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Great Read-Alouds for Preschoolers
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Here are some of the NPL Youth Services librarians' favorite read-alouds for preschoolers!
Updated December 27, 2023
Nashua Public Library
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Firefighter Flo!
Zimmerman, Andrea Griffing
Paper Book
Ring! Clang! Firefighter Flo and her team race to stop a fire in this picture book filled with bold art and fun onomatopoeia. Last night at the Fire Station... With a jingly-jang, the telephone rang. RING-RING! RING-RING! ...
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Paletero man
Diaz, Lucky
Paper Book
A vibrant picture book celebrating the strength of community and the tastes of summer from Latin Grammy-winning musician Lucky Diaz and celebrated artist Micah Player. Ring! Ring! Ring! Can you hear his call Paletas for one! Paletas for all! What's the best way to...
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Animals move
Whittingham, Jane
Paper Book
Preschoolers love baby animals, and they love to move. Celebrate both with a hard-wearing Toddler Tough picture book perfect for an active read-aloud. Calves swim, / Hatchlings bounce, / Porcupettes nibble, / Kittens pounce. Story time is on the move with this multilayered concept book....
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The button book
Nicholls, Sally
Paper Book
This silly and sweet picture book introduces young children to colors through humor and clever interactive elements. For fans of Hervé Tullet's Press Here. Here's a button. I wonder what happens when you press it? Follow a group of animal friends as...
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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...
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Stuck
Jeffers, Oliver.
Paper Book
From the illustrator of the #1 smash The Day the Crayons Quit comes another bestseller--a giggle-inducing tale of everything tossed, thrown, and hurled in order to free a kite! When Floyd's kite gets stuck in a tree, he's determined to get it out. But how? Well, by...
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Thank you, Omu!
Mora, Oge, author, illustrator.
Ebook
In this remarkable author-illustrator debut that's perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street and Extra Yarn, a generous woman is rewarded by her community. Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu's delicious stew! One by one, they follow their...
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A big bed for Little Snow
Lin, Grace
Paper Book
A companion to the Caldecott Honor book A Big Mooncake for Little Star! A heartwarming and tender picture book introducing readers to their first snow, from award-winning, bestselling author-illustrator Grace Lin. ...
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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...
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Jabari jumps
Cornwall, Gaia
Paper Book
Working up the courage to take a big, important leap is hard, but Jabari is almost absolutely ready to make a giant splash. Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he...
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Mel fell
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book and ALA Notable Book of the Year! An innovative and charming tale about a plucky little bird, from the award-winning author-illustrator of Fox the Tiger. Readers will delight in turning their book sideways and upside down to follow Mel on her journey...
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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...
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Rhyming dust bunnies
Thomas, Jan
Paper Book
Bug! Rug! Mug! Hug! These dust bunnies love to rhyme. Well, except for Bob. Much to the other bunnies' frustration, Bob can never get the rhythm right. Then he saves everyone from a big, scary monster wielding--gasp!--a broom, and they all breathe a sigh of relief. But can Bob save them from the big...
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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...
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My papa is a princess
Cenko, Doug
Paper Book
Cuddle up with Dad for this sweet book about a father as seen through his daughter's eyes. When Papa braids her hair, he's a hairdresser; when he hangs her drawings on the wall, he's an art collector. But no matter what happens, he is always her papa, and that's the most important thing of all!
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I really want to see you, Grandma
Gomi, Taro
Paper Book
Yumi and her grandmother have the same great idea: They want to see each other. So they each head out to do just that, only to completely miss each other along the way! No problem--they'll just head back home and wait for the other to return. The trouble is that they have the same great idea--again-...
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Snail crossing
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
In a book that is as cheerful and charming as Snail himself, Corey Tabor tells a winning tale of slow but steady Snail, whose determination and kindness bring him the best reward of all: friendship. When Snail spies a plump, crisp cabbage across the road, nothing will stop...
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Hands up!
McDaniel, Breanna J.
Paper Book
This triumphant picture book recasts a charged phrase as part of a black girl's everyday life--hands up for a hug, hands up in class, hands up for a high five--before culminating in a moment of resistance at a protest march. A young black girl lifts her baby hands up to greet the...
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From head to toe
Carle, Eric
Paper Book
From Eric Carle, the New York Times bestselling creator of beloved books including The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Grouchy Ladybug, comes From Head to Toe, a colorful and energetic book that will have young readers clapping their hands, stomping their feet, and wiggling their toes! ...
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Sam & Dave dig a hole
Barnett, Mac
Paper Book
A 2015 Caldecott Honor Book With perfect pacing, the multi-award-winning, New York Times best-selling team of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen dig down for a deadpan tale full of visual humor. Sam and Dave are on a mission. A mission to find something...
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After the fall : how Humpty Dumpty got back up again
Santat, Dan
Paper Book
After the Fall is an inspiring story of triumph and overcoming fears, as told through a clever twist on a beloved classic nursery rhyme, by the New York Times-bestselling creator of Caldecott Medal winner, The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend .<...
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I want my hat back
Klassen, J.
Paper Book
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2011! A picture-book delight by a rising talent tells a cumulative tale with a mischievous twist. The bear's hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes...
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Can you make a scary face?
