My toddler never gets tired of taking plastic containers, pots and pans in and out of the kitchen cupboards and pulling books off shelves. Why is this happening and what can I do about it?

Well, this is good and bad. They are learning how to explore. So long as you keep the dangerous things away from your toddler, think it should be fine. The only con is that you have to keep for them. Meanwhile, let to educate them to keep the toys too. This is part of growing up.