Suggested Reading for Preschool

Suggested Reading for Preschool (ages 3-5)

Updated October 14, 2023
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Pokko and the drum
Forsythe, Matthew
Paper Book
Four starred reviews! A Today Show Best Book of the Year An NPR Favorite Book of 2019 From E.B. White Read Aloud honor artist Matthew Forsythe comes an "extraordinary" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) picture book about a...
The Monster Mac and Cheese Party
Parr, Todd
Paper Book
Through his signature illustrations that explode with fun and flavor, New York Times bestselling author Todd Parr invites everyone to the funkiest, most unforgettable potluck on the block. We all know kids love macaroni and cheese. But...
The Steves
Hood, Morag
Paper Book
The bold, brilliantly colored, clever book from the creator of I Am Bat. When puffin Steve meets puffin Steve, neither can believe it. Surely one of them must be the first Steve, the best Steve, the Stevest of Steves...But is a name really worth fighting over? Praise for I Am Bat:<...
Run!
Karsten, Guilherme
Paper Book
A thrilling and hilarious game of jungle hide-and-seek...Ready or not, here it comes! Deep in the heart of the jungle, something is on the hunt... All of the animals have to run, hide, make no noise, and leave no trace. Fleeing in a frenzy, each animal dashes off to find a wacky way...
Saturday
Mora, Oge
Paper Book
In this warm and tender story by the Caldecott Honor-winning creator of Thank You, Omu!, join a mother and daughter on an up-and-down journey that reminds them of what's best about Saturdays: precious time together. Today would be special. Today would be splendid. It...
A big mooncake for Little Star
Lin, Grace
Paper Book
When Little Star's mother bakes a delicious-looking mooncake, she leaves it in the night sky to cool. But it looks so tasty that Little Star can't wait, and every night she must take a little nibble of the perfectly round confection until instead of a glowing, round cookie, there is only a...
They all saw a cat
Wenzel, Brendan
Paper Book
The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears and paws . . . and the child saw A CAT, and the dog saw A CAT, and the fox saw A CAT. Yes, they all saw the cat.' In simple, rhythmic prose and ingeniously stylized pictures, Brendan Wenzel takes young readers on a walk alongside a cat....
If you were a dog
Swenson, Jamie.
Paper Book
If you could be any kind of animal, what would you be? Would you be a dog that goes ARRRROOOOOOO? Or maybe you would be a sharp-toothed dinosaur that can CHOMP, STOMP, ROAR! Perhaps you might want to be a hopping frog that goes BOING, BOING, RIBBET! But maybe you would want to be the best kind of...
Pokko and the drum
Forsythe, Matthew
Paper Book
Four starred reviews! A Today Show Best Book of the Year An NPR Favorite Book of 2019 From E.B. White Read Aloud honor artist Matthew Forsythe comes an "extraordinary" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) picture book about a...
Look out, Suzy Goose
Horá?ek, Petr.
Paper Book
Children are sure to smile as Suzy sets off to the woods in search of peace and quiet — cluelessly evading a trail of hungry critters in her wake. One afternoon all the geese are honking — except Suzy Goose, who is heading off to escape the noise. Suzy loves being...
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 from downward...
The perfect siesta
Mena, Pato
Paper Book
The perfect book to read before bed. Kids will laugh with exotic animals trying to nap just before they do! It is very hot in the jungle and suddenly a nice breeze arrives. The jaguar wants to take a siesta. Just then he saw a coati and said, "Could you do me a big favor?...
Maybe
Haughton, Chris
Paper Book
A trio of misbehaving, mango-loving monkeys have a close call as the creator of Don't Worry, Little Crab gives readers a taste of vicarious mischief. Three little monkeys and their big monkey are sitting high on a branch in the forest canopy. "OK, monkeys! I'm off," says...
Fox and the bike ride
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
From the Caldecott Honor winner and two-time Geisel-winning author of Mel Fell, Fox the Tiger, and Fox at Night, Corey R. Tabor! Fun-loving, mischievous Fox from Fox and the Jumping Contest is back in this charming and hilarious tale of friendship, adventure--and snacks. ...
Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion
Martin, Stephen W.
Paper Book
Friendship is hard for Fluffy, a kitten so precious that anyone who looks at her explodes! Meet Fluffy--an adorable kitten. So adorable, in fact, that anyone who sees her will spontaneously explode into balls of sparkles and fireworks. KABOOM! Poof. Poor...
Waiting for winter
Meschenmoser, Sebastian.
Paper Book
Squirrel has never seen it snow, and this year he is determined not to miss it. He wants his friends, Hedgehog and Bear, to see it snow too, but it's hard to stay awake. Finally, winter arrives, and snow is falling...or it is?
The Creature of Habit
Smith, Jennifer E.
Paper Book
A delightful picture book about a creature of habit whose routine suddenly gets disrupted by the unexpected arrival of a new friend. A perfect story for little readers learning social emotional skills that explores the joy of trying something new! A very big creature with big...
Life on Mars
Agee, Jon
Paper Book
In this sneaky, silly picture book for fans of Oliver Jeffers and Jon Klassen, an intrepid--but not so clever--space explorer is certain he's found the only living thing on Mars   A young astronaut is absolutely sure there is life to be found on Mars. He sets off on a...
Old hat
Gravett, Emily
Paper Book
From the creator of Wolves, Dogs, Tidy, and the Bear and Hare series and twice-winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal, Emily Gravett comes a fresh, funny, and punchy picture book about the futility of fads and the joy of learning to be yourself. Harbet had a hat. His...
Ice Cream Face
Sheffield, Heidi Woodward
Paper Book
The Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning creator of Brick by Brick brings to delicious life the anxiety and elation involved in waiting in line to get ice cream. As far as this ice-cream-loving kid is concerned, every meal should include ice cream. In any form, in every flavor,...
The Ugliest Monster in the World
Amavisca, Luis
Paper Book
This little monster says it´s the ugliest in the world. A second monster claims being even uglier. What happens when a third monster shows up? Could a mirror help them to decide who is the ugliest monster in the world? También disponible en español. (Also available in Spanish.)

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