Read-Aloud Favorites for Grades PreK–3

The silly, funny, fantastic story of a boy who didn't wash his hands and the crazy consequences that ensue as he spreads a bit of grossness around.

Is it time yet? This STEM-focused romp about pupation will tickle little ones who know how hard it is to wait.

Frog does not want to sit on a log! But Cat tells him that's where he belongs. Doing his best to find an alternative place to sit, Frog asks Cat a whole lot of questions. For every answer Cat has, Frog has another question, until he finds out what dogs sit on! A silly read-aloud story with funny rhymes and hilarious illustrations.

Dave the bear lives in the shadow of his brother, Clarence. Clarence is tall, handsome, bold, and brave. Dave...isn't. Dave wonders if he'll ever live up to his brother's example, until he finds a special talent that's all his own.

The award-winning team behind Those Darn Squirrels! has created an unforgettable, laugh-until-salsa-comes-out-of-your-nose tale of new friends and the perfect snack.

When a generous boy shares a cookie with a hungry mouse, it is the beginning of a chain of events that keeps the boy busy all day long, and might keep him busy for days to come. If you give a mouse a cookie, after all, he's bound to ask for a glass of milk, for which he'll certainly need a straw, not to mention a napkin, and a mirror to check for a milk mustache, which will only lead to him noticing that he needs a haircut. 

A girl in a red hat finds the courage to be kind to the new student in class. Her kindness spreads, until her whole community experiences the magical shift that happens when people understand what it means to be kind, and act on their best impulses!

Based on the experiences of athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick, this book will inspire kids to stay true to their identities and advocate for change while celebrating self-discovery.

“The NBA star offers a poem that encourages curiosity, integrity, compassion, courage, and self-forgiveness. Sincere and wholehearted.”-Kirkus

Up on a scruffy hill, beside a ramschackle house, Millie Fleur plants her marvelously strange garden, filled with Sneezing Stickyweed, Fanged Fairymoss, and Grumpy Gilliflower. Millie Fleur finds it enchanting, but the townspeople of Garden Glen call it poison! But Millie is proud of her beloved little garden. So if some townspeople want to be sticks in the mud, she'll take matters into her own hands and find the kindred spirits who appreciate everything the garden has to offer.

Lyrical, affirmational, and bursting with love, We Are Here is a poignant story about Black and brown heritage and community. Full of assurance, tenderness, and triumph, this much-anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestselling picture book All Because You Matter offers an equally inspirational and arresting ode to all of the Black women and men throughout history who have made momentous contributions from the beginning of time.

Oskar and Aya are best friends who do everything together. Oskar especially loves taking Aya to the construction site where his aunt works. While most of the time they have loads of fun together, sometimes Oskar feels sad and wants to be alone. And that can leave Aya feeling helpless.

What is the best way to be a friend when someone is hurting?

Aya has an idea and goes to the construction site to see if Oskar's aunt and friends can help her put it into motion. They are missing Oskar too.

Told through creative language play, and with depth and whimsy, this picture book reminds readers of their own agency and the power they have to direct their own path. Marc Colagiovanni's lyrical text and Peter H. Reynolds's stunning art create an enduring message of strength and perseverance that is both universal and personal, and one that readers will be drawn to over and over again.

Bill Withers's "Lovely Day" is famous for bringing listeners joy. This beautiful picture book adapted from the song's timeless lyrics follows the story of a brother and sister who always find a way to make each other smile, no matter the challenges the day may bring. From discovering new ways to play when the playground is closed, to laughing out loud as they run through the rain, these siblings can count on each other to find the joy in any situation. Because when you're with the ones you love, every day is a lovely day!

Inspired by BIPOC engineers, inventors, and scientists of the past, Jabari works on building a flying machine. With hard work and support from his dad and sister, Jabari finds success!

Little ones will giggle with delight as they anticipate the arrival of the terrible troll in this hilarious twist on a timeless favorite.

