10+ Best Sensory Books for 1-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the lookout for the perfect way to introduce your little one to the joy of reading? Sensory books for 1-year-olds are a fantastic way to engage their senses and foster early learning. These books are specifically designed to captivate young minds with textures, sounds, and visually stimulating elements. In this blog, we’ll explore a variety of sensory books that are perfect for your toddler’s development. Keep reading to discover our top picks for sensory books that will delight and educate your child!

Fun Sensory Books for 1-Year-Olds

• Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
  • Genre(s): Sensory, Interactive
  • Synopsis: A touch and feel book that invites little ones to pat the bunny and engage with other simple activities alongside the story's characters, Paul and Judy.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a timeless sensory experience that encourages interaction and sensory exploration, which are crucial at this developmental stage.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who are beginning to explore the world through touch.

• Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: This engaging lift-the-flap book shows children the process of finding the perfect pet, with each animal being sent back for being too big, too scary, or too grumpy.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines the fun of guessing and the excitement of revealing animals, enhancing both cognitive and physical skills.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy animals and interactive reading sessions.

• That's Not My Puppy... by Fiona Watt, illustrated by Rachel Wells
  • Genre(s): Touch-and-Feel, Board Book
  • Synopsis: Part of a series, this book allows children to explore different textures as they search for their puppy among several candidates, each with a distinct tactile experience.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps develop sensory awareness and language skills through repetitive phrases and varied textures.
  • Perfect for: Infants and toddlers who are developing their sense of touch and language recognition.

• Where's Spot? by Eric Hill
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: In this playful book, children are invited to search for Spot, the little puppy who is hiding somewhere around the house.
  • Why we recommend this book: The repetitive structure and interactive flaps encourage prediction and participation, which are key to language development.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love playful search-and-find activities.

• Baby Touch and Feel: Animals by DK
  • Genre(s): Touch-and-Feel, Board Book
  • Synopsis: This book offers a variety of textures that mimic the feel of different animals, providing a tactile experience to young readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It stimulates the senses and helps build vocabulary as babies learn the names and characteristics of different animals.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who are curious about animals and enjoy engaging their senses.

Educational Sensory Books for 1-Year-Olds

• Never Touch a Dragon by Rosie Greening, illustrated by Stuart Lynch
  • Genre(s): Touch-and-Feel, Board Book
  • Synopsis: This playful book discourages touching dragons with its silicone touch-and-feel features, which are both irresistible and uniquely textured.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Sensory development, motor skills, imagination
  • Why we recommend this book: Its interactive elements make reading a fun, tactile experience, enhancing engagement and sensory exploration.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who enjoy a tactile reading session with a dash of whimsy.

• Touch! My Big Touch-and-Feel Word Book by Xavier Deneux
  • Genre(s): Touch-and-Feel, Educational
  • Synopsis: This large format board book introduces young readers to over 150 words through tactile elements and simple, vibrant illustrations.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Vocabulary expansion, sensory awareness, cognitive development
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines learning with sensory play, which helps in retaining new vocabulary and concepts.
  • Perfect for: Young children who are just starting to learn words and enjoy interactive books.

• Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy! by Sandra Boynton
  • Genre(s): Touch-and-Feel, Board Book
  • Synopsis: This cuddly book offers young readers various textures to touch and feel, from a cow's fuzzy nose to a pig's sticky mud bath.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Tactile skills, animal recognition, sensory exploration
  • Why we recommend this book: Its simple and rhythmic text paired with engaging textures makes it a delightful sensory experience.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who are exploring their sense of touch and enjoying their first words.

• Whose Baby Am I? by John Butler
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book features various baby animals hidden behind flaps, with children guessing who their parents are, fostering a connection with nature.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Animal recognition, parent-child identification, memory skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages interaction and learning through a delightful guessing game that enhances cognitive abilities.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love animals and enjoy interactive guessing games.

• Baby University ABC's Board Book Set by Chris Ferrie
  • Genre(s): Educational, Board Book
  • Synopsis: A set of four board books that introduce basic scientific concepts with each letter of the alphabet, from A for Atom to Z for Zenon.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Alphabet recognition, introductory science concepts, early literacy
  • Why we recommend this book: It's an innovative approach to blend science with early language skills, making learning both fun and educational.
  • Perfect for: Inquisitive toddlers ready to explore basic science concepts and the alphabet.

