Books for Preschoolers

Shareable books to get your preschooler ready to read, full of appealing artwork, concepts and phrases. For more guidelines on finding books to share with your preschooler, check out our printable pamphlet.

Updated November 7, 2024
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1

What Riley wore
Arnold, Elana K.
Paper Book
Gender-creative Riley knows just what to wear for every occasion during a busy week with family and friends in this sweet and timely picture book from Elana K. Arnold and Linda Davick. Riley wears whatever clothes feel right each day. On Monday, Riley feels shy and wears a bunny...

2

Extra yarn
Barnett, Mac.
Paper Book
From bestselling and award-winning author Mac Barnett and illustrator Jon Klassen comes Extra Yarn, a Caldecott Honor Book, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner, and a New York Times bestseller. A young girl and her box of magical yarn transform a community in this stunning picture...

3

The turnip
Brett, Jan
Paper Book
In a rollicking, cumulative tale, a badger family and their friends-Hedgie, Mr. Ram and Vanya, the horse-struggle to pull up a giant turnip. A cocky rooster steps in and pulls, sending him into the air, holding onto the turnip. No one knows that a mother bear in her underground den has kicked the...

4

Grandma's tiny house : a counting story!
Brown-Wood, JaNay
Paper Book
Chicago Public Library's 2017 Best of the Best Books selection "A fine addition to book collections about families, food, counting, and joyous gatherings" - The Horn Book This sweet, rhyming counting book introduces young readers to numbers one through fifteen...

5

The very busy spider
Carle, Eric.
Paper Book
A VERY classic from Eric Carle, creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Early one morning a little spider spins her web on a fence post. One by one, the animals of the nearby farm try to distract her, yet the busy little spider keeps diligently at her work. When she is done...

6

Maria had a little llama
Dominguez, Angela N.
Paper Book
Everyone knows about Mary and her little lamb. But do you know Maria? With gorgeous, Peruvian-inspired illustrations and English and Spanish retellings, Angela Dominguez's Maria Had a Little Llama / María Tenía Una Llamita gives a fresh new bilingual twist to the...

7

I got a chicken for my birthday
Gehl, Laura
Paper Book
All the birthday girl wants from her Abuela is a ticket to the amusement park. Instead, she gets a chicken. But this chicken is no ordinary chicken; it has plans! With a lot of hard work, and help from other animals, this chicken may just end up granting the girl the best birthday gift ever.

8

Balance the birds
Ghahremani, Susie
Paper Book
A follow-up to Stack the Cats, Balance the Birds is about balance and relative size. When birds spot a tree and decide to land on its branches, the readers can help them find the perfect balance. Like Stack the Cats, Balance the Birds introduces key early math skills...

9

We don't eat our classmates!
Higgins, Ryan T.
Paper Book
It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can't wait to meet her classmates. But it's hard to make human friends when they're so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all...

10

Green pants
Kraegel, Kenneth
Paper Book
For kids who march to their own drummer -- or are especially attached to a comfort object -- here is a completely adorable character who wears his singularity in style. Jameson only ever wears green pants. When he wears green pants, he can do anything. But if he wants to...

11

Builders & breakers
Light, Steve
Paper Book
Experience the bustling energy of an urban construction site with Steve Light's colorful celebration of builders, breakers, and the machines they use. When their dad forgets his lunch box on his way to the construction site, a young brother and sister set out to take it to him,...

12

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...

13

Julián is a mermaid
Love, Jessica
Paper Book
Winner of a 2019 Stonewall Book Award In an exuberant picture book, a glimpse of costumed mermaids leaves one boy flooded with wonder and ready to dazzle the world. While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women...

14

When Aidan became a brother
Lukoff, Kyle
Paper Book
Stonewall Book Award Winner - American Library Association (ALA) This sweet and groundbreaking picture book, winner of the 2020 Stonewall Book Award, celebrates the changes in a transgender boy's life, from his initial coming-out to becoming a big brother. When Aidan was born...

15

Drawn together
Lê, Minh
Paper Book
The recipient of six starred reviews and the APALA Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature!   Named a Best Book of 2018 by the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Smithsonian, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Booklist, the...

16

?Gracias, Omu! /
Mora, Oge,
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book In this cozy, sweet story perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street as well as for the Thanksgiving season, a generous woman is rewarded by her community. A Spanish edition, ¡Gracias, Omu!, is also...

