To manipulate, taste, hear,smell and then sort out everything that's been taken in. A child enters the second year of life as a baby and emerges as an individual. Toddlers experience the world with constant joy and exuberance. Many times parents experience the second year of life with exhaustion. Reading is an excellent way for toddlers to keep experiencing while parents get a bit of rest.
Most board books enjoyed by babies are still perfect for toddlers.
A toddler always seems to need the balance of familiarity to strengthen appreciation of the new. Toddlers will enjoy familiar books more completely and appreciate complexity in new board books. Because most growth comes from interacting directly with their environment, it is very important that they have books of their own. Some books will suffer, but it is a necessary part of learning. After all, babies have to get messy to learn to eat.