The Best Books to Read to Your Preschooler
Reading aloud is still one of the best things we do in our homeschool. During the preschool years, picking books together and sitting down to read does more for their development than most people realize.
Picture books are an excellent foundation for homeschooling preschool. You don’t need a formal curriculum filled with worksheets and flashcards. You just need great books and time to read them together.
Most libraries have a big selection of fantastic picture books, but all those choices can be overwhelming. Our list of the best books to read to your preschooler is organized by category, so you can grab what fits your family in the moment.
Whether you’re looking for something filled with giggles, beautiful illustrations, or a book to bring calm and quiet before bed, we’ve got you covered. You can grab our printable list and add it to your library bag or use it as you browse at the bookstore for new read-alouds.
Why Books Matter in Preschool
Sitting down on the couch together with a book isn’t something to squeeze in between lessons. It’s not something we do while we wait for the real learning to start. Books are the real learning, and they matter more than we sometimes give them credit for.
Picture books introduce language and build vocabulary by helping young children absorb big words. We have added words such as “etiquette,” “ambidexterous,” and “undeniable” from excellent books we enjoyed together. Learning words like these in context helps kids understand how to use them in their own conversations.
Books don’t just boost vocabulary; they also sneak in early math skills. Counting books, pattern books, and sequencing stories are fantastic skills kids can get from books, even when they just feel like silly stories.
Preschoolers can also develop listening skills and focus while we read books to them. That’s why it’s so important to fill the book basket. The best books create a homeschool preschool that really works by inspiring language development, math skills, and imagination.
Color & Concept Books
Opposites, colors, shapes, seasons, and sizes are all concepts we can teach with books. Picture books with these words in the titles teach foundational vocabulary and help kids make sense of the world through fun pictures and silly rhymes, rather than rote memorization.
Repetition sometimes gets a bad reputation. We all remember the one book that had to be read every single day on repeat. Remember the one you memorized and could read half asleep? That repetition was actually a good thing.
Each pass through the same pages built recognition and confidence. Check out some of our favorite color and concept books below, and let these books do the heavy lifting in your homeschool this year.
- A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
- Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
- Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
- Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
- The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Want more fun books about color? Get ideas from our list of Art & Music Books for Your Preschool.
Counting & Early Math Books
Math doesn’t have to start with flashcards and worksheets. A great counting book is the best way for preschoolers to learn numbers. These are books that teach number recognition, sequencing, and counting through stories, the language of all preschoolers.
Books worth keeping are the ones that show relationships between numbers, sneak in early math concepts, and walk through a sequence in a way that makes sense for early learners. When it comes to counting books, illustrations really matter.
Clear, countable objects on the page let kids point and count along with you as you read. It’s an easy way to turn a picture book into a hands-on learning opportunity. Pair our favorite counting books with objects you already have around the house for real-world math that makes sense.
- Bear Counts by Karma Wilson
- Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
- Chicka Chicka 1,2,3 by Bill Martin Jr.
- Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
- Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
- Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh
- Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews
Check out 40 Math Picture Books Perfect for Your Homeschool for more amazing titles you can share with your preschooler.
ABCs & Language Development
A good alphabet book doesn’t just teach letters. Picture books that help teach ABCs and language development build phonemic awareness. Kids who can hear the similar sounds in words like “bat and “hat” are better prepared for reading when the time comes.
It can be tempting to stop and quiz your preschooler during these books, but resist the urge. Reading expressively, pointing to letters as you go, and letting kids linger on the pages when they want is more effective and much more fun.
If your preschooler wants to spend all day on the letter D because dinosaurs are his entire personality right now, that’s a win! Rhyming books are great for building early language skills too. Musical rhymes help kids recognize patterns. Discover our favorite stories to get stuck in your head while learning the ABCs below.
- Alpha Oops! The Day Z Went First by Althea Kontis
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
- Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
- Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
- Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
- LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury
Don’t miss our list of Language Arts Books for Your Homeschool to get more great ideas you can grab at your local library.
Story & Imagination Books
There aren’t any worksheets to teach your preschooler empathy. Flashcards can’t build the kind of emotional vocabulary that comes from watching your favorite character navigate a tough situation. That’s what the best books do.
