1000 Books Before Kindergarten

These books are recommended for children ages birth to 5. Are you enrolled in our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Book Club? This is a special book club for children ages birth to 5. Click here for more information: https://sussexcountylibrary.org/1000-books/

Updated June 12, 2024
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Happy birthday, moon /
Asch, Frank
Paper Book
The mitten
Aylesworth, Jim.
Paper Book
Br-r-r-r-r-r-rrrrrrrrrr! said the squirrel.My toes are cold as ice!This mitten looks so cozy,And warm toes would feel so nice!When a little boy loses a mitten in the snow,a passing squirrel finds it's the perfect placeto warm his icy toes. So he sque-e-e-e-zesinside. But he's not the only one with...
Ten, nine, eight
Bang, Molly.
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book and ALA Notable Book A bedtime book and a counting book! "A delightful bedtime book."--New York Times Acclaimed author Molly Bang shares the going-to-bed countdown in a loving family. "Ten small toes all washed and warm," begins the story, and then...
Animals should definitely not wear clothing
Barrett, Judi.
Audiobook
This book, by the team that created Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, takes a quirky look at what might happen if animals decided to don additional apparel.
A visitor for Bear
Becker, Bonny.
Paper Book
Cheery persistence wears down a curmudgeonly bear in a wry comedy of manners that ends in a most unlikely friendship. Bear is quite sure he doesn't like visitors. He even has a sign. So when a mouse taps on his door one day, Bear tells him to leave. But when Bear goes to the...
The end (almost)
Benton, Jim.
Paper Book
A new picture book from the hilarious author of the bestselling Dear Dumb Diary series! When Donut the bear is told his story is over and he has to leave, he donut want to do it. After all, he hasn't had a chance to have any fun! Will Donut's sneaky schemes and elaborate disguises...
Goodnight moon
Brown, Margaret Wise
Paper Book
In this classic of children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day. In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight...
Mr. Gumpy's outing
Burningham, John.
Paper Book
Stellaluna
Cannon, Janell
Paper Book
Celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Stellaluna with a deluxe edition of this bestselling picture book classic. "Delightful and informative but never didactic; a splendid debut." --Kirkus Reviews Knocked from her mother's safe embrace by an attacking owl, Stellaluna lands...
Biscuit loves the library /
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin,
Paper Book
There is so much to do--and there are so many friends to see--at the library!
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...
Hair love
Cherry, Matthew A.
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller and tie-in to Academy-Award Winning Short Film "Hair Love"   "I love that Hair Love is highlighting the relationship between a Black father and daughter. Matthew leads the ranks of new creatives who are telling unique stories of the Black...
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
Christelow, Eileen.
Paper Book
Their teeth are brushed, their pajamas are on, and as soon as they say good night to Mama, the five little monkeys start to jump on their bed!  But trouble awaits as, one by one, they fall off and bump their heads! The uproarious rhyme is brought to life in this family...
Mixed : a colorful story
Chung, Arree
Paper Book
The reds, the yellows, and the blues all think they're the best in this vibrant, thought-provoking picture book from Arree Chung, with a message of acceptance and unity. In the beginning, there were three colors . . . Reds, Yellows, and...
Freight train
Crews, Donald.
Paper Book
In simple, powerful words and vibrant illustrations, Donald Crews evokes the rolling wheels of that childhood favorite: a train. This board book features sturdy pages and is just the right size for little hands. This Caldecott Honor Book features bright colors and bold shapes. Even a child...
Click, clack, moo : cows that type
Cronin, Doreen
Paper Book
The quirky, hilarious farmyard tale that started it all from New York Times bestselling duo of Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin! Now the inspiration for a new Christmas special, CLICK, CLACK, MOO: Christmas on the Farm. Farmer Brown has a problem. ...
Jamberry /
Degen, Bruce
Paper Book
They're off... a boy and an endearing, rhyme-spouting bear, who squires him through a fantastic world of berries. And their adventure comes to a razzamatazz finale under a starberry sky.
Abuela
Dorros, Arthur.
Paper Book
Are you my mother? /
Eastman, P. D.
