Books for Preschoolers

Shareable books to get your preschooler ready to read, full of appealing artwork, concepts and phrases. For more guidelines on finding books to share with your preschooler, check out our printable pamphlet.

Updated November 7, 2024
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1

Extra yarn
Barnett, Mac.
Paper Book
From bestselling and award-winning author Mac Barnett and illustrator Jon Klassen comes Extra Yarn, a Caldecott Honor Book, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner, and a New York Times bestseller. A young girl and her box of magical yarn transform a community in this stunning picture...

2

The turnip
Brett, Jan
Paper Book
In a rollicking, cumulative tale, a badger family and their friends-Hedgie, Mr. Ram and Vanya, the horse-struggle to pull up a giant turnip. A cocky rooster steps in and pulls, sending him into the air, holding onto the turnip. No one knows that a mother bear in her underground den has kicked the...

3

Grandma's tiny house : a counting story!
Brown-Wood, JaNay
Paper Book
Chicago Public Library's 2017 Best of the Best Books selection "A fine addition to book collections about families, food, counting, and joyous gatherings" - The Horn Book This sweet, rhyming counting book introduces young readers to numbers one through fifteen...

4

The very busy spider
Carle, Eric.
Paper Book
A VERY classic from Eric Carle, creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Early one morning a little spider spins her web on a fence post. One by one, the animals of the nearby farm try to distract her, yet the busy little spider keeps diligently at her work. When she is done...

5

Mixed : a colorful story
Chung, Arree
Paper Book
The reds, the yellows, and the blues all think they're the best in this vibrant, thought-provoking picture book from Arree Chung, with a message of acceptance and unity. In the beginning, there were three colors . . . Reds, Yellows, and...

6

Maria had a little llama
Dominguez, Angela N.
Paper Book
Everyone knows about Mary and her little lamb. But do you know Maria? With gorgeous, Peruvian-inspired illustrations and English and Spanish retellings, Angela Dominguez's Maria Had a Little Llama / María Tenía Una Llamita gives a fresh new bilingual twist to the...

7

I got a chicken for my birthday
Gehl, Laura
Paper Book
All the birthday girl wants from her Abuela is a ticket to the amusement park. Instead, she gets a chicken. But this chicken is no ordinary chicken; it has plans! With a lot of hard work, and help from other animals, this chicken may just end up granting the girl the best birthday gift ever.

8

Balance the birds
Ghahremani, Susie
Paper Book
A follow-up to Stack the Cats, Balance the Birds is about balance and relative size. When birds spot a tree and decide to land on its branches, the readers can help them find the perfect balance. Like Stack the Cats, Balance the Birds introduces key early math skills...

9

We don't eat our classmates!
Higgins, Ryan T.
Paper Book
A fresh take on first-day-of-school-jitters with Penelope Rex, a dinosaur with a taste for children, from the author of the New York Times bestselling MOTHER BRUCE series, Ryan T. Higgins. It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can't wait to meet her...

10

Green pants
Kraegel, Kenneth
Paper Book
For kids who march to their own drummer -- or are especially attached to a comfort object -- here is a completely adorable character who wears his singularity in style. Jameson only ever wears green pants. When he wears green pants, he can do anything. But if he wants to...

11

A big mooncake for Little Star
Lin, Grace
Paper Book
A gorgeous picture book that tells a whimsical origin story of the phases of the moon, from award-winning, bestselling author-illustrator Grace Lin Pat, pat, pat... Little Star's soft feet tiptoed to the Big Mooncake. Little Star loves the delicious...

12

Julián is a mermaid
Love, Jessica
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! Winner of a 2019 Stonewall Book Award In an exuberant picture book, a glimpse of costumed mermaids leaves one boy flooded with wonder and ready to dazzle the world. While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela...

13

Drawn together
Lê, Minh
Paper Book
The recipient of six starred reviews and the APALA Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature!   Named a Best Book of 2018 by the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Smithsonian, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Booklist, the...

14

?Gracias, 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...

15

Love the world
Parr, Todd
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Todd Parr comes a celebration of love, respect, peace, and unity. With his colorful illustrations, playful humor, and inclusive storytelling, beloved author Todd Parr has long been a favorite among young...

16

The tortoise & the hare
Pinkney, Jerry
Paper Book
This lavish, highly-acclaimed rendition of Aesop's most beloved fable about grit, hope, and resilience is brought to life by Caldecott Medal-winning artist Jerry Pinkney.   This nearly wordless companion to the Caldecott Medal-winning The Lion & the...

17

This story is for you
Pizzoli, Greg
Paper Book
A tender lapsharing book that appreciates difference as the foundation of life-long friendship, from three-time Geisel Award recipient Greg Pizzoli In this sweet story by an acclaimed picture book creator, a simple "It's nice to know you" holds so much...

18

My papi has a motorcycle
Quintero, Isabel
Paper Book
A celebration of the love between a father and daughter, and of a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, by an award-winning author and illustrator duo. A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Century When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her...

19

Las aventuras de Beekle : el amigo (no) imaginario
Santat, Dan
Paper Book
Winner of the Caldecott Medal #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning creator Dan Santat combines classic storytelling with breathtaking art in an unforgettable tale about friendship, imagination, and the courage to find one's place in...

20

Who wet my pants?
Shea, Bob
Paper Book
In this hilarious tale of blame, compassion, and forgiveness, a very embarrassed bear is reminded that accidents can happen--but with the support of good friends, life goes on. Reuben the bear's got donuts for everyone in his scout troop, but his friends are...

21

Want to play trucks?
Stott, Ann
Paper Book
Jack likes trucks. Alex likes dolls. What will they play together? Their new favorite game, of course! Jack and Alex meet almost every morning in the sandbox at the playground. Jack likes trucks -- big ones, the kind that can wreck things. Alex likes dolls -- pink ones, with...

22

Is everyone ready for fun?
Thomas, Jan
Paper Book
Chicken has some unexpected and exuberant cow visitors who have exciting plans for jumping, dancing, and wiggling on his teeny-tiny couch, and Chicken is none too happy about it. That is until the fun concludes with a quiet, cozy and delicious nap for all!

23

Say zoop!
Tullet, Hervé.
Paper Book
PRESS HERE, MIX IT UP!, LET'S PLAY! and now SAY ZOOP! Collect all four interactive books from best-selling children's book author Hervé Tullet! Make some noise! Shout "OH!" Whisper "oh!" Say "Zoop"? Yes! "Zoop!" "Zoop!" "Zoop!" The newest book from...

24

Octopus stew
Velasquez, Eric
Paper Book
What do you do when an octopus captures Grandma? Put on your superhero cape and rescue her! Award-winning Afro-Latino artist Eric Velasquez's delightfully meta story is now in Spanish.   Bank Street Mejor Libro Infantil Silver Medalist ...

25

Goldilocks and the three dinosaurs
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs is a new take on the fairy-tale classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears, so funny and so original--it could only come from the brilliant mind of Mo Willems, the author/illustrator of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and the Elephant and Piggie series. ...

26

The little mouse, the red ripe strawberry, & the big hungry bear
Wood, Don
Paper Book
First published in 1984, a picture book in which the Little Mouse will do all he can to save his strawberry from the Big, Hungry Bear, even if it means sharing it with the reader. The Little Mouse and the Big Hungry Bear are known and loved by millions of children around the world. Little Mouse...

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