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 M.
Paper Book
Read and find out about the phases of the moon in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book. This clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom, introduces basic information about the moon. Have you noticed...
Mr Gumpy's outing
Burningham, John
Paper Book
Mr. Gumpy's Outing is a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner and an American Library Association Notable Children's Book. In England, illustrator John Burningham, with Mr. Gumpy's Outing, became the first artist ever to win England's Kate Greenaway Medal twice. Mr...
Hen in the bed
Charman, Katrina
Paper Book
Guji Guji
Chen, Zhiyuan
Paper Book
'An egg was rolling on the ground. It rolled through the trees. It rolled across the meadow. It rolled all the way down the hill. Finally it rolled right into a duck's nest. Mother Duck didn't notice. She was reading.' Raised from an egg by Mother Duck, Guji Guji is quite content with his life as a...
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 picture 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...
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...
Tap tap bang bang
Garcia, Emma
Paper Book
'Tap Tap Bang Bang' is full of bright and colourful tools. What can they all be making? Find out as we 'cree craw' cut with the saw and 'tappety tap' in the nails.
The reasons for seasons
Gibbons, Gail
Paper Book
Cold winters, hot summers--year after year the seasons repeat themselves. But what causes them? Why is there winter in the Southern Hemisphere at the same time there is summer in the Northern Hemisphere? In summertime, why is it still light out in the evening? With simple...
Animal babies : in the forest!
Groves, Julia
Paper Book
What's a baby owl called? Or a baby deer? In this collection of forest creatures and their young, Julia Groves' distinctive art style captures each animal's unique beauty.
Kitten's first full moon
Henkes, Kevin.
Paper Book
This nationally bestselling picture book about a kitten, the moon, and a bowl of milk, written by the celebrated author and illustrator Kevin Henkes, was awarded a Caldecott Medal. From one of the most celebrated and beloved picture book creators working in the field today comes a...
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...
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...
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.
Paper Book
In a rainbow-colored station wagon that smelled like a real car, the relatives came. When they arrived, they hugged and hugged from the kitchen to the front room. All summer they tended the garden and ate up all the strawberries and melons. They plucked banjos and strummed guitars. When they...
All the world
Scanlon, Elizabeth Garton.
Paper Book
This simple, profound, Caldecott Honor story is now available as a Classic Board 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...
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...
Clip-clop
Smee, Nicola
Paper Book
Cat, Dog, Pig and Duck all want to climb aboard Mr. Horse for a ride. But when they get bored with the slow pace, they ask Mr. Horse to go faster. But will faster and faster lead to disaster?
Doctor De Soto
Steig, William
Paper Book
"Doctor De Soto, the dentist, did very good work." With the aid of his able assistant, Mrs. De Soto, he copes with the toothaches of animals large and small. His expertise is so great that his fortunate patients never feel any pain. Since he's a mouse, Doctor De Soto refuses to...
Interrupting chicken
Stein, David Ezra
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! "The delivery is Catskill perfect; readers will fall hard for the antics of this hapless pair." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) It's time for the little red chicken's bedtime story -- and a reminder from Papa to try...
When sunlight tiptoes
Sze, Gillian
Paper Book
Key Selling Points The story is a celebration of morning and follows a family along a city street as they run errands, enjoying the rich urban sounds and sights of a new day. The text is written in pantoum form (Malayan in origin). Similar to the villanelle, the pantoum is a...
Farmer Duck
Waddell, Martin
Paper Book
A hardworking duck is rescued from life with a lazy farmer in this award-winning picture book classic from Owl Babies author, Martin Waddell, and Bear Hunt illustrator, Helen Oxenbury.In this Kate Greenaway Medal and Kurt Maschler Award-winning modern classic, two of the most celebrated picture book...
That's not my cow : its nose is too rough
Watt, Fiona
Paper Book
Meet five friendly cows in this charming addition to the much-loved That's not my... series. Babies love the best-selling That's not my... books with their bold illustrations, patches to stroke, and a mouse to spot on every page, all designed to develop sensory and language awareness.
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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