journey books for preschoolers

Journey, by Aaron Becker | Book Review

Book Review of  Journey The Children’s Book Review

Written and Illustrated by Aaron Becker

Ages 4+ | 40 Pages

Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 9780763660536

What to Expect: A Wordless Adventure

Sometimes there are no words to describe a book. And sometimes, there are no words in the actual book itself. Journey is one of those books—it’s both wordless and wondrous.

When a young girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and goes through it with her red marker, she leaves a drab-colored world and enters a magical world filled with color and adventure. Using a colored marker, she creates ways to navigate this unknown place: a boat, a balloon, a flying carpet, and a tandem bike. Amongst the world’s beauty, there is also danger, and an evil emperor captures the girl. How will she escape? How will she return home?

No spoiler here, but an unexpected friendship is the outcome of this incredibly gorgeous tale told only by the artwork on the pages. The little girl is adventurous, courageous, and kind and knows how to have fun. She will inspire you to take your own imaginative journey if you can tear yourself away from this incredible book.

The first book in a trilogy, Journey by Aaron Becker, won a most prestigious award—a Caldecott Honor Book in 2014.

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About the author-illustrator.

Aaron Becker has worked as an artist in the film and animation industry, where he helped define the look and feel of characters, stories, and the movies they become a part of. With Journey, he has created characters and worlds of his very own, using traditional materials and techniques. Aaron Becker lives with his wife, daughter, and cat in Amherst, Massachusetts.

What to Read Next if You Love Journey by Aaron Becker

Quest , by Aaron Becker

Return , by Aaron Becker

The Tree and the River , by Aaron Becker

Harold and the Purple Crayon , by Crockett Johnson

Where the Wild Things Are , by Maurice Sendak

The Red Book , by Barbara Lehman

Bianca Schulze reviewed  Journey by Aaron Becker. Discover more books like  Journey  by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Adventure .

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Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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Great Picture Books About Journeys for Kids

Great Picture Books About Journeys for Kids . Wonderful picture books featuring different types of journeys that kids will love teachers and parents reading with them.

Some links on this site are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you!  Learn more .

What You'll Find on This Page

Journeys are a common theme in picture books, and these three titles that I recently received to review reflect that theme beautifully. I’ve included one of my all-time favorite journey-themed picture books as a bonus.

Steppin Out: Everyday Journeys for Kids

In Steppin’ Out , poetry follows children through everyday journeys. Children visit grandparents, ride elevators, go to the beach, dance class, and more in this sweet collection of nineteen poems. Written by Lin Oliver and illustrated by Tomie dePaola.

Adventures in Asian Art: A Family Outing Journey for Kids

Adventures in Asian Art follows a mother and her three children as they journey through the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. My preschooler especially LOVED the illustrations in this book. We live pretty close to this museum, and we clearly need to journey there ourselves soon!

The Road Home: Animal Journeys

The Road Home features different animal journeys to their homes. This book is unique in its empathy for the hungry wolves while featuring bunnies fleeing from their jaws. I love author Katie Cotton’s final line in this picture book: “This road is hard, this road is long, but we are not alone. For you are here, and I’m with you… and so this road is home.” Sarah Jacoby’s illustrations are beautiful.

A Wordless Picture Book About a Journey

Journey was published back in 2013, but I couldn’t publish a post on picture books about journeys without including this exquisite wordless picture book. Children will pore over Aaron Becker’s vibrant illustrations in this award-winning book.

Do you have any favorite picture books about journeys that we should read? Please share your suggestions on my Facebook page , or tag me on Instagram .

MaryAnne Kochenderfer

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

4 thoughts on “Great Picture Books About Journeys for Kids”

I love wordless books for the stories they inspire in your head. I should have the kids do a writing assignment for one.

The art museum book sounds like it’d be fun to read.

We loved Journey. It actually has sequels – Quest and Return

What a fun list! Your family has taken some wonderful trips so I’m glad these picture books foster travel! Where are you going next?

Middle of nowhere, Idaho for a family reunion this summer. You have to get pretty remote to find a place that fits our entire family that is within our budget!

Comments are closed.

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BOOKS JOURNEY

A 2014 Caldecott Honor Book

A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart’s desire? With supple line, luminous color, and nimble flights of fancy, author-illustrator Aaron Becker launches an ordinary child on an extraordinary journey toward her greatest and most exciting adventure of all.

“Though Becker has plenty of experience as an artist for films, “Journey” is his first book, and it’s a masterwork.” — New York Times Book Review

Click here to order JOURNEY from bookshop.org and help support independent booksellers across the country!

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© 2013-2024 Aaron Becker All Rights Reserved.

Buy This Book * More books by Aaron Becker

This wonderful book follows a little girl who draws a magic door on her bedroom wall. Through it she escapes into a world where wonder, adventure and danger abound. Red marker pen in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon and a flying carpet which carry her on a spectacular journey … who knows where?

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

• Use the title as the starting point for your own story. What might your own story about a ‘Journey’ include?
• Look at the illustrations on the front, back and inside covers. Discuss what you think it might be about.
• As you explore the illustrations in the book, try to find features that might be clues about the rest of the story.
• Think of your own captions, speech / thought bubbles to add to the illustrations.
• Make a word bank that includes words you could use to describe the people, places and events in the story.
• Create a narrative version of the story. Could you turn it into a playscript?
• Imagine that you had a pen that could be used to draw (and create) real objects. What would you draw? Could you write a new story based on this concept?
• Write a character profile about the girl. What do you know about her? How would you describe her?
• Retell the story from the girl’s point of view. Could you write a diary entry for her?
• Write a prequel to this story that explains where the magic red pen came from. Who owned it before the girl? Who made it? Why does it have special powers?
• Choose one of the settings in the story. How would you describe it?
• Write a newspaper article about a girl who goes missing through a magical doorway in her bedroom.
• Write a newspaper article about the girl who arrived in the city in a red boat.
• Stop reading when the girl first arrives at the city. Should she go in? Why (not)? Share your thoughts with others and vote on what you think should happen next.
• Why is the purple bird being hunted by the people?

• Create a game in which a girl has to rescue a special purple bird.
• Create a video that shows the illustrations in the book and is accompanied by your own narration / speech.
• Watch this trailer for the book. Could you use multimedia software to create your own book trailer?

Design Technology

• Create a model of one of the airships in the illustrations.
• Imagine that you could draw a magic door from your classroom / bedroom wall into another world. Draw the view to the other side.
• Create a picture that shows what the girl can see at your favourite point in the story.
• Could you create an additional page (or group of pages) that tells a different part of the story? Could you draw a sequel to this book?
• The illustrations were created using watercolour paints. Can you try to paint using a similar style?
• Look at the different characters in the story. Can you create your own illustrations of them? This video has some tips from the author / illustrator:

• Compose a theme tune to accompany a movie version of this story.
• Draw a map of the city the girl encounters.
• How many different forms of transport can you find in the book?
• Imagine that you had a flying carpet. Where would you travel to? Why?
• Plan your own ‘Journey’. Where will you go? How will you get there? What will you need to take?
• Find out about famous journeys, explorers and expeditions from history.

Religious education

• Why do people sometimes go on special journeys as part of their religion? Can you find out more about these?
• Look at the body language of the characters in the illustrations. What might they be thinking / feeling? How can you tell?

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101 Preschool Books To Stock Your Classroom Library

Story time for the entire year!

There’s nothing better in preschool than cozying up on the rug to share books together. Preschoolers represent a range of ages, developmental levels, and interests. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a mega-list of mostly recent preschool books to stock your classroom library. Check them out to support your thematic units or just make any story time better!

Psst: Don’t think we forgot about all our old favorite preschool books—many are included on this list of Books That Will Make You Nostalgic for Preschool .

Preschool Books About Friendship and Kindness

Learning to be a kind friend is at the heart of preschool! These books give kids the language and examples they need.

1. Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang

There are lots of kids in the childcare room while their adults attend English as a Second Language classes, but none of them speak to each other. That is until Luli makes a plan to bring them together to share tea and cookies. This is an adorable, heartwarming story about connecting with others that could definitely inspire many preschool tea parties!

Buy it: Luli and the Language of Tea on Amazon

2. Circle Round by Anne Sibley O’Brien

There’s so much to talk about in the pictures of this sweet counting book. At the park, more circles (a ball, bike wheels, Hula-Hoops) mean more chances to play with friends!

Buy it: Circle Round on Amazon

3. Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer

Kindness is a universal theme in preschool, and this title brims with optimism and age-appropriate examples. Share it with kids and then celebrate their own kind ideas and actions.

Buy it: Kindness Makes Us Strong on Amazon

4. What Happened to You? by James Catchpole

This is one of our new favorite preschool books for building empathy around differences and disabilities . Joe just wants to play pirates at the playground, but the other kids can’t contain their questions about why he has only one leg. It’s a great #OwnVoices story for opening discussions about balancing curiosity with respect for privacy.

Buy it: What Happened to You? on Amazon

5. Bird House by Blanca Gómez

A young girl finds an injured bird while on a walk with her abuela . They nurse it back to health and release it—and receive a surprise visitor the following spring. If you’re looking to add to your collection of gentle preschool books for reading aloud again and again, this is a good choice. It’s also available in Spanish .

Buy it: Bird House on Amazon

6. The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear

The sweetest winter friendship story. Charles dreams of finding a “wish tree” and sets off into the woods with his trusty sled, Boggan, to find one. Along the way he selflessly helps many animals carry food and supplies they need for winter.

Buy it: The Wish Tree on Amazon

7. Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won

This is a go-to for helping younger preschoolers understand how to be a friend to someone feeling grumpy. A group of animal friends share a silly hat gift to cheer each other up. Lots of fun to read aloud again and again (and again!) Check out the other Hooray For! books too.

Buy it: Hooray for Hat! on Amazon

8. The Love Letter by Anika Aldamuy Denise

When a dropped love note makes its way around a group of forest friends, everyone has different reactions and ideas about who may have sent it. For all of them, though, the idea of the note makes them feel loved. Preschool listeners love having the inside scoop on the story as the animals try to figure out the mystery.

Buy it: The Love Letter on Amazon

9. Valentine’s Guest House by Sam Sharland

Valentine and her daughter Elsie run a friendly guest house. When Emmet the tiger arrives in search of a room, the other guests get nervous. Valentine and Elsie’s calm, welcoming reaction to an unexpected guest turns into a lesson for the whole community about acceptance.

Buy it: Valentine’s Guest House on Amazon

10. Something’s Wrong! A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear by Jory John

Bear has an uneasy feeling that something’s wrong, but he can’t figure out what. Cue the endless preschool giggles as he parades around the forest in his underwear. Hare is an exemplary friend and helps it all turn out OK.

Buy it: Something’s Wrong! A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear on Amazon

11. Nothing’s Wrong! A Hare, a Bear, and Some Pie To Share by Jory John

Hare plans to surprise his friend Bear with a pie for their picnic, but it ends up being ruined. Hare is completely bummed, but when he finally opens up to Bear, the two friends work together to make a backup plan. Add this to your preschool books about how friends can problem-solve together!

Buy it: Nothing’s Wrong: A Hare, a Bear, and Some Pie to Share on Amazon

All About Me Preschool Books

Read these books to help kids talk about (and love!) themselves and appreciate the beautiful diversity of those around them.

12. My Hair Is Like the Sun by St. Clair Derick-Jules

This gorgeous board book joyfully compares Black hair to the ocean, a cloud, a river, and more. We love it for helping all kids describe and celebrate their hair.

Buy it: My Hair Is Like the Sun on Amazon

13. Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder

This title belongs in every single classroom collection of preschool books. It’s hands-down the most positive and inclusive book we’ve ever seen about physical appearance. No matter your shape, size, hair, skin color and markings, and features, bodies are amazingly cool.

Buy it: Bodies Are Cool on Amazon

14. I’m Not Small by Nina Crews

A young boy wants to play outside and his parents tell him, “Go ahead. You’re a big kid now.” A relatable story about how feeling both big and small can feel good.

Buy it: I’m Not Small on Amazon

15. Tangle-Knot by Loretta Ellsworth

Add this to your preschool books for kids who like to do things their own way. Fia loves her tangled hair and refuses to brush it, despite her mother’s pleas—and the fact that its home to an actual bird’s nest! A relatable story about how good it feels to be your own special self.

Buy it: Tangle-Knot on Amazon

16. I Can Be … Me! by Lesléa Newman

This joyful, affirming read-aloud will encourage your preschool students to do, wear, dream, and be what makes them happy!

Buy it: I Can Be … Me! on Amazon

17. Happy in Our Skin by Fran Manushkin

This happy title celebrates skin from babyhood to toddlerhood and beyond. We appreciate developmentally appropriate preschool books that invite kids to talk about skin color.

Buy it: Happy in Our Skin on Amazon

18. Let’s Make Faces by Hanoch Piven

Inviting preschool kids to make self-portraits or family portraits with loose parts is on our list of must-do projects every year. Get them thinking about how to celebrate and creatively represent all their features with this fun collage book.

Buy it: Let’s Make Faces on Amazon

19. A Dress With Pockets by Lily Murray

Lily and her aunt go on a shopping expedition, but none of the available dresses feel right. Lily is determined to find one with pockets! Preschoolers who have strong ideas about what clothing they like will easily connect to Lily’s experiences.

Buy it: A Dress With Pockets on Amazon

Preschool Books About Emotions

Social-emotional learning is a crucial part of the preschool years. These books can help kids understand and talk about all their big feelings.

20. Bea by the Sea by Jo Byatt

Bea hates the sand at the beach, but she loves lions. An imaginary lion helps her overcome her fears and feelings of discomfort so she can enjoy a beach day with her mom. Any child who has a setting or sensation they avoid because of how it makes them feel will appreciate this story!

Buy it: Bea by the Sea on Amazon

21. Mine! A Story of Not Sharing by Klara Persson

Add this to your preschool books about feelings related to sharing! Sharing is hard, especially when you have a friend over for a playdate. Sally takes her sharing woes to an extreme, shoving anything and everything she may have to share into the closet. It seems like a good plan, until everything in the closet is having way more fun than Sally.

