50 Best Read-Aloud Books Under $5

This rhyming guide to social skills is a good introduction for young children to the power of kindness.

A little lion cub just wants someone to play with, but his big roar scares off potential playmates - from 1 red monkey to 8 brown gazelles — which leaves him lonely and baffled (he is, after all, using his nicest voice). When he finally encounters 9 other lion cubs, the 10 happy cubs roar, and it's enough to send the other animals stampeding away!

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

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.

The Gingerbread Man runs as fast as he can in this fast-paced classic about a very determined little cookie! A gingerbread man escapes from the oven and runs through the countryside pursued by an old man, an old woman, a little boy, three farmers, a bear, and a wolf.

The class pets escaped from their cages and are running loose in your school! Lizards, hamsters, rabbits, and birds are on the loose... and a bearded dragon is leading the hilarious escape. Join the fun and find out if YOU have what it takes to catch these riotous pets on their wild field trip! Featuring an approachable school theme that kids will relate to plus cute animal characters and clever rhymes, this silly story will inspire repeat reads again and again.

Some kids have dogs and some kids have cats, but Buzz has a pet fly! In this first book of the hilarious series, Buzz enters his winged buddy in the Amazing Pet Competition. The judges scoff until they see all the extraordinary tricks the little fly can do.

While on the hunt for the perfect vegetable, the protagonist of this tale runs into his friends who suggest different delicious and healthy foods. He soon realizes that he needs all the vegetables to make the most satisfying meal!

Join firefighter Jill and her fearless little fire truck as they zip all over town to put out smoky fires and rescue those in need, with the help of the fire crew.

Turn little pouts into big smiles! Mr. Pout-Pout Fish is nervously awaiting his first day of school, and he frets about not knowing how to write his name, how to draw shapes, and how to do math - until he's reassured that school is the perfect place to learn how to master all of these new skills.

It's nighttime and snow is falling hard. Will the town be snowed in? Will there be a snow day? Odds are looking good in this book for the kids who dream of snowball fights, sledding, and the possibility that it may snow again tomorrow!

In plain language, parents of a brightly colored rockfish share lessons about how to swim joyfully through life.

Organized into color-coded levels, these short, compelling stories will have both emergent and more advanced readers entertained and engaged as they explore new stories with their favorite characters.

Rich with signature rhyming text and unforgettable illustrations, Pig, the greediest pug alive, and his friend, Trevor, will have kids rolling with laughter.

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!

One day in the pumpkin patch the strangest little pumpkin hatched...Spookley the Pumpkin was different. All the other pumpkins teased him until Spookley proved that being different can save the day!

A flat boy can do almost anything!

First the planning, then the waiting! Is this the year these kids will catch a leprechaun? Parents and children will love starting a new St. Patrick's Day tradition with this engaging and entertaining book.

Many claim to have caught a mermaid, but can YOU?

This upbeat tale features easy-to-follow rhyming text, expressive illustrations, and familiar classroom scenes that will help get little ones excited for their first day of school.

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

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!

This latest book by the winning team who gave readers If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and If You Give a Moose a Muffin tells the tale of a little girl who tries to keep up with the demands of a bossy little pig.

Melvin throws a fit whenever he doesn't get what he wants. Apparently this is tolerated at home and he always gets his way, but at school the rule is "You get what you get if you don't throw a fit." Melvin learns to control his behavior at school pretty quickly and when he spills the beans at home, his parents take on a new philosophy as well.

Zoya loves to make art with her puppy, Coco. It is a perfect day to paint outside -- until it begins to rain! Zoya and Coco rush back inside with their art supplies. But together -- and with a splash of glitter -- they find creative ways to brighten the gray day.

Swim along with mermaid Vera and octo-kid Beaker! In these three stories, Vera and Beaker make a new friend with a powerful baby mantis shrimp. Together, they explore the town of Tidal Grove. Then they play fun underwater games! Young readers will love discovering Vera and Beaker's funny adventures and learning nonfiction information about mantis shrimp. Did you know that mantis shrimp are small but very powerful? They can punch the water to create shockwaves!

