↑

Preschool Inspirations

Preschool Activities and Learning

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Disclosure Policy, Copyright Items, and Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • My Book
  • Shop
  • Music
  • Science
  • Literacy
  • Math
  • Fine Motor

Rhyming Stories for Kids

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links from Amazon or other programs are used on this website. See my disclosure policy here.

April 26, 2019 by Lauren Vaughan 4 Comments

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! For even more fun books to read, see our list of the best prechool books.

Rhyming is a critical step to understanding language, how words work, and eventually reading independently. Children gravitate towards rhyming stories because they hear rhythm and excitement in our voices. It’s catchy and addictive and little ones want to join along!

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.

Rhyming is such an important early literacy skill! Captivate and teach your kids with these time-tested rhyming books. #preschool #prek #kindergarten #rhyming #booksforkids

Rhyming Stories for Kids

Get our free book guide to always have a wonderful book to read next!

Book cover list for book guide

Check out this list below of some great rhyming stories to get you started! These are great for bedtime, for circle time, and for any time that you want a great book to read with a child.

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

Big colors and simple text. This timeless book about animals and their colors has delighted young kids for decades. 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 with you! Illustrator Eric Carle’s unique illustrations make this bright book even more appealing and captivating. It is a must-have for any library!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

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 having 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 up. This story takes you on an adventure and is one that will want to be read again and again! Pair it with some ABC games and you’ll have a perfect preschool theme. Or watch the Scholastic Book Boys version of this popular alphabet learning book.

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 sad is 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 story has so many great lessons for kids and outlines how the power of positive thinking can alter your mood!

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

This children’s classic is a must-have! The simple rhyming text engages every reader as they go on a rhyming adventure with Sam-I-am. The list of places he’ll go and the things that he’ll do grow longer and longer as this humorous story unfolds.

The easy rhyming text encourages children to read all by themselves using the pictures to provide their word clues. Additionally, it encourages kids to try something that might be out of their comfort zone! This book is a winner in every area and will have your kid rhyming, repeating, and retelling this story!

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!

See you Later, Alligator by Sally Hopgood

This adorable rhyming story is a perfect addition to your circle time goodbye routine. The tortoise in the story is setting off on a new adventure, but not until he says goodbye to all of his friends. It inspires silly giggles and laughs as the tortoise makes a few funny mistakes along the way.

This book highlights rhyming in a fun and cute way that will have kids begging you to read it again! You might even find your little ones using the goodbye sayings or making up a few of their own!

Say Please, Little Owlet by Ellie J. Woods

This book is all about please! Teaching our little ones their manners is such an essential skill and this book makes it fun and enjoyable! Little owlet isn’t so polite and often makes rude demands when he wants something. Mommy owl gently reminds and teaches little Owlet to use his manners.

Kids will love the soft watercolor illustrations and quickly catch on to the rhyming pattern of the story. Hopefully, your little ones will soon begin using their manners too!

Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw

What’s more funny than lots of sheep stuck in the mud? This humorous rhyming story will have kids of all ages laughing at the antics of the sheep in their jeep. A few mishaps along the way make this story just plain fun. The sheep drive into mud and struggle to pull it out. They finally make it out of the mud only to forget to steer! Whatever will they do with this jeep?

Simple text will have your readers reading along with you. The author brings the sheep back for more rhyming fun in more adventures of the sheep, including Sheep on a Ship and Sheep Take a Hike.

Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino

Little Lloyd the Llama is on the hunt for his mama. He asks all the animals he comes to if their mama is a llama. The animals reply with clues about their momma until Lloyd the llama finally does find his momma.

This cute rhyming story with riddles on each page will have your readers making guesses with the new animal clues. From a bat to a kangaroo, a swan to a seal, little llama meets some adventurous new animals. A perfect rhyming story to read anytime!

Give it a Go, Eat a Rainbow by Kathryn Kemp Guylay

A colorful rhyming story to inspire young kids to eat their way through the rainbow and help them make smart food choices! This story is about a boy named Blake whose belly always ached. He ate lots of cake, cookies and all things sweet. Blake meets a new friend who helps him discover the magic of eating healthy yummy foods in all the colors of the rainbow.

This book is perfect for introducing new foods or helping little ones understand how good foods make their body grow. Grab this winning book and help your littles eat their rainbow too!