Fortunately, preschool is the perfect time to soak up all the imagination in a great book. When a character feels something, we get to process it too. It’s a natural way to start conversationsa bout feelings and hard topics.
The best books to read to our preschoolers are also the ones with tons of imagination! Kids who grow up with rich storytelling in their lives become the ones who invent their own stories, narrate plays, and act out elaborate scenarios. You can plant the seeds of this creativity in preschool with some of our favorite books.
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
- Curious George by H.A. Rey
- Katy No Pocket by H.A. Rey
- Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
- Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola
- The Story About Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
- The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack
Interactive & Engaging Books
Do you have a preschooler who can’t sit still for storytime? In that case, interactive books are for you. Engaging books meet kids where they are and let them clap, stomp, and shout out words at just the right moments.
These books encourage kids to hunt for hidden pictures in the pages, repeat fun phrases, and participate. They keep wiggly kids present by getting the body involved in the story to keep their brains focused. What looks like a silly good time is actually real learning.
With these books, you’ll get to predict what happens next, follow multi-step directions, and track details across pages. If your preschooler isn’t ready to sit still for a story yet, start here.
- Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
- Elmer by David McKee
- Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
- Mix It Up! by Hervé Tullet
- Press Here by Hervé Tullet
- The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
- The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman
Check out 40+ Books that Will Make You Laugh Out Loud for more engaging titles you can enjoy with your preschooler.
Cozy Read-Aloud Favorites
Every preschool book collection needs a few cozy read-aloud favorites taht are just for slowing down. Not every great book needs a learning objective. Some books are worth keeping around just because they feel good to read together.
These titles foster connection, calm, and help build a peaceful routine. Stories with warm illustrations and gentle language are perfect for rainy days, bedtime reading, and moments when everyone needs a minute to rest. The connection that happens with these books lasts.
- Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
- Corduroy by Don Freeman
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- Lentil by Robert McCloskey
- Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
- Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
- Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
- The Little House by Virginia Lee
- The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
If you’ve ever struggled to keep your child focused during storytime, don’t miss my tips for keeping kids engaged while you read aloud in your homeschool—they make reading together feel easier and a lot more fun.
How to Use Books in Your Homeschool
A stack of books is a great place to start your homeschool preschool days. Here are a few of the ways we have built a rhythm around read-alouds that can help you use more books in your homeschool.
Morning Basket
Starting the day with a great book is the easiest way to set the tone for your homeschool day. A basket with a rotating selection of books, poems, songs, and other cozy activities is a good way to start learning with your preschooler each day.
Morning baskets like these make homeschooling feel unhurried, connected, and fun for parents and preschoolers. If you want something planned out, grab our Purposeful Preschool guide to help you build a routine for your preschool each week, with even more book suggestions included.
Bedtime Books
Two books each night doesn’t seem like much. It feels totally doable. Over the years, it adds up to hundreds of hours of learning and connection.
Bedtime racing creates a natural routine that’s consistent and predictable to help kids wind down after a busy day. Let your preschooler pick a book, you pick the other one, and dive into reading right before bed.
Lean Into Repetition
Reading the same book over and over again isn’t a sign that you need to go to the bookstore. It’s not a sign that something is wrong in your homeschool either. It means your preschooler is doing exactly what she’s supposed to be doing.
Each time you read a great book, your preschooler becomes more familiar with the words on the pages, builds more confidence in reading, and takes on more ownership in the story. Trust the process, resist the urge to grab something new.
More Homeschool Preschool Resources
Looking for more ways to have a great homeschool preschool? Here are a few of our favorite tips and tricks to get the most out of the preschool years:
- Homeschool Preschool Do’s and Don’ts
- How to Create a Homeschool Preschool That Really Works
- Homeschooling Preschool? What I Wish I’d Known
In the end, there’s no such thing as too many books in a preschool homeschool. Pick a few of your favorites, put them in a place that’s accessible for your child, and get started.
You don’t need an elaborate plan. Just sit down and open the cover. Then, come back and share all your favorite preschool books in the comments.
