2025 Summer Reading Program: Pre-Readers

Updated January 22, 2025
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I'm going to build a snowman
Awan, Jashar
Paper Book
In this sparkling picture book celebration of winter and creativity, a boy's snow day efforts show that perfection is relative and what's important is taking pride in what you do! When a little boy wakes up to see a blanket of snow covering the world outside, there's only one...
My bus
Barton, Byron
Paper Book
My Bus is a lively celebration of vehicles and transportation, occupations, pets, and basic math concepts. The busy bus driver in Byron Barton's preschool tour-de-force has a job to do. He drives his bus along his route, picks up the cat and dog passengers waiting at the bus stops,...
The moon seems to change
Branley, Franklyn Mansfield
Paper Book
Mr. Gumpy's outing
Burningham, John.
Paper Book
Guji Guji
Chen, Zhiyuan
Paper Book
An original in his own family - never mind the rest of the world - Guji Guji proves to himself and others that family, no matter where or what that family may be, is worth protecting and cherishing.This award-winning, modern-day classic combines a child-friendly, playful text, vivid characters and...
8 little planets
Ferrie, Chris
Paper Book
A delightfully fun, fact-filled planetary tale from the creator of the Baby University series! Travel around the solar system and celebrate what makes each planet unique! From Neptune to Mercury and all the planets in between, each one is different and each one is happy to...
Goodnight Lab : a scientific parody
Ferrie, Chris
Paper Book
In the vein of Goodnight Moon, say "goodnight" to your lab in this board book parody of a beloved classic. Perfect for scientists of all ages! It's been a long day at the lab for this scientist. Now it's time to say goodnight! Goodnight laser Goodnight notebook ...
Oh, no!
Fleming, Candace.
Paper Book
"This picture book reads like an instant classic.... Oh, yes!" raved Kirkus Reviews in a starred review. Young children will delight in repeating the refrain "OH, NO!" as one animal after another falls into a deep, deep hole in this lively read-aloud. This simple and irresistible...
Calling all cars
Fliess, Sue
Paper Book
Big cars, small cars, let's call ALL cars! This bouncy text explores the wonderful world of cars zipping up, down, fast, and slow. A perfect basic concept books for eager young learners from the author of Tons of Trucks. Then cruise into bedtime! Rest cars, Hush cars No more rush,...
The perfect nest
Friend, Catherine.
Paper Book
It's the perfect read-aloud! A flustered cat is on the verge of crying fowl in a farmyard story that will crack kids up. Jack the cat is building the perfect nest. It's bound to attract the perfect chicken, who will lay the perfect egg, which will make the perfect omelet. And...
The reasons for seasons
Gibbons, Gail.
Paper Book
Why is there winter in the Southern Hemisphere at the same time there is summer in the Northern Hemisphere? Here is an explanation of how the position of the Earth in relation to the sun causes seasons, and the wonders that come with each one of them. Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring comes again. Year...
Kitten's first full moon
Henkes, Kevin.
Paper Book
From one of the most celebrated and beloved picture book creators working in the field today comes a memorable new character and a suspenseful adventure just right for the very youngest. It is Kitten's first full moon, and when she sees it she thinks it is a bowl of milk in the sky. And she wants...
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...
Sumo colors
Ishida, Sanae
Paper Book
Perfect for early learning, this fun board book in the Little Sumo series, from the creator of the Little Kunoichi series, features adorable sumo wrestlers that introduce children to colors and shares elements of Japanese culture that will enrich readers of all ages. Take a peek...
Eidtale : an Eid al-Fitr adventure
Jaleel, Aaliya
Paper Book
The Abrams Trail Tale series takes readers on unforgettable holiday-themed adventures. This new tale, written and illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel, follows a brother and sister as they make their way through their neighborhood delivering gifts to uncles sipping cha'i, favorite neighbors, and friends...
One leaf rides the wind : counting in a Japanese garden
Mannis, Celeste Davidson.
Paper Book
A young girl makes her way slowly through a Japanese garden where she spots one leaf, two carved temple dogs, three miniature bonsai, and four startled birds. This counting book introduces the youngest readers to the beauty and hidden secrets of a Japanese garden. It also introduces haiku, with ten...
Eat together
Ordóñez, Miguel
Paper Book
The geometry of food is explored in New York Times bestselling illustrator Miguel Ord nez's newest board book on shapes! Various parts of a meal are formed one by one, piece by piece, in this visual play on the interaction between shapes. If just three simple shapes can...
I'm still up!
Portis, Antoinette
Paper Book
"A masterclass on how to create the ideal board book. It really is." -Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (SLJ Blog) A soothing and humorous bedtime story with a baby who is still up! This is the ideal board book for baby to read before lying down to sleep.
The relatives came
Rylant, Cynthia.
Ebook
All the world
Scanlon, Elizabeth Garton.
Paper Book
All the world is here. It is there. It is everywhere. All the world is right where you are. Now. Following a circle of family and friends through the course of a day from morning till night, this book affirms the importance of all...
Cinnamon bun, I love you 1
Schwartz, Amy
Paper Book
From award-winning author-illustrator Amy Schwartz comes a counting book full of sweet treats, playful moments, and lots of toddler love. Cinnamon bun, I love you one. Peek-a-boo, I love you two... This charming, rhyming picture book counts out the love...
Green
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro.
Paper Book
Die cut pages bring surprise after surprise in this magical new book from the "Queen of the concept book"--an intricate and satisfying homage to green, the color of all creation. How many kinds of green are there? There's the lush green of a forest on a late spring day, the fresh,...
The wheels on the tuk tuk
Sehgal, Kabir
Paper Book
From the mother-son duo behind the New York Times bestselling A Bucket of Blessings comes a zany picture book about a wild ride on a tuk tuk taxi in India! This picture book brings an international twist to the beloved nursery rhyme, The Wheels on the Bus, by...
Doctor De Soto
Steig, William
Paper Book
From the incomparable William Steig, creator of Shrek, comes a story that proves even a fox can be out-foxed by a clever mouse in Doctor De Soto, a Newbery Honor Book. "Doctor De Soto, the dentist, did very good work." With the aid of his able assistant, Mrs. De...
Interrupting chicken
Stein, David Ezra.
Paper Book
Awarded a 2011 Caldecott Honor! A favorite joke inspires this New York Times best-selling tale, in which a little chicken's habit of interrupting bedtime stories is gleefully turned on its head. It's time for the little red chicken's bedtime story--and a reminder from Papa...
Hello hello
Wenzel, Brendan
Paper Book
Named a Best Children's Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Amazon, Working Mother and more: A new picture book from Brendan Wenzel, the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor-winning author of They All Saw a Cat! Hello, Hello!<...
Cat nap
Yuly, Toni
Paper Book
Cat loves to nap. If only he could find a good resting place to hide from playful (and wide awake) Kitten! Opposites and hide-and-seek make this a fun story for naptime -- or anytime. In this book filled with opposites (big and little, black and white, sleepy and...

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