Books for Storytime

These are some good books to read aloud in a group setting. Suggested age range is 3-5.

Updated July 10, 2025
Southeastern Ohio Regional Library Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library
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Nobody hugs a cactus
Goodrich, Carter
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! Celebrated artist and lead character designer of Brave, Ratatouille, and Despicable Me, Carter Goodrich, shows that sometimes, even the prickliest people--or the crankiest cacti--need a little love. Hank is the...
Cats in construction hats
Bardhan-Quallen, Sudipta
Colorful cats in construction hats are on the job to build a house in this adorable, bouncy, rhyming picture book! Kids will delight in learning about colors while giggling at the hilarious antics of these forklift driving kitties. Yellow cat. Green hat. Dig this....
The very impatient caterpillar
Burach, Ross
Paper Book
This clever send-up of every child's biggest challenge--being patient!--is a STEM-friendly, laugh-out-loud comedy about metamorphosis. "Will delight fans of Mo Willems's "Pigeon" series... absolutely charming." -- School Library Journal "Super-charged." -- The...
The hidden rainbow
Matheson, Christie
Paper Book
All the colors of the rainbow are hidden in the garden, but can the little bee find them--with help from the reader Christie Matheson, author of the popular and acclaimed Tap the Magic Tree, brings a garden to life in this bright, interactive picture book about the natural...
Hatch and match
Paul, Ruth
Paper Book
Have fun with colors, patterns, and counting in a search-and-match adventure filled with vibrant, colorful illustrations and a bouncy rhyming text. Every morning, same but new, hear the COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO! Hens jump down, stretch their legs. ...
Escape to play
Gehrisch, Becky
Paper Book
"A humorous and entertaining canine tale." - Kirkus Reviews What could go wrong when three mischievous dogs slip out before dawn to explore the farm? Follow the pups as they make a mess in every new place they go. Playful poetry and whimsical illustrations invoke an upbeat feeling as you turn each...
The not so quiet library
OHora, Zachariah
Paper Book
A hilarious story that celebrates the power of books and libraries in the vein of It's a Book It's Saturday, which means Oskar and Theodore get to go to the library with their dad! It means donuts for breakfast! And it means endless quiet hours lost in stories. ...
The most boring book ever
Sanderson, Brandon
Paper Book
An Instant New York Times Bestseller Listen, this book is boring. We're telling you it's boring. It's in the title of the book--in fact, it's THE MOST BORING BOOK EVER! And created by #1 New York Times bestsellers Brandon Sanderson and Kazu Kibuishi! ...
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...

Before reading the book, let all the kids know that they'll be the trees in the story. When the book says to tap the tree, or tap the buds, or hug the tree etc, have them tap or hug themselves. (I've read this book without those instructions and had groups of kids all trying to touch the book during the story.)

Ploof
Clanton, Ben/ Musser, Andy Chou
Paper Book
Come play with Ploof! Meet a friendly cloud full of feelings in this interactive picture book for fans of Hervé Tullet's Press Here, from the creator of Narwhal and Jelly and the co-creator of Science Explorers. Ploof is a puffy cloud who's a little lonely -- but now...
Paint with Ploof
Clanton, Ben
Paper Book
Have you met Ploof? The friendly cloud full of feelings returns in an all new interactive picture book for fans of Hervé Tullet's Mix It Up!, from the creator of Narwhal and Jelly and the co-creator of Science Explorers. Ploof is a little cloud who's eager to make...
Aliens love underpants
Freedman, Claire.
Paper Book
"Aliens love underpants, in every shape and size, But there are no underpants in space, so here's a big surprise...." This zany, hilarious tale is delightfully brought to life by Ben Cort's vibrant illustrations. With a madcap, rhyming text by award-winning Claire Freedman,...

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