Books for Curious Kids Ages 0-5

This Better Beginnings list was compiled by children's literature specialists from the State Library and SciTech and are great for encouraging curiosity and children aged 0-5.

Updated November 21, 2024
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Duck in the truck
Alborough, Jez
Audiobook
Here comes Duck in his truck, the wonderful new character soon to be the focus of a whole new series. But watch out for that rock Duck ... too late Duck's truck is stuck in the muck! The truck is well and truly stuck, but luckily help is at hand in the form of a Frog. When the Frog and the...
Up, down, and around
Ayres, Katherine.
Paper Book
This garden is on the move! A good-time, rollicking celebration of things that grow. PEPPERS GROW UP. POTATOES GROW DOWN. PUMPKINS VINE AROUND AND AROUND. From seeds dropping into soil to corn bursting from its stalks, from children chasing butterflies to...
Quack and count
Baker, Keith
Paper Book
Playful, rhyming text and bold collage illustrations capture the excitement of a day's adventure as a family of lively ducklings slip, slide, leap, and dive--grouping themselves in all the different combinations that add up to seven.
From head to toe
Carle, Eric
Paper Book
From Eric Carle, the New York Times bestselling creator of beloved books including The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Grouchy Ladybug, comes From Head to Toe, a colorful and energetic book that will have young readers clapping their hands, stomping their feet, and wiggling their toes! ...
Fish eyes : a book you can count on
Ehlert, Lois.
Paper Book
A counting book depicts the colorful fish a child might see if he turned into a fish himself.
Monkey puzzle
Donaldson, Julia
Paper Book
When little monkey can't find his mother, butterfly offers to help in the search. Little monkey says that his mother is big, so butterfly leads him to . . . an elephant. No, that's not right! Little monkey says his mom is furry, so butterfly leads him to . . . a bat. That's not right either. From...
Pizza day
Iwai, Melissa
Paper Book
A young boy and his father gather ingredients in the garden to prepare pizza on a hot day in this preschool picture book companion to Soup Day. On a sunny, summer day, a young boy and his father assemble the ingredients for a homemade pizza. From gathering fresh garden...
Zoom, rocket, zoom!
Mayo, Margaret.
Paper Book
When night has come and the moon shines bright, Reflecting back our sun's great light-- Explore the stars and search the sky, And watch for satellites gliding by! Ride a rocket to the stars as astronauts go zooming,...
First the egg
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro.
Paper Book
Construction
Sutton, Sally
Paper Book
"The simplicity of the telling and the rich details in the spreads make this a must-have for all libraries serving young children." -- School Library Journal (starred review) Una vez más el equipo de construcción regresa con sus grandes máquinas. ¡Listos a excavar,...
Just a little bit
Tompert, Ann.
Paper Book
When an elephant and a mouse try to play on a seesaw, they need help from a vast number of animal friends to balance the scales.
Let's go visiting
Williams, Sue
Paper Book
Children will love counting their favorite baby animals--like foals and puppies and ducklings--in this spirited lap-sized board book edition of Sue Williams and Julie Vivas's barnyard adventure.

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