The Best Read-Aloud Books for Preschoolers
Preschoolers are a prime read-aloud audience! These reliable picture books are guaranteed to delight and entertain this eager (and wiggly!) age group. These titles are funny, interactive, and perfect for reading aloud to an individual or a group. So, the next time you’re planning story time for one child or twenty, reach for one of these crowd-pleasers.
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1
Add to BookshelfOh Dear, Look What I Got!
by Michael Rosen
A child navigates a series of hilarious shopping mishaps. They get a parrot instead of a carrot, a goat instead of a coat, and when they ask for a cake, they get a snake instead! Preschoolers will happily chime in to say the rhyming words in this fresh title from the legendary team behind We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
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$17.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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2
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Who Will Kiss the Crocodile?
by Suzy Senior
In this hilarious retelling of Sleeping Beauty, Princess Liss ends up stuck in bed as a sleeping crocodile. No one knows what to do. Who would dare to kiss the toothy creature to wake her? Luckily, a hardworking Fix-It Crew rolls in with a pleasing solution.
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3
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Buffalo Fluffalo
by Bess Kalb
In this energetic tongue twister, Buffalo Fluffalo has had enuffalo of everyone bugging him! He’s a grouchy, rhyming grump — until it rains, and his fluff loses its puff. However, his soggy day brightens when his friends offer kind reassurances.
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4
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Crunch the Shy Dinosaur
by Cirocco Dunlap
In this interactive picture book, Crunch the brontosaurus is so shy that he hides in the bushes. Young listeners are the perfect assistants to coax him out, make him feel comfortable, and get him settled down for bedtime.
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$8.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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5
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Miss MacDonald Has a Farm
by Kalee Gwarjanski
Fans of the classic song will love singing along to this reimagined, produce-themed version! Miss MacDonald has a green thumb, and she loves to share her bounty with her community. Farm-to-table never looked so appealing.
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6
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Sam and Dave Dig a Hole
by Mac Barnett
Sam and Dave engage in a classic kid-driven pastime: Digging a hole. It’s an enjoyable enough endeavor, despite how they never seem to find anything interesting. Observant readers will happily spot the recurring joke in the illustrations.
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$19.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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7
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Mr. Fox’s Game of No!
by David LaRochelle
The hilarious struggle to resist temptation tickles preschoolers’ sense of humor. Mr. Fox emphatically instructs readers to always respond, “No,” to his questions, no matter what. As his increasingly outlandish requests beg for “yes” responses, kids’ giggles will increase as well.
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8
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Toy Boat
by Randall de Sève
A young boy loves his homemade toy boat more than anything. When it gets pulled away by the wind on the lake, the agony of losing a precious toy will tug at small listeners’ hearts. The toy boat has exciting adventures out on the water, but in a satisfying conclusion, it manages to make a faithful return.
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9
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Seven Babies
by Forest Xiao
Preschool children are often intrigued by babies, and this funny infantile adventure plays right into their interest. One morning, an adult couple is surprised to find a box of seven babies sitting on their doorstep. Seven! The babies make themselves at home, bringing enjoyable chaos and even “helping” with chores. Children will especially love the unexpected ending.
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10
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Hurry, Kate, or You’ll Be Late!
by Janice N. Harrington
As preschool listeners accompany Kate through her morning, they’ll relate to her routine: Eating a good breakfast, finding a lost toy, chatting with neighbors, and spotting favorite vehicles from a window seat on the city bus. Despite the many steps of Kate’s journey, readers aren’t sure what will make her late to preschool — until she shares an extra-long, extra-sweet goodbye hug with Daddy at the door.
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$8.99Buy from Other Retailers:
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11
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Bear and the Three Goldilocks
by Patrick Horne
Learning the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears is a preschool rite of passage, and this retelling turns the tale on its head. When the Goldilocks family leaves their campsite to go on a hike, a rogue bear lumbers in and creates a mess. A catchy repeating line and plenty of comical mayhem make this story one that preschoolers will request to hear over and over.
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12
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Zip Zap Wickety Wack
by Matthew Diffee
Sharing is obviously a key topic among preschoolers, and this book perfectly disrupts the common “But it’s MINE!” outlook. All the other barnyard animals have their own sounds, but when Sheep and Goat both claim the sound “baaa,” amusing yet understandable conflict erupts. An otherworldly visitor gives them a new perspective.
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13
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Oh, Are You Awake?
by Bob Shea
Many preschool-aged children are highly skilled at bedtime avoidance. They’ll meet their match in Lion, who keeps awakening his friend Penguin from pleasant dreams with requests for a story. After many loud and persistent requests, Penguin relents, and Lion finally settles down for a snooze.
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