1000 Books Before Kindergarten

These books are recommended for children ages birth to 5. Are you enrolled in our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Book Club? This is a special book club for children ages birth to 5. Click here for more information: https://sussexcountylibrary.org/1000-books/

Updated June 12, 2024
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Happy birthday, moon /
Asch, Frank
Paper Book
The mitten
Aylesworth, Jim.
Paper Book
Br-r-r-r-r-r-rrrrrrrrrr! said the squirrel.My toes are cold as ice!This mitten looks so cozy,And warm toes would feel so nice!When a little boy loses a mitten in the snow,a passing squirrel finds it's the perfect placeto warm his icy toes. So he sque-e-e-e-zesinside. But he's not the only one with...
Ten, nine, eight
Bang, Molly.
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book and ALA Notable Book A bedtime book and a counting book! "A delightful bedtime book."--New York Times Acclaimed author Molly Bang shares the going-to-bed countdown in a loving family. "Ten small toes all washed and warm," begins the story, and then...
Animals should definitely not wear clothing
Barrett, Judi.
Paper Book
Animals should definitely not wear clothing....because a snake would lose it, a billy goat would eat it for lunch, and it would always be wet on a walrus! This popular book by Judi Barrett and Ron Barrett shows the very youngest why animals' natural clothing is perfect just as it is. ...
The three bears
Barton, Byron.
Paper Book
In a rhythmic text with striking pictures, Byron Barton retells the classic fairytale of the three bears and a little girl named Goldilocks. Barton's simple words, bold images, and imaginative use of color have made his many picture books perennial favorites with very young children. Young...
A visitor for Bear
Becker, Bonny.
Paper Book
Cheery persistence wears down a curmudgeonly bear in a wry comedy of manners that ends in a most unlikely friendship. Bear is quite sure he doesn't like visitors. He even has a sign. So when a mouse taps on his door one day, Bear tells him to leave. But when Bear goes to the...
Little gorilla
Bornstein, Ruth.
Paper Book
Little Gorillas family and friends try to help him overcome his special growing pains.
Goodnight moon
Brown, Margaret Wise
Paper Book
In this classic of children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day. In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight...
Mr. Gumpy's outing
Burningham, John.
Paper Book
Stellaluna
Cannon, Janell
Paper Book
While out searching for food, fruit bat Stellaluna and her mother are attacked by a vicious owl. Stellaluna is separated from Mother Bat and taken in by a family of birds where she must put aside her bat habits to fit in with her new family. But one fateful flight when she is separated from her...
Biscuit loves the library /
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin,
Paper Book
There is so much to do--and there are so many friends to see--at the library!
The very hungry caterpillar
Carle, Eric
Paper Book
THE all-time classic picture book, from generation to generation, sold somewhere in the world every 30 seconds! Have you shared it with a child or grandchild in your life? Carle's classic tale of a voracious caterpillar who eats his way through the days of the week and...
Hair love
Cherry, Matthew A.
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller and tie-in to Academy-Award Winning Short Film "Hair Love"   "I love that Hair Love is highlighting the relationship between a Black father and daughter. Matthew leads the ranks of new creatives who are telling unique stories of the Black...
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
Christelow, Eileen.
Paper Book
As soon as they say good night to Mama, the five little monkeys start to jump on their bed. But trouble lies ahead as, one by one, they fall off and hurt themselves.
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...
Fred stays with me
Coffelt, Nancy.
Paper Book
Fred Stays with Me! is an award-winning story that follows a young girl who turns to the one constant in her life, her dog Fred, in the face of her parents' divorce. In this poignant but not overly sentimental story, Coffelt's accessible and kid-friendly language alongside Tusa's...
Freight train
Crews, Donald.
Paper Book
In simple, powerful words and vibrant illustrations, Donald Crews evokes the rolling wheels of that childhood favorite: a train. This board book features sturdy pages and is just the right size for little hands. This Caldecott Honor Book features bright colors and bold shapes. Even a child...
Abuela
Dorros, Arthur.
Paper Book
A younggirland her grandmother celebrate their home andrelationshipin this magical story. Winner of theParents' ChoiceAward! Come join Rosalba and her grandmother, her abuela, on a magical journey as theyfly over the streets, sights, and people of New York City which...
Are you my mother? /
Eastman, P. D.
