Best Books for Preschoolers
CREATURE ABC - real photographs + upper and lower case letters. Point out the interesting details, ask open ended questions “Why do you think the lion is growling?” guess which animal will appear next (some pages only show a small teaser), add sounds, and go on a scavenger hunt. Find the letter that makes the /b/ sound.
WHERE HAPPINESS LIVES - easily my favorite picture book from UBAM. It beautifully describes the impact comparison has on all of us, while showing true happiness really comes from relationships and gratitude. Plus it has beautiful illustrations, flaps for kids to lift, and rhymes.
SHINE-A-LIGHT HUMAN BODY - the coolest book! Shine a flashlight behind the page to reveal hidden pictures. We are absolutely obsessed. Any age will enjoy this series.
LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET - everybody needs a grandma like CJ’s to help gain perspective and model gratitude
WHEN I GROW UP QUIET BOOK - wordless activity book for in the car or at a restaurant. It’s totally okay some books don’t have words. Positive experiences help build connections! This book works fine-motor skills, builds language and independence, and can spark imagination.
RAVI’S ROAR - Ravi explodes after a chain of unfortunate events and turns into a tiger, but quickly realizes no one wants to be around a ferocious, grumpy tiger. He apologizes and learns how to cope with his big feelings.
LIFT-THE-FLAP ABC - practice letters and letter sounds with fun flaps to lift and different tasks on each page. I especially love that it focuses on lower-case letters, which are hard to come by in books.
QUESTION & ANSWERS SERIES - okay, these books are nonfiction GOLD! Interesting facts, digestable, fun flaps to lift. They make it so much easier to answer the 459 questions preschoolers ask! Check out, What Makes it Rain, Where Do Babies Come From, Why Do Things Die, Why Do Tigers Have Stripes, How Do Plants Grow, and more!
JABARI JUMPS - a sweet book about Jabari overcoming his fear of jumping off the diving board
OUTDOOR BOOK - this book is an easy to read reference book that helps kids understand weather and outdoor elements. Kids really love to connect to their world around them and this book is sure to help grow their knowledge base and build their language.
PANDAMONIA - If you wake the panda you’ll set off pandamonia across the entire zoo. It’s a fun, silly, rhythmic rhyming tale with a voracious vocabulary!
THIS IS OWL - each page invites the reader to interact with the book and do something to help the story move along. This one is especially great for reluctant readers.
DRAGON POST - Alex finds a dragon and writes to five people to figure out how to take care of a new dragon. It’s adorable, hilarious, and kiddos will love opening five real letters.
ALL ARE WELCOME - this one belongs in every classroom. Discover a school where—no matter what—young children have a place, have a space, and are loved and appreciated.
THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU WILL BE - this book celebrates the love, acceptance, and dreams parents have for children. Gift this to your child when they begin preschool and write a short note inside the book at the end of every grade. It will be a treasured memento when they graduate high school.
RED SHOES - Malika is obsessed with her new red shoes, but one day they are too small for her feet. Her nana encourages her to donate them and they bring much joy to another little girl. It’s a sweet story of giving!
THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING - develop a growth mindset!
PEACE IS AN OFFERING - I love how this book encourages children and adults to find happiness and peace in the little things, even when tragedy strikes a community
ALPHA BUGS - quirky bugs, alliteration, and pop-ups and pulls for kids to interact with
UP IN THE GARDEN DOWN IN THE DIRT - it’s so tricky for kids to understand things they cannot see. This book is a lovely and lyrical mix of fiction and nonfiction, helping kids discover the magic underground. Also check out Over and Under the Pond.
TODAY - kids can create their perfect day
TED AND FRIENDS - 12 short stories that rhyme and focus on short words. This one is great for developing an ear for rhyming and can be used again with emerging readers. Fair warning, my daughter LOVES this book and it becomes a little annoying to read after the 50th time, but the stories are very short.
A UNICORN NAMED SPARKLE - Lucy answers an add to purchase a unicorn and is so excited for all of their adventures together, but when he arrives, he is anything like she imagined. He is short, has fleas, farts, and looks more like a goat. She decides to send him back, but quickly grows attached to his happy demeanor and quirky attitude.
LMNO PEAS - I get this rhythmic book stuck in my head every.single.time. It’s adorable, full of alliteration, and exposes kids to so many unique jobs all while learning letters.
CLICK, CLACK, MOO COWS THAT TYPE - my husband’s favorite book to read M. It’s clever and fun for older elementary kiddos, too.
TREE - learn about the seasons with this poetic, short, rhythmic book with cutouts and beautiful illustrations.
