up there! It may have been written in the sixties, but The Very Hungry Caterpillar is much-loved book for all ages.

This isn't the tale of a fussy eater - far from it! It tells the story of a little caterpillar who eats his way through salamis, pickles, watermelons, oranges, apples and more, before turning in to a very big caterpillar.
 
We follow him on his journey through hatching to hibernation before turning into a beautiful caterpillar.
 
Full of bright and captivating images, and designed to keep children turning the pages, this is a fun read that you’ll return to time and again. One of the top Amzon baby books.
 
The Snowman (Raymond Briggs)
What would Christmas be without The Snowman? A classic book and film, it will make you smile, cry and want to read it all over again.
 
The main character James wakes up each morning to look out the window. One snowy morning he takes it upon himself to build a snowman. Later that night his friend comes to life, taking him on a special journey through the woodlands and over the skies. We won’t ruin the ending, but we all know snowman’s don’t last forever…
 
Full of love and heart, look out for the picture-only book, allowing children to fully immerse themselves in the beautiful storyline. A touching book and ideal gift for children of all ages.

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