Frog on a Log by Kes Gray

Oh, poor Frog… He is just not comfortable sitting on a log but his friend Cat says that frogs must sit on a log. He asks the cat if he can sit on other things like sofas, chairs, or stools. But the cat tells him that gophers sit on sofas, hares sit on chairs, and mules sit on stools. And of course, frogs sit on logs. Frog then asks, “What do dogs sit on?” Your little readers will laugh hysterically when they find out the answer!

This silly rhyming story will have your kids asking you to read it over and over! The illustrations are so bright and simple yet captivating and the humor in the story makes it such a great find.

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas

A great book to use when introducing or modeling rhyming words. All the dust bunnies love to rhyme, well all the dust bunnies except for Bob, that is. He just can’t seem to get the rhyming rhythm! But it seems, Bob was really just trying to save them from a big broom! Do you think Bob can save them from the vacuum?

This book is simple, silly, and just plain entertaining. It embeds fun rhyming words and will have your little reader rhyming right along. A great addition to any rhyming collection!

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Lucille Colandro

This book, as well as the whole series of books by Lucille Colandro, is a must have for your library! With seasonal titles, the series follows the same predictable pattern that will have your child reading each title over and over! This silly old lady continually eats unusual rhyming items much to children’s concern. You might even hear your young readers cry out, “Oh no!”, as the old lady eats another wacky object!

Some titles include:

  • There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books
  • There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell
  • There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Clover
  • There Was an Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow
  • There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

The Way I Feel by Janan Cain

Young readers can relate with the characters in this story and the many emotions they feel. It also helps teach children to name their emotions and understand that emotions are neither bad nor good, they are just a part of who we are. This book gives students the chance to open up and talk about emotions they feel on a daily basis and how they can be in charge of those feelings.

Bright pictures and very expressive faces teach children what that feeling looks like and how everyone has feelings. A great book to reread and review to help young ones relate and relax when they are feeling big emotions!

These rhyming stories are sure to turn your reading time together into a great way to connect and practice the important skills they need as they are learning to read.

What rhyming stories do you love? We’re always looking for great recommendations. Here are some additional favorites that we love and recommend:

Best of Books

  • Best Books About Farm Animals
  • Best Ocean Books for Kids
  • Best Read-Aloud Preschool Books
  • 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
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Lauren Vaughan
Lauren Vaughan
I am an educator, book enthusiast, and a stay at home momma to a precious and long-awaited little boy and girl. My degree is in Early Childhood Education and Curriculum and Instruction and I have spent the last 15 years working with littles. I feel very fortunate to have this time to watch my babies grow and I can’t wait to share my passion for learning and reading with you!
Lauren Vaughan
Latest posts by Lauren Vaughan (see all)
  • April Preschool Themes You’ll Love! - March 21, 2023
  • March Preschool Themes - February 22, 2023
  • Alliteration Activities - August 26, 2022
737 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Filed Under: books, Circle Time Tagged With: preschool books

Comments

  1. Sheymirra C Tyree says

    April 26, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    These are some really great books. The Pout Pout Fish and This Old Lady series are two of my favorites.

    Reply
  2. Mary Brice says

    April 27, 2019 at 9:35 am

    Great list of kids books. I still remember in 90s i read lots of kid stories and tv not common in our home. Lots of learning come from that way.

    Reply
  3. Dorothy says

    May 3, 2019 at 1:35 pm

    How do I get the books for preschoolers.

    Reply
    • Katie T. Christiansen says

      May 3, 2019 at 5:16 pm

      Hi Dorothy! I have made all of the images and links clickable. If you select one, it will take you to Amazon to easily choose what you’d like. Most of these should be available at bookstores or the library too :). Good luck!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

I'm Katie, and I'm a veteran preschool teacher, child development research junkie, and mom of three who lives on little sleep and turns my kitchen into an art and science laboratory.

Come on in! I'm sharing my best play recipes, teacher tips, & learning activities with a sprinkling of real life!

My New Book!

Book cover for the Best Preschool Learning Activities

Peaceful Potty Training

cover image for potty training visual schedule

Graduation Certificates

cover image for graduation certificates

search

categories

archives

Copyright ©2023, Preschool Inspirations. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
737 shares