The preschool years are the best years for early literacy. Their little minds are fresh and ready for new information such as reading. Preschoolers are indeed like sponges so it’s important to monitor what they are taking in and learning on a daily basis. The same goes for books. What books are best for the preschool years? There are 20 that you may consider looking into for your little one. Keep in mind, even if they can’t read just quite yet, reading aloud is still considered early literacy. You are preparing them for a passion of lifelong reading and learning.
Here is a list of 20 preschool books to get your early reader on their way:
1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle. This book helps with colors and animal recognition.
2.Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archembault. This preschool book is great for teaching letters and sounds recognition.
3.Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman. This book teaches the importance of self awareness and family.
4.Corduroy by Don Freeman. A fun preschool story with a very happy ending.
5.Herald and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. This book is great for expanding creativity and the preschool imagination.
6.If You Give A Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff. This is a great read aloud for the preschool child.
7.Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. This book may be an oldie but it’s a goodie. Since preschoolers should be taught to be creative and grow their imagination, this book may certainly do the trick.
8.The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. I absolutely adore this book. It’s a great way to teach children about the importance of sharing and friendships.
9.The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. This book teaches about the emotion of love and confidence.
10.No, David! by David Shannon. Is your child a busy child and told “NO” quite frequently? This might help raise awareness to simply just redirect.
11. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. This is the perfect bedtime book but a great way to introduce preschoolers to literature.
12.How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague. This is a playful and entertaining book about dinosaurs.
13. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. This is a fantastic book to teach preschoolers about love.
14.Pete The Cat:I Love My White Shoes by James Dean. Teach your preschooler about colors with this fun story about a cat’s color changing shoes.
15.The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. A fun classic story about a house in the country then city, then back to country again.
16.The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. This is about a boy’s adventure with his very first snowfall.
17.The Napping House by Audrey Wood. This is a fun pre-nap time story. Nap time can be silly and fun.
18.The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. This is a preschool favorite of a very hungry caterpillar. You can usually find the audio and even puppet to go along with the story.
19.The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. Introduce this fun classic to your preschooler. It encourages a child to never give up no matter how hard something may be.
20.We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. This is a fun preschool comedy and even drama where kids can even act out the book.
This list is based on books I have personally read to preschoolers. I also found a similar list
on Pinterest which I found very interesting. You never know what you can find on there as
well.All of the mentioned books can easily be found in the library or for purchase online such as
Amazon. You can usually find good deals if you would rather purchase a book. Kindle
editions are usually cheaper, but you can get decently used paperback or hardcover books as
well.
What was your favorite book growing up?