10+ Best Touch And Feel Books for 2-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect way to introduce your little one to the joy of reading? Touch and feel books for 2-year-olds are a fantastic choice! These interactive books are designed to engage toddlers with textures that encourage sensory exploration and help build early language skills. Keep reading to discover our curated lists of touch and feel books that are sure to captivate and stimulate your toddler's growing curiosity.

Fun Touch And Feel Books for 2-Year-Olds

• That's Not My Puppy... by Fiona Watt, illustrated by Rachel Wells
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This book is part of a delightful series that uses simple, repetitive text and bold illustrations to introduce young children to sensory experiences. Each page features a different texture designed to encourage tactile exploration.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's specifically designed to capture the attention of very young readers with its tactile patches and bright pictures. It also helps in sensory development.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who enjoy exploring with their hands and parents looking to engage their child's sense of touch.

• Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book by Rod Campbell
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: A child writes to the zoo asking them to send a pet. This classic lift-the-flap book chronicles the arrival of various animals that are all unsuitable for one reason or another, until the perfect pet arrives.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines the fun of lifting flaps with the joy of discovering different animals, making it interactive and engaging for young minds.
  • Perfect for: Young children who love animals and interactive reading sessions.

• Touch! My Big Touch-and-Feel Word Book by Xavier Deneux
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book focuses on tactile experiences paired with large, simple words which help build a toddler's vocabulary. Each page features different textures to touch and feel.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's educational and stimulates multiple senses, aiding in cognitive and language development.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers beginning to explore words and textures.

• Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Interactive
  • Synopsis: This classic book invites young readers to interact with the story by patting a bunny, feeling daddy's scratchy face, and looking in a mirror.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a pioneer in the touch-and-feel book genre, providing a multi-sensory experience that is both comforting and playful.
  • Perfect for: Young children who enjoy sensory play and parents seeking a nostalgic reading experience for their kids.

• Baby Touch and Feel: Animals by DK
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Animal Book
  • Synopsis: This board book introduces babies to animals through engaging textures and cute photographs. Each animal has a tactile element to help babies connect words with wonderful sensory experiences.
  • Why we recommend this book: It helps in developing recognition skills through repetitive patterns and tactile reinforcement.
  • Perfect for: Babies and toddlers who are beginning to learn about animals and enjoy interactive elements in books.

Educational Touch And Feel Books for 2-Year-Olds

• Never Touch a Dinosaur by Stuart Lynch
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This playful book features silicone touch and feel elements on every page, which mimic the skin textures of various dinosaurs.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Sensory development, imagination, and early learning about dinosaurs
  • Why we recommend this book: The silicone textures are unique and engaging, making it a fun way for kids to learn about dinosaurs through touch.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are fascinated by dinosaurs and enjoy interactive, tactile books.

• Touch and Feel Farm by Scholastic
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book takes young readers on a tactile journey around a farm, introducing them to different farm animals and farm-related textures.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Animal recognition, sensory skills, and vocabulary related to farm life
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines the excitement of farm animals with the educational benefits of sensory exploration.
  • Perfect for: Young children who show interest in animals and parents looking for educational yet fun books.

• Touch and Feel Wild Animals by Julie Aigner-Clark, illustrated by Nadeem Zaidi
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Wildlife
  • Synopsis: This book allows children to explore the textures of wild animals like a fuzzy tiger, a scaly crocodile, and more.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Tactile awareness, animal recognition, and an introduction to wildlife
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a great way to introduce children to animals they don't commonly see, enhancing their knowledge and sensory experiences.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers interested in animals and exploratory learning through touch.

• My First Touch and Feel Picture Cards: Colors and Shapes by DK
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Educational
  • Synopsis: This set of cards features various colors and shapes, each with a distinct texture to help toddlers learn these basic concepts.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Color and shape recognition, sensory and cognitive development
  • Why we recommend this book: The tactile elements make learning colors and shapes more engaging and memorable for young children.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers beginning to learn about colors, shapes, and textures.

• Where Is Baby's Belly Button? A Lift-the-Flap Book by Karen Katz
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Educational
  • Synopsis: This interactive book invites toddlers to lift the flaps to find different parts of baby's body, from belly buttons to feet.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Body awareness, motor skills, and interactive play
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages playful interaction and learning through a simple game of hide-and-seek with body parts.
  • Perfect for: Young children learning about their bodies and enjoying interactive reading.