Enjoy these very simple stories that teach hard-to-explain emotions, such as disappointment, that are so challenging for toddlers and preschoolers to control.

Princess Truly is very curious! In these three rhyming stories, Princess Truly visits a museum and learns about dinosaurs and butterflies, she solves a mystery when her snack goes missing, and she takes a trip to outer space in a rocket ship with her pug, Sir Noodles. These funny and empowering short stories promote believing in yourself, building confidence, and having a positive self-image, and foster imagination and curiosity, and are perfect for fans of Ada Twist, Scientist. With full-color artwork and easy-to-read rhyming text throughout, this series is just-right for new readers!

Best friends Sniff and Scratch love to play together! Across three giggle-inducing short stories, Sniff and Scratch have fun with toilet paper, they enjoy chasing each other's tails, and they snuggle with Sniff's stuffed duck.

Ace polishes up her mountain bike and prepares for the big bike race! She oils the chain and tests the brakes. Then the race begins! But Ace's bike chain comes off the sprocket and then she needs to patch a tire! Will she be able to fix her bike in time and find her way to the finish line?

Unicorn wants to save stickers. Yeti wants to stick them everywhere!

Unicorn and Yeti love to roller skate. But will their roller skates work in the snow?

Unicorn blows bubbles. Yeti wants the bubbles to be bigger!

Best friends Unicorn and Yeti have lots of fun in these sparkly, laugh-out-loud stories. With full-color artwork, speech bubbles, and easy-to-read text throughout, this adorable book is perfect for new readers!

Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and Purple crayon try to guess what they will be able to create. When a diverse group of students finally puts them to use they get quite a workout as they work together to make a giant rainbow.

Discover the perfect book to help every little anxious Worrysaurus let go of their fears, and feel happy in the moment at hand!

This mindfulness book showcases the relaxing and calming technique of belly breathing, a tool everyone can use to improve concentration and relieve tension.

A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily for Ramon, though, his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently. She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things just "right."

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.

The three billy goats want to eat the green, green grass. But the grass is across the bridge. And a big troll lives under the bridge. How will the billy goats get to the green, green grass?

When Rae witnesses an ice cream-and-doggie mishap, she's inspired to create a big-scale solution to help get dogs clean. Rae draws on her determination, resilience, and courage until she and everyone else in her community learn just what it means to be an entrepreneur.

A distinctive story about individuality, from award-winning author and illustrator Peggy Rathmann

Have you ever wondered what happens to a fiery comet as it races around our solar system? This stunningly illustrated story offers a perfect introduction to a comet's amazing journey and learn a little bit about our planets along the way!

See the picture? Now read the clue. Then start looking for everything!

If you had a polar bear's double coat, you would never have to wear a hat when playing in the snow. If you had reindeer hair, it could help you stay afloat in water. And if you had a porcupine's hair, no bully would ever bother you again!

From “Ask someone to play with you," to “Zip a younger child's jacket,” this instructional volume frames 26 ways to demonstrate kindness.

In this level 1 reader, young readers will explore the fun-filled world of lovable otters. Follow these playful critters through their aquatic habitats, learn how otters raise their young, and discover their curious and social natures.

During a visit to a space museum, Fly Guy and Buzz learn all about planets, space crafts, space suits, and even dirty snowballs (i.e. comets)! With straightforward fun facts, humorous illustrations of Fly Guy and Buzz, and vivid photographs throughout, this book is sure to be a hit with budding astronauts everywhere!

The familiar song gets a new twist in these silly, energetic books.

If you could have any ocean animal's superpower, whose would you choose? Outrageous and ridiculous illustrations accompany photographs and informative text in this terrific introduction to animal traits.

This stunningly illustrated series offers engaging introductions into a plethora of fascinating nature topics!

Size is relative, and everything is worth seeing in this early concept book.