Buy it: Mine! A Story of Not Sharing on Amazon

22. Ice Cream Face by Heidi Woodward Sheffield

We can’t have enough preschool books about feelings. This one explores emotions through the best context: ice cream! Kids can easily imagine how it would feel to be waiting in line for ice cream, eating ice cream, even dropping ice cream. Lots of fun follow-up project possibilities too!

Buy it: Ice Cream Face on Amazon

23. First Feelings Series by Child’s Play and Paula Bowles

These oversize board books are perfect for sharing with a small group of young preschoolers as they build their emotional vocabulary. The simple text talks about when you might feel angry (or surprised, loved, sad, scared, etc.). The illustrations show furry and cute monsters in situations that will be easy for kids to recognize and talk about.

Buy it: When I Feel Angry on Amazon

24. Ups and Downs: A Book of Emotions by Mike Wohnoutka

One feeling word per page shows how a child’s emotions can change so many times over the course of a regular day. With words like “delighted,” “disgusted,” and “relaxed,” this is a great title for kids who are ready to learn more feelings-related vocabulary words beyond the usual “happy,” “sad, and “mad.”

Buy it: Ups and Downs: A Book of Emotions on Amazon

25. Big, Big Feelings by Perry Emerson

It can be so frustrating to have a little sister who has big meltdowns. Her big brother helps her learn to use words to talk about her big feelings. This is a sweet opener for discussions about using words for feelings in pre-K.

Buy it: Big, Big Feelings on Amazon

26. Pocket Full of Sads by Brad Davidson

Sometimes sad feelings need to just be. Rabbit goes to great lengths to fix Bear’s sadness, but it turns out what Bear really needs is a chance to sit together quietly with a good friend. Great for opening conversations about ways to help sad friends at school.

Buy it: Pocket Full of Sads on Amazon

27. Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcero

This remarkable sequel to In a Jar shares how Llewellyn doesn’t like to experience his feelings so he puts them in jars. But what happens when it becomes too much to keep them closed up tight? Perfect for opening discussions with pre-K kids about naming and honoring different emotions.

Buy it: Out of a Jar on Amazon

28. Invisible Things by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller

Get ready for mind-blowing preschool conversations. This title is like climbing into a kid’s head and giving them words for all the sensations, feelings, and experiences that make up their days. It’s an awesome way to connect conversations about the five senses with emotional vocabulary.

Buy it: Invisible Things on Amazon

Preschool Books About Family

Celebrate all kinds of families with these affirming, diverse preschool books.

29. Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour

Family stories are staple preschool books. When Mommy goes away for the week, a little girl and her Mama make their own fun. Then they are happy to be reunited when Mommy returns.

Buy it: Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle on Amazon

30. Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer

Most preschool classrooms engage in some kind of study of families, and this book is a must-have to encourage an inclusive view on the topic. Illustrations are colorful and engaging and sweetly portray many different variations on family structure.

Buy it: Love Makes a Family on Amazon

31. Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

This feel-good story tells of a little girl who plays dress-up with her mother’s headscarves. We love sharing it when talking about families or when conversations about head coverings arise among students.

Buy it: Mommy’s Khimar on Amazon

32. I Really Want To See You, Grandma by Taro Gomi

This story is for every kid who fiercely misses a special relative. Yumi desperately wants to see her grandma, so she sets out for her house. What she doesn’t know is that Grandma has also decided to make a visit, causing some frantic back-and-forth.

Buy it: I Really Want To See You, Grandma on Amazon

33. Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan

The dad in this touching story works night-shift security at a construction site. Its hushed descriptions of his rounds—complete with repeated sightings of a small, gray kitten—mesmerizes kids. The text is richly detailed without being too much for preschoolers, and we love the nod to families in which parents work varying schedules.

Buy it: Kitten and the Night Watchman on Amazon

34. Alphonse, There’s Mud on the Ceiling! by Daisy Hirst

Monster sibs Natalie and Alphonse love playing outdoors but are frustrated to live in a tall apartment building. Creativity wins, though, and the story is full of their imaginative adventures both indoors and out. We like sharing a story about playing outside that also acknowledges the diversity of kids’ homes.

Buy it: Alphonse, There’s Mud on the Ceiling! on Amazon

35. Hurry Kate, or You’ll Be Late! by Janice N. Harrington

Kate and her dad have a special bond, as shown through all the sweet moments of their commute to preschool. None of them are the reason she’s late though; that’s due to the extra-long hug they share at the end! Perfect for opening conversations about what students and their caregivers love to see and do together.

Buy it: Hurry Kate, or You’ll Be Late! on Amazon

36. I’ll Always Come Back to You by Carmen Tafolla

Navigating separation emotions is a critical part of preschool. This mom’s over-the-top reassurance will make preschoolers smile and feel confident that their own special adults will always come back.

Buy it: I’ll Always Come Back to You on Amazon

37. Raisin, the Littlest Cow by Miriam Busch

Raisin likes things just the way they are. When a new sibling comes along, it’s hard to adjust. We love this story for honoring the feelings of preschoolers who also may be adjusting to a new sibling. Raisin’s habit of making lists always seems to spark a flurry of prewriting activity among kids too!

Buy it: Raisin, the Littlest Cow on Amazon

Preschool Books About Seasons and Nature

Preschool is a time to build kids’ background knowledge and awareness of the world around them. These preschool books about weather and the environment can keep your class noticing, wondering, and learning across all seasons.

38. Berry Song by Michaela Goade

A young girl and her grandmother gather berries together and thank the earth, celebrating Tlingit traditions and the seasons. Definitely add this lovely, relatable book to your preschool books that represent indigenous cultures.

Buy it: Berry Song on Amazon

39. If You Find a Leaf by Aimee Sicuro

A girl finds a leaf and imagines all the different things it could be. Gorgeous illustrations are so fun to pore over with kids. Add this to your preschool books for inspiring fall projects!

Buy it: If You Find a Leaf on Amazon

40. A Very Big Fall by Emmy Kastner

Here’s one for every kid who’s every worried over an upcoming change—even those that are supposed to be exciting. When the squirrels really talk up the fall changes to come, the little leaves get uneasy, especially Maple. This would be such fun to act out with puppets or flannel board pieces!

Buy it: A Very Big Fall on Amazon

41. A Spoonful of Frogs by Casey Lyall

A witch heats up her cauldron for making a delicious soup with plenty of wholesome ingredients—and topped off with frogs. But she can’t keep the frog from jumping off the spoon! This is a hilarious read-aloud with fun pretend-play connections.

Buy it: A Spoonful of Frogs on Amazon

42. The Winter Bird by Kate Banks

A nightingale with a broken wing can’t fly south for the winter. Luckily, the kind winter forest animals help it adjust to the unfamiliar cold and snowy weather. This is one of our new favorite preschool books for talking about both seasonal changes and kindness toward others.

Buy it: The Winter Bird on Amazon

43. Being Frog by April Pulley Sayre

April Pulley Sayre’s photos are unparalleled for encouraging kiddos to study nature and observe like scientists. We love all her titles, but this one is particularly helpful for classrooms that study frog life cycles.

Buy it: Being Frog on Amazon

44. Green on Green by Dianne White

This delightful journey through the colors of the seasons is particularly nice to share if you have a child in your class who’s expecting a sibling. The mother in the book subtly grows with each change in season, and by year’s end, the family celebrates a new arrival.

Buy it: Green on Green on Amazon

45. What’s the Weather? by Shelley Rotner

Since we love every single one of Shelley Rotner’s gorgeous photo essays, it was hard to choose one to feature, but this title is particularly interactive for classrooms having conversations about the weather.

Buy it: What’s the Weather? on Amazon

46. Whose Egg Is THAT? by Darrin Lunde

The Whose Is THAT? series is ideal for preschool naturalists. The predictable question-and-answer format is so read-aloud-friendly, and the amount of information is just right. We love how this title builds kids’ descriptive vocabulary too.

Buy it: Whose Egg is THAT? on Amazon

47. Whose Prints? by Kari Allen

This board book is a must-have if it snows in your climate. Join in with a family’s snowy nature walk adventure to notice and describe all the tracks animals have left. Then head outside to spot tracks for real!

Buy it: Whose Prints? on Amazon

48. Zander Stays by Maureen Fergus

If you study winter animal adaptations, you’ll love sharing this book. Zander the goose decides he doesn’t want to fly south for winter this year. He explores different ways animals stay warm in wintry climates until he finds one that works for him!

Buy it: Zander Stays on Amazon

49. How To Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside by Kari Percival

This delightful how-to book invites kids to get up close and personal with all the delights of nature, including, of course, wiggling worms! Perfect for sharing to prepare for a nature walk or outdoor learning time.

Buy it How To Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside on Amazon

50. I’m Going To Build a Snowman by Jashar Awan

It’s a preschool classic conundrum: You want to build something and your materials aren’t quite right. In this case, it’s slushy, wet snow that just won’t turn into a snowman. This is the perfect title for working on sequencing. Plus, talk all about ways to manage frustration.

Buy it: I’m Going To Build a Snowman on Amazon

Preschool Books About Numbers, Letters, and Colors

Developing kids’ early learning concepts is a key piece of preschool, and fun books make the job easier! These preschool counting books, alphabet books, and color books are some of our recent faves to add to your collection.

51. & 52. Baby Bear Counts One and Baby Bear Sees Blue by Ashley Wolff

There are plenty of sweet bear stories, but it’s the gorgeous linocut illustrations that really make these concept books stand out. They build children’s vocabulary and content knowledge about a bear’s habitat too.

Buy it: Baby Bear Counts One and Baby Bear Sees Blue on Amazon

53. Mrs. Peanuckle’s Alphabet Series by Mrs. Peanuckle

Everything about this series is downright adorable. Each book marches through a nature-themed version of the ABCs with engaging facts about bugs, birds, veggies, fruits, trees, flowers, and more—all while using cheerful mixed-media art.

Buy it: Mrs. Peanuckle’s Alphabet series on Amazon

54. Bear Is Awake! An Alphabet Story by Hannah E. Harrison

We love preschool books that combine the alphabet with a great picture story. Hearing kids’ reactions as the narrative about a hungry bear unfolds is a treat. A is for “awake” …

Buy it: Bear Is Awake! An Alphabet Story on Amazon

55. The Peas Series by Keith Baker

The original title in this series, LMNO Peas , is a longtime preschool book favorite because it combines two preschool loves: the alphabet and exploration of occupations. (Plus, could those little peas be any cuter?) We love having the latest installment, LMNO Pea-Quel , on hand for our pre-K kiddos as they start to tune in to lowercase letters, which are highlighted in this book.

Buy it: The Peas Series on Amazon

56. Every Color Soup by Jorey Hurley

Elegant in its simplicity, this title features a single-color word matched to a soup veggie on each page. We love pairing it with a paint-color exploration, painting full sheets of paper, and chopping them up into “soup” pieces.

Buy it: Every Color Soup on Amazon

57. Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party by Kimberly and James Dean

Obviously, Pete the Cat is a preschool classroom’s best friend. We love this new fave—next to our all-time #1 Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes , of course—for talking all things pizza and all things starting with the letter P. Preschoolers giggle endlessly over Pete’s pals’ silly topping choices.

Buy it: Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party on Amazon

58. What About X? An Alphabet Adventure by Anne Marie Houppert

As the letters prepare for a camping trip, X can’t figure out what to bring. Everyone else has something fun that starts with their letter. Preschoolers will love the creative problem-solving in this book. Also add this to your preschool books for when you set up your pretend play area with a camping theme!

Buy it: What About X? An Alphabet Adventure on Amazon

59. Again, Essie? (Storytelling Math) by Jenny Lacika

Big brother Rafael wants to protect his toys from his toddler sister, Essie. He fits together boxes and other found materials to make a wall. Will it work? Explore vocabulary like “tall,” “skinny,” “wide,” and more. We think every preschool classroom should have a full set of the Storytelling Math series books because they are so good. Many are also available in Spanish, and each one includes “Exploring the Math” activity ideas.

Buy it: Again, Essie? on Amazon

60. A Beautiful House for Birds (Storytelling Math) by Grace Lin

The Storytelling Math board books are ideal for setting out at your preschool math centers. We love them all, but this one about painting pattern and—oops!—making a mistake and coming up with a new plan will especially resonate with preschool students.

Buy it: A Beautiful House for Birds (Storytelling Math) on Amazon

61. Five Hiding Ostriches by Barbara Barbieri McGrath

Five little ostriches wonder what to do when they spot a lion. This adorable spin on “Five Little Pumpkins” is such fun to read aloud and act out as a class.

Buy it: Five Hiding Ostriches on Amazon

62. Circle Under Berry by Carter Higgins

Explore shapes, colors, and prepositions with this most inventive of preschool books that’ll really get your class talking. It starts out simple but ramps up as the book goes on, making it a great multi-age concept book. Extension ideas abound, from offering it with loose parts for kids to explore or creating your own class version with cut and glued shapes.

Buy it: Circle Under Berry on Amazon

63. How To Count to 1 (and Don’t Even THINK About Bigger Numbers!) by Caspar Salmon

This clever counting book will tickle preschool funny bones as they catch all the jokes in the illustrations. Perfect for kids starting to be interested in “bigger numbers”!

Buy it: How to Count to 1 (and Don’t Even THINK About Bigger Numbers!) on Amazon

Preschool Books About Music, Sounds, and Movement

64. everybody in the red brick building by anne wynter.

Preschool books with fun sounds make great read-alouds. Late at night, a series of noises wakes up everyone in an apartment building one by one. What will lull them back to sleep? Illustrations by one of our favorites, Oge Mora, make this book sing.

Buy it: Everybody in the Red Brick Building on Amazon

65. Listen by Gabi Snyder

We love preschool books that encourage mindfulness and wonder, and this does both. A girl practices listening to the myriad small sounds around her, naturally encouraging preschool students to do the same.

Buy it: Listen on Amazon

66. & 67. Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing and Alphabreaths Too: More ABCs of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard and Daniel Rechtschaffen

These invaluable titles are circle-time staples. Learn a different breath for every letter of the alphabet—and then learn another! Preschool kids think these are so fun, and they can call upon them when they’re upset or need to calm down.

