Two year olds are constant explorers, questioners, and manipulators of their enviroment. When children turn two they begin a frenetic year that may craze their parents. Books provide an opportunity to relax together and slow the pacing. Children who constantly asks why can slow the speed of a book to match their inner clock.
Two to three is also the "I want to do it by myself" year. Children wish to control their world and experiences as much as possible. Board books, because of their lesser expense and greater durability, allow the young child this opportunity. Board books come in all levels of maturity and a two or three year old will enjoy more complexity than in previous years.
Rosemary Wells has written eight board books about the captivating bunny Max and his bossy older sister Ruby. Max is an intrepid learner who explores first words, bedtime, and other common older toddler events. Through the fun of her stories, Wells,at the same time, exposes children to concepts such as counting and prepositions. Ages 2-3. (Dial,$3.50)
Concept board books are popular with this age child. They enjoy counting, alphabet, colors, and naming. In her series with such titles as How Many? and Growing, Fiona Pragoff has spiral bound brilliantly colored photographs that are highly representative of a child's world and interests. Ages 1-3. (Doubleday,$5.95)
Still other board books address issues of this age. Anne Sibley O'Brien has designed a series of books which talk about sharing, (I Want That!) taking a nap (I'm Not Tired), putting toys away (Where's My Truck) and going to day-care(Come Play With Us). O'Brien creates very real characters of differing racial backgrounds and handles issues sensitively. Ages 1-3. (Holt, $3.95)
Two to three year olds differ in desires. Many may cling to books with familiar settings and situations. One of precursors of true stories are the small slice of life picture books that show life through the eyes of a toddler and provide book images of his/her own life . Helen Oxenbury knows well the mind of a toddler. She has written eight books about Tom and his monkey, Pippo. Tom's adventures are true to toddler form- he makes a mess, gets dirty, reads books and wonders about the world. He is also an authority figure to Pippo and this seems very empowering to a small child who is most often at the bottom of the chain of command. There is a loving family in the background and the father seems to be as active in rearing Tom as the mother. Ages 1-3. Hardcover only. (Macmillan, $5.95)
Many two to threes are ready for a real story. The story can be outside their own experience and they are ready to meet new people, places and things. The books that seem to work best for them are those that provide a predictable plot, action throughout, and dependable characters.
John Burningham's Mr. Gumpy is a perfect example. He is very much the same in both his full-of-excitement books, Mr. Gumpy's Outing (Holt, $11.95, Penguin, $3.95) and Mr. Gumpy's Motorcar. (Harper and Row, $12.89, Penguin, $3.50) He is gentle and kind to both children and animals and when the anticipated disaster arises, he is patient, kind, forgiving and wise. Burningham's words are full of sounds children love and his illustrations are simple and telling. Ages 2-4.
Other consistent series characters children love are: H.A. Ray's always-in-trouble Curious George,(Houghton Mifflin,$2.95-$10.95) the equally curious Corduroy (Viking,$9.95, $3.95) by Don Freeman, and the adventuring Harry the Dirty Dog (Harper and Row,$11.70, $2.95) by Gene Zion. These characters are great representatives for children this age and each story has a wise parent figure who comforts and saves the day. Ages 2-6.
Perhaps the reason two to three year olds need so much consistency is that this year of maturing can often feel very confusing. They are adventuring in the world, taking pride in getting older, but at the same time need continual reassurance that they are still loved. Parents never know when their children will feel clingy or brave.
Ruth Bornstein's Little Gorilla begins by telling how much the little gorilla is loved by family and friends. But then he begins to grow...and fear. The ending celebrates his birthday (complete with part of every two year old's favorite song, Happy Birthday), his growth, and the love that surrounds him. The illustrations are large and colorfully drawn against a jungle bacground. The message of love regardless of age makes this an important book to reintroduce at later ages of insecurities. Ages 2-5. (Clarion,$12.95, Ticknor and Fields, $4.95)
Sometimes a child wants to hold onto being small as Pig Pig does in David McPhail's Pig Pig Grows Up. McPhail's silly situation gain humor with his illustrations and still dealing sensitively with the problem. Ages 2-5. (Dutton,$12.95, $3.95)
One of the most difficult tasks of toddlers is balancing independence and babyhood. This is also one of the most difficult tasks for parents and it bears talking about. In Audrey Wood's Oh My Baby Bear, Baby Bear learns with great energy and joy the arts of self-dressing, feeding, playing. He is transformed into Little Bear and yet, at night the Mama and Papa still tuck him in, read to him and kiss him because a young bear is never too old for that reassuring family ritual. (HBJ, 1990)
Mother-love, always an important form of support is the theme of Mirra Ginsburg's Goodmorning Chick (Greenwillow, $10.88) and the always loved Runaway Bunny (Harper and Row, $8.95, $3.50) by Margaret Wise Brown. But mothers figure strongly as rescuers in many books for the two to three year old. In Eve Rice's Benny Bakes a Cake, Benny is destroyed when his dog ruins his birthday cake..until mother arranges a surprise that makes Benny's birthday special again. Ages 2-4. (Greenwillow$11.95, Morrow,$3.95)
Sometimes growing doesn't seem to happen fast enough. In Pat Hutchin's Titch (Macmillan, $11.95)and again in the sequel You'll Soon Grow Into Them Titch, (Greenwillow, $11.75, Penguin,$3.95) we see a youngest sibling who fears she'll never be as big or important as her brother and sister. As in so many of Ms. Hutchin's books, the soothing ending adds perfect support for a struggling sibling. Ages 2-4.
