2025 Summer Reading Program: Pre-Readers

Updated January 22, 2025
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My visit to the aquarium
Aliki.
Paper Book
During his visit to an aquarium, a boy finds out about the characteristics and environments of many different marine and freshwater creatures.
I'm going to build a snowman
Awan, Jashar
Paper Book
In this sparkling picture book celebration of winter and creativity, a boy's snow day efforts show that perfection is relative and what's important is taking pride in what you do! When a little boy wakes up to see a blanket of snow covering the world outside, there's only one...
The moon seems to change
Branley, Franklyn Mansfield
Paper Book
On Baba's back
Dubuc, Marianne
Paper Book
Baby koala Koko takes his first step toward independence in this endearing board book made for reading together. Koko and Baba are a very close koala family, so close that Koko does everything on Baba's back--eats, plays, you name it! Until one day, when Koko wants to do...
Oh, no!
Fleming, Candace.
Paper Book
"This picture book reads like an instant classic.... Oh, yes!" raved Kirkus Reviews in a starred review. Young children will delight in repeating the refrain "OH, NO!" as one animal after another falls into a deep, deep hole in this lively read-aloud. This simple and irresistible...
Calling all cars
Fliess, Sue
Paper Book
Big cars, small cars, let's call ALL cars! This bouncy text explores the wonderful world of cars zipping up, down, fast, and slow. A perfect basic concept books for eager young learners from the author of Tons of Trucks. Then cruise into bedtime! Rest cars, Hush cars No more rush,...
The reasons for seasons
Gibbons, Gail.
Paper Book
Why is there winter in the Southern Hemisphere at the same time there is summer in the Northern Hemisphere? Here is an explanation of how the position of the Earth in relation to the sun causes seasons, and the wonders that come with each one of them. Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring comes again. Year...
Kitten's first full moon
Henkes, Kevin.
Paper Book
From one of the most celebrated and beloved picture book creators working in the field today comes a memorable new character and a suspenseful adventure just right for the very youngest. It is Kitten's first full moon, and when she sees it she thinks it is a bowl of milk in the sky. And she wants...
Bread and jam for Frances
Hoban, Russell.
Paper Book
Frances, one of children's best-loved characters for over 30 years, now springs to life even more in Bread and Jam for Frances,beautifully reillustrated in sparkling full color by Lillian Hoban. In this memorable story, Frances decides that bread and jam are all she wants to eat, and her...
Sumo colors
Ishida, Sanae
Paper Book
Perfect for early learning, this fun board book in the Little Sumo series, from the creator of the Little Kunoichi series, features adorable sumo wrestlers that introduce children to colors and shares elements of Japanese culture that will enrich readers of all ages. Take a peek...
Eidtale : an Eid al-Fitr adventure
Jaleel, Aaliya
Paper Book
The Abrams Trail Tale series takes readers on unforgettable holiday-themed adventures. This new tale, written and illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel, follows a brother and sister as they make their way through their neighborhood delivering gifts to uncles sipping cha'i, favorite neighbors, and friends...
My body and me : my first body positivity book
Kelley, Ceece
Paper Book
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books I love my body. It's special to me. It's exactly the way it's meant to be. An empowering celebration of bodies, promoting body positivity such as gratitude for our puffy cheeks that help us eat; strength in our round bellies that help...
Eat together
Ordóñez, Miguel
Paper Book
The geometry of food is explored in New York Times bestselling illustrator Miguel Ord nez's newest board book on shapes! Various parts of a meal are formed one by one, piece by piece, in this visual play on the interaction between shapes. If just three simple shapes can...
Let's be brave
Osakwe, Leah
Paper Book
Explore different ways to be brave! From chasing your dreams to standing up for yourself, this inspiring book empowers children to look within to find courage and confidence. Each one of us has the power to be exactly who we want to be. This inspiring board book empowers children...
I'm still up!
Portis, Antoinette
Paper Book
"A masterclass on how to create the ideal board book. It really is." -Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (SLJ Blog) A soothing and humorous bedtime story with a baby who is still up! This is the ideal board book for baby to read before lying down to sleep.<...
Cinnamon bun, I love you 1
Schwartz, Amy
Paper Book
From award-winning author-illustrator Amy Schwartz comes a counting book full of sweet treats, playful moments, and lots of toddler love. Cinnamon bun, I love you one. Peek-a-boo, I love you two... This charming, rhyming picture book counts out the love...
Green
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro.
Paper Book
Die cut pages bring surprise after surprise in this magical new book from the "Queen of the concept book"--an intricate and satisfying homage to green, the color of all creation. How many kinds of green are there? There's the lush green of a forest on a late spring day, the fresh,...
The wheels on the tuk tuk
Sehgal, Kabir
Paper Book
From the mother-son duo behind the New York Times bestselling A Bucket of Blessings comes a zany picture book about a wild ride on a tuk tuk taxi in India! This picture book brings an international twist to the beloved nursery rhyme, The Wheels on the Bus, by...
Clip-clop
Smee, Nicola.
Paper Book
Every child adores getting twirled and tossed by Mommy and Daddy. Again! Again, they squeal. That’s...
Counting to calm : my first self-regulation book
Sooful, Prasha
Paper Book
"One--Deep breath in, nice and slow. Two--Now breathe out . . . there you go." Introduce self-regulation to the youngest readers early on by allowing them to model breathing, stretching, and movement with a parent or educator in 10 action-packed steps. This board book allows...
Doctor De Soto
Steig, William
Paper Book
From the incomparable William Steig, creator of Shrek, comes a story that proves even a fox can be out-foxed by a clever mouse in Doctor De Soto, a Newbery Honor Book. "Doctor De Soto, the dentist, did very good work." With the aid of his able assistant, Mrs. De...
Interrupting chicken
Stein, David Ezra.
Paper Book
Awarded a 2011 Caldecott Honor! A favorite joke inspires this New York Times best-selling tale, in which a little chicken's habit of interrupting bedtime stories is gleefully turned on its head. It's time for the little red chicken's bedtime story--and a reminder from Papa...
Farmer duck
Waddell, Martin.
Paper Book
Farmer Duck is no ordinary duck--and this is no ordinary picture book. A glorious and utterly satisfying modern fable illustrated with that special blend of humor and pathos unique to bestselling artist Helen Oxenbury. Full color.
Hello hello
Wenzel, Brendan
Paper Book
Named a Best Children's Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Amazon, Working Mother and more: A new picture book from Brendan Wenzel, the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor-winning author of They All Saw a Cat! Hello, Hello!<...
Cat nap
Yuly, Toni
Paper Book
Cat loves to nap. If only he could find a good resting place to hide from playful (and wide awake) Kitten! Opposites and hide-and-seek make this a fun story for naptime -- or anytime. In this book filled with opposites (big and little, black and white, sleepy and...

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