20 Books Every Child Should Hear Before Kindergarten

My kids love a good story as I'm sure most kids do.  I was given the following list by my child's preschool, so I thought I would pass it along as there are some really good books here.  There are actually 100 books on the list, but I will break it up into groups.

Once upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for all the Letter

By: Oliver Jeffers. From an astronaut who's afraid of heights, to a bridge that ends up burned between friends, to a cup stuck in  a cupboard and longing for freedom, Once Upon an Alphabet is a creative tour de force from A through Z.

Hug Me By Ciraolo

Simona Cactus's can be quite prickly sometimes you know...and so can Felipe.  But he'll be sad if this one pointy issue will hold him back, so one day Felipe sets off on his own to find a friend and just  maybe, that long awaited hug.

Wednesday By Anne Bertier

Every Wednesday, our two friends get together to play. Sometimes they have some tough moments, like all true friends, but they mostly have the best time that two friends can ever have together! Illustrated in a strong, two-color graphic style,Wednesday has strong appeal for the youngest readers as well as for parents and teachers.

The Runaway Dinner By: Allan Ahlberg

What happens if someone's dinner decides that, well, it doesn't want to be eaten? For a hungry little boy named Banjo and a savory sausage named Melvin, it's a plight that can only result in a breathless escape — and what a chase it is! Off speeds the sturdy sausage — leading fork, knife, and plate, chair and table, a handful of fries with various French names, and three fat little peas — out the door, down the street, and around the park, with poor Banjo taking up the rear.

Happy Birthday Moon By: Frank Asch

Moonbear comes up with the perfect birthday gift for the moon in this charming reissue of a beloved classic by award-winning author and illustrator Frank Asch.
Moonbear discovers that he and the moon share the same birthday. Now Moonbear wants to give his nighttime friend a present. But what do you buy the moon?

Big Fat Hen By Keith Baker

One, two, buckle my shoe. Three, four, shut the door . . . . Nine, ten, big fat hen! Now young children can enjoy a popular nursery rhyme and learn to count, too. Keith Baker's delightful illustrations filled with eggs and chicks (and bugs) are sure to tickle little ones for hours of read-aloud fun.





Ten, Nine, Eight By Molly Bang

"This beguiling picture book, with a palette of eye-filling colors, appears to arise from the love binding a father and his little `big' girl who turn bedtime into playtime with a rhyming game."--Publishers Weekly. "A loving book, perfect for sharing with the youngest lapsitters."




Anno's Magic Seeds By Mitsumasa Anno

A gift from a wizard makes Jack's fortune grow by ones and twos, then threes and fours, then faster and faster, challenging you to keep track of his riches.







Goodnight Moon By: Margaret Wise Brown

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room--to the picture of the three little bears sitting in chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one--he says goodnight.

In this classic of modern children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

Madeline By: Ludwig Bemelmans

Madeline truly needs no introduction. An enduring classic, Madeline continues to enchant readers more than seventy years after its first publication.

Nothing frightens Madeline—not tigers, not mice, not even getting sick. To Madeline, a trip to the hospital is a grand adventure.

Ben Rides On By: Matt Davies

Ben loves his new bike. In fact, he loves it so much he even likes riding to school (especially if he can take the long way around)! That is, until an encounter with the local bully, Adrian Underbite, leaves Ben bike-less. When Ben discovers where his bike actually is, the reader is in for a dramatic, and literal, cliffhanger.



Stone Soup By Marica Brown

Clever soldiers outwit greedy townspeople with the creation of a special soup in this cherished classic, a Caldecott Honor book.








Mr. Gumpy's Outing By John Burningham

It's a pleasant day, so Mr. Gumpy decides to go for a boat ride. Each barnyard animal begs to join him, and Mr. Gumpy agrees-as long as each behaves! Two children join the fun, and as soon as the boat is launched, everyone does exactly what Mr. Gumpy asked them not to do. The result? Splash! This tale fits right into the toddler's sense of humor.




Hurry, Hurry By: Eve Bunting

Rooster is spreading the word: "Hurry! Hurry!" The crowd gets bigger, faster, and noisier as all the animals follow Rooster, arriving at the peaceful barn just in time to greet the tiniest member of the farm family as he pecks his way out of his egg.
Now in a board book edition, Eve Bunting's simple, energetic text and Jeff Mack's vibrant illustrations come together in a joyful, welcoming book that's perfect for preschoolers.


Miss Rumphius By: Barbara Cooney

Barbara Cooney's story of Alice Rumphius, who longed to travel the world, live in a house by the sea, and do something to make the world more beautiful, has a timeless quality that resonates with each new generation. The countless lupines that bloom along the coast of Maine are the legacy of the real Miss Rumphius, the Lupine Lady, who scattered lupine seeds everywhere she went. Miss Rumphiusreceived the American Book Award in the year of publication.

Freight Train By: Donald Crew

Clear bright illustrations show all the cars of a train bringing the reader the excitement of movement through day and night, country and city.






Are You My Mother By P.D. Eastman

A baby bird goes in search of his mother in this hilarious Board Book adapation of P.D. Eastman's classic story, perfect for babies and toddlers!








Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A-Z By: Lois Ehlert

While teaching upper- and lowercase letters to preschoolers, Ehlert introduces fruits and vegetables from around the world. A glossary at the end provides interesting facts about each food.






Go Away, Big Green Monster By: Ed Emberley

Caldecott Award-winning author-artist Ed Emberley has created an ingenious way for children to chase away their nighttime fears. Kids can turn the pages of this die-cut book and watch the Big Green Monster grow. Then, when they're ready to show him who's in charge, they'll turn the remaining pages and watch him disappear! This lavish reissue features dramatic die-cut eyes and sparkling foil on the cover.




Olivia By Ian Falconer

Whether at home getting ready for the day, enjoying the beach, or at bedtime, Olivia is a feisty pig who has too much energy for her own good. 

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