Buy it: Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing and Alphabreaths Too: More ABCs of Mindful Breathing on Amazon

68. & 69. Good Morning Yoga and Good Night Yoga by Mariam Gates

Yoga story time is one of our favorite ways to incorporate yoga in the preschool classroom, and these are two of our go-tos for energizing or winding down our littlest yogis.

Buy it: Good Morning Yoga and Good Night Yoga on Amazon

70. Natsumi! by Susan Lendroth

Natsumi has tons of energy, just like many preschoolers we know. Her grandfather helps her channel it into the perfect pastime: drumming! We like to pair this book with … you guessed it: plenty of percussion invitations.

Buy it: Natsumi! on Amazon

71. Animals Move by Jane Whittingham

Teach your younger preschoolers about animals and interesting verbs with a ready-made movement session. Invite kids to try out pouncing, hopping, dashing, and lots more. Photographs of both animals and kids moving bring the concepts to life.

Buy it: Animals Move on Amazon

72. Can You Dance Like a Peacock? by Rekha S. Rajan

Fun and engaging nonfiction facts about animals who “dance” build kids’ background knowledge. Use the “Dance Break!” sections to get your class moving.

Buy it: Can You Dance Like a Peacock? on Amazon

73. Ear Worm! by Jo Knowles

Get ready for the catchiest book ever. Little Worm has a song stuck in his head that he can’t quite place. As he tries to figure it out, it turns out his friends have their own ear worms too! Such fun to read aloud.

Buy it: Ear Worm! on Amazon

More Best Books for Preschool

Just because they don’t fit into a category doesn’t mean they aren’t shelf-worthy! These recent favorites are perfect for reading aloud, browsing, and making connections to curriculum topics.

74. House: First Words Board Books by Michael Slack

We’ve used this collection of little label books—each features contents of a room in a home—in so many ways. Share them to get kids talking about their own homes or as examples to inspire kids’ own label books. The little books fit into the box like a puzzle, so they make for a great item for independent exploration during quiet time too.

Buy it: House: First Words Board Books on Amazon

75. Wheels by Sally Sutton

Sally Sutton earned a special place in our construction book-loving hearts with Roadwork . This more recent title has a guessing-game structure, which makes it perfect for reading aloud to kids who love vehicles.

Buy it: Wheels on Amazon

76. Penguin Bedtime Classics illustrated by Carly Gledhill

These are not your typical fairy tales! This board book collection distills classic tales down to a few basic—but still engaging—short sentences and fills in the gaps with diverse, fresh-feeling illustrations.

Buy it: Penguin Bedtime Classics on Amazon

77. The Three Bears and Goldilocks by Bee Waeland

This wordless retelling of a classic fairy tale is perfect for sharing with kids once they are familiar with the story. They can use the fun illustrations to tell it themselves. We hope this creator will make more wordless fairy tale books!

Buy it: The Three Bears and Goldilocks on Amazon

78. The Princess and the (Greedy ) Pea by Leigh Hodgkinson

This rhyming riff combines the fun of a classic fairy tale with the “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” song. A green pea swallows a full menu of dinner items. This is such fun to share alongside a traditional version of the fairy tale and exposes kids to fabulous vocabulary.

Buy it: The Princess and the (Greedy) Pea on Amazon

79. The Perfect Plan by Leah Gilbert

Maya has big dreams of building a perfect fort—too big, in fact, to accomplish alone. Luckily her forest friends help out and it’s more amazing than she could have imagined. This is sure to inspire kids’ own fort-building ideas.

Buy it: The Perfect Plan on Amazon

80. & 81. What Color Is Night? and What Sound Is Morning? by Grant Snider

These poetic titles celebrate the nuanced colors of night and the sounds of the very beginning of the day. Bedtime and early mornings are preschooler prime times, of course, so these are highly relevant preschool books. They’re great springboards for activities about looking and listening carefully and describing colors and sounds in your school environment too.

Buy it: What Color Is Night? and What Sound Is Morning? on Amazon

82. Pizza Day by Melissa Iwai

This realistic narrative about a family who makes pizza from scratch—think growing veggies and making homemade sauce—gives kiddos lots to talk about! After reading, it’s definitely time for some pizza-making of your own.

Buy it: Pizza Day on Amazon

83. Find Fergus by Mike Boldt

Kids just love this book! Part story about a bumbling bear, part seek-and-find challenge, it’s perfect for sharing with a small group. Fergus wants to hide, but he needs a lot of guidance, which of course, young hide-and-seek experts find hilarious. We love preschool books that encourage pre-writers too—this one’s good for inspiring some list-making!

Buy it: Find Fergus on Amazon

84. Boxitects by Kim Smith

This is our newest favorite spirited STEAM tale. First of all, the amazing made-up words: Boxitect. Blanketeer. Spaghetti-tect. Kids want to be all of them. There is a nice underlying message about the value of teamwork, and tons of cardboard-box creation inspiration too.

Buy it: Boxitects on Amazon

85. A Story for Small Bear by Alice McGinty and Richard Jones

Small Bear is eager for her story time before settling in for winter’s sleep, but Mama tells her there’s preparation to be done first. Will they finish getting ready in time? This is hands-down one of the sweetest preschool books we’ve read recently and weaves in so many preschool curriculum topics—family relationships, seasons, forest animals—and, of course, the power of stories.

Buy it: A Story for Small Bear on Amazon

86. Ruby’s Sword by Jacqueline Véissid

When preschoolers discover stick swords, our impulse can be to squash them in the name of safety. Imaginative Ruby shows us another path, though—one of ants rescued, apples procured, and fictional dragons challenged by a fearless knight, along with a satisfying, friendship-filled ending. Bookmark this for sharing each year when talking about using sticks in safe but fun ways.

Buy it: Ruby’s Sword on Amazon

87. Penguin series by Salina Yoon

Penguin had our hearts back with Penguin and Pinecone , one of our favorite tales about the power of friendship that evokes amazing reflections from kids. In each subsequent story, Penguin sensitively grapples with a new social-emotional challenge, and we—and our penguin-loving preschoolers—are here for all of them.

Buy it: Penguin series on Amazon

88. & 89. Daniel Finds a Poem and Daniel’s Good Day by Micha Archer

If you think poetry isn’t for preschoolers, think again. They dictate the most perfect poetic lines, and this pair of titles is the best springboard. Daniel is an honest, observant, caring delight of a character.

Buy it: Daniel Finds a Poem and Daniel’s Good Day on Amazon

90. Firefighter Flo! by Andrea Zimmerman

Brave firefighter Flo and her crew must hurry to save a dog caught in the blaze. Prepare to read this energetic gem aloud over and over again. It’s full of all the classic firefighting details and has fun sounds that little listeners can chime in to add too.

Buy it: Firefighter Flo! on Amazon

91. Lift, Mix, Fling! Machines Can Do Anything by Lola M. Schaefer

Add this to your preschool books to inspire kiddos who love all things mechanical. From axles to inclined planes and many more, this awesome rhyming introduction to simple and complex machines can lead into so many hands-on STEM explorations.

Buy it: Lift, Mix, Fling! Machines Can Do Anything on Amazon

92. Gus’s Garage by Leo Timmers

This quirky, creative rhyming story just gets better each time you read it and notice a new detail. Animals visit Gus’s Garage with unusual vehicle problems, and he’s always able to use his “bits and bobs” to craft a solution. This is the perfect STEM tale for inspiring creations made with recycled materials.

Buy it: Gus’s Garage on Amazon

93. Rainbow Stew by Cathryn Falwell

When a trio of siblings visits Grandpa, they’re so disappointed when it rains. Grandpa knows how to make it fun, though. He sends them out to the garden to pick veggies for his famous rainbow stew! This classic story includes so many key preschool themes, from managing disappointment to teamwork to plants.

Buy it: Rainbow Stew on Amazon

94. Have You Seen My Invisible Dinosaur? by Helen Yoon

A child is looking for their pet dinosaur, who disappears after a bath. The trouble is, the dinosaur is invisible. When he’s clean, no one can see him! This is an imaginative read-aloud to get kids noticing the pictures and talking about the story.

Buy it: Have You Seen My Invisible Dinosaur? on Amazon

95. Don’t Wake the Dragon by Bianca Schulze

Add this to your preschool books with delightful vocabulary, perfect for sharing with eager listeners. The author asks kids to be very quiet, since she just put a “very rascally dragon” to bed. The interactive elements work well for a group, and this story could even be used as kids settle into their own rest time.

Buy it: Don’t Wake the Dragon on Amazon

96. The North Wind & the Sun by Philip Stead

Once in a while, we like to stretch preschoolers’ thinking and vocabulary by sharing classic fables. This gorgeous retelling about joy vs. anger is perfect for repeated reading aloud and acting out with kid performers, puppets, or a flannel board.

Buy it: The North Wind & the Sun on Amazon

97. All Through the Night: Important Jobs That Get Done at Night by Polly Faber

As a family finishes up dinner, the mom heads to work. This informational text shares tons of examples of people who work at night, from store clerks to cleaners, musicians, newscasters, and many more. Add this to your preschool books about community helpers to help represent the diversity of careers and work schedules required in a community.

Buy it: All Through the Night: Important Jobs That Get Done at Night on Amazon

98. My Dog Just Speaks Spanish by Andrea Cáceres

Aurora learned English when she moved to the United States, but her dog didn’t. This concrete explanation of what it means to speak one language and not another is perfect for helping preschoolers appreciate and empathize with those who speak languages different than theirs.

Buy it: My Dog Just Speaks Spanish on Amazon

99. The Midnight Babies by Isabel Greenberg

Determined to avoid sleep, the babies head out on a grand adventure. Can they manage to keep their eyes open? Preschoolers will love their funny antics.

Buy it: The Midnight Babies on Amazon

100. If I Was a Horse by Sophie Blackall

Sophie Blackall’s illustrations are unmatched. Unleash preschoolers’ imaginations as they consider what they’d do if they were horses.

Buy it: If I Was a Horse on Amazon

101. The Twist-a-Roo by Kathleen Doherty

Badger’s supposed to be getting ready for winter, but when he finds a discarded “twist-a-roo”—actually a kaleidoscope—he can only think of looking at the beautiful patterns it makes. This is a fun “twist” on a winter animal story, with sweet friendship themes too. Be sure to have an actual kaleidoscope on hand for kids to try.

Buy it: The Twist-a-Roo on Amazon

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BOOK LIST: SPACE BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL

Looking for space books for your preschool theme? Check out our favorites!

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BOOK LIST: SPACE BOOKS

One great theme to use in your preschool or pre-k classroom (or at home with your little ones) is  SPACE because it’s SO engaging and exciting for kids!

Space is a fun preschool theme for any month of the year, but I like to teach it in the fall. Preschoolers love learning about the planets, the moon, rocket ships, and aliens…so it definitely keeps their attention at the beginning of a new school year.

Keep reading to check out some of our favorite space books for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten that you’ll definitely want to read to your little ones!

Looking for out-of-this-world space activities to go along with these books? Check these out!

SPACE BOOKS FOR YOUNG PRESCHOOLERS

Look, There’s a Rocket : My son loves this book because it rhymes and it gives him something to look for on each page! I love the colorful & detailed illustrations (and the cute alien at the end!) We love rhyming books to build  phonological awareness . 

Baby Astronaut : In this story, Baby is an astronaut and flies all the way to space! She does experiments and learns all about life as an astronaut, and she even meets some planet friends. In the end, Baby is back on Earth, sleeping in her bed (with a space mobile above it). 

Roaring Rockets : This rhyming book takes kids on a journey to the moon! Three animals start on Earth, fly in their rocket to the moon, and then come back to Earth at the end. I love how much this book teaches in a fun, easy-to-understand way. 

Where’s the Astronaut? This is an engaging book because it asks the reader to find something different on each page including an astronaut, a space dog, and even an alien! The last page has a mirror so the reader can find themself, too! 

Future Astronaut : This is a cute book that shows all the ways that Baby is preparing to be an astronaut, even as a baby. It includes facts about astronauts and how they live, work, and train for their important jobs.

SPACE BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL

Mars! Earthlings Welcome : This is such a creative way to talk about Mars…from Mars’ perspective! Mars invites the reader to visit her & learn all about her. She has a dream of being the first planet that Earthlings visit because she’s a Party Planet and ready for some fun!

Saturn Could Sail and Other Fun Facts : This book is filled with fun and interesting facts that your kids will love. It’s a little long and not meant to be read in one sitting, but the illustrations are colorful and the facts are really fascinating! 

Discover Our Solar System : Did you know that our galaxy is one of two trillion galaxies in the universe? Or that you could fit more than 1.3 million Earths inside the Sun? These are just a few amazing facts you’ll learn in this reference book for your space theme! This book isn’t meant to be read in one sitting…but it’s perfect to pull out when you’re discussing a certain topic or want to share amazing facts with your little ones!

Ready to Read: Our Universe: Mars : If your preschoolers are interested in Mars, this is the perfect book for them! This book has readers imagine going on a trip to Mars…it explains what makes Mars special, what they would see (like two moons in the sky and a blue sunset), and why Mars isn’t a hospitable place for humans. It also includes facts & definitions for bigger vocabulary words, such as “microbes” and “gravity.”

Little Kids First Board Book: Space : This is my go-to book to introduce the topic of space because it makes something so complex much easier to understand for our little ones. There are only a few sentences per page, and the pictures are clear and detailed. National Geographic always does a great job with their board books for little kids. 

Me and My Place in Space : I love this book because it actually helps preschoolers see their relationship to space. It gives facts about our solar system, but it does it in a fun way, with bright & colorful illustrations and kid-friendly language. 

The Milky Way: First Facts Book : This book is perfect for younger preschoolers because there is not too much text per page, plus the pictures are big and engaging. It gives facts about the Milky Way Galaxy and how scientists study it.

Haylee and Comet: A Tale of Cosmic Friendship : The title of this story is a play on words (Haylee’s comet is visible from earth every 75 years or so). Haylee goes outside to make a wish on a shooting star, but she actually meets a Comet. The two form a strong friendship (and make a “Friend Ship”). It’s a sweet story about friendship and how the two are similar, even if they seem so different on the outside.