Paper Book
The must-have, heartwarming and hilarious classic about a baby bird in search of his mother! A baby bird goes in search of his mother in this hilarious Beginner Book edited by Dr. Seuss. When a mother bird's egg starts to jump, she hurries off to make sure she has something for...
Go away, big green monster!
Emberley, Ed.
Paper Book
OVER 1.3 MILLION COPIES SOLD!   Caldecott winner Ed Emberley's classic interactive story lets children scare away their bedtime frights and is silly fun for Halloween and every other day of the year! As...
Olivia
Falconer, Ian
Paper Book
This Caldecott Honor Book and #1 New York Times bestseller is perfect for pig-loving kids everywhere! It's everyone's favorite pig...it's OLIVIA! Join Olivia as she... -dresses up -sings songs -builds sand castles -naps (maybe) ...
Bark, George /
Feiffer, Jules
Paper Book
Named one of 100 Great Children's Books by The New York Public Library and #9 on School Library Journal's list of the Top 100 Picture Books! From acclaimed author-illustrator Jules Feiffer, Bark, George is a hilarious, subversive story about a dog who can't . . . bark! This...
Mama cat has three kittens
Fleming, Denise
Paper Book
Some kittens march to the beat of a different drummer. Mama Cat has three kittens, Fluffy, Skinny, and Boris. Where Mama Cat leads, Fluffy and Skinny follow. But what about Boris-- will he ever stop napping and join the fun? Young children will love Mama Cat and her three...
Where is the green sheep?
Fox, Mem
Paper Book
Little ones are sure to be lulled off to a peaceful, sheep-filled sleep by this cozy book from acclaimed author Mem Fox. There are red sheep and blue sheep, wind sheep and wave sheep, scared sheep and brave sheep, but where is the green sheep? The search is on in this cozy, sheep...
Corduroy
Freeman, Don
Paper Book
Corduroy was first introduced to readers in 1968, and in the fifty years since, his adventures have never stopped. Corduroy has been on the department store shelf for a long time. Yet as soon as Lisa sees him, she knows that he's the bear for her. Her mother, though, thinks he's...
The man who walked between the towers /
Gerstein, Mordicai
Paper Book
The story of a daring tightrope walk between skyscrapers, as seen in Robert Zemeckis's The Walk, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. In 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit threw a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center and spent an hour walking, dancing...
The girl who loved wild horses
Goble, Paul.
Paper Book
Though she is fond of her people, a girl prefers to live among the wild horses where she is truly happy and free.
Is your mama a llama?
Guarino, Deborah.
Paper Book
Lloyd the Llama discovers what kind of animal his mama really is in this delightful guessing game picture book, filled with whimsical riddles and endearing full-color illustrations. An enchanting animal guessing game.--School Library Journal.
Millions of cats /
Gâag, Wanda,
Paper Book
The original American classic with a refrain that millions of kids love to chant- Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats. Wanda Gag's enchanting tale of the very old man who went off in search of the prettiest cat in the world for...
Kitten's first full moon
Henkes, Kevin
Paper Book
Kevin Henkes's acclaimed national bestseller about a kitten, the moon, and a bowl of milk was awarded the Caldecott Medal and was a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. This sturdy board book edition is perfect for little hands! Kitten's First Full Moon is an acclaimed modern classic,...
Where's Spot? /
Hill, Eric,
Paper Book
For 25 years, children have been looking for Spot. Is he in the piano? Is he under the stairs? This special anniversary edition of Where's Spot'will introduce Spot to a new generation of readers. All dressed up with a shiny silver cover, this perennial favorite is likely to become a collector's item...
Eyes that kiss in the corners
Ho, Joanna
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller and #1 Indie Bestseller · A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year · A School Library Journal Best Book of 2021 · Included in NPR's 2021 Books We Love List · Featured in Forbes, Oprah Daily, The Cut, and Book Riot · Golden Poppy Book Award...
Bread and jam for Frances
Hoban, Russell.
Paper Book
The classic funny story about a stubborn little badger with very particular tastes in food. Frances is a fussy eater. In fact, the only thing she likes is bread and jam. She won't touch her squishy soft-boiled egg. She trades away her chicken-salad sandwich at lunch. She turns up her nose...
