My Favorite Preschool Read-Aloud Picture Books
When I was a new mom, I knew that I wanted reading aloud with my kids to be a regular part of our routine. But, if I’m honest, I wasn’t sure how to start. And, in a moment of even braver honesty, I would have told you that I didn’t actually enjoy reading aloud with my little ones. I found it a bit awkward, like something I should be doing but didn’t know how to make it routine or how to enjoy it.
That’s when I realized two things: first, I could simply start small and schedule time to read each day. This was my first big “win” with regard to reading aloud. I made it my goal to read aloud for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes after naps. Those two windows of time were small enough that it felt doable in my season of early motherhood, and as I started enjoying reading aloud more and more, they ballooned into much longer reading sessions with my kids.
The second key thing that I realized was that I was reading the wrong books! Part of why I found reading so laborious is that I wasn’t reading quality books. I didn’t enjoy them (and honestly, neither did my little ones). As we collected more and more classic books (classic for a reason, I found!) my own enjoyment of reading aloud with my kids grew. As I enjoyed it more, I read more eagerly, with more inflection, wanting my kids to enjoy the rise and fall of the narrative. That changed our entire reading experience!
Now, with a 6, 4, and 18 month old we read aloud all the time. And it is truly a delight! Here are some of my very favorite books. I hope you’ll find some that expand your world and help you enjoy reading in this very precious season, the preschool years.
You can find all of them together in my curated list here.
Stories of Everyday Life
Some of the best preschool books are simply stories about ordinary life. Children recognize their own experiences in these pages.
A Little More Beautiful: The Story of a Garden
A Pair of Red Clogs
These stories slow the pace and help children notice the beauty of small things.
The Alfie books by Shirley Hughes are especially wonderful for this stage of childhood. They capture the everyday adventures of preschool life. Birthday parties, getting dressed, outings with family, and the small challenges that come with growing up. The illustrations are full of detail and warmth, and the stories feel very true to life.
Our favorites include:
Alfie and the Birthday Surprise
Alfie Gets in First
An Evening at Alfie’s
Alfie’s Feet
Picture Book Classics
Some picture books stay with families for generations. The stories are simple but memorable, and the illustrations carry so much personality.
Amos & Boris
The Happy Lion
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Katy No-Pocket
One beloved classic we return to often is:
Other classics our family loves include:
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
The Story of Ferdinand
The King’s Stilts
Sweet Animal Stories
Preschoolers almost always love stories with animal characters. Have you ever noticed how they point to the animals on the page in any given book? These books are happy, funny, and memorable.
A Pocket for Corduroy
Norman the Doorman
Pretzel
Another favorite in our home is the Little Bear series. The stories are gentle and imaginative, and they work beautifully as early read-aloud chapter books.
Books That Spark Imagination
Some stories invite children to think and imagine in new ways (and those ideas give you games to play throughout your day!). These books often lead to the best conversations after we finish reading.
Imogene’s Antlers
The Carrot Seed
The Bee Tree
Why I Love Reading Aloud in the Preschool Years
Reading aloud during the preschool years is one of the simplest ways to nurture a love of books. Children hear rich language, see beautiful illustrations, and learn to follow a story from beginning to end.
More than anything, reading together is about time spent side by side. I can call to mind in any given moment the feeling of their small frame cuddled against my side. It creates shared memories and gives children a deep love for stories that often lasts for years.
If you are looking to build a small library of picture books for your preschooler, these are a wonderful place to start.
You can browse the full list here!
