Books for Curious Kids Ages 0-5

This Better Beginnings list was compiled by children's literature specialists from the State Library and SciTech and are great for encouraging curiosity and children aged 0-5.

Updated November 21, 2024
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City of Belmont Ruth Faulkner Library
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Quack and count
Baker, Keith
Paper Book
Keith Baker’s playful, rhyming text and bold collage illustrations capture the excitement of a day’s adventure as a family of lively ducklings slip, slide, leap, and dive--grouping themselves in all the different combinations that add up to seven. Addition has never been more fun!...
From head to toe
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...
Fish eyes : a book you can count on
Ehlert, Lois.
Paper Book
Now toddlers can dive into counting with this board book edition of one of Lois Ehlert's most popular books. With cutout fish eyes to touch and an energetic fish friend to guide them, they'll have so much fun they won't even notice they're learning!
Shape by shape
MacDonald, Suse.
Paper Book
What am I? I lived a long, long time ago. I had round eyes... lots of sharp teeth... This new concept book from Caldecott Honor illustrator Suse MacDonald is sure to entertain children. As readers turn the brightly colored, die cut pages, shapes on each page...
Construction
Sutton, Sally
Paper Book
Thonk! Clonk! Clap! The team behind Roadwork and Demolition returns to the construction site, where big machines and busy workers dig, hoist, and hammer away. There’s lots of noise and excitement involved in building a library! Preschoolers will clamor to take...

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