National Geographic Kids: Planets : This book is a great introduction to the planets for kids. It includes simplified language and easy-to-understand facts about our solar system. It also discusses why Pluto is a dwarf planet and how scientists study space. 

The Universe: Black Holes : This book is a great introduction to black holes, which I find totally fascinating! The text is large and there are max two paragraphs per page, so it’s not totally overwhelming for little ones. Plus there are pictures on each page that are engaging and interesting! 

ABCs of Space : Now I have to say…I usually don’t pick ABC books that don’t use the most common sound for each letter (ex: I won’t read an ABC book that has “G is for giraffe” since G most often represents the /g/ sound not the /j/ sound in giraffe.) However, I make an exception for this book because we don’t use it to focus on sounds…in fact, we would still read it even if it wasn’t an ABC book! I just like that it points out different parts of space (such asteroids, galaxies, and neutron stars). Plus my preschooler loves to look at the illustrations on each page.

On the Night of the Shooting Star : Bunny and Dog live on opposite sides of the fence, but they never talk or play together. But on the night of the shooting star, they’re both outside and see it whisk across the sky. Then they decide to become friends.

How Many Stars in the Sky? This book made the list because the paintings are absolutely gorgeous. A young boy can’t sleep because his mom isn’t home, so he goes outside to count the stars. Then he and his dad drive all over town, counting the stars, but realizing there are just too many to count. They end up sleeping in a field in the country, and when they wake up, they’re excited to go home and tell Mama all about their adventure. 

The Sun Is My Favorite Star : This is a sweet and simple book that talks all about how important the sun is. The illustrations are colorful and create a cozy feeling for the reader. 

DK Find Out: Space Travel : This would be a great book to have on hand to let your little learners flip through it on their own time. It has amazing photographs that will pique their interest about space. If I was sharing this book with my preschoolers, I would only choose one section to read about (that goes along with our lesson). I wouldn’t read the whole book.

The Stellar Story of Space Travel: This book gives a great background on this history of space travel and and discovery. It’s a little long and broken up into chapters, so you might want to read a chapter at a time (otherwise it’ll be too overwhelming for our little ones.) 

Astronauts Living in Space : This book is all about Linda, an astronaut who’s going into space. The book explains all about the training astronauts must receive before heading into space, while also discussing what life is like for Linda while working in space. It uses a combination of real photographs and illustrations. 

Max Goes to the Moon: A Space Adventure with Max the Dog : This book has a special place in my heart because my daughter met the author when she was in kindergarten and he signed her book. This is a sweet story about Max the Dog, who wants to go to the moon. Max and his human friend, Tori, train with the astronauts and make it to the moon. His trip inspires the children of the world to persuade the grownups to build a colony on the moon, which is so exciting!

Kitten’s First Full Moon : To be honest, this isn’t technically a “space” book, but it’s too cute not to share! Kitten sees her first full moon and thinks it’s a bowl of milk. So she tries her very best to get to it. She chases it, climbs up high into a tree, and thinks she can get it when she sees the reflection in the water. But it’s no good…she can’t get the milk. But when she gets home, there’s a big bowl of milk waiting for her on the porch.

Man on the Moon : This book is all about Apollo 11 and the mission to the moon! The illustrations are large and the text isn’t too overwhelming per page. It talks about that successful mission. 

The Moon: (A True Book: Our Universe ): This is a great reference book that focuses solely on the moon. It uses engaging photographs and interesting facts to teach all about the moon. It’s too long to read in one sitting, but you could use it to teach about a certain topic regarding the moon.

There Was An Old Astronaut Who Swallowed the Moon : Who doesn’t love the “Old Lady” series of books?! They’re so much fun! This version has the old lady dressed up like an astronaut and flying through space! She swallows so many things, like the moon, a star, and a planet! I especially love this version because there are real facts about space on every other page.

I Am Neil Armstrong : We love this series of books and have learned about many famous people because of it. This edition is all about Neil Armstrong, the first person to ever walk on the moon. It talks all about his childhood, his time in the Navy, and his dedication to NASA. What I love most about this book series is that the illustrations look like a comic book, and the author uses a lot of humor to share facts about Armstrong’s life.

Astronaut Handbook : This is a cute book that talks all about the guidelines for being an astronaut, like studying hard, being mentally & physically prepared, and working well with others. The illustrations are colorful & fun and the book tells facts in an engaging way. 

Mae Among the Stars : I absolutely adore this book! It’s about Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American female astronaut and the first African American woman in space. As a child, Mae dreamed of being an astronaut, but her teacher discouraged her and her classmates laughed at her. But that didn’t stop Mae…her parents told her that if she worked hard and didn’t let anyone stop her, she could accomplish her dreams. And that’s exactly what she did!

If You Decide To Go To The Moon : This is a fun book that talks all about what would happen if you decided to go to the moon & it gives facts in a hypothetical way. The illustrations are fun and readers can imagine themselves going to the moon. It is a little long for preschoolers though.

Goodnight, Astronaut : This book is written by Scott Kelly, a NASA astronaut who spent an entire year in space! It tells all about his life, starting with his childhood dreaming about adventures, all the way through to his time in space. It ends by inspiring readers to dream big and chase what they want…and maybe one day they’ll end up in space, too!

The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon (The True Story of Alan Bean) : Most of us have heard of Neil Armstrong, the first astronaut who walked on the moon. But this book tells the story of Alan Bean, who was the fourth astronaut to walk on the moon during the Apollo 12 mission. After he returned to Earth, Bean painted amazing pictures of space & helped people feel what it was like to be there. This book tells his story in a way that will inspire our little ones to go after their dreams! 

Astronaut Training : This is an adorable book about a little girl named Astrid who wants to be an astronaut. Astrid plays astronaut all day, and when she sleeps, she dreams she’s an astronaut! She visits a planet filled with BIG aliens and a planet filled with little aliens, and when she wakes up, she’s back on the perfect-sized planet for her…Earth!

Mousetronaut : This book is written by Mark Kelly, an astronaut and US Senator from Arizona. In this story, the astronauts are about to head to space, and they decide to take a few mice with them on the mission. Meteor is the smallest mouse of the bunch, but he works hard and is chosen for the trip. And good thing, too…when they’re up in space, Meteor saves the day by retrieving a key that gets stuck in the tiniest place. Because he’s so tiny himself, Meteor frees the key and is a hero!

Mousetronaut Goes to Mars : In this sequel to Mousetronaut, Meteor wants to go back to space…this time to Mars! When he’s not chosen for the mission, Meteor sneaks abroad anyway…and it’s a good thing he does! When they get to Mars, they realize the landing craft’s engines are broken and can’t hold much weight, so an astronaut can’t fit inside. Luckily, Meteor is small and he CAN fit! So Meteor becomes the first mouse on Mars & is hailed as a hero!

Penguinaut : We LOVE this book in my house! Orville the penguin dreams of having a big adventure, so he builds a rocket and blasts off to the moon! He’s so proud of himself for making it to space, but he misses his friends back at the zoo. So he heads home and decides to build a rocket that’s big enough for ALL the friends to go to space together!

Busy People: Astronaut :​ This story is about three astronauts, Jenny, Chen, & Kim, who are going into space. They train hard for their mission and head into space where they meet a robot named Robo-bot on the International Space Station. Robo-bot has a few malfunctions, so Jenny has to fix him (along with all of her other busy jobs in space!)

Astronaut Annie : This is such a fun story! Annie comes home from school and invites her parents & grandparents to Career Day on Friday, but she won’t tell them what she’s going to dress up as. Will she be a reporter like her grandfather? A cook like her grandmother? A basketball  player like her mom? Or a hiker like her dad? In the end, Annie combines all of the qualities of each of those choices and dresses up like an astronaut! The back of the book also has information about real women astronauts who have visited space. 

Papa, Please Get The Moon for Me : This Eric Carle book has his classic illustrations and a fun storyline that helps explain the phases of the moon. One night, Monica asks her dad to get her the moon. So he uses a tall ladder on top of a tall mountain and gets her the moon. But it keeps disappearing until it’s totally gone (new moon). Then Monica sees a sliver of it back in the sky, and it keeps getting bigger until it’s a full moon again.

NONFICTION SPACE BOOK SERIES FOR PRESCHOOL

Out of this World Series: All Planets : This book series includes a different book for each planet in our Solar System. What I love most about this series is there is a small amount of text per page, so it’s perfect for our young toddlers & preschoolers. (You can easily read each book in one sitting). I also love the bright photographs and glossary in the back of the book. Plus they do a great job of comparing each planet to Earth to give some context to the information.

Searchlight Books: Discover Each Planet Series : Here’s another series of books about each planet, but this one is better for older kiddos. These books are not meant to be read in one sitting. Instead, they are great reference books to look up information about a certain planet or topic on that planet. You could choose to read a section or two based on your lessons for the day.

PLUTO BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL

Pluto Gets the Call : This book is a funny take on the Pluto situation! Pluto gets a phone call telling him he’s not a planet anymore, and he’s super bummed! So he goes around the Solar System pointing out facts about the other planets and wondering why they get to be a planet when he doesn’t. When he makes it to the Sun, the Sun reminds him that he’s special, just the way he is. This hilarious book teaches so many facts without kids even knowing it!

A Place for Pluto : This is a super adorable fiction book all about how Pluto felt after he was told he wasn’t a planet anymore. Pluto felt so sad and was trying to find where he belonged. He was just about to give up when he met a Dwarf Planet and realized he was a Dwarf Planet, too! This is such a fun spin on the Pluto saga!

Out of This World: Pluto: The Icy Dwarf Planet : This book gives readers a quick overview all about Pluto and why it’s no longer considered a planet. The illustrations are clear and the text per page is minimal, so it can easily be read in one sitting. 

SPACE SNACK

Want to pair one of your space books with a fun snack? Try this Fruit Rocket (inspired by  Capturing Parenthood …she has other space snack ideas on her blog, too!) Your preschooler is sure to love helping you make this snack with ingredients you might already have at home (we used bananas, watermelon, and mango) Yum!

SPACE FREEBIE

One area that’s important to focus on when teaching preschoolers is helping them learn their name . This fun Name Rocket is the perfect way to work on name skills during your space theme. Click here  to read more and download a free template for your kiddos!

SPACE MATH & LITERACY PRINTABLES

I hope this book list helped you fill-in your space lesson plans for your preschool classroom or homeschool. If you want an entire pack of printable math & literacy centers for this theme, check out my  Way Out in Space Preschool Activity Pack .

Click here to check it out!

SHARE YOUR FAVORITES

Do you have any favorite space books for preschool? I’d love to hear them and add them to our list! Comment below or find me on  Instagram  [ @littleslovelearningblo g ] & share there!

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Looking for other book lists for preschool and kindergarten? Click HERE to check them out!

Happy Learning!

Top 10 Journeys And Voyages Books

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22 Exciting Choose Your Own Adventure Books

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Don’t forget about the best choose your own adventure books for kids ! These are books written with YOU as the hero. And they’re very engaging to kids, particularly reluctant readers. If you were like me, you read these as a child, too. Well, guess what — they’re still around and very popular with readers!

I just read the new Alice Through the Looking Glass middle grade choose-your-own-adventure (listed below) and found it so delightful that I figured I would share with you all the best books in this fun sub-genre. Especially after several teachers shared with me how much their students loved these adventure stories.

3 Top Choose Your Own Adventure Picks for Boys & Girls

• Escape from a Video Game by Dustin Brady
• Search for a Giant Squid: Pick Your Path by Amy Seto Forrester & Andy Chou Musser
• A Matter of Time: Alice Through the Looking Glass   by  Carla Jablonski  

Here’s how it works. Young readers begin reading the story narrated in the 2nd person point of view. In other words, you are the protagonist. You make the decisions. You might fight the bad guys. And before long, you’ll have to make your first big decision. Which choice will you pick? When you decide, your choice determines what page you read next and the way the story will go. You continue making choices. Some will work out, but most will be disastrous. Can you even believe how interactive this reading experience is? And how many story options are there in these books?

Plus, for even more awesomeness, almost all of these choose your own adventure books are books in a series. This means that when your child likes the first book in the series, they’ll have plenty more books to read in the rest of the series.

Incidentally, if you’re a teacher or homeschooler trying to teach students about point of view , use these books to teach second-person narration!

Now, you might be thinking that a choose your own adventure book is only for chapter and middle grade books. Not so fast. Believe it or not, I have several interesting picture book choices for young readers as well.

Of course, if you have readers ages 6 and up, you can find a fun variety of chapter books and middle grade titles, everything from time traveling to zombies to ninjas .

The Best Choose Your Own Adventure Books

Choose your own adventure picture books ages 2 – 6.

Pick a Story A Pirate Alien Jungle Adventure  written by Sarah Coyle, illustrated by Adam Walker-Parker CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE There aren’t many choose your own adventure picture books but this one fits the bill.  One day at the park, Vincent sees a pirate ship, a shake, and a beam of light.  What you Vincent investigate? You choose the story and prepare to have a wild adventure!

Endlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Dan Santat ages 3 – 7 Make decisions as you read classic fairy tales like “The Three Little Pigs” and “Snow White” and make the stories hilarious and different with your choices. Beautifully illustrated.

Choose Your Own Adventure Chapter Books Ages 6 – 9

Choose Your Own Adventure Middle Grade Books Ages 8 – 12

Leviathan: Adventures in Comics by Jason Shiga ages 8 – 12 Original and interactive, this choose-your-own-adventure comic takes readers on a quest for a magic wand that will stop the Leviathan. But what is the history of the coastal town and the Leviathan? And how did Leviathan’s attacks stop crime in the village? I predict kids will 100% enjoy this captivating adventure story!

Search for a Giant Squid: Pick Your Path by Amy Seto Forrester & Andy Chou Musser  ages 8 – 12 Join an expedition on a dive to the deepest ocean depths to search for a giant squid. Choose which pilot to be, the submersible you’ll use, and the dive site, and then start your adventure. What will you discover? What will you do with mechanical problems or bad weather? This is a clever and informative adventure that is one of my top book picks for 2023!