17

Princess Puffybottom... and Darryl
Nielsen-Fernlund, Susin
Paper Book
Princess Puffybottom has the perfect life - her subjects serve her delicious meals, clean up her 'delicate matters' and wait on her hand and foot. Life is good ... until Darryl arrives. Princess Puffybottom thinks he's disgusting, horrid and a true animal. Though she tries everything in her power to...

18

A family is a family is a family
O'Leary, Sara
Paper Book
When a teacher asks her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different, but the same in one important way ... When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways --...

19

Love the world
Parr, Todd
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Todd Parr comes a celebration of love, respect, peace, and unity. With his colorful illustrations, playful humor, and inclusive storytelling, beloved author Todd Parr has long been a favorite among young...

20

The tortoise & the hare
Pinkney, Jerry
Paper Book
This lavish, highly-acclaimed rendition of Aesop's most beloved fable about grit, hope, and resilience is brought to life by Caldecott Medal-winning artist Jerry Pinkney.   This nearly wordless companion to the Caldecott Medal-winning The Lion & the Mouse is...

21

This story is for you
Pizzoli, Greg
Paper Book
A simple "It's nice to know you" holds so much power in this tender picturebook by acclaimed author-illustrator Greg Pizzoli. Finding value in others as a matter of course, the narrator accepts and appreciates difference as the foundation of a life-long friendship. This Story Is for You...

22

My papi has a motorcycle
Quintero, Isabel
Paper Book
A celebration of the love between a father and daughter, and of a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, by an award-winning author and illustrator duo. When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her papi on his motorcycle, she sees the people and places she's always known....

23

Las aventuras de Beekle : el amigo (no) imaginario
Santat, Dan
Paper Book
An imaginary friend grows weary of waiting for a child to adopt him from the far away land where imaginary friends are born, so he does something extraordinary. He embarks on the long journey to the real world to find his own special someone and ends up in New York City, where he eventually finds...

24

Who wet my pants?
Shea, Bob
Paper Book
In this hilarious tale of blame, compassion, and forgiveness, a very embarrassed bear is reminded that accidents can happen--but with the support of good friends, life goes on. Reuben the bear's got donuts for everyone in his scout troop but his friends are all staring...

25

Want to play trucks?
Stott, Ann
Paper Book
Jack likes trucks. Alex likes dolls. What will they play together? Their new favorite game, of course! Jack and Alex meet almost every morning in the sandbox at the playground. Jack likes trucks -- big ones, the kind that can wreck things. Alex likes dolls -- pink ones, with...

26

Is everyone ready for fun?
Thomas, Jan
Paper Book
Chicken has some unexpected and exuberant cow visitors who have exciting plans for jumping, dancing, and wiggling on his teeny-tiny couch, and Chicken is none too happy about it. That is until the fun concludes with a quiet, cozy and delicious nap for all!

27

Say zoop!
Tullet, Hervé.
Paper Book
PRESS HERE, MIX IT UP!, LET'S PLAY! and now SAY ZOOP! Collect all four interactive books from best-selling children's book author Hervé Tullet! Make some noise! Shout "OH!" Whisper "oh!" Say "Zoop"? Yes! "Zoop!" "Zoop!" "Zoop!" The newest book from...

28

Octopus stew
Velasquez, Eric
Paper Book
The octopus Grandma's cooking has grown to titanic proportions. " Tenga cuidado! " Ramsy shouts. "Be careful!"But it's too late. The octopus traps grandma! Ramsey uses both art and intellect to free her. Then the story takes a surprising twist. And it can be read two ways....

29

They all saw a cat
Wenzel, Brendan
Paper Book
New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Medal winner They All Saw a Cat is a visual delight and a charming read-aloud that invites kids and parents to explore the concept of perception. The cat walked through the world, with its...

30

Goldilocks and the three dinosaurs
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs is a new take on the fairy-tale classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears, so funny and so original--it could only come from the brilliant mind of Mo Willems, the author/illustrator of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and the Elephant and Piggie series. ...

31

The little mouse, the red ripe strawberry, & the big hungry bear
Wood, Don
Paper Book
Little Mouse loves strawberries, but so does the big hungry bear . . . How will Little Mouse stop the bear from eating his freshly picked, red ripe strawberry? This classic story is beloved for its humor, expressive illustrations, and surprise ending--pure read-aloud fun!

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