Better Beginnings Books for 4s & 5s!

Books on this list have been selected by the Better Beginnings team of children's literature specialists.

Updated November 8, 2024
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The gruffalo
Donaldson, Julia
Paper Book
This rhythmic read-aloud par excellence follows a clever mouse on a walk through the deep dark wood, where he encounters several hungry inhabitants who want to make him their main course. Lacking size or strength as defenses, quick-witted Mouse instead taps the powers of his imagination to create...
Too many pears!
French, Jackie.
Paper Book
Pamela the cow loves pears, and will do just about anything to get them. But will anyone else ever get to eat a pear again? Certainly not until Pamela has had her fill . . . and chooses something else to eat!
Not that pet!
Prasadam-Halls, Smriti
Paper Book
Some are too scary, some are too smelly, some are too wiggly, and some are too giggly. Can Mabel find the perfect pet for her family? Not noisy or scary or covered in spikes. She'd choose something friendly that EVERYONE likes. Mabel's family is...
Three
King, Stephen Michael
Paper Book
A heartwarming story of a three-legged dog who follows his nose all over the city, out to the country, and into the arms of a new friend. One, two, three... One, two, three... Every day was a skip And a hop For Three.
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...
Duck!
McKinlay, Meg
Paper Book
In this funny nod to Chicken Little, a quiet afternoon on the farm might be the scene of a barnyard disaster waiting to happen. When Duck runs around the farm shouting "DUCK!" to the other animals, they grow exasperated as they haughtily explain to Duck which animal is which....
Facts vs. opinions vs. robots
Rex, Michael
Paper Book
A hilarious, timely conversation about the differences between facts and opinions, by the creator of the #1 New York Times bestseller Goodnight Goon Do you know the difference between a fact and an opinion? It can be a hard thing to understand. Some things are facts...

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