Spin to Survive: Deadly Jungle by Emily Hawkins, illustrated by R. Fresson ages 8 – 12 In this choose your own adventure story, spin the spinner to decide your moves through the Amazon Rainforest, searching for the Lost City of the Jaguar God. You’ll face rivers, jaguars, rival treasure hunters, waterfalls, cliffs, snakes, etc. Can you survive? What will you eat? The book will give you the story as well as survival tips, like how to make a fish trap and what plants are poisonous. Read short biographies of other survivors and creature features.

Choose Your Own Adventure 4-Book Boxed Set by R.A. Montgomery ages 8 – 12 Get a box set of four bestselling titles from the classic gamebook series!

YA Ages 12+

The Dregg Disaster: An Algebra Gamebook by Chris Matthews Not your normal adventure book; this unique book is all about algebra. Kids will have to make choices and solve problems like plot points, factors, polynomials, and percents, concepts from Algebra I. Wouldn’t this be a great homeschool math book?

You Might Also Like:

The Best Historical Fiction Books for Kids

The Best Mystery Books for Kids

Children’s Books to Teach Point of View

Books for 1st Graders (age 6)

Books for 2nd Graders (age 7)

Books for 3rd Graders

Books for 4th Graders

Books for 5th Graders

Books for 6th Graders

Books for 7th Graders

Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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Thank you so much for this list! I have been trying to find the names of the first choose your own adventure books I ever read (so I can buy them for my daughter). They would have been released in the early years, mid 1980’s or so. I just remembered that they were called ‘quest books’ or were ‘quest books’ and they were so exciting for me as a young girl. I’m guessing most of them are out of print now, even if I could find the names of them. Anyway, this list is just what I’ve been looking for, so I can introduce my girl to the exciting world of choosing your own adventure. Thanks again!

Thanks! I think some of the classic quest titles are retitled with new covers — the R.A. Montogmery ones.

This is a great list. Have you seen the plants vs zombies choose your path book? It is what finally got my oldest son to enjoy reading. He’s been looking for more choose your own adventure books and I think he might like a couple of these. Thanks for putting this together!

I love those books but haven’t seen the choose your own adventure — thanks for the tip!

Thanks for this list! My mother is an adult literacy tutor and we were just talking about whether these kinds of books still exist. She is currently working with a student on his GED and because of his reading level, the last books he read and enjoyed were books for tweens. She thought choose your own adventure books might be something he would be willing to read.

that would be a great option! I hope it works out. 🙂

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Best Preschool Books: A Guide for Parents and Educators

Written by: Kokotree

Last updated: February 22, 2024

I ’ve spent years exploring the magical world of preschool books. It’s undeniable how these early reading materials shape a child’s imagination and learning. They’re not just books; they’re the first step in a lifelong journey of discovery.

Choosing the right preschool books can be daunting for parents and educators. With an overwhelming array of options, picking enjoyable and educational preschool books is crucial.

In my experience, the best preschool books are those that weave engaging stories with vibrant illustrations, sparking curiosity while teaching valuable lessons. They’re the ones who make bedtime stories a cherished routine and turn little ones into avid readers. Stick around as we dive into the world of preschool books, and I’ll share some of my top picks and tips for choosing the perfect ones.

Importance of Preschool Books

Picture books, interactive books, educational books, alphabet and phonics, numbers and counting, colors and shapes, social-emotional learning, nature and science, imagination and creativity, how to choose the right preschool books.

Stepping into the world of preschool books, let’s consider their importance in a child’s academic and social growth. You may wonder why there’s so much hype about these books. Can’t children learn from ordinary books? Well, let’s expose some facts.

First off, preschool books are meticulously designed to cater to the cognitive level of children aged between 3 and 5. They’re crafted with attention to detail, ensuring that kids of this age group can easily digest information.

Preschool books serve as a building block in a child’s learning journey . They’re more than just colorful images and catchy phrases – they’re a source of interactive learning. The beautiful illustrations do not only keep children engaged but also develop their imaginative skills. A dragon isn’t scary if he’s teaching numbers, right?

Table 1. Preschool Books. Benefits:

Additionally, these books are a great way to instill a love for reading at an early age . Once a child develops a reading habit, it stays with them for life. It’s a skill that paves the way for academic success and expands their worldview as they grow.

Another significant benefit of preschool books is that they often teach important life lessons. Whether it’s about sharing, being kind or expressing themselves – children learn through stories. They also give our young ones a glimpse of different cultures , promoting inclusivity.

Preschool books provide infotainment in a way that not many resources can. As a parent or an educator, don’t underestimate the power of the right book in your little one’s hands.

Best Types of Preschool Books

Navigating the world of children’s literature can be overwhelming with countless options available. It’s important for parents and educators to know that all books are not created equal. In this section, I’ll be delving into three key types of preschool books that are ideally suited to engage and educate young children aged 3 to 5.

Picture Books are a timeless staple in the world of preschool reading. These books are brilliantly crafted with equally engaging visuals and texts. They’re not just about beautiful illustrations. Each image is meticulously designed to tell a story, stimulating a child’s visual learning process. Picture books typically contain short, simple sentences, making them perfect for young children who are just beginning to learn about language and storytelling. Some classic examples include Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham .

Interactive Books take the reading experience one step further. They invite children not just to read, but to engage with the book physically. This can involve activities such as lift-the-flap, touch-and-feel, or pull tabs. Books like these help to cultivate fine motor skills while entertaining the child. A perfect example is Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt. Notably, these books also aid in developing problem-solving skills as kids figure out how different components of the book work.

Don’t let the word ‘educational’ deter you. High-quality Educational Books for preschoolers take the crucial elements of early learning and package them in an engaging, adorable format. These books cover a range of subjects, including numbers, letters, shapes, and even manners. Notable series like Usborne’s Lift-the-Flap books incorporate elements of interactivity while teaching complex concepts, proving that education and entertainment are not mutually exclusive!

By exploring these types of preschool books, you’re setting the stage for a lifelong love of reading, an enriched vocabulary, and a better understanding of the world around them. Consider these categories the next time you’re on the hunt for that perfect book. They truly do more than just tell a story.

Best Preschool Books

Navigating the world of early childhood education can be as enchanting as it is essential, and the cornerstone of this journey is undoubtedly the magic of reading. When selecting the top preschool books, parents and educators are often spoiled for choice, yet the quest for the best pre-K books remains paramount.

These best preschool learning books not only introduce young minds to the wonders of language, storytelling, and imagination but also lay the foundational stones for a lifelong love of reading. Our curated selection includes the most popular preschool books, timeless classics, and hidden gems, ensuring a well-rounded library.

Whether you’re looking for engaging narratives, interactive reads, or thematic discoveries, our list of books for preschool is designed to captivate, educate, and inspire our littlest readers. With each page turned, watch as your child embarks on a new adventure, unlocking the treasures of knowledge and creativity.

These books offer a variety of approaches to learning the alphabet and phonics, from interactive features to thematic adventures, making the learning experience enjoyable and engaging for preschoolers.

“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

• A fun and rhythmic alphabet book where letters climb up a coconut tree.
• Significance: Introduces the alphabet in a playful and memorable way.

“Dr. Seuss’s ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book!” by Dr. Seuss

• A whimsical journey through the alphabet with Dr. Seuss’s unique illustrations and rhymes.
• Significance: Helps with letter recognition and phonics through engaging rhymes.

“Alphabet City” by Stephen T. Johnson

• A wordless book that presents letters of the alphabet found in everyday urban surroundings.
• Significance: Encourages letter recognition and visual exploration in real-world contexts.

“Eating the Alphabet” by Lois Ehlert

• A colorful book that features fruits and vegetables for each letter of the alphabet.
• Significance: Introduces the alphabet while also teaching about healthy foods.

“AlphaOops!: The Day Z Went First” by Alethea Kontis and Bob Kolar

• A playful twist on the alphabet where the letters are out of order, and each one wants to be first.
• Significance: Reinforces letter recognition in a fun and unconventional way.

“LMNO Peas” by Keith Baker

• A lively alphabet book where each letter is represented by peas engaging in various activities.
• Significance: Combines letter learning with vocabulary development and humor.

“Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC” by June Sobel and Henry Cole

• A pirate-themed alphabet adventure where pirates search for all the letters of the alphabet.
• Significance: Offers an engaging, adventurous context for learning the alphabet.

“A is for Apple” by Georgie Birkett

• An interactive board book with lift-the-flap features for each letter of the alphabet.
• Significance: Encourages hands-on learning and exploration of letters and corresponding words.

“Alphablock” by Christopher Franceschelli

• A chunky board book with die-cut letters that provide a tactile and visual way to explore the alphabet.
• Significance: Offers a unique, hands-on approach to learning letters and their shapes.

“B Is for Bear: A Natural Alphabet” by Hannah Viano

• An alphabet book that combines letters with nature and wildlife illustrations.
• Significance: Introduces the alphabet while fostering an appreciation for nature.

These books offer diverse approaches to teaching numbers and counting, from interactive and playful stories to calming bedtime routines, all designed to engage preschoolers in learning basic math concepts.

“Ten Black Dots” by Donald Crews

• A counting book that uses black dots to create different images and scenes.
• Significance: Encourages counting and creativity in visualizing numbers.

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle

• Follows the journey of a caterpillar eating its way through various foods before becoming a butterfly.
• Significance: Teaches counting, days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly.

“1, 2, 3 to the Zoo” by Eric Carle

• A counting book that takes readers on a train journey to the zoo, with each car carrying a different number of animals.
• Significance: Teaches counting in a fun and engaging way with beautiful illustrations.

“Count the Monkeys” by Mac Barnett and Kevin Cornell

• An interactive book that encourages children to count monkeys, but each page turns up different animals instead.
• Significance: Promotes counting skills and humor, keeping children entertained and engaged.

“Five Little Ducks” by Raffi and José Aruego

• A classic nursery rhyme turned into a picture book, counting down from five as little ducks go out and return to their mother.
• Significance: Teaches counting backwards and introduces concepts of subtraction in a simple way.

“Mouse Count” by Ellen Stoll Walsh

• A story about a clever group of mice who outsmart a snake, with a focus on counting.
• Significance: Combines counting practice with a suspenseful story that teaches about numbers and problem-solving.

“Anno’s Counting Book” by Mitsumasa Anno

• A wordless book that explores counting and the seasons through detailed illustrations of a changing landscape.
• Significance: Encourages counting and observation skills, inviting children to explore and discover numbers in the world around them.

“Ten, Nine, Eight” by Molly Bang

• A bedtime counting book that counts down from ten to one as a little girl gets ready for bed.
• Significance: Teaches counting backwards and introduces a calming bedtime routine.

“Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On” by Lois Ehlert

• A brightly illustrated book with fish of different colors and patterns, inviting children to count and explore basic math concepts.
• Significance: Encourages counting and early math skills through engaging visuals and interactive text.

“One Duck Stuck” by Phyllis Root and Jane Chapman

• A counting book that follows a duck stuck in the muck and the various animals that come to help, each group increasing in number.
• Significance: Teaches counting and teamwork, with repetitive, rhyming text that makes it fun to read aloud.

These books add depth to exploring colors and shapes, incorporating elements of storytelling, emotion, and cultural context to enrich preschoolers’ learning experience.

“Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

• A repetitive pattern book that introduces colors and animals.
• Significance: Helps with color recognition and introduces children to different animals.

“Mouse Paint” by Ellen Stoll Walsh

• Three white mice discover jars of red, blue, and yellow paint and explore color mixing.
• Significance: Teaches primary and secondary colors and the concept of mixing colors.

“Color Zoo” by Lois Ehlert

• A unique book that uses die-cut pages to create different animal faces while exploring shapes and colors.
• Significance: Encourages children to identify shapes and colors creatively and interactively.

“A Color of His Own” by Leo Lionni

• A story about a chameleon who wants a color of his own, exploring themes of identity and belonging through colors.
• Significance: Teaches about colors while conveying a meaningful message about individuality and acceptance.

“Shape by Shape” by Suse MacDonald

• A book that introduces shapes by gradually revealing parts of a dinosaur through die-cut pages.
• Significance: Engages children in learning shapes in a fun and suspenseful way.

“My Very First Book of Shapes” by Eric Carle

• A split-page book that allows children to match the top half of the page showing a shape with the bottom half showing objects of that shape.
• Significance: Promotes shape recognition and matching skills in an interactive format.

“Shapes, Shapes, Shapes” by Tana Hoban

• A wordless book that features photographs of various objects and scenes, inviting children to discover shapes in everyday life.
• Significance: Encourages observation and shape recognition in real-world contexts.
• A story about three mice who mix primary colors to create new colors while avoiding a cat.
• Significance: Teaches color mixing and playfully introduces primary and secondary colors.

“The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions” by Anna Llenas

• A book that uses different colors to represent emotions, helping children understand and express their feelings.
• Significance: Connects colors with emotions, aiding in emotional literacy and self-expression.

“Red Is a Dragon: A Book of Colors” by Roseanne Thong and Grace Lin

• A colorful book that explores various objects and scenes from a child’s perspective, each associated with a different color.
• Significance: Introduces colors in the context of culture and everyday life, enhancing vocabulary and observation skills.

These books enrich the Social-Emotional Learning category by addressing various emotions and teaching children about empathy, self-awareness, and coping mechanisms in a relatable and accessible way.

“The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn

• A story about a raccoon named Chester who is nervous about starting school, and his mother’s comforting gesture.
• Significance: Addresses separation anxiety and reassures children about new experiences.

“Llama Llama Red Pajama” by Anna Dewdney

• A relatable story about bedtime fears and a mother’s reassurance.
• Significance: Helps children understand and manage their emotions, especially at bedtime.

“The Feelings Book” by Todd Parr

• A colorful book that explores a wide range of emotions, encouraging children to express how they feel.
• Significance: Promotes emotional awareness and expression, helping children understand and accept their feelings.

“I Am Human: A Book of Empathy” by Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds

• A book that celebrates the joys and challenges of being human, emphasizing empathy and understanding.
• Significance: Encourages self-reflection and empathy, teaching children about kindness and compassion.

“My Many Colored Days” by Dr. Seuss

• A book that uses colors and animals to describe different emotions, offering a new way to understand and express feelings.
• Significance: Helps children recognize and accept their changing emotions, promoting emotional literacy.