Amazing Grace /
Hoffman, Mary,
Paper Book
Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. So when she gets a chance to play a part in Peter Pan, she knows exactly who she wants to be. Remarkable watercolor illustrations give full expression to Grace's high-flying imagination.
Angelina ballerina
Holabird, Katharine.
Paper Book
Mr. and Mrs. Mouseling are going to the grown-ups-only costume ball, and Angelina is determined not to miss the fun. So she and Alice find a way to sneak in and fool everyone. Based on a DVD episode. Full color.
Rosie's walk
Hutchins, Pat
Paper Book
The Fox is after Rosie, but Rosie doesn't know it. Unwittingly, she leads him into one disaster after the other, each funnier than the last. To enjoy Rosie's walk as much as Rosie does, just look inside!
Quae haraias con una cola como aesta? =
Jenkins, Steve,
Paper Book
In this beautiful Caldecott Honor picture book, Steven Jenkins and illustrator Robin Page explore the many amazing things animals can do with eyes, ears, mouth, noses, feet, and tails. Young readers will relish the mystery behind this interactive guessing book. A nose for digging? Ears for...
What do you do with a tail like this? /
Jenkins, Steve,
Paper Book
In this beautiful Caldecott Honor picture book, Steven Jenkins and illustrator Robin Page explore the many amazing things animals can do with eyes, ears, mouth, noses, feet, and tails. Young readers will relish the mystery behind this interactive guessing book. A nose for digging? Ears for...
Harold and the purple crayon
Johnson, Crockett
Paper Book
From beloved children's book creator Crockett Johnson comes the timeless classic Harold and the Purple Crayon! This imagination-sparking picture book belongs on every child's bookshelf, and this board book edition features sturdy pages and is just the right size for young dreamers.  ...
The hello, goodbye window /
Juster, Norton,
Paper Book
A Caldecott Medal Winner The kitchen window at Nanna and Poppy's house is, for one little girl, a magic gateway. Everything important happens near it, through it, or beyond it. The world for this little girl will soon grow larger and more complex, but never more enchanting or...
The wolf's chicken stew
Kasza, Keiko.
Paper Book
The wolf loves to eat more than anything in the world and one day he has a terrible craving for chicken stew. He spots a chicken who seems just right, but then he thinks how much more stew there will be if he fattens her up before dining himself. So he goes home and begins to cook all kinds of...
The snowy day
Keats, Ezra Jack.
Paper Book
The magic and wonder of winter's first snowfall is perfectly captured in Ezra Jack Keat's Caldecott Medal-winning picture book. This celebrated classic has been shared by generations of readers and listeners, a must-have for every child's bookshelf and a perfect gift for the holiday season....
Whose mouse are you?
Kraus, Robert
Paper Book
A lonely little mouse has to be resourceful to bring his family back together. In a series of delightfully imaginary achievements, "nobody's mouse" transforms himself into the beloved hero of his mother, father, sister, and brand-new baby brother. In their very first...
The carrot seed
Krauss, Ruth.
Paper Book
From celebrated children's book creators Ruth Krauss and Crockett Johnson comes the beloved classic story The Carrot Seed. When a little boy plants a carrot seed, everyone tells him it won't grow. But when you are very young, there are some things that you just know, and the little...
The story of Ferdinand /
Leaf, Munro,
Paper Book
Now a major motion picture! A true classic with a timeless message, The Story of Ferdinand has enchanted readers since it was first published in 1936. All the other bulls would run and jump and butt their heads together. But Ferdinand would rather sit and smell the flowers...
On Market Street
Lobel, Anita.
Paper Book
Have you ever seen a man dressed entirely in playing cards? Or a girl wearing a lollipop dress? Then take a stroll through a most unusual market in this Caldecott Honor Book created by Anita Lobel and Arnold Lobel. Here is a world of wonders, from A to Z. Inspired by seventeenth-century...
Frog and toad are friends
Lobel, Arnold.
Paper Book
Celebrate the power of friendship in these five adventurous stories starring Frog and Toad--a Caldecott Honor Book!  From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other--just as best friends should be. ...
Froggy gets dressed
London, Jonathan
Paper Book
Rambunctious Froggy hops out into the snow for a winter frolic but is called back by his mother to put on some necessary articles of clothing.
Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?