Paper Book
The must-have, heartwarming and hilarious classic about a baby bird in search of his mother! A baby bird goes in search of his mother in this hilarious Beginner Book edited by Dr. Seuss. When a mother bird's egg starts to jump, she hurries off to make sure she has something for...
Olivia
Falconer, Ian
Paper Book
This Caldecott Honor Book and #1 New York Times bestseller is perfect for pig-loving kids everywhere! It's everyone's favorite pig...it's OLIVIA! Join Olivia as she... -dresses up -sings songs -builds sand castles -naps (maybe) ...
Bark, George /
Feiffer, Jules
Paper Book
Named one of 100 Great Children's Books by The New York Public Library and #9 on School Library Journal's list of the Top 100 Picture Books! From acclaimed author-illustrator Jules Feiffer, Bark, George is a hilarious, subversive story about a dog who can't . . . bark! This...
Mama cat has three kittens
Fleming, Denise
Paper Book
Some kittens march to the beat of a different drummer. Mama Cat has three kittens, Fluffy, Skinny, and Boris. Where Mama Cat leads, Fluffy and Skinny follow. But what about Boris-- will he ever stop napping and join the fun? Young children will love Mama Cat and her three...
Where is the green sheep?
Fox, Mem
Paper Book
Little ones are sure to be lulled off to a peaceful, sheep-filled sleep by this cozy book from acclaimed author Mem Fox. There are red sheep and blue sheep, wind sheep and wave sheep, scared sheep and brave sheep, but where is the green sheep? The search is on in this cozy, sheep...
Corduroy
Freeman, Don
Paper Book
A picture book classic! One of School Library Journal's "Top 100 Picture Books" of all time (2012) One of the National Education Association's"Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children." Don Freeman's classic character, Corduroy, is even more...
The three little pigs
Galdone, Paul
Paper Book
All three pigs set out to seek their fortune, but two of them come to a sorry end.
The man who walked between the towers /
Gerstein, Mordicai
Paper Book
The story of a daring tightrope walk between skyscrapers, as seen in Robert Zemeckis's The Walk, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. In 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit threw a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center and spent an hour walking, dancing...
Is your mama a llama?
Guarino, Deborah.
Paper Book
Follow Lloyd the llama on his quest to discover how many baby animals have llamas for mamas in this read-along, which includes a paperback and an audio CD with music and sound effects.Lloyd the llama is looking for his mama. "Is your mama a llama?" he asks a bat, a swan, a cow, a seal, and a...
Millions of cats /
Gâag, Wanda,
Paper Book
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...
Where's Spot? /
Hill, Eric,
Paper Book
For more than three decades, children have been looking everywhere for Spot in this classic, first-ever lift-the-flap book. Is he in the piano? Is he under the stairs? After finding other familiar animals, there he is in his basket!  
Eyes that kiss in the corners
Ho, Joanna
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller and #1 Indie Bestseller · A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year · A School Library Journal Best Book of 2021 · Included in NPR's 2021 Books We Love List · Featured in Forbes, Oprah Daily, The Cut, and Book Riot · Golden Poppy Book Award...
Hush! : a Thai lullaby
Ho, Minfong.
Paper Book
This book contains a lullaby which asks animals such as a lizard, monkey, and water buffalo to be quiet and not disturb the sleeping baby. 1997 Caldecott Honor Book
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...
Is it red? Is it yellow? Is it blue? : An adventure in color
Hoban, Tana.
Paper Book
"A wordless concept picture book meant to teach basic colors to very young children does its work excellently."--Booklist.
Angelina ballerina
Holabird, Katharine.
Paper Book
In an encore performance, Angelina Ballerina returns in this refreshed picture book from acclaimed author Katharine Holabird and celebrated artist Helen Craig! Angelina is a pretty little mouse who wants nothing more than to be a ballerina. She dances all the time--at home, at...
Rosie's walk
Hutchins, Pat
Paper Book
Bright pictures of several animals including Rosie, the hen, and a funny plot will delight young boys and girls.