“Grumpy Monkey” by Suzanne Lang and Max Lang

• A story about a monkey who wakes up feeling grumpy and learns that it’s okay to have bad days.
• Significance: Teaches children that it’s normal to have a range of emotions and that it’s okay to express them.

“In My Heart: A Book of Feelings” by Jo Witek and Christine Roussey

• A book with die-cut pages that explores different emotions, represented as objects in the heart.
• Significance: Encourages children to explore and express their feelings, promoting emotional intelligence.

“The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

• A story that explains the concept of an invisible string connecting loved ones, even when they are apart.
• Significance: Provides comfort and reassurance about separation and loss, emphasizing the strength of love and connection.

“The Way I Feel” by Janan Cain

• A book that introduces a range of emotions through simple text and expressive illustrations.
• Significance: Helps children identify and understand their emotions, fostering emotional literacy.

“When Sophie Gets Angry — Really, Really Angry…” by Molly Bang

• A story about a girl named Sophie who learns to manage her anger and find ways to calm down.
• Significance: Teaches children about anger management and coping strategies for strong emotions.

These books further enrich the Nature and Science category by introducing children to various scientific concepts and natural phenomena in an engaging and accessible manner, fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world.

“The Very Busy Spider” by Eric Carle

• A spider spins her web while being visited by various farm animals.
• Significance: Introduces children to different animals and the concept of perseverance.

“Planting a Rainbow” by Lois Ehlert

• A colorful book about planting and growing a flower garden.
• Significance: Teaches about colors, flowers, and the basics of plant growth.

“Over and Under the Pond” by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal

• A book that explores the ecosystem of a pond, highlighting the animals and plants that live above and below the water.
• Significance: Teaches children about freshwater habitats and the interconnectedness of nature.

“The Tiny Seed” by Eric Carle

• A story that follows the journey of a tiny seed as it grows into a flower, facing various challenges along the way.
• Significance: Introduces the life cycle of a plant and the concept of perseverance in nature.

“National Geographic Kids Look and Learn: Bugs” by National Geographic Kids

• A photographic book that introduces young readers to various insects and bugs, with simple facts and vibrant images.
• Significance: Encourages curiosity and learning about the diversity of insect life.

“The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive” by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen

• A fun and educational adventure with Ms. Frizzle and her class as they explore the inside of a beehive.
• Significance: Teaches children about the life of bees and the importance of pollinators in the ecosystem.

“A Rock Is Lively” by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long

• A beautifully illustrated book that introduces the fascinating world of rocks and minerals.
• Significance: Encourages exploration and appreciation of the geology around us.

“On the Nature Trail” by Storey Publishing

• A book filled with activities, stickers, and information for young explorers to learn about nature on a trail.
• Significance: Promotes outdoor exploration and hands-on learning about the natural world.

“The Water Cycle: Water Play Series Book 1” by Mayra Calvani

• A simple and engaging book that explains the water cycle to young children.
• Significance: Introduces basic concepts of Earth’s water cycle and the importance of water conservation.

“Moon: A Peek-Through Picture Book” by Britta Teckentrup

• A book with peek-through pages that takes readers on a journey through the phases of the moon and its impact on wildlife.
• Significance: Teaches about the lunar cycle and its effects on nature in a visually captivating way.

These books enrich the Imagination and Creativity category by showcasing the limitless possibilities of imagination and the importance of creativity in self-expression and problem-solving.

“Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak

• A classic tale of a boy’s imaginative adventure to a land of wild creatures.
• Significance: Encourages imagination and explores themes of independence and emotional expression.

“Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis

• A rabbit shows that a box is not just a box but can be anything the imagination conjures.
• Significance: Promotes creativity and imaginative play using everyday objects.

“Harold and the Purple Crayon” by Crockett Johnson

• A classic story about a boy named Harold who creates a world of his own with a purple crayon.
• Significance: Encourages imagination and creativity, showing how a simple tool like a crayon can transform the world.

“Journey” by Aaron Becker

• A wordless picture book that tells the story of a lonely girl who uses a red crayon to draw a door into a magical world.
• Significance: Inspires imaginative storytelling and exploration through stunning illustrations.

“Beautiful Oops!” by Barney Saltzberg

• A book that celebrates mistakes and shows how they can lead to creative discoveries.
• Significance: Encourages a positive attitude towards mistakes and promotes creativity and resilience.

“The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds

• A story about a girl who believes she can’t draw until her teacher encourages her to make a mark and see where it takes her.
• Significance: Teaches the importance of self-expression and the power of encouragement in unlocking creativity.

“Iggy Peck, Architect” by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts

• A story about a boy named Iggy who loves building and uses his creativity to solve problems.
• Significance: Promotes the value of creativity in problem-solving and the importance of pursuing one’s passions.

“Mix It Up!” by Hervé Tullet

• An interactive book that invites children to use their imagination to mix colors and create new shades.
• Significance: Encourages hands-on exploration and creativity with colors.

“Not a Stick” by Antoinette Portis

• A book that follows a pig who imagines a stick as various objects, from a sword to a fishing rod.
• Significance: Celebrates the power of imagination in transforming everyday objects into tools for play and adventure.

“Sky Color” by Peter H. Reynolds

• A story about a girl who needs to paint the sky for a mural but realizes the sky doesn’t always have to be blue.
• Significance: Encourages thinking outside the box and exploring creativity in art.

When choosing the right preschool books, there are a few key considerations to remember. Remember, you’re not just selecting a book; you’re also shaping a child’s early literary experiences and steering them toward a lifelong habit of reading.

First off, age-appropriate content is vital. Choosing preschool books that suit the child’s age and developmental stage is crucial. Ideally, books aimed at the 3-to-5-year-old bracket should have simple, clear text and vibrant and engaging images. Picture books, often the go-to choice in this age group, fit the bill perfectly by balancing visual stimulation with a relatable storyline.

But that’s not all; encouraging interactive learning goes a long way in cultivating problem-solving skills. That’s where interactive books step in. These books, filled with fun flaps, pull-outs, touch-and-feel elements, etc. provide physical interaction that helps boost cognitive development.

Of course, we can’t overlook educational books. It might sound boring, but trust me, there’s an impressive variety of educational books out there that make learning far from dull. These books often cover a wide array of subjects from alphabets, numbers, shapes, to the world around us and more, ensuring no topic is too intimidating for young minds.

As a reminder, choosing the right preschool book is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s about finding the correct blend of the above aspects and matching it to the child’s interests and curiosity level.

Remember to:

• Scan the book length. Too long, and the child may lose interest.
• Keep an eye out for books that may provoke a conversation.
• Opt for high-quality, sturdy books that can withstand rough handling.

Choosing the right preschool books isn’t a task to be taken lightly. They’re powerful tools that can shape a child’s early learning journey.

Age-appropriate content, interactive elements, and educational themes are key factors that can’t be overlooked. It’s crucial to align the book selection with the child’s interests and curiosity levels. The length and quality of the book also matter. This early exposure to different cultures and backgrounds nurtures empathy and awareness, setting a strong foundation for their future.

So when you’re next in the bookstore or browsing online, remember these tips. After all, the right book can open a world of discovery for your little one.

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50 Must-Read Preschool Books

Katherine Willoughby

Katherine Willoughby lives is Richmond, Virginia and teaches Junior Kindergarten at the same school where she discovered her love of reading. When she is not in the classroom, Katherine enjoys building wooden train layouts with her three-year-old son, playing board games while drinking IPA’s with her husband, and taking part in pub trivia. Read Across America Day is her favorite holiday!

View All posts by Katherine Willoughby

Reading with Preschoolers

Preschoolers are children ages 3–5. Most can sit still and listen to a story for at least five minutes. They also understand how to care for books and are ready for “real” books instead of board books. Here are some tips for reading with these little book lovers:

• Whenever possible, let your preschooler choose the books to read. Visit your library often with your little one!
• Books do not have to be read in one sitting. Use a fun or fancy bookmark to mark your place when your preschooler starts getting wiggly.
• Ask your preschooler questions about the book while you read. Point out such things as the title, spine, author’s name, and end pages.
• Don’t be afraid of books with longer words or sentences. Children do not need to understand every word in the book. Let them take it all in—the words, sentence flow, and illustrations.
• It is okay to read the same book over and over! Kids learn from repetition. With that being said, it is also okay to “lose” a book from time to time or tell your child that it is due back at the library today, even when it is not due for another week (I’m thinking about you, Lightsaber Battles ! ).

Here is a list of the best preschool books that kids love as much as macaroni and cheese!

Classic Preschool Books

1.  caps for sale by esphyr slobodkina.

“This tale of a peddler and a band of mischievous monkeys is filled with warmth, humor, and simplicity and also teaches children about problem and resolution.”

2.  Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things that Go   by Richard Scarry

“Buckle-up for a fun-filled day of planes, trains, automobiles…and even a pickle truck! Featuring hundreds of clearly labeled vehicles, this is the perfect book for little vehicle fans from the one and only Richard Scarry.”

3.  Where the Wild Things Are   by Maurice Sendak

One night, a little boy named Max dons his wolf suit “and makes mischief of one kind or another.” After his mother sends him to his room, Max imagines that he sails away to where the Wild Things are. After swinging from trees, ruling the Wild Things, and even joining in a wild rumpus, Max realizes that there really is no place like home!

4.  The Little Engine That Could  by Watty Piper

“The story of a train filled with toys and gifts for little boys and girls that breaks down before reaching the children. After asking several passing trains for help over the hill, a little blue train agrees to help the stranded toys. Even though she is small, the blue train tries her best to bring the toys to the children on the other side of the hill.”

5. Corduroy   by Don Freeman

Corduroy is a stuffed bear in green, corduroy overalls who lives on a department store shelf and longs for a home. After a night full of adventures, a little girl named Lisa takes Corduroy home and he happily thinks, “You must be a friend. I’ve always wanted a friend.”

6.  The Snowy Day   by Ezra Jack Keats

“No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snowy Day. Universal in its appeal, the story has become a favorite of millions, as it reveals a child’s wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever.”

7.  Bread and Jam for Frances   by Russell Hoban

Frances’s favorite food is bread and jam and she refuses to try other foods. Frances’s mother treats her to bread and jam for every meal until this picky eater gives in and learns to love the spaghetti and meatballs, lobster-salad sandwiches, and vanilla pudding that her mother provides. Don’t read this one on an empty stomach!

8.  Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger

“No one wants to hear the little boy play his ukulele anymore… Clink, clunk, clonk.  And no one wants to watch his father make things disappear… Zoop! Zoop!  Until the day the fearsome giant Abiyoyo suddenly appears in town, and all the townspeople run for their lives and the lives of their children! Nothing can stop the terrible giant Abiyoyo, nothing, that is, except the enchanting sound of the ukulele and the mysterious power of the magic wand.”

9.  The Little House   by Virginia Lee Burton

“Once upon a time there was a Little House way out in the country,” begins Virginia Lee Burton’s book about a Little House and the changes that happen around her. First a road is built, then other houses, buildings, and an elevated train. The Little House dreams about life out in the country again when she is rescued, repaired, and lovingly placed on a new hillside. This is a great book for teaching about the passing of time.”

10. Make Way For Ducklings   by Robert McCloskey

“Mrs. Mallard was sure that the pond in the Boston Public Gardens would be a perfect place for her and her eight ducklings to live.  The problem was how to get them there through the busy streets of Boston. But with a little help from the Boston police, Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack arrive safely at their new home.”

11.  Swimmy   by Leo Lionni

“Deep in the sea lives a happy school of fish. Their watery world is full of wonders, but there is also danger, and the little fish are afraid to come out of hiding…until Swimmy comes along. Swimmy shows his friends how—with ingenuity and team work—they can overcome any danger.”

Interactive Preschool Books

12.  hide and seek   by taro gomi.

“In this sly activity board book from celebrated international favorite Taro Gomi, young readers will delight to find hidden objects amidst familiar characters. When a crocodile’s dangerous smile can become a shiny toothbrush and a butterfly’s camouflage transforms into adorable heart shapes, there’s no telling what comes next! Kids will love learning that not everything in this world is as it seems.”

13. Play This Book   by Jessica Young and Daniel Wiseman

“There are lots of ways little hands can make music. Each page of this interactive book invites readers to strum the guitar, slide the trombone, crash the cymbals, and more—no instruments required! With a delightful rhyming text and engaging illustrations, this book is full of instruments waiting to share their sounds. The only thing this band needs is YOU! Just use your imagination, turn the pages, and  Play This Book !”

14.  Press Here   by Hervé Tullet

“Press the yellow dot on the cover of this book, follow the instructions within, and embark upon a magical journey! Each page of this surprising book instructs the reader to press the dots, shake the pages, tilt the book, and who knows what will happen next! Children and adults alike will giggle with delight as the dots multiply, change direction, and grow in size. Especially remarkable because the adventure occurs on the flat surface of the simple, printed page, this unique picture book about the power of imagination and interactivity will provide read-aloud fun for all ages!”

15.  Mix It Up   by Hervé Tullet

“Accept Hervé Tullet’s irresistible invitation to mix it up in a dazzling adventure of whimsy and wonder. Follow the artist’s simple instructions, and suddenly colors appear, mix, splatter, and vanish in a world powered only by the reader’s imagination. Tullet—who joins such greats as Eric Carle and Leo Lionni as a master of his craft—sets readers on an extraordinary interactive journey all within the printed page.”

16.  T ap The Magic Tree   by Christie Matheson

“Every book needs you to turn the pages. But not every book needs you to tap it, shake it, jiggle it, or even blow it a kiss. Innovative and timeless,  Tap the Magic Tree  asks you to help one lonely tree change with the seasons. Now that’s interactive—and magical!”

17.  Anno’s Counting Book   by Mitsumasa Anno

“Every child is a natural mathematician, according to Mitsumasa Anno. Children are constantly comparing and classifying things and events they observe around them. As they try to bring sense and order into what they observe, they are actually performing basic mathematical feats.

With  Anno’s Counting Book , the creator of the brilliantly inventive  Anno’s Alphabet  invites young readers on another stimulating adventure of the imagination—this time into the world of numbers and counting.”

Best Books for Preschoolers that Celebrate Differences

18.  spaghetti in a hot dog bun by maria dismondy.