Martin, Bill
Paper Book
With more than two million copies sold, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? has opened up a world of learning to a generation of children. For this edition, created for the twenty-fifth anniversay in 1992, Bill Martin, Jr., restored his text to its original wording. And Eric Carle...
Chicka chicka boom boom
Martin, Bill
Paper Book
There is always enough room on your child's bookshelf for this Classic Board Book edition of the rollicking alphabet chant that has been a children's favorite for over thirty years! A told B, and B told C, "I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree"
Guess how much I love you
McBratney, Sam.
Paper Book
Guess How Much I Love You has sold over 43 million copies worldwide! A beloved classic lets children "love you right up to the moon -- and back." "Guess how much I love you," says Little Nutbrown Hare. Little Nutbrown Hare shows his daddy how much he loves him...
Make way for ducklings
McCloskey, Robert
Paper Book
Mrs. Mallard was sure that the pond in the Boston Public Gardens would be a perfect place for her and her eight ducklings to live. The problem was how to get them there through the busy streets of Boston. But with a little help from the Boston police, Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack,...
Widget
McFarland, Lyn Rossiter.
Paper Book
A stray dog pretends he's a cat in order to get a home When Widget, a little stray dog, stumbles through a flap door into the home of Mrs. Diggs, he sees six cats, six bowls of food, and six warm beds. There's clearly only one thing to do. Confronted by the cats' intense scrutiny,...
Gone wild : an endangered animal alphabet
McLimans, David.
Paper Book
Feast your eyes on these amazing creatures before they disappear. This stampede of wild animals, from Chinese Alligator to Grevy's Zebra, are so rare, they're all endangered. David McLiman's bold and playful illustrations transform each letter into a work of art, graphically rendered with animal...
I stink!
McMullan, Kate.
Paper Book
For fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Steam Train, Dream Train comes a noisy addition to the hilarious read-aloud series from Kate and Jim McMullan, the popular creators of I'm Bad! and I'm Dirty! Now a streaming animated series! "Know what I do at night while you're...
Pigs aplenty, pigs galore!
McPhail, David
Paper Book
One minute, the narrator is quietly reading. The next, pigs are descending on his house--and head--in every imaginable getup, by every available means, from every possible place. Boisterous action, goofy expressions, and wildly-colored costumes make this a "pig-out" that children will love....
I am Abraham Lincoln
Meltzer, Brad.
Paper Book
Each picture book in this series is a biography of an American hero, told in a simple, conversational, vivacious way, and always focusing on a character trait that made the person heroic. The heros are depicted as children throughout, telling their life stories in first-person...
The day Jimmy's boa ate the wash
Noble, Trinka Hakes.
Paper Book
Jimmy's boa constrictor wreaks havoc on the class trip to a farm.
If you give a mouse a cookie /
Numeroff, Laura Joffe
Paper Book
If a hungry little mouse shows up on your doorstep, you might want to give him a cookie. And if you give him a cookie, he'll ask for a glass of milk. He'll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache, and then he'll ask for a pair of scissors to give himself a trim....<...
Fancy Nancy
O'Connor, Jane.
Paper Book
*NOW A HIT TV SERIES ON DISNEY JUNIOR* The bestselling picture book that launched the beloved Fancy Nancy series by the dazzling duo Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser! Meet Nancy, who believes that more is ALWAYS better when it comes to being fancy. She loves to wear fancy...
The Kissing Hand /
Penn, Audrey,
Paper Book
School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester's fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. Since its first publication in 1993, this heartwarming...
The little engine that could
Piper, Watty, pseud.
Paper Book
The special anniversary edition of The Little Engine That Could. contains the entire text and original artwork. A laminated jacket, gold-stamped cloth binding, and colored endpapers complete the deluxe package. Young readers, as well as parents and grandparents, will treasure the story of the...
Good night, Gorilla
Rathmann, Peggy.
Paper Book
A must have classic for all baby bedtimes and gifting opportunities. Good night, Gorilla. . . Good night, Elephant. . . It's bedtime at the zoo, and all the animals are going to sleep. Or are they? Who's that short, furry guy with the keys in his...
Curious George /
Rey, H. A.
Paper Book
In this, the original book about the curious monkey, George is taken from the jungle by the man in the yellow hat to live in a new home, but--oh, what happened! Though trying to be good, George is still very curious and takes a swim in the ocean, escapes from jail, and goes for a flying...
