Today Tile Triggered Content

This is an incredible story for many reasons. We have chosen it as it is a brilliant book for introducing your child to descriptive words. 

Avocado Asks is a story of an avocado whose life turned upside down one day. Avocado was minding their own business when the question of ‘Is an avocado a fruit or a vegetable?’ was asked. 

Busy Day: Athlete by Dan Green 

Your toddler’s understanding of what they should and shouldn’t do is developing – but that doesn’t mean they can always stop themselves in time! The story of George the dog, written and illustrated by Chris Haughton, is a great way to start a chat about how difficult it can be to do the right thing. 

George the dog is being left home alone, and he really wants to be good – but that chocolate cake looks yummy, and he loves chasing cats. What will George do? 

The fine motor skills, and focus, needed to create origami animals is a way off for your toddler but they will be discovering the fun of folding paper (often not very well). Inspire them, and yourself, with this book of simple, sometimes silly, poems from Kristine O'Connell George, along with Lauren Stringer's illustrations which bring the little boy and his origami animals to life.  

This book of poems is perfect to share with your toddler, as each poem about one of the boy’s origami animals is short and sweet. The gentle illustrations add context, and sometimes comedy, to the poem on each page – you'll see a camel missing a leg using the salt shaker to stand, a buffalo kicking the tablecloth, and even big cats having a race.  

Have you noticed that your child is becoming more thoughtful about the colours they use when they draw, paint or make artwork? We love to see the emerging ideas and preferences that can be seen, or talked about, as they pick the colours they most want to use.  

One way to start a conversation about colour, and what it might mean to you, is through stories and there is no shortage of books which explore colour in interesting ways. Here are three of our favourites. 

Hair love by Matthew Cherry 

Movement is essential for your toddler’s fine motor muscles. They will only be able to strengthen and learn to control the small muscles in their fingers, hands and wrists by doing actions and making movements which use them, and for toddlers the whole world is an opportunity to do so. It’s even possible to sneak some fine motor development into more restful moments like story time, and these three interactive story books make it fun for all of you to get involved! 

Your toddler will be developing their fine motor skills as they eat, as they use play dough or colour in, as they position toys to play and as they get dressed, but sometimes it can all feel a bit much and a cosy cuddle with a story is just what you both need. 

Your House Keys are in the Dryer: A Parenting Haiku Book by Alisha Gaddis is a collection of haiku poems written by mums. They range from emotional and nostalgic, to hilarious and some so true it hurts a little to think about them.  

This collection of poems manages to capture many of the realities of parenting in the short 5-7-5 haiku format. It makes this a perfect book to pick up in those short moments you have to reflect, or when you need a quick distraction from reality.  

What a wonderful book! Boris is a lovable, cheeky monster who adores giving people a kiss. You can stick your hand into the Boris puppet and bring him to life; your toddler will probably love doing this too! 

Being a puppet, Boris' mouth can be opened and closed in the same way that scissors can be opened and closed. This means that even without practising scissor skills, your toddler will be doing the action required for this skill. 

Sometimes, at the end of a long day, or when life is feeling a bit hard, all your toddler might need is a hug. Panda is looking for the perfect hug – what will it be?  

This could be a great story for when it’s time to calm down; your toddler might enjoy looking at the pictures, and maybe even trying out a tickly hug.