“How can Ralph be so mean? Lucy is one of a kind and Ralph loves to point that out. Lucy’s defining moment comes when Ralph truly needs help. Because she knows what she stands for, Lucy has the courage to make a good choice. This charming story empowers children to always do the right thing and be proud of themselves, even when they are faced with someone as challenging as Ralph.”

19.  Spoon   by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

“He’s always been a happy little utensil. But lately, he feels like life as a spoon just isn’t cutting it. He thinks Fork, Knife, and The Chopsticks all have it so much better than him. But do they? And what do  they  think about Spoon? A book for all ages,  Spoon  serves as a gentle reminder to celebrate what makes us each special.”

20. I Lik e Myself   by Karen Beaumont

“An endearing, confidence-boosting book for children to know that they are special and important just the way they are.”

21.  The Family Book   by Todd Parr

“ The Family Book  celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two moms or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way.”

22.  It’s Okay to be Different   by Todd Parr

“‘It’s okay to need some help. It’s okay to be a different color. It’s okay to talk about your feelings.’ Todd Parr writes a reassuring book about being who you are.”

Best Preschool Books About Feelings

23.  grump groan growl   by bell hooks.

“In this fresh look at a positive way to face our bad, grumpy, and wild moods, bell hooks brings a vision of calm with soothing rhythmic text, while Chris Raschka’s vibrant art adds compassion and humor, reminding readers that sometimes you just have to go inside and let it  slide .”

24.  You Get What You Get   by Julie Gassman

“Melvin throws fit after fit when he doesn’t get what he wants. He must learn how to deal with disappointment. After all, you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. This important life lesson is illustrated beautifully in this relatable storyline.”

25.  Llama Llama Misses Mama   by Anna Dewdney

“It’s Llama Llama’s first day of preschool! And Llama Llama’s mama makes sure he’s ready. They meet the teachers, see the other children, and look at all the books and games. But then it’s time for Mama to leave. And suddenly Llama Llama isn’t so excited anymore. Will Mama Llama come back? Of course she will. But before she does, the other children show Llama Llama how much fun school can be!”

26.  Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons   by Eric Litman

“Count down with Pete in this rocking story that makes counting fun! Pete the Cat is wearing his favorite shirt—the one with the four totally groovy buttons. But when one falls off, does Pete cry?  Goodness, no!  He just keeps on singing his song—after all, what could be groovier than three groovy buttons?”

27.  The Kissing Hand   by Audrey Penn

“School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. Since its first publication in 1993, this heartwarming book has become a children’s classic that has touched the lives of millions of children and their parents, especially at times of separation, whether starting school, entering daycare, or going to camp.”

28.  Grumpy Pants   by Claire Messer

“Have you ever had a grumpy day and not known why? Penguin is having a grumpy day like that. No matter what he does, he just can’t shake it! Sometimes the only thing left to do is wash the grumpy day away and start over. The simple text and lively illustrations are the perfect cure for even the grumpiest of days.”

Favorite Read Alouds

29.  be boy buzz   by bell hooks.

“‘I be boy. All bliss boy. All fine beat. All beau boy. Beautiful’

Famed author bell hooks brings us a tight, exuberant story that captures the essence and energy of what it means to be a boy.”

30.  The Little Red Fort   by Brenda Maier

“Ruby’s mind is always full of ideas. One day, she finds some old boards and decides to build something. She invites her brothers to help, but they just laugh and tell her she doesn’t know how to build.

‘Then I’ll learn,’ she says.

And she does! When she creates a dazzling fort that they all want to play in, it is Ruby who has the last laugh. With sprightly text and winsome pictures, this modern spin on the timeless favorite  The Little Red Hen  celebrates the pluck and ingenuity of young creators everywhere!”

31.  The Great Day   by Taro Gomi

“Join in the fun of a child’s very busy day, as he jumps, runs, and plays from morning to night. Full of youthful exuberance, Taro Gomi’s simple words and vibrant illustrations show all of the action and excitement children find in each new day.”

32.  Dragons Love Tacos   by Adam Rubin

“Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa…oh, boy. You’re in red-hot trouble.

The award-winning team of Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri has created an unforgettable tale of new friends and the perfect snack.”

33.  Food Truck Fest!   by Alexandra Penfold

“Join the members of one family as they head to the Food Truck Fest! They gather their things, cross the bridge, and prepare for a fun-filled day. And as they get ready, the workers on the food trucks get ready, too—preparing, tasting, and traveling across the bridge to join all the other kitchens-on-wheels. With delicious free samples and cuisines from around the world, it’s a day of trying new things and having fun together!”

34.  Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus   by Mo Willems

“When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place—a pigeon! But you’ve never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book, children will love being able to answer back and decide his fate. In his hilarious picture book debut, popular cartoonist Mo Willems perfectly captures a preschooler’s temper tantrum.”

35.  Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale   by Mo Willems

“Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood Laundromat. But the exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Trixie realizes somebunny was left behind? Using a combination of muted black-and-white photographs and expressive illustrations, this stunning book tells a brilliantly true-to-life tale about what happens when Daddy’s in charge and things go terribly, hilariously wrong.”

36.  The Tiny Seed   by Eric Carle

“In autumn, a strong wind blows flower seeds high in the air and carries them far across the land. One by one, many of the seeds are lost—burned by the sun, fallen into the ocean, eaten by a bird. But some survive the long winter and, come spring, sprout into plants, facing new dangers—trampled by playing children, picked as a gift for a friend. Soon only the tiniest seed remains, growing into a giant flower and, when autumn returns, sending its own seeds into the wind to start the process over again.”

37.  Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes   by Roseanne Thong

“In this lively picture book, children discover shapes all around them: rectangles are ice-cream carts and stone metates, while triangles are slices of watermelon and quesadillas. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this playful concept book will reinforce the shapes found in every child’s day!”

38.  The Rainbow Fish   by Marcus Pfister

“The Rainbow Fish is an international best-seller and a modern classic. Eye-catching foil stamping, glittering on every page, offers instant child appeal, but it is the universal message at the heart of this simple story about a beautiful fish who learns to make friends by sharing his most prized possessions that gives the book its lasting value.”

39.  The Little Blue Truck   by Alice Schertle

“Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up—that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. They’re willing to do whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road. Filled with truck sounds and animal noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.”

40.  My Colors, My World/Mis Colores, Mis Mundo   by Maya Christina Gonzalez

“Maya, who lives in the dusty desert, opens her eyes wide to find the colors in her world, from Papi’s black hair and Mami’s orange and purple flowers to Maya’s red swing set and the fiery pink sunset.”

41.  Little Owl’s Night   by Divya Srinivasan

“It’s evening in the forest and Little Owl wakes up from his day-long sleep to watch his friends enjoying the night. Hedgehog sniffs for mushrooms, Skunk nibbles at berries, Frog croaks, and Cricket sings. A full moon rises and Little Owl can’t understand why anyone would want to miss it. Could the daytime be nearly as wonderful? Mama Owl begins to describe it to him, but as the sun comes up, Little Owl falls fast asleep.”

42.  Chicka Chicka Boom Boom   by Bill Martin Jr.

“When all the letters of the alphabet race one another up the coconut tree, will there be enough room? Of course there is always enough room for this rollicking alphabet chant that has been a children’s favorite for more than twenty years!”

43.  Ten Black Dots   by Donald Crews

“‘What can you do with ten black dots? One dot can make a sun, two dots can make the eyes of a fox, and three dots can make a snowman’s face.’  That’s just the beginning in this unique counting book!”

44.  Freight Train   by Donald Crews

“In simple, powerful words and vibrant illustrations, Donald Crews evokes the rolling wheels of that childhood favorite: a train.”

45.  Jamberry   by Bruce Degan

“A small boy and a big friendly bear embark on a berry-picking extravaganza, looking for blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries. Their fun adventure comes to a razzamatazz finale under a starberry sky.”

46.  The Weather Girls by Aki

“Follow these busy girls as they climb mountains, fly hot-air balloons, and soak in a rainbow-sky sunset. Charming rhyming verse and adorable art make this picture book irresistible—and perfect for sharing!”

47.  10 Things I Can Do To Help My World   by Melanie Walsh

“Do you remember to turn off the tap while you brush your teeth? How about using both sides of the paper when writing and drawing? Or planting seeds and nurturing the new plants as they grow? Bold, child-friendly illustrations and die-cut pages will draw even the youngest listeners to this gentle reminder of the easy, everyday ways we can be kinder to the earth.”

48.  Penguins Love Colors by Sarah Aspinall

“Simple language and arresting, graphic illustrations introduce readers to the six primary and secondary colors and the adorable antics of six creative little penguins. A lively text, asking children to participate by answering questions, makes this an engaging, heartwarming story that is perfect for bedtime, story time, or anytime.”

49.  The Mitten   by Jan Brett

“One by one, woodland animals find it and crawl in; first, a curious mole, then a rabbit, a badger and others, each one larger than the last. Finally, a big brown bear is followed in by a tiny brown mouse and what happens next makes for a wonderfully funny climax.”

50.  The Neighborhood Mother Goose   by Nina Crews

“Every day, children the world over sing, shout, and celebrate Mother Goose rhymes. And now there’s a new reason to cheer: Nina Crews has added her own remarkable, jazzy style of illustration to a collection of forty-one favorite verses. Whether it’s Jack jumping over a candlestick (atop a cupcake), Georgie Porgie kissing the girls (at the playground), or a fine lady riding a white horse (on the carousel), this exuberant treasury is sure to be read and enjoyed over and over again.”

More Of The Best Preschool Books

Many of the authors listed above have multiple preschool books. Find one that your child likes? Make sure to check out more by the same author!

In need of more children’s or preschool books? See these posts on great places to find free children’s books online , the best children’s audiobooks, and nursery rhyme collections . And, find more read-aloud books here!

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10 children’s books that will take kids on a journey

They may be stuck at home, but children can escape to the Amazon, Himalayas or New York via these magical tales

Asha and the Spirit Bird Jasbinder Bilan

There can be few people who find their lives more shaped by geography than those who live in the shadow of the mighty Himalayas, the highest mountains in the world. Prize-winning author Jasbinder Bilan was born there, on a farm in northern Punjab, and her first-hand experience of the sensational landscape and wildlife in this book will spirit away the UK’s February greyness.

Asha and Jeevan must make the journey of a lifetime, crossing the Himalayas, “the land of amber-eyed tigers and snow leopards” in search of her missing father, guided by the majestic spirit bird of the title. From the endless array of mouth-watering food, such as sizzling golden pakoras and spicy dal, to the visions of snaking banyan trees and multicoloured Himalayan poppies, this radiant adventure is as good as a holiday.

The Missing Barbegazi HS Norup

For young winter sports fans missing out on a chance to speed down snow-covered slopes, this quest offers the chance to do just that in the mountains of their mind. Join heroine Tessa on her skis in search of the fabled barbegazi , mysterious, secretive, gnome-like creatures reputed to live in the Alps.

Norup, a Danish-born writer who now lives in Switzerland, set the story in a favourite family skiing destination, St Anton am Arlberg in the Austrian Alps.

She effortlessly conjures up a “white wilderness”, as well as the twinkling lights of a small Alpine community. With avalanches, blizzards and magical snow beings, this heartwarming story offers perhaps even more adventure than the average skiing trip, but with minimal chance of returning home with a broken leg.

My Family and Other Animals Gerald Durrell

For children craving a shot of sun, sea and sand, Gerald Durrell’s recently televised My Family and Other Animals will have them gathering geckoes in the olive groves of Corfu quicker than you can say Dr Theodore Stephanides (his naturalist mentor). Durrell’s writing casts a spell that will magic even the most stubborn reader to his enchanted island: “The magnolia tree loomed vast over the house, its branches full of white blooms, like a hundred miniature reflections of the moon, and their thick, sweet scent hung over the veranda languorously, the scent that was an enchantment luring you out into the mysterious, moonlit countryside.”

Even better, particularly for younger readers, there are new animals to be discovered under every rock, from praying mantids to water snakes. Describing Corfu as it was in the 1930s, the book not only offers mind travel, but also time travel to when this was still an undeveloped coastline.

The Explorer Katherine Rundell

Ski trips and Greek island jaunts may seem a little tame for more fearless mind wanderers, who should acquire some insect repellent and a sensible sun hat and join Fred, hero of Katherine Rundell’s Costa prize-winning tropical adventure , who is a passenger on a plane that crashes in the Amazon rainforest.

It’s not too much of a spoiler to mention that he may end up leading some fellow survivors to safety, but not before escaping fires, trapping deadly tarantulas and rafting down the mighty river as they trek through greenery that comes in “a thousand different colours – lime, emerald and moss, and jade and a deep dark black green that made him think of sunken ships”.

Rundell travelled to the Amazon to research the book, and the sense of the place is as cinematic and as microscopically precise as any David Attenborough documentary.

From the Mixed-Up Case Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler EL Konigsburg

For young sophisticates missing their cultural fix, perhaps it is time to dig out this award-winning 1967 staple of many American childhoods that is not as widely read or known in this country as it ought to be.

Unhappy Claudia – “tired of the monotony of everything” (who isn’t, right now?) – and her brother Jamie run away from home, not to join the circus, but to hide out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, for “the greatest adventure of their mutual lives”. Their child’s eye view of all the wonders in that collection as they explore museum cabinets, corners and corridors is joyous, especially when the pair uncover the true story behind a newly acquired Renaissance statuette. It should inspire a lifetime love of gallery wandering.

The Eagle of the Ninth Rosemary Sutcliff

There are, to the best of my knowledge, no wild tarantulas on Hadrian’s Wall. Yet other challenges lurk behind its ancient stones.

The weather that sweeps over its headlands and ridges is some of the most unforgiving in Britain, yet in a normal February half-term the scattered ruins and their brooding moorland setting would still be full of anoraked young visitors – because there are few places in this country where the drama of ancient history hangs so powerfully in the air.

Rosemary Sutcliff brought that history and the Borderlands to gripping, visceral life in her 1950s series of Roman Britain novels, classics that remain immensely readable, feeding the hunger of all – not just rebellious legionaries – who have felt the lure of “the pale and changeful northern skies and the green plover calling”.