My friend Rabbit
Rohmann, Eric.
Paper Book
Rabbit saves the day in a most ingeneous way. When Mouse lets his best friend, Rabbit, play with his brand-new airplane, trouble isn't far behind. From Caldecott Honor award winner Eric Rohmann comes a brand-new picture book about friends and toys and trouble, illustrated in robust,...
We're going on a bear hunt
Rosen, Michael
Paper Book
Beloved for more than 30 years, this award-winning classic from Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury celebrates the joys of an afternoon outdoors with family. We're going on a bear hunt. We're going to catch a big one. Will you come too? Join a father and his four...
The relatives came /
Rylant, Cynthia
Ebook
Grandfather's journey /
Say, Allen
Paper Book
Lyrical, breathtaking, splendid--words used to describe Allen Say's Grandfather's Journey when it was first published. At once deeply personal yet expressing universally held emotions, this tale of one man's love for two countries and his constant desire to be in both places captured readers'...
Richard Scarry's Cars and trucks and things that go
Scarry, Richard.
Paper Book
On their way to the beach for a picnic the Pig family encounters almost every kind of transportation vehicle imaginable--and imaginary.
First the egg
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro.
Paper Book
WHICH CAME FIRST? The chicken or the egg? Simple die-cuts magically present transformation-- from seed to flower, tadpole to frog, caterpillar to butterfly. The acclaimed author of Black? White! Day? Night! and Lemons Are Not Red gives an entirely fresh and memorable...
The cat in the hat /
Seuss,
Paper Book
The classic picture book that introduced the world to the iconic, mischievous Cat in the Hat and the beloved characters Thing One and Thing Two! Dr. Seuss makes reading fun for kids of all ages. "I know some new tricks," said the Cat in the Hat. "A lot of good tricks. I will...
Green eggs and ham /
Seuss,
Paper Book
Join in the fun with Sam-I-Am in this iconic Dr. Seuss classic about the joy of trying new things. And don't miss the Netflix series adaptation!                                       ...
Duck on a bike /
Shannon, David,
Paper Book
Caldecott Honor winner David Shannon applies his wonderful off-beat humor to the story of a duck who decides to try riding a bike--and loves it! Another young, funny book perfect for reading aloud.One day down on the farm, Duck got a wild idea. "I bet I could ride a bike," he thought. He waddled...
It Looked Like Spilt Milk
Shaw, Charles G.
Paper Book
A beautiful and engaging classic that inspires creativity and imagination The white shape silhouetted against a blue background changes on every page. Is it a rabbit, a bird, an ice-cream cone, or just spilt milk? In this childhood classic, kids are kept guessing until the surprise ending,...
Come along, Daisy!
Simmons, Jane.
Paper Book
This award winning beautifully made picture book is by Jane Simmons.It is the story of a duckling who is too busy chasing dragonflies and bouncing on lily pads to stay caught up with Mama Duck.It perfectly captures a little one's thrill of exploration in this gentle cautionary tale.
The stray dog /
Simont, Marc
Paper Book
"This picture book has all the earmarks of a classic. Simont gets it all right." --The Horn Book (starred review) Caldecott Medalist Marc Simont's heartwarming tale of a stray dog is told with tender simplicity and grace. When a little dog appears at a family picnic,...
Caps for sale : a tale of a peddler, some monkeys, and their monkey business
Slobodkina, Esphyr
Paper Book
Caps for Sale is a timeless classic beloved by millions...one of the most popular picture books ever published! This picture book is an excellent choice to share at home or in the classroom, as children love chanting along with the naughty monkeys. Children will...
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly
Taback, Simms.
Paper Book
An old favorite as you've never seen it before!Everyone knows the song about the old lady who swallowed a fly, a spider, a bird, and even worse, but who's ever seen what's going on inside the old lady's stomach? With this inventive die-cut artwork, Simms Tabak gives us a rollicking,...
Noisy Nora
Wells, Rosemary.
Paper Book
Feeling neglected, Nora makes more and more noise to attract her parents' attention.
The three pigs
Wiesner, David.
Paper Book
"Clever, whimsical and sophisticated." --New York Times Book Review Taking visual narrative to a new level, this picture book from the creator of Tuesday and Flotsam begins a seemingly familiar tale of three pigs preparing to build houses of straw, sticks, and...

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