Great Read-Alouds for Preschoolers

Here are some of the NPL Youth Services librarians' favorite read-alouds for preschoolers!

Updated December 27, 2023
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Tap the magic tree
Matheson, Christie
Paper Book
There is magic in every tree. The tall, silent one in the woods. The small, bumpy one in the park. Even the bare brown tree in your backyard. As the seasons change, trees change, too. They sprout leaves. The leaves change...
Thank you, Omu!
Mora, Oge
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book In this cozy, sweet story perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street as well as for the Thanksgiving season, a generous woman is rewarded by her community. A Spanish edition, ¡Gracias, Omu!, is also...
A big bed for Little Snow
Lin, Grace
Paper Book
Get ready for bed with Little Snow in this wintry picture book from award-winning and bestselling creator Grace Lin.   When it was quiet, Little Snow grinned and then jumped, jumped, jumped!   Little Snow loves the...
Noisy night
Barnett, Mac
Paper Book
A clever picture book about a multi-level apartment building's occupants and their many nighttime noises. It's a noisy night in this city building! The residents of each floor can hear their neighbors above them, and are wondering what's going on above their heads. Climb floor...
How do you dance?
Heder, Thyra
Paper Book
A playful picture book that urges readers to bop, bounce, and shake from the author of Fraidyzoo There are so many ways to dance! You can jiggle or wiggle or stomp.You can bop or bounce or go completely nuts. You can dance at the market or the bus stop, with your fingers or your face. You can dance...
Mae among the stars
Ahmed, Roda
Paper Book
A beautiful picture book for sharing and marking special occasions such as graduation, inspired by the life of the first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison. An Amazon Best Book of the Month! A great classroom and bedtime read-aloud, Mae Among the Stars is the...
De la cabeza a los pies
Carle, Eric
Paper Book
This high-quality Spanish-language edition of the Eric Carle favorite From Head to Toe can be enjoyed by fluent Spanish speakers as well as those learning the language, whether at home or in a classroom. Las risas no dejaraán de oirse mientras los niños (¡y los adultos!) participan en el...
Your name is a song
Thompkins-Bigelow, Jamilah
Paper Book
Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their...
Llama llama red pajama
Dewdney, Anna
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . Llama Llama learns to face the bedtime blues in this charmingly written picture book classic, perfect for sending little ones off to sleep. Llama, Llama red pajama waiting, waiting for his mama. Mama isn't coming yet...
Don't push the button!
Cotter, Bill
Paper Book
A USA Today Bestseller! There's only one rule in Larry's book- don't push the button. (Seriously, don't even think about it!) Even if it does look kind of nice, you must never push the button. Who knows what would happen? Okay, quick. No one is looking... push the button.
The snowy day
Keats, Ezra Jack.
Paper Book
CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER . #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER . The magic and wonder of winter's first snowfall is perfectly captured in this classic seasonal picture book celebrated by generations of readers-a beautiful gift for the holiday season! New York Public Library's #1 book on the...
The very hungry caterpillar
Carle, Eric
Paper Book
THE ICONIC #1 BESTSELLER * The all-time classic starring the world's favorite caterpillar! This beautiful, sturdy board book is a perfect gift for new babies, baby showers, birthdays, and other new beginnings! One of The Atlantic's 65 Essential Children's Books ...
Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?
Martin, Bill
Paper Book
With more than twenty million copies sold, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? has opened up a world of learning to a generation of children. Now, even the youngest reader can join in on the fun with this built-to-last board book edition. A big happy frog, a plump...
Don't let the pigeon drive the bus
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book
Mo Willems, #1 New York Times best-selling creator and three-time Caldecott Honoree, presents the book that started it all: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Finally, a book you can say "no" to!   When the Bus Driver takes a break from his route,...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.