Concept, Ritual, and Narrative: What Are Toddler Books?

Research on children’s literature focuses on preschool children’s books (children aged 3–6) and on juvenile fiction, yet is lacking in studies on toddler books (ages 0–3). In this paper, I present a definition of the genre of toddler books (often referred to as boardbooks , despite it including non-boardbooks), while focusing on the illustrational aspects, that are at least as dominant as the written texts, if not more so. I also examine the plots and themes that are presented in toddlers’ books, distinguishing between concept books (lexical books with no narrative), ritual books (which engage in instilling certain habits), and narrative books (toddlers’ books that depict a complex narrative and serve as preparation for prereader books). The findings of the study indicate that toddlers’ books are often infants’ first encounter with both narrative thought and visual art, hence their significant place in their development.