There’s a lot of books out there… It can be hard to choose the ones that you think your preschooler will not only love, but benefit from. These are the best books to read to your preschooler every day to teach them all the life lessons they need, and nurture their imaginations.
ABOUT FEAR
The Kissing Hand
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is a heartwarming story about a raccoon that doesn’t want to leave his mother. This is a great story to read to your preschooler to prepare them for their first day of school, or any occasion where they may feel nervous about being away.
Go Away Big Green Monster
Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley helps your child take charge of their nighttime fears. By helping your preschooler make a monster disappear before their eyes, this book helps your child regain control.
ABOUT EMOTIONS
The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings
The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings by Anna Llenas is an extraordinary way to teach your kids about their emotions. This book teaches your preschooler a way to sort through their emotions and organize them into “jars” so they are better able to identify how they feel.
ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY
If you Give a Mouse a Cookie
If you Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff follows the story of a mouse who is given a cookie, and then expects to be given more and more. This story teaches preschoolers about cause and effect, and the importance of your role in their life. Understanding how much you do for them is a big step in understanding how to do things for themselves.
ABOUT SHARING
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood teaches your preschooler to share the things they love with the people they love.
ABOUT HONESTY
David Gets in Trouble
David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon is about a young boy who continually makes up excuses for his mistakes, until it makes him feel so bad he finally tells the truth. This is a great lesson to teach your preschooler that honesty is important.
ABOUT LOVE
The Giving Tree
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a beautiful example of unconditional love. Watch out though, because this one might make you tear up.
ABOUT MANNERS & BEHAVIOR
The Bad Seed
The Bad Seed by Jory John follows the story of a bad, baaadd, seed. He does what he wants, gets what he wants… and he definitely doesn’t say thank you. By the end of the story he has a change of heart, and becomes a great example of doing your best to make a change.
ABOUT ADAPTING
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Pete the Cat: I love my White Shoes by James Dean teaches children to make the best out of whatever comes their way!
Where the Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak follows a little boy who uses his imagination to adapt to a situation he’s not happy about, until smelling his dinner and realizing maybe things aren’t so bad after all.
ABOUT LEARNING
Ten Little Caterpillars
Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr. is a great book to read to your preschooler to learn numbers in a fun way!
The Napping House
The Napping House by Audrey Wood creates a fun and unique rhyming experience, and a sequence of silly events your preschooler will love.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle will teach your preschooler about gluttony, counting, days of the week, and so much more.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin Jr. teaches about Rhyming, shapes, colors, and animals. You definitely want to check this one out!
Psstt…
Head over to YouTube, type in any of these book titles, and you’ll find a ton of read-out-loud books for free! You can mute the sound and read along if you like, or just sit back and enjoy listening to all of the best books to read to your preschooler.
How to Help Your Preschooler Make Friends
Leave a Reply