Quae haraias con una cola como aesta? =
Jenkins, Steve,
Paper Book
What do you do with a tail like this? /
Jenkins, Steve,
Paper Book
Harold and the purple crayon
Johnson, Crockett
Ebook
The hello, goodbye window /
Juster, Norton,
Paper Book
A Caldecott Medal Winner The kitchen window at Nanna and Poppy's house is, for one little girl, a magic gateway. Everything important happens near it, through it, or beyond it. The world for this little girl will soon grow larger and more complex, but never more enchanting or...
The snowy day
Keats, Ezra Jack.
Paper Book
The magic and wonder of winter's first snowfall is perfectly captured in Ezra Jack Keat's Caldecott Medal-winning picture book. This50th Anniversary Commemorative Editioncelebrates the classic beloved by generations of readers and listeners. In 1962, a little boy named Peter put...
Anansi and the moss-covered rock
Kimmel, Eric A.
Paper Book
A classic trickster folktale told with humor and charm, this is a perfect read along book both parents and children will love. When Anansi the Spider finds a strange moss-covered rock in the forest, he uses it to trick all his animal friends. But Little Bush Deer is onto Anansi's...
Whose mouse are you?
Kraus, Robert
Paper Book
The carrot seed
Krauss, Ruth.
Paper Book
Celebrate 75 years of The Carrot Seed with a new foreword from Caldecott Honor picture book creator Kevin Henkes! When a little boy plants a carrot seed, everyone tells him it won't grow. But when you are very young, there are some things that you just know, and the little boy knows that...
The story of Ferdinand /
Leaf, Munro,
Paper Book
The Spanish language translation of the beloved classic The Story of Ferdinand, which is soon to be a major motion picture! Ferdinando es un toro muy especial: en vez de gustarle embestir, bramar y saltar, prefiere observar y oler las flores del campo. Pero un día llegan...
Little Blue and Little Yellow
Lionni, Leo
Paper Book
Little blue and little yellow share wonderful adventures. One day, they can't find one another. When they finally meet, they are overjoyed. They hug until they become green. But where did little blue and little yellow go? Are they lost?
Froggy gets dressed
London, Jonathan
Paper Book
Rambunctious Froggy hops out into the snow for a winter frolic but is called back by his mother to put on some necessary articles of clothing.
Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?
Martin, Bill
Paper Book
With more than two million copies sold, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? has opened up a world of learning to a generation of children. For this edition, created for the twenty-fifth anniversay in 1992, Bill Martin, Jr., restored his text to its original wording. And Eric Carle...
Chicka chicka boom boom
Martin, Bill
Paper Book
A told B, and B told C "I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree." Countless children -- and their parents -- can joyfully recite the familiar words of this beloved alphabet chant. The perfect pairing of Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault's lively rhymes, and...
Guess how much I love you
McBratney, Sam.
Paper Book
Guess How Much I Love You has sold over 43 million copies worldwide! A beloved classic lets children "love you right up to the moon -- and back." "Guess how much I love you," says Little Nutbrown Hare. Little Nutbrown Hare shows his daddy how much he loves him...
Make way for ducklings
McCloskey, Robert
Paper Book
Mrs. Mallard was sure that the pond in the Boston Public Gardens would be a perfect place for her and her eight ducklings to live. The problem was how to get them there through the busy streets of Boston. But with a little help from the Boston police, Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack,...
I stink!
McMullan, Kate.
Paper Book
For fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Steam Train, Dream Train comes a noisy addition to the hilarious read-aloud series from Kate and Jim McMullan, the popular creators of I'm Bad! and I'm Dirty! Now a streaming animated series! "Know what I do at night while you're...
I am Abraham Lincoln
Meltzer, Brad.
Paper Book
Each picture book in this series is a biography of an American hero, told in a simple, conversational, vivacious way, and always focusing on a character trait that made the person heroic. The heros are depicted as children throughout, telling their life stories in first-person...
The day Jimmy's boa ate the wash
Noble, Trinka Hakes.
Paper Book
Jimmy's boa constrictor wreaks havoc on the class trip to a farm.