Thomas, Jan
Paper Book
What kind of a face would you make if a tickly green bug were sitting on your nose? Or if it were--eek!--inside your shirt? Could you make a scary face to frighten it away? Or, even better, stand up and do the chicken dance? Yes? Then better get to it! This exuberant, interactive picture book...
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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...
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Hooray for hat!
Won, Brian.
Paper Book
Elephant wakes up grumpy--until ding, dong! What's in the surprise box at the front door? A hat! HOORAY FOR HAT! Elephant marches off to show Zebra, but Zebra is having a grumpy day, too--until Elephant shares his new hat and cheers up his friend. Off they march to show...
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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...
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Hocus pocus, it's fall!
O'Brien, Anne Sibley
Paper Book
Leaves on trees are green and bright Abracadabra! What a Sight! Eleven gatefolds open to re-create the excitement and surprise of fall's arrival, revealing what happens when the leaves turn. Fall...
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This book is magic
Evanson, Ashley
Paper Book
Make some magic in this colorful, interactive picture book from the author/illustrator of the Hello, World board book series! Do you know that you're a magician? In this interactive book, use your fingers to perform all kinds of magic tricks. Tap a hat to make a bunny appear,...
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Roar : a book of animal sounds
Kerouli, Katerina
Paper Book
Crocodile lurks in the water, Tiger and Lion prowl through the jungle, Monkey swings through the trees and Snake slithers through the undergrowth in this beautifully illustrated picture book. Lift the giant flaps to reveal those strong, wide jaws, sharp teeth - and a flicky tongue! - and join in...
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Tiptoe tiger
Clarke, Jane
Paper Book
Tiptoe, tiger! Tara the tiger cub is wide awake and wants to play. But Tara's bouncing and pouncing keeps scaring all the other jungle animals away. Help Tara tread quietly through the jungle so that she can make her way home to her mom and settle down for bed.
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Monsters love colors
Austin, Mike
Paper Book
Did you know that monsters love to scribble, scribble, mix, dance, and wiggle! Why Because monsters love to make new colors! Celebrate along with the hilarious monsters in this wild and energetic picture book from author...
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If you're a robot and you know it
Carter, David A.
Paper Book
From bestseller David Carter comes a favorite new robot twist on the classic children's song that pops to life. If you're a robot and you know it clap your hands, jump and beep, fly around, shoot laser beams out of your eyes! It's the classic...
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Please, Mr. Panda
Antony, Steve
Paper Book
What is the proper way to ask Mr. Panda for doughnuts?Patiently and politely, Mr. Panda asks the animals he comes across if they would like a doughnut. A penguin, a skunk, and a whale all say yes, but they do not remember to say "please" and "thank you." Is anyone worthy of Mr. Panda's...
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Wiggle
Cronin, Doreen.
Paper Book
Do you wake up with a wiggle? Do you wiggle out of bed? For energetic toddlers (are there any who aren't?), here's a book that invites them to wiggle along with the story. Told in rollicky, wiggly rhyme that begs to be read again...
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Fall is not easy
Kelley, Marty.
Paper Book
Fall is a tough time of year for a lot of us. Kids have to go back to school, teachers and football players have to go back to work, and parents have to look for new places to hide holiday presents. But perhaps fall is hardest of all on trees. After all, they have to change their entire appearance...
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Click, clack, moo : cows that type
Cronin, Doreen
Paper Book
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Rooster wore skinny jeans
Miller, Jessie
Paper Book
A hilarious tale of self-acceptance, resilience and the joy of standing out!"What's not to love? Are they being sarcastic? These jeans are amazing; my butt looks fantastic!"Rooster is thrilled when his new skinny jeans arrive in the mail. Eager to show them off to his friends, he soon learns that...
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Llama, llama red pajama
Dewdney, Anna.
Paper Book
The summer of '28 was a vintage season for a growing boy. A summer of green apple trees, mowed lawns, and new sneakers. Of half-burnt firecrackers, of gathering dandelions, of Grandma's belly-busting dinner. It was a summer of sorrows and marvels and gold-fuzzed bees. A magical, timeless summer in...
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Don't push the button!
Cotter, Bill
Paper Book
A USA Today Bestseller! A great read-aloud, interactive book that kids will go back to time and again. 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...
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There's a monster in your book
Fletcher, Tom
Paper Book
UH OH! There's a MONSTER in YOUR book! Shake, wiggle, and tickle the monster out in this interactive bedtime read-aloud that launched the Who's In Your Book series! With the irresistible pull of Hervé Tullet's Press Here and the charm of The Monster at the End of This...
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Bear feels scared
Wilson, Karma.
Paper Book
Bad weather frightens Bear, but his woodland friends are there to help him in this Classic Board Book from bestselling duo Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman! In the deep, dark woods by the Strawberry Vale, a big bear lumbers down a small,...
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The snowy day
Keats, Ezra Jack.
CD
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....
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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...
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Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?
Martin, Bill
Paper Book
Celebrate the anniversary of this beloved children's book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck-- all parade across the pages of this delightful classic children's book, Brown...
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Pete the cat : I love my white shoes
Litwin, Eric.
Paper Book
Don't miss the first and bestselling book in the beloved Pete the Cat series! Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand-new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other...
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Don't let the pigeon drive the bus
Willems, Mo.
CD
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,...
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