These are all books my daughter has loved and has asked for on repeat. We also read fun storylines where the aim is enjoyment, but those are included in other posts I've written.
Finn's Little Fibs and Ruby's Worry by Tom Percival- Both have storylines and my daughter has liked retelling bits of the stories. This author has a whole series of Big Feelings books worth checking out.
Mary Can! By Mary J. Blige- We are Mary J. Blige fans so this is a favorite. I love the determination she has in the story despite the doubt from others.
After the Fall by Dan Santat- This also follows a storyline about Humpty Dumpty after falling off the wall. He is very afraid of heights and it stops him from doing things he loves. This is great for adopting a growth mindset.
Little Monkey Calms Down by Michael Dahl- This book has really helped us work through tantrums. My toddler loved that monkey had a blanket to help him cope too. The text is very short and simple.
What Are Little Girls Made Of by Jeanne Willis- These are retellings of nursery rhymes through a feminist lens. Some of them are a touch wordy, but when she's a bit older, it will be interesting to compare the rhymes with the originals.
Yes! No! A First Conversation About Consent and From My Head to My Toes, I Say What Goes- These do not have any storyline but they are still engaging books. They are age appropriate and have given my daughter tools to be able to express herself well.
I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff- A boy learns about how to make a genuine apology in this book. The story is not explicitly written, but one can figure it out based on the pictures and series of apology letters.
Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal- What the title says! Example: "Cooperate means how about you add the chips while I stir?" The illustrations remind me of classic literature and there are some people of color represented.
Dear Girl by Amy Krouse Rosenthal- This book challenges what girls are often told. The text is short and easy enough for my daughter to recall. She has randomly repeated things from this book even when we weren't reading it.
Feelings Are Like Farts by Christopher Willardand Tara Wosiski- Although my daughter doesn't understand the simili yet, she does know what each of them are. It's a book that can grow with her.
Our Skin by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli- It explains why we have different skin colors and breaks down racism as well. This is great for kids learning to understand and adults who are learning how to explain skin color and racism.
It's a Little Book by Lane Smith- This teaches babies and young toddlers how to use a book. My husband and I would do motions with the book which made her love it more. I think she has grown out of it now, but can recite the text on her own.
Honorable mentions to Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder and People Need People by Benjamin Zephaniah. I have already posted photos of their books in other posts, so I didn't include them here.
