Best Preschool Books

See the best preschool books in one place!

Books are a great way to teach and engage preschool learners. But how do you decide which books to focus on? With the thousands of children’s books available today, choosing great books for your kids can seem overwhelming and time-consuming! We’ve put together the ultimate list of preschool books to save you time and to keep your kids happy and in love with reading.

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Best Preschool Books

The Best Friendship Books for Kids

Teaching our kids to be kind, thoughtful, honest, and accepting is so crucial, especially in our modern world. That’s why friendship books are some of the most treasured books for preschoolers! Here’s a sample of some of our favorites, and be sure to check out the full list of the best friendship books for kids.

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Duncan’s crayons are feeling overworked and under-appreciated. In this memorable book, Duncan’s crayons have all quit and Duncan opens up his crayon box to a bunch of letters. Each crayon has an opinion and they are not happy! Don’t worry, Duncan thinks of a clever way to get all the crayons back to being friends again. A truly imaginative story that will have kids grabbing their crayon boxes and making sure to give each special color their time to shine.

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller

When her classmate spills grape juice all over her shirt, this young girl begins to question what it means to be kind. Since her mom is always telling her to be kind, she starts to think about what that looks like in real life. This friendship book presents so many situations that young children face and through the gentle thoughts of this young classmate, we learn what kindness truly looks like.

How do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

This mischievous book guides young children on how to play together by modeling the “wrong” way to play. Yolen begins by sharing page after page of dinosaurs who are poor friends and haven’t learned how to play the right way. But not to worry, these dinosaurs are actually very well-mannered and show us all the “right” ways to play and make friends. They teach us to share and use kind words, listen and take turns. An adorable way to build friendship skills with such fun characters!

Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld

This quick and funny read is a great example of how two strangers can become fast friends and the importance of sticking up for one another. With rhyming text and charming illustrations, this book is a great tool when helping children become new friends. Sometimes a simple act of kindness can build a great friendship!

The Best Books about the Farm

Kids of all ages have an innate fascination with farm animals and farm life. Maybe it’s because we quickly teach toddlers the different sounds animals make! Books on farm animals are instant favorites among preschoolers everywhere and some of the best preschool books.

Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton

A musical introduction to farm animals that is one of the best books for preschoolers! This toe-tapping rhyming story will have your kids singing along and dancing too! This adorable book features a snappy do-si-do where the animals sing along and dance together. The rhythm and rhyme are hard to resist and will have your child remembering every dancing animal!

Little Blue Truck

This favorite is a perfect farm book for preschoolers. It is a rhyming story with an emphasis on sounds — a child’s delight! As an added bonus, this farm book is all about helping and kindness:

The hen came flapping
with the chick and the duck,
and everybody pushed
the Little Blue Truck.

This book on farm animals easily becomes a favorite read-aloud for any family or classroom!

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

A great introduction to all things farm life! The simple, rhyming text takes us on a journey through a typical day at the farm. Margaret Wise Brown includes sound words to help the animals come to life along with lovely and detailed illustrations. This book is a great tool for learning about day and night and winding down for bedtime. The relaxing tone makes it one of the best read-aloud books for toddlers and preschoolers!

The Best Animal Books

Once you’ve covered the farm animals, there’s a whole world of other animals out there, above and below the water! Check out these favorite animal books for kids, as well as some of the best ocean books.

The Mitten by Jan Brett

A tried and true animal classic, the Mitten tells the story of animals who crawl into a mitten to hide from the cold weather. Children love the anticipation of just how many animals can squeeze into that tiny mitten in this preschool book!

Corduroy by Don Freeman

This adorable story has been loved for over 50 years and is one of the best books for preschoolers! Corduroy is a stuffed bear who has been sitting on the store shelf for quite some time, until a little girl falls in love with him, despite his missing button. Corduroy is determined to go home with the little girl so he embarks on an exciting nighttime adventure to find that lost button!