Princess Truly is MIGHTY! She can jump, she can twirl; her arms are strong and her legs are powerful. When her dog Sir Noodles gets stuck in a tire swing, Princess Truly uses her strength and her magical curls to free her chunky pug. And when Princess Truly and her little brother, Ty, visit the carnival, she uses her strength and determination to win a prize at one of the games. 

While children splash in puddles above, down below an earthworm delights in a rainy day. The lively comparison will delight preschoolers.

In this laugh-out-loud companion to The Very Impatient Caterpillar, curriculum-friendly science topics are artfully woven together with social emotional themes and sidesplitting humor.

Everybody! is a touching and funny exploration of empathy and unity — featuring Elise Gravel's signature quirky and funny monsters! Young readers will enjoy all the different sizes, shapes, and colors of the monsters in Everybody!, and realize that, in the end, we are all the same.

What would you do if a very large Ceratosaurus stomped into your classroom? And what if the student sitting next to you was a gigantic Silvisaurus, who decided to jump on top of the desk? Come along and join the fun as dinosaurs ride the bus, read their favorite books, and have fun on the playground with all their friends. Filled with entertaining details and familiar scenes, each illustration includes the name of the featured dinosaur hidden in the picture. Going to school has never been so much fun!

Katie Honors is a really nice kid. But there"s one little secret that sometimes makes her feel not-so-nice deep inside: her little brother, Chuck. Katie loves her brother and works hard to be the perfect big sister but it can be hard. Chuck can sometimes be just so icky and messy. Sometimes it makes Katie secretly wish she had a trampoline or a treehouse or a giraffe instead of a brother. When all these emotions bubble up to the surface, Katie can no longer grumblesquinch them down. She explodes, but she also learns an important lesson: that there"s room for ALL of her feelings, even the scary ones.

Cielo loves to skateboard! But when she messes up on a new ramp, she's embarrassed and afraid to fall again in front of so many people. With the help of some new friends, Cielo summons the courage to try again (and again, and again), and learns that falling is not failing - true fierceness isn't about landing the perfect trick, it's about picking yourself back up when you don't.

One sunny morning, a happy little Hugasaurus waves goodbye to her Pappysaur and sets of into the world on her own for the very first time. When she finds a playground, some new friends welcome her to their games. But it isn't long before the other little dinosaurs start to squabble.

Can Hugasaurus bring her new friends back together using the magical power of kindness?

Enchanting die-cuts illustrate the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book. 

David's teacher has her hands full. From running in the halls to chewing gum in class, David's high-energy antics fill each school day with trouble, and are sure to bring a smile to even the best-behaved reader.

On a rainy day, Sylvester finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true. But when a lion frightens him on his way home, Sylvester makes a wish that brings unexpected results.

On a simple trip to the park, the joy of music overtakes a mother and daughter. The little girl hears a rhythm coming from the world around her— from butterflies, to street performers, to ice cream sellers everything is musical!

Fudge, Mint, Berry, Bean, and Candy each think they are the MOST delicious ice cream cone around. But when Rocky Road arrives to deliver the scoop that "getting picked" means getting eaten, these silly cones earn their just desserts!

This inclusive picture book rejoices in the specialness of each person's beauty and ability. "Affirming and welcome"-Kirkus

Joseph had a little overcoat, but it was full of holes—just like this book! When Joseph's coat got too old and shabby, he made it into a jacket. But what did he make it into after that? And after that?

Families come in many different shapes and forms -- but they all teach you how to be strong and show you how loved you are.

A peddler walks from town to town, selling the caps he proudly balances in a stack on his head.

A poetic reflection brimming with hope where Ruby Bridges tells her own story of that pivotal day in Civil Rights history.

Gerald the giraffe longs to dance, but his legs are too skinny and his neck is too long. His knees buckle whenever he tries to twirl. At the Jungle Dance, the warthogs waltz, the chimps cha-cha, and the lions tango. "Giraffes can't dance," they all jeer when it's Gerald's turn to prance. But there is one little creature who believes in Gerald. "Everything makes music," the cricket explains, "if you really want it to."

