Toy Suggestions for Our Book Averse Boy

You have lots of good ideas, my other idea is a book with songs that go with. My daughter loves "Pete the Cat." There is a corresponding website that read the book along with singing.
Also, you have probably done this, but I think the time of day and routine helps too. Maybe bringing them out when he is very calm/tired like before a nap or bed could help too.
I also like the ones with lots of pop ups and tabs to pull too.

My son never really liked books that much as a toddler. It was really hard for us to get through one without him getting distracted by something. He is in kindergarten now and reading at a 4th grade level. He doesn't absolutely love to read, which breaks this bookworm mama's heart, but he definitely can and does when properly motivated. I feel you shouldn't really push it at this age. He will figure it out.

(I tell myself all this when I despair that my 3-y.o. daughter is following in her brother's footsteps and also won't let me get through a book with her.)

Check out Amazon for "jigsaw puzzle books". They have one that has Doctor Suess.

This book is similar and my son really loved it when he was younger. http://www.amazon.com/B.-Puzzle-Book-Jessie-Ford/dp/14197... (The illustrator has a few more now.)

He is now 4, but every so often, he will still pull it out for a bit.

Are you saying he doesn't like looking at books on his own, or he doesn't like you reading to him, or both?
Not looking at books on his own at this age is fairly normal, but he should be able to sit and listen to a short story. Start with very short stories, like the little board books that are no more than about three minutes or so, and go from there.
Be animated, use silly voices and have fun!

Was it something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Animals-World-Jigsaw-Book-Books/dp/...

I used to play books on tape in the background while we made dinner or whatever when my daughter was about that age, as she was book averse as well. I didn't think it was making an impact until one day I didn't put one on and she started RECITING one and just saying the story, as if she were the narrator!!!! Maybe try that?

Eric Carle also makes some number books where the kids can flip pages and the Very Hungry Caterpillar he can poke his fingers through. Consider books with flaps and textures, like the Boyton one about "Where's my binkit?" We have a book shaped like a castle and when you turn the pages, you get to see other parts of the castle. There's also Inside Freight Train which has pages he can pull apart (board book) to see what's inside.

I've seen this book many times in book stores. I bought one from Barnes and Noble, in fact. I don't know how you'd word the search to find them on line.

My granddaughter has learned to like books just by having her books out and about and not on a book shelf. They're in her toy bin and laying on her shelf which is next to the toy bin. She looks at them and tosses them back down. These are the board books for the most part.

This isn't teaching her how to respect and take care of books. That will come later.

Later: I looked up Barnes and Noble's web site. They have a live chat option as well as a telephone number. I suggest you contact them directly and ask them for such books.

We had a puzzle book like that about Bob the Builder. Try Barnes and Noble children's section. I think that's where I found it and the staff should be able to help you. I've also seen books that are in the shapes of trucks and tractors. What about books where you can push buttons and make noises? Bath books for when he's in the tub?

Google "jigsaw puzzle books for preschoolers."

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0789422069

Look for examples with tractors, trucks, animals, trains, etc. Our son liked the books with photographs of the objects. He also liked the search and find books for preschool age. The one we have has photos rather than drawings.

Pop-up books would be ideal at this age. Also, the touch and feel style, like Pat the B..

I have a few suggestions for toy-like interactive books. Usbourne Publishers has a series of wind up books that come with a small vehicle that can be driven along a track built into the book. I frequently see these books for sale at private toy stores, but unfortunately on amazon they are only available used. In Barnes and Noble, you can find a whole slew of books that have buttons, sound effects, etc., for example Thomas the Tank Engine books. Pop up books and lift the flap are good ones, available everywhere. Another thing that gets my two year old son interested in books is playing with a "matching" stuffed character, like a toy Clifford the Big Red Dog. Barnes and Noble has really capitalized on this- they sell a ton of these book themed stuffed animals.

There are lots of interactive books he may find more appealing. How about lift the flap books, sound and story books (push buttons to make sounds), or toy books (we had Tonka and John Deer, they were truck or tractors but opened up and had a book inside). We always left all of the board books out for the kids and they decided when they wanted to look at them, and they did often. They would bring us the books when they wanted us to read to them, but it was child led.