Great Read-Alouds for Preschoolers

Here are some of the NPL Youth Services librarians' favorite read-alouds for preschoolers!

Updated December 27, 2023
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The button book
Nicholls, Sally
Paper Book
Here's a button. I wonder what happens when you press it? From a singing button to a tickle button, from a rude sound button to a mysterious white button, there's only one way to find out what they do... A remarkable adventure powered purely by imagination, where the sounds, songs and play...
Stuck
Jeffers, Oliver.
Paper Book
A specially adapted board book edition of Oliver Jeffers' laugh-out-loud classic, Stuck. Floyd gets his kite stuck up a tree. He throws up his shoe to shift it, but that gets stuck too. So he throws up his other shoe and that gets stuck, along with... a ladder, a pot of paint, the...
Thank you, Omu!
Mora, Oge, author, illustrator.
Audiobook
In this remarkable author-illustrator debut that's perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street and Extra Yarn, a generous woman is rewarded by her community. Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu's delicious stew! One by one, they follow their...
Jabari jumps
Cornwall, Gaia
Paper Book
Working up the courage to take a big, important leap is hard, but Jabari is almost absolutely ready to make a giant splash.Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swimming test, and he's a great jumper, so he's not scared at all....
From head to toe
Carle, Eric
Paper Book
A lively and fresh interactive introduction to the basic body parts and movements. Gorillas, elephants, camels and other animals invite all young readers to clap, stomp, wriggle and bend like they do.
Sam & Dave dig a hole
Barnett, Mac
Paper Book
With perfect pacing, the multi-award-winning, best-selling team of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen dig down for a deadpan tale full of visual humour.From the award-winning team behind Extra Yarn, and illustrated by Jon Klassen, the Kate Greenaway-winning creator of This is Not My Hat and and I Want My...
I want my hat back
Klassen, J.
Ebook
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2011! A picture-book delight by a rising talent tells a cumulative tale with a mischievous twist. Features an audio read-along! The bear's hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he...
Hooray for hat!
Won, Brian.
Paper Book
Elephant wakes up grumpy - until ding, dong! Whatâe(tm)s in the surprise box at the front door? A hat! HOORAY FOR HAT! Elephant marches off to show Zebra, but Zebra is having a grumpy day, too - until Elephant shares his new hat and cheers up his friend. Off they march to show Turtle! The...
We're going on a bear hunt
Rosen, Michael
Paper Book
Go on a bear hunt and do the actions with this award-winning picture book classic. Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the...
Tiptoe tiger
Clarke, Jane
Paper Book
A delightful interactive picture book, filled with vibrant neon artwork by award-winning Britta Teckentrup.
Rooster wore skinny jeans
Miller, Jessie
Paper Book
Rooster is so excited when his new skinny jeans arrive in the post: the sparkling stitching, a striking gold hue, and the indigo denim, a dazzling blue! But what will the other animals think of his stunning new style?
Llama, llama red pajama
Dewdney, Anna.
Paper Book
"At bedtime, a little llama worries after his mother puts him to bed and goes downstairs"--Publishers description.
There's a monster in your book
Fletcher, Tom
Paper Book
Bestselling author of the 'Dinosaur that Pooped' series and The Christmasaurus, Tom Fletcher, has written a brand new picture book perfect for bedtime, where a mischievous monster has invaded the pages of your child's book! This read-aloud, interactive picture book treat invites...
The very hungry caterpillar
Carle, Eric.
Paper Book
Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a perennial favourite with children and adults alike. Its imaginative illustration and clever cut-out detail charts the progress of a very hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through the week. ********** Don't miss...
Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?
Martin, Bill
Paper Book
Exuberantly coloured artwork and favourite animals make this rhythmic story the perfect introduction to looking and learning about colours. Each spread leads seamlessly into the next and young children will delight in Eric's colourful collage animals and simple repetitive language.
Don't let the pigeon drive the bus
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book
In his hilarious picture book debut, the acclaimed Mo Willems perfectly captures a toddler's temper tantrum.When a bus driver takes a break in this hilarious Caldecott Honor-winning picture book, he gives the reader just one instruction: "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" But, boy, that pigeon...

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