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

A classic story that is a preschool book favorite! Using circular text and detailed illustrations, this adorable mouse keeps you on your toes as he asks his new friend for all kinds of things! From a glass of milk to a napkin to a peek in the mirror, this mouse is keeping his new friend busy! Little ones fall in love with the story’s ending and how it brings us right back to where we started. 

The Best Ocean Books for Kids

Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andrae

A colorful rhyming text that draws in young readers with a new ocean creature on each page! Learn about dolphins, swordfish, jellyfish, and blue whales. Read on about the deep sea and barnacles too! A great book to teach about new ocean animals and build young vocabulary.

Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle

Readers will delight in the unique clear/see-thru pages in this book that show the hidden creatures hiding behind the rocks and seagrass. Eric Carle’s classic storytelling comes to life with this vivid look at how ocean fathers care for their eggs and babies. With every turn of the page, we meet a new ocean character and learn about how the father helps the mother nurture them. This preschool book fosters curiosity about ocean life!

Baby Beluga (Raffi Songs to Read) by Raffi

This classic Raffi song comes alive with beautiful illustrations and simple song lyrics. It’s a must-have for any Raffi music lover! It is a peaceful story about a baby Beluga whale as the day comes to an end. It’s a perfect snuggle-up story for the end of day wind-down time. Or enjoy listening to the song while you read the book!

The Best Books About School for Kids

Starting school and going to school is a whole new world for preschoolers! Finding the right books to help them feel confident and excited makes all the difference. Check out our top picks below, then see our full list of the best back to school books for kids.

Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes by James Dean and Eric Litwin

Any Pete the Cat book is fantastic for the first day of school, but this one is especially loved! The infamous Pete the Cat is rocking in his school shoes and discovering all the corners of the schoolyard. He learns about the library, the cafeteria, the playground and all the other cool, groovy places that his school has to offer. This book comes with a free download of his groovy song, “Rocking in my school shoes”! This book is a kid favorite because it’s so catchy and fun and the kids love to sing along!

My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook

Your preschoolers will immediately relate to Louis, who has a hard time keeping his words to himself and waiting for his turn to speak. He just can’t control it, and he ERUPTS! But when others interrupt Louis, he realizes that it’s rude. This book focuses on helping students learn a strategy for keeping their “volcano” of words under control and showing respect to their teacher and peers.

The Pigeon HAS To Go To School! by Mo Willems

This hysterical story has quickly become one of the best books for preschoolers!! Mo Willems does it again with his hilarious Pigeon character. In this title, we follow the Pigeon on his emotional journey about getting ready for school. What if he doesn’t like it? Won’t it be hard? There’s SO much to learn! But don’t worry, Pigeon decides that school might just be the spot for him after all.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Chrysanthemum LOVES her name; that is, until the first day of school when she meets all the other kids. They begin to tease her about her name being too long and think it’s silly that she is named after a flower. This book is a great lesson in teaching children about teasing and how our words impact how others feel. Chrysanthemum learns to love and accept her name again, which is a beautiful lesson for young children.

Powerful Preschool Books that Celebrate and Accept Differences

We all grow up with things that we wish we could change about ourselves. And many times the things that make us different are the things which make us special and unique! These accepting differences books are sure to help children see their, and others’, uniqueness as their special strength.

Elmer by David McKee

This bright and colorful preschool book holds the attention of even the youngest children. Elmer is a multi-colored patchwork elephant who doesn’t look like the rest of his gray-skinned peers. This book dives into the importance of feeling comfortable just the way you are!.

It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr

Todd Parr does an incredible job appealing to young readers with bold colors and beginner text. The simplistic drawings engage students while still stressing the importance of having differences. This book puts the silly in being different while sending a crystal-clear message of acceptance.

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

Did you know dancing comes in all shapes and forms? Gerald the giraffe learns that with his crooked knees and thin legs, his dancing is unique and special just like him. The perfect tool to teach young children about their own individual and wonderful qualities.