If you give a mouse a cookie /
Numeroff, Laura Joffe
Paper Book
If a hungry little mouse shows up on your doorstep, you might want to give him a cookie. And if you give him a cookie, he'll ask for a glass of milk. He'll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache, and then he'll ask for a pair of scissors to give himself a trim....<...
Fancy Nancy
O'Connor, Jane.
Paper Book
*NOW A HIT TV SERIES ON DISNEY JUNIOR* The bestselling picture book that launched the beloved Fancy Nancy series by the dazzling duo Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser! Meet Nancy, who believes that more is ALWAYS better when it comes to being fancy. She loves to wear fancy...
The Kissing Hand /
Penn, Audrey,
Paper Book
School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester's fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. Since its first publication in 1993, this heartwarming...
Shades of black : a celebration of our children
Pinkney, Sandra L.
Paper Book
The bestselling picture book is now available as a board book! "The beauty of African-American children is celebrated in this joyous picture book. Wonderful, clear, full-color photographs of youngsters illustrate a poetic, vivid text that describes a range of skin and eye colors and hair textures......
The little engine that could
Piper, Watty, pseud.
Paper Book
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."Discover the inspiring story of the Little Blue Engine as shemakesher way over the mountain in this belovedclassic-the perfect gift to celebrate thespecial milestones in your life, from graduations to birthdays and more! The...
Good night, Gorilla
Rathmann, Peggy.
Paper Book
A must have classic for all baby bedtimes and gifting opportunities. Good night, Gorilla. . . Good night, Elephant. . . It's bedtime at the zoo, and all the animals are going to sleep. Or are they? Who's that short, furry guy with the keys in his...
My friend Rabbit
Rohmann, Eric.
Paper Book
Rabbit saves the day in a most ingeneous way. When Mouse lets his best friend, Rabbit, play with his brand-new airplane, trouble isn't far behind. From Caldecott Honor award winner Eric Rohmann comes a brand-new picture book about friends and toys and trouble, illustrated in robust,...
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...
I love you through and through
Rossetti-Shustak, Bernadette.
Paper Book
A rhyming story of unconditional love with adorable illustrations of a toddler and a teddy bear who declare "I love you through and through!"I love your hair and eyes,Your giggles and cries...A toddler and his teddy bear illustrate a young child's happy side, sad side, silly side, mad...
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...
The cat in the hat /
Seuss,
Paper Book
The classic picture book that introduced the world to the iconic, mischievous Cat in the Hat and the beloved characters Thing One and Thing Two! Dr. Seuss makes reading fun for kids of all ages. "I know some new tricks," said the Cat in the Hat. "A lot of good tricks. I will...
Green eggs and ham /
Seuss,
Paper Book
Join in the fun with Sam-I-Am in this iconic Dr. Seuss classic about the joy of trying new things. And don't miss the Netflix series adaptation! I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. With unforgettable characters and...
Duck on a bike /
Shannon, David,
Paper Book
Este relato para niños que incursionan en su etapa preescolar nos introduce en la vida de un pato que vive en una granja. Hasta ahí todo normal, sin embargo, cuando se atreve por vez primera a manejar una bicicleta evidencia su espíritu aventurero. Todos los animales del lugar por supuesto se...
Caps for sale : a tale of a peddler, some monkeys, and their monkey business
Slobodkina, Esphyr
Paper Book
Caps for Sale is a timeless classic beloved by millions...one of the most popular picture books ever published! This picture book is an excellent choice to share at home or in the classroom, as children love chanting along with the naughty monkeys. Children will delight in following...
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly
Taback, Simms.
Paper Book
An old favorite as you've never seen it before!Everyone knows the song about the old lady who swallowed a fly, a spider, a bird, and even worse, but who's ever seen what's going on inside the old lady's stomach? With this inventive die-cut artwork, Simms Tabak gives us a rollicking,...
The three pigs
Wiesner, David.
Paper Book
"Clever, whimsical and sophisticated." --New York Times Book Review Taking visual narrative to a new level, this picture book from the creator of Tuesday and Flotsam begins a seemingly familiar tale of three pigs preparing to build houses of straw, sticks, and...

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