I previously shared my list of favorite books to read with babies and my favorites for toddlers. But as children grow, and they can sit and pay attention for longer periods and become more interested in stronger plot lines, reading becomes a lot more fun. They also tend to like silly stories and are starting to pick up on things that aren’t just right and the best books for preschoolers play to these themes.
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Preschoolers love silly stories and start to pick up on things that aren’t just right and the best books for preschoolers play to these themes (a little bathroom humor always plays well with this age, too!)
These are some of my favorite books for Preschoolers:
1. Llama Llama Time to Share
by Ann Dowdney
The Llama Llama series has great plot lines and catchy little rhymes but Time to Share is by far my favorite. The story of playing nicely with new friends and learning to share and get along is an important one in the preschool years (plus I love the word play of the new girl, Nellie Gnu!)
2. Pigeon Poo
by Elizabeth Baguley and Mark Chambers
This book was a gift from our dear friends in London and has been a family favorite for years. The story which details a town problem solving a serious pigeon poo situation is funny and shows that sometimes the littlest one has the best idea.
3. Good Night Gorilla
by Peggy Rathmann
It is important to share books of lots of different types and genres with young children, including those without text. Good Night Gorilla allows little ones to create their own story, get lost in the pictures and make their own assumptions.
4. I Love You, Stinky Face
by Lisa McCourt, illustrated by Cyd Moore
I’ll admit, this wasn’t a favorite of mine when we first got it. But as we read it over and over and over again, it grew on me. My girls love the silliness of the story and I’s come to appreciate the nuances throughout the text which go through the bedtime routine.
5. Beware of Tigers
by Dave Horowitz
I bought this book super cheap as a way to tease my sister who is a Missouri Tigers fan but it quickly became a favorite. The rhyming, silly text engages little ones and is easy enough for them to remember and repeat. Plus the girls can’t get enough of Grandpa reading it in the New York accent as suggested by the author.
6. Duck in the Truck
by Jez Alborough
I don’t know how much my girls have enjoyed this book, but my boys love it and it’s always been a favorite of mine. The rhyming text does an awesome job of modeling and teaching the importance of teamwork.
7. 10 Little Rubber Ducks
by Eric Carle
Another Eric Carle classic, 10 Little Rubber Ducks not only teaches counting by also directional words and I love the end where the last rubber ducky finds a home (even if our cat can’t stand the squeaker in the back!)
8. The Best Nest
by P.D. Eastman
This was a childhood favorite of mine and now my girls love reading it whenever we visit my parents. The story of a mommy and daddy bird looking for the perfect home teaches important lessons about appreciating what you have.
9. Just for You
by Mercer Mayer
I love all the little critter books (we have many of the holiday ones) but this is the first one I ever had and I love the story of a little guy just trying to do his best.
10. Madeline
by Ludwig Bemelmans
I’m always trying to expose my kids to classics and this cute story and catchy rhyming text has become a favorite book on tape when on long road trips.
What books for preschoolers have been your family’s favorites?
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