A 3-year-old girl's top book picks
They are exactly as pink and spunky as you'd expect, and my daughter is very confident you'll like them as much as she does. Plus, my go-to meal from pantry staples and leftovers.
I listened to a podcast this week where the guest reminded me of an important parenting truth that immediately put me at ease: When it comes to parenting, more is caught than taught.
I often stress about whether I’m teaching my children enough, but let’s be honest—they aren’t listening to my lectures about kindness, handling frustration, the importance of screen-free time, etc. They are watching how I prioritize and live out those things. Of course, that puts pressure on us as parents to do those things well, but that’s the beauty of parenting. While we teach our children so very much, they end up teaching us even more. Raising children has made me a much better person than I ever was before they came along.
Recipe: Sheet pan tostadas (I’ve made these with leftover taco meat, chicken, pulled pork, shrimp—this recipe is extremely versatile, and you can typically pull it together with ingredients you keep stocked in the pantry.)
Easy way to be a fun mom: Before you say “no” to your children this week, ask yourself if you are saying no because what they want to do is harmful or dangerous, or if it’s just inconvenient. You don’t always have to say yes to everything your children want—nor should you—but you don’t always have to say no, either.
Fun read: How to turn your kitchen into a Paris bistro
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“Twinkle Thinks Pink” written by Katharine Holabird, illustrated by Sarah Warburton
My daughter and I recently popped into our local bookstore, and I asked her if she saw any good books for little girls. She immediately grabbed this one off the shelf, and we not only read it right there in the store, but every night at home since we bought it. And I don’t even mind because the story is cute and the illustrations are superb! (This book is also part of a series.)
Twinkle is a little fairy who loves pink, and when she is invited to Fairy Godmother’s garden party, she tries her hand at turning the roses pink. To her dismay, she turns the entire garden pink by mistake! Fairy Godmother’s forgiving attitude was such a delightful surprise (my daughter always worries about characters getting into trouble) and, of course, you can’t go wrong with a book about fairies and pink. (Bonus: The last page has non-messy rainbow glitter!)
Recommended age: 3 - 7 years
“Meet Angelina Ballerina” written by Katharine Holabird, illustrated by Helen Craig
My daughter is becoming very interested in ballet, and so we’ve begun diving into the Angelina Ballerina series (also by Katharine Holabird). “Meet Angelina Ballerina” is a short paperback that provides a nice introduction to Angelina’s world. In this book, you’ll meet her family and friends, see some neighborhood hotspots (Miss Lily’s dance studio and Mrs. Thimble’s shop) and learn a bit of ballet terminology. My daughter keeps this book in her bed every night, she loves it so.
Recommended age: 3 - 7 years
“If You Give a Pig a Party” written by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
Our family is big fans of the “If You Give a Mouse A Cookie” series (both the books and TV show), and “If You Give a Pig a Party” is my daughter’s favorite book so far. Join Pig as she plans a party, tracks down her friends at a street fair, has an epic game of hide and seek, and more in this fun read. (This book is also a great go-to birthday gift for toddlers and preschoolers!)
Recommended age: 2 - 4 years
“Lola Dutch” written by Kenneth Wright, illustrated by Sarah Jane Wright
If your little girl loves pink tutus, animal friends and going on adventures, she will love Lola Dutch. And if you appreciate beautiful illustrations, cheeky nods to great artists and French architecture, you will love “Lola Dutch!”
With all of her big ideas, appetite for adventure and tendency to take things over the top, Lola Dutch might be a little bit much—but isn’t every three-year-old girl sometimes? This book is sweet and precious, and we hope you love it, too.
Recommended age: 2 - 6 years
What are your toddler girl’s favorite books? Please share in the comments!
“If you want to learn about grace, take notes from a toddler. They witness our impatience, our frustration, and our moodiness. Yet they forgive us, no questions asked. They see us at our absolute worst. Yet we are still their favourite humans in the world.” — Casey Huff
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I love If You Give a Pig a Party (and all the rest)! Lola Dutch looks cute. My toddler daughter’s favorites are all the Llama Llama books and Frog and Toad books. Twirl by Emily Lex is adorable too!
Great recs! Will add these to my holds!