Challenging Touch And Feel Books for 2-Year-Olds

• Feel the Fun: Ocean Wonders by Julie Dillon
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Educational
  • Synopsis: Dive into the deep blue sea with textures that mimic the feel of real ocean creatures like slippery fish, squishy starfish, and rough coral.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces advanced textures that mimic real-life sea creatures, which can be more complex for young tactile senses.
  • Why we recommend this book: This book offers a sensory journey that not only entertains but also educates about diverse marine life.
  • Perfect for: Young explorers eager to learn about ocean life through touch.

• Textured Tales: Forest Friends by Hannah Wood, illustrated by Claire Beaton
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Nature
  • Synopsis: Explore a textured forest adventure, meeting fuzzy foxes, scratchy squirrels, and other woodland creatures.
  • Why this book is challenging: It uses a variety of natural textures, providing a more nuanced sensory experience that requires finer motor skills to differentiate.
  • Why we recommend this book: Encourages an appreciation for nature and promotes sensory recognition, which is crucial at this developmental stage.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who show interest in animals and the outdoors.

• Sensory ABC: A Feel and Learn Alphabet by Maria Bostian
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Educational
  • Synopsis: Each letter of the alphabet is paired with a corresponding texture, enhancing both letter recognition and tactile learning.
  • Why this book is challenging: Integrates tactile learning with alphabet recognition, challenging toddlers to connect different sensory inputs with cognitive concepts.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a multi-sensory approach to learning the alphabet, making it more engaging and memorable.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers beginning to learn their letters and enjoy sensory play.

• Jungle Jamboree: A Touch and Feel Adventure by Lucy Richards
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Adventure
  • Synopsis: Join a lively jungle tour with textures like rough elephant skin, soft feathers of tropical birds, and thick, furry tiger coats.
  • Why this book is challenging: Offers a variety of complex textures associated with exotic animals, which are less familiar and more challenging for young children to identify.
  • Why we recommend this book: Stimulates curiosity about wildlife while providing an interactive reading experience that enhances tactile and visual learning.
  • Perfect for: Young adventurers interested in exotic animals and sensory exploration.

• Busy City: A Touch and Trace Book by Rebecca Finn
  • Genre(s): Touch and Feel, Urban Exploration
  • Synopsis: Navigate a bustling cityscape with elements to touch and trace, including rough brick buildings, smooth windows, and bumpy buses.
  • Why this book is challenging: Introduces urban textures and requires fine motor skills for tracing shapes, making it more complex for tactile perception.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's an excellent tool for developing fine motor skills and understanding diverse urban environments.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are curious about city life and enjoy interactive elements in their reading.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Touch and feel books are a fantastic way to engage your little one and nurture a love for reading from an early age. These books are not just fun; they're also educational, offering sensory experiences that can aid in cognitive development. Below are some exercises that you can incorporate while reading touch and feel books to your 2-year-old to maximize these benefits.

• Read Daily
  • What it is: Set aside time each day to read touch and feel books with your child.
  • How it helps: Establishes a reading routine and fosters a love for books.
  • Tips: Keep reading sessions short and sweet to match your toddler’s attention span.

• Ask Questions
  • What it is: Pose simple questions about the textures and images in the book.
  • How it helps: Enhances language skills and comprehension.
  • Tips: Use open-ended questions like "What do you think this feels like?" to encourage more interaction.

• Name the Textures
  • What it is: Help your child name each texture they touch (e.g., rough, smooth, bumpy).
  • How it helps: Builds vocabulary and sensory awareness.
  • Tips: Repeat the texture names as often as possible to reinforce learning.

• Create a Story
  • What it is: Encourage your child to create a story based on the pictures and textures they feel.
  • How it helps: Stimulates imagination and narrative skills.
  • Tips: Guide them initially with prompts and gradually let them take the lead.

• Follow the Finger
  • What it is: Guide your child’s finger along the text as you read the words aloud.
  • How it helps: Introduces the concept of reading from left to right and recognizes symbols.
  • Tips: Make this a fun activity by pretending the finger is a little animal hopping on the words.

• Texture Hunt
  • What it is: After reading, have a "texture hunt" around the house to find objects that match the textures in the book.
  • How it helps: Connects book learning to the real world and enhances sensory integration.
  • Tips: Start with easy-to-find objects and gradually include more challenging textures.

These exercises are not only fun but also incredibly beneficial in developing early literacy skills and a deeper understanding of the world through sensory exploration. By integrating these activities into your reading time, you're setting a strong foundation for your child's reading journey. Happy reading!