A young child's walk becomes an exuberant adventure meeting a myriad of friendly, familiar farmyard animals.

Positively bursting with energy and imagination, this ode to self-esteem encourages kids to appreciate everything about themselves, inside and out. Messy hair? Beaver breath? So what! This little girl knows that being proud of being you is the most important thing to remember.

In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can't help but root for.

The students at Rainbow Village School are getting ready for the upcoming party to celebrate the transition to big kid school. Noah's classmates are all excited but Noah is feeling a little worried -- is he too little to step up to the next grade? With the help of his friends and teachers, can Noah discover he's not too little to help out or graduate, after all?

Stand Up! tells the story of ten historic female figures who changed the world by standing up for what's right, including legendary Civil Rights activists like Ruby Bridges and Rosa Parks and spanning to contemporary role models like Bree Newsome, who removed the confederate flag from the South Carolina state house grounds, and Mari Copeny, a youth activist who fought for clean water in Flint, Michigan.

An inclusive poem of self-acceptance is warmed by radiant portraits of young women of color. “Gentle and worthy” -SLJ

From the creator of The Dot comes a celebration of finding your own words—and the impact you can have when you share them with the world.

Like many kids on the autism spectrum, Charlie finds solace and empowerment in pools, ponds, sprinklers, visiting the aquarium, and swimming in the ocean. Through his adventures and discoveries, he shows the world that even though he has autism, autism doesn't have him.

Sure to invite discussion, this is an engaging book that imaginatively explores the risks of trying to be like everyone else.

An inspiring picture book authored by creator of the More Than Peach Project which aims to offer a wide array of skin-toned crayon colors with every kid in mind.

Beauty is much more than how one looks on the outside. True beauty is found in conquering challenges, showing kindness, and spreading contagious laughter. Beautiful girls are empowered, smart, and really, really strong!

In the still before dawn, while the rest of the world is sleeping, a boy and his dog leave the comfort of their warm bed to deliver newspapers. As the boy pedals his bike along a route he knows by heart, his dog runs by his side, both enjoying a world that, before sunrise, belongs only to them.

Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from Grandma, who helps him see the beauty and fun in their routine and the world around them.

Children struggling with change will find reassurance in this gentle, original fable from bestselling and award-winning author Eric Carle.

In this funny and light-hearted picture book, a fussy eraser tries to keep the pages clean by erasing the scribbles of a mischievous pencil. But before long, the eraser discovers what can happen when two opposing forces come together to have fun. With humor and a keen eye for play, Max Amato crafts a delightful story that reveals the joys of collaborative imagination.

In this contemporary classic, veteran children's author Viorst introduces us to Alexander, a kid with an unruly crop of hair, who gets out of bed to face a day that seems to grow increasingly worse with each passing minute.

When a girl is asked where she's from-where she's really from-none of her answers seems to be the right one. Unsure about how to reply, she turns to her loving abuelo for help. He doesn't give her the response she expects. She gets an even better one.

Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit!

Flying around Manhattan Island, somersaulting in midair, resting in the sky on a chair-shaped cloud... Rosalba and her grandmother, her abuela, are having an extraordinary adventure.

Playful illustrations done with stylized realism lend warmth and whimsy to the book, making each locale feel welcoming.

This award-winning picture book, a clever, original variation on the theme of the ugly duckling, follows the adventures of a lost baby fruit bat and her efforts to fit in.

Clifford knows that it takes more than size to Be Big! Be Big is a national campaign to show how small, simple actions can make the world a better place. Remember, it only takes a little to Be Big!

With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark, and to follow where it takes us.

A creative spirit learns that thinking "ish-ly" is far more wonderful than "getting it right" in this gentle fable from the creator of the award-winning picture book The Dot.