Books on Kindness for Kids

As a preschool teacher, I can tell you that some concepts are really hard to teach, especially when it comes to social/emotional areas. Children need lots of practice and modeling, and one of the most effective approaches is storytelling. Luckily for us, there are lots of kindness books for kids to help children relate it to everyday life! Check out the top preschool books below, and then be sure to see the full list of teacher and parent recommended books on kindness.

How Full is your Bucket? by Tom Rath

This book was written to help young students understand how words and actions make others feel. Positive words and actions “fill” your bucket while hurtful things “dip” into your bucket and steal our joy. This book is so helpful for children who are still learning to use kind words, share, and be respectful. It’s one of the best books for preschoolers!

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

This is a lovely story of kindness, generosity, and friendship. The story seems simple on the surface, but it tugs rather hard at the heartstrings. Making the boy happy makes the tree happy, but as time passes it becomes more difficult for the tree to give. The Giving Tree teaches the true meaning of selfless love. How special it is to be so loved.

Kindness Starts with You- At School by Jacquelyn Skag

One thing is certain, real-life situations help kids make connections to their own lives. This clever author uses a young classmate to walk us through all the ways she is kind throughout the day. She uses kind words, helps her peers, uses manners, and shows the best way to be a friend! Each page ends with the same phrase, “This is what I would want someone to do for me”! A great read to help children see the value in how they would want to be treated and how that translates into treating others.

Books About Gratitude and Thankfulness for Kids

Thankfulness and gratefulness is something we should be intentional about all year round! These sweet preschool books will help young children learn and practice these important social/emotional skills throughout the year. Check out our full list of gratitude and thankfulness books for more ideas!

The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

Our two favorite characters, Elephant and Piggie are back at it! This time they come together to teach us the importance of being thankful and sharing our appreciation for others. The hilarious dialogue and simple illustrations make this book a winner!

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon

Scanlon leads us through a gorgeous poem depicting a day of activities shared by friends and family. The day is not perfect, but this thoughtful book portrays the clear message of appreciating the beautiful things that our world, life, and family have to offer.

Best Read-Aloud Preschool Books

I am always on the hunt for amazing read-aloud books! There’s something about an incredible read-aloud that makes circle time, bedtime, and special moments through the day so much more magical! Reading should be fun and exciting, and with all of the wonderful books available, there is no reason to settle for less. See the full list here of the best-loved read-aloud books!

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

The Pigeon books are so funny! They don’t have a lot of words, and the illustrations are perfect for young children. If you are looking for a light-hearted and silly book, this one is fantastic! It is always a big hit and will become a preschool storytime favorite!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

This book is a must-have! The ABC’s are brought to life within this bold book! This catchy alphabet story is perfect for the youngest readers and its rhyming beat will have you tapping to the beat and squealing with excitement as you “race” all the letters up the coconut tree. But once the coconut tree gets too heavy, all the letters tumble down and the family members rush to help them.  This story takes you on an adventure and one that will want to be read again and again! Or watch the Scholastic Book Boys version of this popular alphabet learning book.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

One of the most beloved books of all time, Eric Carle’s detailed illustrations makes this the perfect read-aloud! As the caterpillar eats his food, he chomps through the pages and ends up with a tummy ache! Children love retelling this story over and over as they witness the magic of a caterpillar’s transformation to a beautiful butterfly.

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

The simple illustrations draw you in immediately and invite readers to take a closer look! Harold decides to go for a walk in the moonlight with his trusty purple crayon and his imagination runs wild! After an artistic adventure through a forest of apple trees and a trip on the ocean, Harold draws up his bed and falls fast asleep. The perfect story to encourage art and creativity!

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Along with being a great read-aloud, this is one of our favorite winter books for kids! Peter takes us through the excitement and joy of going out in the snow. There is nothing more exciting than waking up to the first snow of the season! Peter crunches in the snow, knocks snow on himself, makes snow angels, and the best part – puts a snowball in his pocket. This is a book to read over and over again.