Challenging Sensory Books for 1-Year-Olds

• Touch and Feel: Farm by DK
  • Genre(s): Touch-and-Feel, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book takes young readers on a tactile journey through a farm, introducing them to different farm animals and their unique textures.
  • Why this book is challenging: It offers a variety of textures that go beyond the usual smooth and rough, challenging toddlers to differentiate between more subtle textures like woolly, fluffy, and scratchy.
  • Why we recommend this book: It enhances sensory discrimination and helps toddlers connect tactile sensations with visual images, boosting cognitive development.
  • Perfect for: Young explorers who are fascinated by animals and eager to learn about different textures.

• Peek-A Who? by Nina Laden
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Mystery
  • Synopsis: This book uses rhyming riddles and colorful lift-the-flap pages to engage toddlers in guessing what might be hiding on the next page.
  • Why this book is challenging: The use of rhymes and the concept of prediction in this book encourage cognitive development beyond simple sensory exploration.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a playful and interactive way to develop early literacy skills and logical thinking.
  • Perfect for: Curious toddlers who enjoy rhymes and the thrill of a playful surprise.

• Animal Alphabet: Slide and Seek the ABCs by Alex A. Lluch
  • Genre(s): Interactive, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book provides an interactive way to learn the alphabet, with sliders that reveal animals and objects beginning with each letter.
  • Why this book is challenging: It combines learning the alphabet with fine motor skills development, requiring toddlers to manipulate sliders as they learn.
  • Why we recommend this book: It supports letter recognition and vocabulary growth while engaging multiple senses, making learning more memorable.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are beginning to show interest in letters and those who enjoy interactive reading.

• My First Touch and Feel Picture Cards: Numbers and Counting by DK
  • Genre(s): Educational, Touch-and-Feel
  • Synopsis: This set of cards helps toddlers learn numbers and counting through tactile elements and visual interaction.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces numerical concepts and counting in a tactile format, which is more advanced for toddlers still mastering basic language skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: These cards offer a hands-on approach to learning numbers, enhancing both cognitive and tactile skills.
  • Perfect for: Young children who are ready to start learning basic math concepts in a fun and engaging way.

• Textures: Touch and Explore by Xavier Deneux
  • Genre(s): Touch-and-Feel, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book invites toddlers to explore various textures, from bumpy and sticky to soft and smooth, paired with simple illustrations.
  • Why this book is challenging: It uses a variety of uncommon textures to stimulate sensory development and descriptive language skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's designed to foster sensory awareness and vocabulary development through direct interaction with diverse materials.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are developing their sensory perceptions and descriptive skills.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to introduce your 1-year-old to the joyous world of reading through sensory books, you've made a fantastic choice! Sensory books are not just about reading; they engage multiple senses that are crucial in the developmental stage of toddlers. Here are some fun and effective exercises to help your little one develop good reading habits early on:

• Touch-and-Feel Pages
  • What it is: Encourage your child to touch pages with different textures.
  • How it helps: Enhances sensory development and builds neural connections about various textures.
  • Tips: Guide your child’s hand over the textures as you describe them aloud.

• Picture Pointing
  • What it is: Ask your child to point to different pictures in the book as you name them.
  • How it helps: Improves vocabulary and aids in word-object association.
  • Tips: Start with familiar objects and gradually introduce new ones.

• Sound Mimicking
  • What it is: Make sounds that correspond to the pictures or textures in the book.
  • How it helps: Engages hearing and helps in auditory learning and memory.
  • Tips: Be expressive and use varied tones to maintain your child's interest.

• Story Retelling
  • What it is: Narrate the story using simple, short sentences and ask your child to repeat after you.
  • How it helps: Enhances language skills and memory.
  • Tips: Use gestures and facial expressions to make the retelling engaging.

• Color Identification
  • What it is: Point out different colors in the book and name them.
  • How it helps: Helps with color recognition and teaches adjectives.
  • Tips: Relate colors to familiar items (like "red like an apple").

Incorporating these exercises into your reading routine will not only make the experience enjoyable but also educational for your toddler. Sensory books are a gateway to exploring the vast, colorful world of reading, so make the most of it and watch your little one flourish! Happy reading!