To Read Aloud For Your Preschooler

To read aloud is a very important part of playtime for your child. Of course, there's the fun of snuggling up on the couch, looking at the pictures, an enjoying the plot; the playful use of words and the rhythm of language come alive as you read. When you read aloud, the magic of story continues in your child's mind long after you close the pages of the book. It is as though these cherished stories and characters are like tiny seeds scattered into your child's imagination. The character and events from favorite books will likely crop up in your child's pretend play, creative ideas, and drawing and paintings. It's also a nice, low-key activity for you to do when you feel like you're running on empty. Below are some of my favorite read aloud books for preschoolers. I hope you will invite some of these charming characters into your child's world.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, illustrations by Ray Cruz

A Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban, illustrations by Lillian Hoban

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? 40th Anniversary Edition by Bill Martin Jr., illustrations by Eric Carle

Bunny Cakes (Max and Ruby) by Rosemary Wells

Caps for Sale Board Book: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slobodkina

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr., and John Archambault, illustrations by Lois Ehlert.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett, illustrations by Ron Barrett

Corduroy by Don Freeman

The Complete Adventures of Curious GeorgeH.A. Rey and Margret Rey

Dandelion (Picture Puffin) by Don Freeman

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

Each Peach Pear Plum board book (Viking Kestrel Picture Books) by Janet Ahlberg, illustrations by Allan Ahlberg

Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jan Brett

Green Eggs and Ham (I Can Read It All by Myself Beginner Books) by Dr. Seuss

Harold and the Purple Crayon 50th Anniversary Edition (Purple Crayon Books) by Crockett Johnson

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, illustrations by Margaret Bloy Graham

The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster, illustrations by Chris Raschka

I Went Walking by Sue Williams, illustrations by Julie Vivas

Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes

Leo the Late Bloomer: Leo Lub Paaj Tawg Qeeb/Leo Lub Paj Tawg Qeeb by Robert Kraus, illustrations by Jose Aruego

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Little Bear Boxed Set: Little Bear, Father Bear Comes Home, and Little Bear's Visit by Else Holmelund Minarik, illustrations by Maurice Sendak

The Little Engine That Could: The Complete, Original Edition (A Platt & Munk Classic)by Watty Piper, illustrations by George Hauman, Doris Hauman

Madeline, Reissue of 1939 edition by Ludwig Bemelmans

Make Way for Ducklings (Viking Kestrel Picture Books) by Robert McCloskey

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burto

Millions of Cats (Gift Edition) (Picture Puffin Books)by Wanda Gag

My Little House Cookbook (My First Little House Books)by Laura Ingalls Wilder

My Little House Songbook (My First Little House Books) by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Napping House: Book and Musical CD by Audrey Wood, illustrations by Don Wood

Olivia by Ian Falconer

Once There Was a Bull-Frog 10th Anniversary Edition by Rick Walton

One Gorilla: A Counting Book by Atsuko Morozumi

Pete's a Pizza by William Steig

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

The Real Mother Goose by Blanche Fish Wright

The Runaway Bunny (Book & Bunny Gift Set) by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrations by Clement Hurd

Snowflake Bentley (Caldecott Medal Book) by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrations by Mary Azariian

The Story about Ping (Reading Railroad Books) by Marjorie Flack, illustrations by Kurt Wiese

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, illustrations by Robert Lawson

Swimmy (Knopf Children's Paperbacks) by Leo Lionni

The Tale of Peter Rabbit (The World of Beatrix Potter) by Beatrix Potter

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Book and Plush (Book&Toy) by Eric Carle

The Wheels on the Bus by Paul O. Zelinsky

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

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