Best Rhyming Books for Kids

Rhyming stories are one of the most important foundations that we can give children to help them read, write, and build their vocabulary. An added bonus is that rhyming is fun! Reading rhyming stories aloud, as well as singing rhyming songs and nursery rhymes on a regular basis also helps build imagination, improve memory, and even develop musical rhythm.

The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

Poor Pout-Pout fish! His days are glum and dreary and he never smiles. The other ocean animals try to cheer him up but he is convinced that’s just who he is. “I’m a Pout-Pout Fish, with a pout-pout face, and I spread the dreary-wearies all over the place!” Until he meets a new fish who gives him a simple kiss and turns his frown upside down. This rhyming story outlines the power of positive thinking!

Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

Kids love the whole llama llama series because they can relate to all the big feelings he has! In this book, llama llama is distraught about going to bed and missing his mama. With some extra mama snuggles, llama llama drifts off to sleep, cozy and content. The rhyming text and the precious illustrations endear our hearts to the little llama and help us remember that in all things, momma can always make it better.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

In this beloved classic, the little bunny says goodnight to everything in the room one-by-one. From the pictures on the wall to the “quiet old lady who was whispering hush”, this bunny believes in calmly taking his time and getting settled for bed. The rhymes are calm and soothing and the pages alternate between color and black and white. A truly memorable and relaxing story, this book will have your little one settled in your lap and content to say good night!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do You See? By Bill Martin Jr.

Big colors and simple text. This timeless preschool book about animals and their colors has delighted young kids for many years. The rhythmic pattern of the text encourages kids to read along and within just a few reads, even the youngest readers are able to read and rhyme right along! Illustrator Eric Carle’s unique illustrations make this bright book even more appealing and captivating. It is a must-have for any young library!

The Best Books for Feelings and Emotions

When preschoolers are having trouble regulating their BIG feelings and emotions, what’s a teacher or parent to do? Pull out a sympathetic story, of course! Below are some of our favorite preschool stories about managing feelings and emotions.

Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang

The perfect book to help little ones recognize their feelings and accept that all emotions are welcome, even grumpy ones. As all of Jim’s friends try to help him feel less “grumpy”, Jim realizes that sometimes you just need a day to be grumpy and that’s ok too. This book hones in on an important lesson – we can’t always have great days, but tomorrow always starts a brand new day.

The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions by Anna Llenas

The Color Monster’s emotions are all over the place until a new friend helps him identify his feelings. This adorable monster learns how to name his feelings and sort through the emotional “colors” we all experience.

In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek

A detailed dive into the many feelings and emotions we feel as we go about our day. This beautiful book offers insight into so many emotions- brave, happy, hopeful, mad, afraid and even how it feels when our heart is broken. Naming our emotions allows us to acknowledge them and work our way back to a peaceful place, even from a young age.

A common emotion for preschoolers is the fear of monsters. A book from our list of not so scary monster books can be just the ticket to help them overcome it! Here’s one of our favorites.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

This award-winning picture book has been a staple on bookshelves for over 50 years. Little Max finds himself in trouble and sent to his room so he embarks on an imaginative journey. He dreams up a forest, an ocean with his own personal boat, and of course wild things!

While these are our best book recommendations for preschoolers, there are tons of other books we love to read. For some additional books we recommend, see our entire book library below.

Best of Books

• Best Books About Farm Animals
• Best Ocean Books for Kids
• Best Read-Aloud Preschool Books
• Best Rhyming Books for Kids
• Best Yoga Books for Kids
• Best Friendship Books for Kids

Books for Social/Emotional Growth

• Powerful Preschool Books that Celebrate and Accept Differences
• Books on Kindness
• Books that Teach Gratitude and Thankfulness for Kids
• Books About School for Kids

Seasonal Books

• Pumpkin Books Perfect for Reading this Fall
• Fantastic Fall Books for Preschoolers
• Not So Scary Monster Books for Kids
• Winter Books