Your little one’s uncovering more about the world around them, and learning to read is a major piece of the puzzle! These best books for preschoolers will spark curiosity and expand their imagination, while supporting steady development of key reading skills. With the right books in hand, your preschooler can practice reading fundamentals (like sounding out new words and memorizing parts of a story) while discovering new topics and areas of interest.
From silly animal books to fact-filled nonfiction, your preschooler’s interests can take them in endless new directions, laying the groundwork for future reading success. To help you navigate their learning-to-read journey, we’ve compiled a list of our top picks for the most engaging, educational, and entertaining books for PreK readers.
It Came in the Mail
Little Liam loves getting mail. Sound familiar? This witty and wondrous story will fill your little one with joy as adventures with fire-breathing friends start to fill Liam’s mailbox. Equal parts heartwarming and hilarious, this book is full of visual jokes and wordplay that will have your preschooler giggling as they listen along. The story also teaches a valuable lesson in friendship and sharing that’s perfectly timed as readers get ready to enter kindergarten.
Wipe-Clean Space Activities
Author Kirsteen Robson leads your little stargazer to the moon and back on this interactive journey through space. Using a special wipe-clean pen, your child will navigate mazes, connect the dots, and doodle to their heart’s content. They’ll strengthen basic coordination and visual skills while experiencing the joys of space and science firsthand. With its wipeable surface, this is a book that keeps on giving. Loan it to friends, pass it down to younger siblings, or wait a couple of months and let them enjoy the fun all over again—just like new!
Bug Hotel
This lift-the-flap book takes kids on an adventure through the amazing world of insects from the backyard, then inspires them to create their very own Bug Hotel! Your preschooler will love finding out who’s hanging out in the habitat, and gathering some buzz-worthy bug facts along the way! Haven’t you always wanted an up-close encounter with bumblebees, butterflies, snails and beetles? This book is an immersive look at all the amazing nature unfolding in our own backyards!
Not Quite Narwhal
Kelp always thought he was a narwhal like the rest of his family—a unicorn of the sea, literally. Even if his “tusk” isn’t very long, he’s not a great swimmer, and he doesn’t enjoy eating fish. Told with heartwarming illustrations and spare, sweet text, Jessie Sima’s debut is about fitting in, standing out, and the all-encompassing love of family. The pace of this adorable story paired with its bubbly artwork makes Not Quite Narwhal a top pick for read-aloud time with your preschooler.
Bear Snores On
The brown bear’s cave is a cozy hideout as long as the bear stays snoozing. Despite soothing illustrations and adorable woodland creatures, things are quite suspenseful in this bedtime gem. Repetition and rhythm in this story are great for developing your little one’s listening skills, while the unique tone and word choice helps introduce new vocabulary.
One World, Many Colors
Forget rose-colored glasses—see through the lens of all of our world’s truly vibrant colors! From the yellow taxi cabs of New York City to pink cherry blossoms in Japan, Alette Straathof’s gorgeous illustrations take us around the globe to show us how it—and we as people—are made up of many colors.
Get the Best Books for Preschoolers with Literati Book Clubs
The above best books for preschoolers list is a great starting point for a strong collection, but there’s an even easier way to find titles that are just-right for your reader: get personally-curated picks from Literati!
As a Literati Kids book club member, your reader will receive books picked to match their unique preferences (like reading level and interests) so there’s never a boring book in the bunch! Personalized curation means they’ll always have access to exciting books that you know are perfectly suited to support reading progress. Take the simple personalization quiz to get started, and put your growing reader on the path to reading success.