Reference to growing need not always be direct to be appreciated by a young child. Jeanne Titherington's Pumpkin, Pumpkin tells the story of Jamie who plants a seed and slowly nurtures a pumpkin to harvest. Titherington's soft life-like illustrations capture a child's delight and appreciation of the growing process. Ages 2-4. (Greenwillow,$11.95)
A child of two to three, who can be overwhelmed just by the growing process alone, often becomes upset by specific life issues. This is a time when early non-fiction books often make their appearance. A new sibling or going to bed might be typical problems. Another might be toilet training.
A friend of mine recently remarked over the inanity of a potty book; it takes a toilet training parent to be a true appreciator. Potty books can be an immense help when this topic comes alive in your home. There all kinds of these books, full of differing stategies and approaches. Mr. Rogers in Going to the Potty takes a straight forward pictoral approach. (Putnam,$12.95, $5.95). Equally direct is Joanna Cole's Your New Potty . Bright bold photographs show the story of Steffie and Ben's path to potty success. Ms. Cole has written an excellent five page introduction for potty-training parents. (Morrow, $10.95) There are more humerous approaches in Babro Lindgren's Sam's Potty (Morrow,$6.95) and Andrea von Konigslow's Toilet Tales. (Annick Press,$4.95). Difficulties come to everyone, even a princess in Tony Ross' potty fairytale, I Want My Potty (Kane Miller,$9.95, $6.95). If your child has a fear of the toilet hole, Ann Jonas discusses this potentially frightening aspect in her Holes and Peeks (Greenwillow,$11.75). Alona Frankel even has male and female dolls to accompany her book Once Upon a Potty which comes in two versions, one with a male protagonist and one with a female. (Barron's,$4.95)
There are many books for this age for differing issues, here are a few that may be of help. Jill Krementz writes a photographic board book series including, Jamie Goes on an Airplane. (Random House,$3.95) Myra Cohn Livingston dispells fears and inspires joys about the same subject in her poetic Up in the Air (Holiday House, $14.95) Susan Lapsley writes an easily understood I am Adopted. (Bodley Head, out of print, but available at most libraries) Kathy Stinson creates an early book about divorce in Mom and Dad Don't Live Together Anymore(Annick Press, $5.95). Living in two different homes as a result of divorce is handled by Barbara Abercrombie in a wonderful metaphoric story called Charlie Anderson about a cat who spends time in two different homes. (McElderry, 1990) Sarah Bonnett Stein faces the last two issues and others in her Open Family Books for Parents and Children Together. (Walker and Co., $6.95-$10.95) a series written at two levels- one to be read to children and the other to further parental understanding and communication.
One wonderful and easy way to support children of this age is to keep giving them the kind of books they love, increasing sophistication as they grow up.
A two to three year old still loves rhyme and rhythm! If they haven't already discovered Audrey and Don Wood, this age child will enjoy The Napping House and King Bidgood's in the Bathtub. Ages 2-6. (both Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, $13.95) Both deal with typical problems in playful atypical ways. This huband-wife team strikes a perfect balance of story, illustration, humor, sensitivity and fun in books that give a child that magic "just-right" feeling. Both these stories have been put to song by Audrey's sister, Jennifer Shippey and are included in a collection of the Woods' stories. Ages 2-8. (Cademon,$9.95)
The active child will still enjoy books they can find a role in. Arlene Dubanevich's rollicking ridiculous tale Pigs in Hiding Ages 2-6. (Four Winds, $10.95) has a pig protagonist that searches for his friends in every page. He can't find them, but your child will! There are story book characters to be found in Janet and Allan Ahlberg's Each Peach Pear Plum Ages 2-6. (Viking,$11.95, Scholastic, $2.95). Ruth Heller's gorgeous naturalistic illustrations camoflague all kinds of animals and insects in her How to Hide a Polar Bear (et.al.) Ages 2-4. (Grosset and Dunlap,$4.95) Rodney Peppe creates mistakes to find in his Odd One Out Ages 2-5. (Viking,$10.95) Alice Shertle tells a hide and seek story of Andy and his cat in That Olive! . Andy can't find his cat, but a two to three year old can. Ages 2-5. (Lothrop,$10.25)
Tana Hoban's glorious photographs ellicit response on their own. Her book titles such as Is it Red? Is it Yellow? Is it Blue? (Greenwillow, $12.95) or Take Another Look (Greenwillow, $13.95) provide a framework. Her marvelous artistry brings from the child more thought than quick response. Her books can furnish a pleasant way to slow down the day with parent-child interaction. They are so full of their own voice, they can also be books that children can "read" themselves. Ages 2-6.
Eric Carle's Do You Want To Be My Friend? is a story about friendship with an animal guessing game implicit in its pages. Both facets inspire participation. Ages 2-4. (Harper and Row, $12.70, $4.95)
Deborah Guarino combines elements of rhyme, rhyme and guessing in her Is Your Mama a Llama? The illustrations by Steven Kellog are natural enhancement to the humor found in the words. Ages 2-5. (Scholastic, $11.95)
The years from two to three is a year of dramatic change. There will be drama of all kinds and styles as your child moves from babyhood to childhood. Floundering in bouts of it, take a deep breath, remember it will only last one year, grab for a book and relax and enjoy it with your child!