Murder on the Safari Star MG Leonard & Sam Sedgman

Sometimes, the journey can be as exciting as the holiday itself, especially if it goes wrong. Leonard (Beetle Boy ) and Sam Sedgman have created the perfect series for junior transport geeks, called Adventures on Trains.

From California to the Scottish Highlands and, most recently, southern Africa, the books are a rattling good tour through classic landscapes, complete with a gripping mystery to tackle on the way – because which long journey has never been made more enjoyable by a clever puzzle?

Their latest, Murder on the Safari Star, books readers on to a gleaming luxury train alongside Harrison Beck and his Uncle Nat as they spot galloping impala and get a closeup view of Victoria Falls – and solve a murder case too, of course. First-class entertainment without leaving your seat.

Monkey King: Journey to the West Wu Ch’eng-en

China’s borders are closed to non-Chinese nationals at the time of writing, and the Beijing authorities are asking people living there to forgo the traditional trip to visit relatives for Chinese New Year next week. But children can instead visit one of the greatest countries in the world through the pages of this Chinese epic. It tells the story of the cloud-somersaulting trickster Monkey King, and his quest to redeem himself by protecting a Buddhist monk on a holy quest.

Parents may remember the cult Japanese-made 1980s TV series Monkey; now their children can brave the mysteries of the Fire-Cloud Cave, the River of Flowing Sand and the Water-Crystal Palace via Julia Lovell’s new contemporary translation, with exquisite maps of “somewhat mythical lands” by Laura Hartman Maestro.

Prisoners of Geography: Our World Explained in 12 Simple Maps Tim Marshall

Maps are endlessly fascinating to children, and losing themselves in the pages of an atlas is a great way to chart future travels and understand other countries.

There are several luxuriously packaged map collections on the market, but I prefer this children’s version of the bestseller by former Sky News diplomatic editor Tim Marshall, with maps and illustrations by Grace Easton and Jessica Smith. The book explores the link between the physical realities of our planet and the competing desires of different civilisations. From the Americas to Russia, the Middle East to Tibet, this is a lucid and accessible introduction to how geography shapes our world.

Strangeworlds Travel Agency LD Lapinski

A child who wants to really get away from it all can find adventure aplenty in the world of fantasy literature. For the trip of a lifetime – beating any existing holiday on planet Earth – drop into the Strangeworlds Travel Agency.

Flick Hudson accidentally learns that there are hundreds of uncharted worlds other than our own – and the one at the centre of them all is in terrible danger. She embarks on a thrilling and frequently hilarious race to save them, with her acerbic travel guide Jonathan.

This is an ideal escape for fans of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Lapinski’s dizzying feats of world building will – transport even the most stuck-at-home reader beyond their wildest dreams.

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Introducing Missions Journey: Kids!

Every journey begins with one small step..

Take your children on a grand missions adventure with Missions Journey: Kids , a missions discipleship curriculum for children in grades 1–6.

Focusing on missions work both here in the US and throughout the world, Missions Journey: Kids  will captivate your children’s minds and hearts as they learn about the different avenues Christians use to share the gospel with the nations.

With a leader’s guide, full-color poster kit, and a magazine for children, you and your children can immerse yourselves in a new culture each month, discover God’s plan for missions, and explore the tools missionaries use to reach the people God has called them to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Missions Journey: Kids is our missions discipleship curriculum for teaching and discipling children in grades 1–6, including Girls in Action (GA), Royal Ambassadors (RA), or Children in Action (CA)  groups .

Focusing on missions work in the US and throughout the world, Missions Journey: Kids will captivate your children’s minds and hearts as they explore the lives of heroes of the faith, from contemporary missionaries to the great men and women of the Bible.

Missions Journey: Kids is designed to give you flexibility to create missions discipleship experiences tailored to fit your church’s needs. Every lesson is easily adaptable, whether your group is large or small, or if you lead girls, boys, or a coed group.

With its balanced blend of missions discipleship and Bible study, Missions Journey: Kids can also be used for small group discipleship classes, children’s church, and Christian schools that wish to add weekly missions discipleship lessons to their existing programming.

Missions Journey: Kids was created in response to the requests of churches and missions discipleship leaders throughout the SBC.

Leaders of GA, RA, and CA asked us for more robust Bible study and in-depth mission study delivered in a simplified format. And, CA leaders asked for a resource for their children, similar to GA World and RA World .

Additionally, we wanted to deliver on these requests while honoring your church’s stewardship efforts by keeping your cost as low as possible. By streamlining the three children’s curriculum product lines into one product line, we were able to do so.

YES! We are committed to Girls in Action, Royal Ambassadors, and Children in Action missions discipleship groups.

We will also continue to create and carry special resources for GA, RA, and CA, including badges and patches, achievement plans, and identity items.

Consider Missions Journey: Kids your one-stop shop for every missions discipleship group.

In each month’s unit, you will find suggestions for extra activities for GA, RA, and CA , ideas for earning badges and patches, tips for working through individualized achievement plans, and more.

Three quarterly pieces are available in the Missions Journey: Kids series.

Missions Journey: Kids Leader 

Missions Journey: Kids Leader is your guide to leading children grades 1–6 in missions discipleship. This quarterly guide provides three month-long units, each focused on the work of missions personnel in North America and throughout the world. Weekly lessons focus on different aspects of missions discipleship, while the thread of the biblical foundation of missions, including Scripture memorization, are woven throughout each lesson. Leaders will appreciate the step-by-step format in each lesson plan, at-a-glance supply lists and prep tips, suggestions for alternative ways to lead classes (such as digital learning), tips for customizing lessons, and  bonus activities for the children’s missions groups Girls in Action, Royal Ambassadors, and Children in Action .

Purchase one for each leader.

Missions Journey: Kids Leader Kit

Missions Journey: Kids Leader Kit contains full-color posters, games, and activities that coordinate with the lesson plans in Missions Journey: Kids Leader . The quarterly kit contains a map of the missions area, a missions photo, and a memory verse poster for each monthly unit. These posters will help leaders create an interactive learning environment. In addition to the maps, photos, and Scripture posters, leaders will appreciate having a variety of ready-made, reusable fun games and activities to engage their children’s imaginations as they learn about missions around the world.

Purchase one for each class.

Missions Journey: Kids Adventure

Missions Journey: Kids Adventure is a full-color activity book for children in grades 1–6. Including mission stories, prayer prompts, games, puzzles, recipes, and coloring pages that are coordinated with the weekly Missions Journey: Kids Leader lesson plans, Missions Journey: Kids Adventure will get children excited about learning!

Purchase one for each child.

Want to see more?

You can download a free sample unit here >>

Missions Journey: Kids Leader Annual Subscription (4 quarterly issues) Purchase one print, digital, or bundle subscription per leader. Print: $26.99 Digital: $24.99 Digital/Print Bundle: $30.99

Missions Journey: Kids Adventure Annual Subscription (4 quarterly issues) Purchase one per child. Print: $16.99

Missions Journey: Kids Leader Kit Annual Subscription (4 quarterly issues) Purchase one per classroom Print: 54.99

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ABC Adventure: Letter Tracing Workbook: A-Z Handwriting Practice and Activities Book for Preschoolers, Kindergarten, or Kids Ages 3-5; Learn to Write with, Sight Words and Sentences; Large Print Paperback – Large Print, April 21, 2024

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"ABC Adventure: Letter Tracing Workbook" is an interactive and engaging book tailored to children ages 3-5. This book provides an engaging learning experience that is appealing to young learners of all skill levels, with an emphasis on pencil control practice, letter tracing, starting sounds, coloring activities and more. Inside, you will find:

• Pencil Control Warm-Ups : Kickstart the learning adventure with dedicated pencil control warm-up exercises. From straight lines to curved shapes, these activities help children develop fine motor skills and prepare them for successful letter tracing.
• A to Z Letter Tracing Practice : Dive into the world of letters with guided tracing exercises for each letter of the alphabet. Children will practice forming both uppercase and lowercase letters, following clear tracing lines and directional cues to ensure proper formation.
• Beginning Sound Exploration : Every page has pictures that match the traced letters, encouraging kids to recognize common objects by their first sound and color them appropriately.
• Sight Word Spotlights : Throughout the book, basic sight words are introduced and thoughtfully positioned to strengthen letter-sound correspondences and promote early reading abilities. Children will gain confidence in their ability to recognize and write high-frequency words through tracing and repetition.
• Sentence Building Expeditions : As children progress, they'll have the opportunity to construct simple sentences using the given sight words.
• 158 Fun Pages (Large Print)
• 8.5x11 inches
• Pencil Control, Letter Tracing, Sight Words, Sentences
• Perfect gift for kids.

Children will enjoy a multisensory learning adventure with "ABC Adventure: Letter Tracing Workbook" that stimulates their senses and develops a love of language writing and reading. Perfect for parents, Teachers, homeschoolers and caregivers. This book provides a comprehensive method for teaching the alphabet to kids so they can succeed in both reading and writing. Get ready to trace, color, and explore – let the adventure begin!

• Print length 158 pages
• Language English
• Publication date April 21, 2024
• Dimensions 8.5 x 0.36 x 11 inches
• ISBN-13 979-8323548576
• See all details

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D2DRJH69
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (April 21, 2024)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 158 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8323548576
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.36 x 11 inches

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Embark on the Journey

Bird books for preschoolers.

If you plan to teach your children about birds this spring and summer, you don’t want to miss this awesome list of bird books for preschoolers .

This collection of fiction and nonfiction books is a great way to introduce young children to birds, the life cycle of a bird, and life as a bird. They’re great for beginning readers and work well as read-alouds, too.

Below, I’ve featured just a handful of picture books that will help your preschoolers learn about birds.

You should be able to find them at your local library or bookstore. If you can’t find them locally, you can click each image cover to purchase them on Amazon.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Birds – This adorable reference introduces young readers to birds of all kinds: big and small, flyers and swimmers, colorful and plain. They’ll find backyard favorites, such as robins and cardinals and be introduced to more unique species that inhabit rainforests and deserts around the world.

Bird Builds a Nest: A First Science Storybook – It’s time for Bird to build her nest! Follow her as she pulls a worm out of the ground, lifts some twigs that are just the right size, and pushes the twigs into place. 

The Little Book of Backyard Bird Songs – This book features recordings of twelve bird songs from some of the best-known garden bird species seen and heard across North America.

Bird Hugs – Bernard isn’t like other birds. His wings are impossibly long, and try as he might, he just can’t seem to fly. He’s left wondering what his wings are good for…if they’re even good for anything at all. 

Birds, Nests & Eggs – A fun, informative take-along guide that will help children identify 15 birds. Kid will also learn how and where birds build their homes and all about their young.

National Geographic Kids Look and Learn: Birds – In this engaging board book, young readers will meet birds of all colors, shapes, and sizes.

My Backyard Bird Book – Kids love learning about nature, and birds are a very important and amazing part of it! They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They live in trees, bushes, and skies of your town, park, and even your own backyard.

Mrs. Peanuckle’s Bird Alphabet – From the albatross to the zebra finch, Mrs. Peanuckle pulls out her binoculars and introduces toddlers to 26 species of birds from all around the world.

Fine Feathered Friends: All About Birds – Bee hummingbirds, ostriches, flycatchers, chickadees, and bald eagles! Dick and Sally find themselves on a bird-watching tour led by the Cat in the Hat. After a quick lesson on just exactly what a bird is, they go motoring around the world to observe our fine feathered friends in their natural habitats. 

A Nest is Noisy – From tiny bee hummingbird nests to orangutan nests high in the rainforest canopy, an incredible variety of nests are showcased here in all their splendor.

The Beaks of Birds – Come along on a tour of the wonderful world of birds and their beaks. This book is the story of a child and two grown-up friends on a jaunt across their yard, in a park, past a pond, and through the pages of a photo album.

Tiny Bird – When the last summer flowers open their petals to the sun, it’s time for a tiny ruby-throated hummingbird to dip its beak into the heart of each bloom, extracting as much nectar as possible before the hard trip ahead.

Flora and the Flamingo – In this innovative wordless picture book with interactive flaps, Flora and her graceful flamingo friend explore the trials and joys of friendship through an elaborate synchronized dance. With a twist, a turn, and even a flop, these unlikely friends learn at last how to dance together in perfect harmony. 

A Nest Full of Eggs – Read and find out about a full year of growth and change for robins in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.

My Spring Robin – When spring arrives, a young girl looks everywhere for the robin who sang for her last year. She sees all the sights and sounds of the new season: a blooming crocus, a buzzing bee, a colorful magnolia tree, a brief rain shower…but where is the robin?

Which of these books about birds  will you read first?

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Learn more about birds, from songbirds to waterfowl to raptors! Young ornithologists get to design bird-protecting window clings, create different types of bird feeders and more in this exciting Feathered Friends kit !

You are a Bird Feeder Engineer and want to invent a groovy bird feeder design that’s never been seen before. Can you design and build a bird feeder that meets the survival needs of local birds using upcycled materials?

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What To Know About Motor Skills in Children

Discover when your child is expected to master certain motor skills, such as gross motor skills like walking and fine motor skills like writing.

What Are Fine Motor Skills?

• Fine Motor Skill Milestones

What Are Gross Motor Skills?

• Gross Motor Skill Milestones
• Motor Skill Delays

Motor skills are the physical abilities that allow us to move and coordinate our bodies. Fine motor skills use the small muscles of the hand or wrist while gross motor skills employ the large muscles in the body to allow for balance, coordination, reaction time, and physical strength.

Motor skills enable the movements children need for everyday tasks, from playing to feeding themselves. Children are expected to develop certain motor skills around the same age, but not every child will reach fine and gross motor skill milestones at precisely the same time.

Learn signs that your child is on track with their motor skill development, and activities that can boost their coordination and confidence.

Paul Bradbury / Caiaimage / Getty Images

Fine motor skill activities involve manual dexterity and often require coordinating movements of the hands and fingers with the eyes (aka hand-eye coordination). Research shows that early mastery of these skills better predicts future academic success than cognitive tasks like letter identification.

Components of fine motor skills include being able to grip and manipulate objects, using both hands for a task, and using just the thumb and one finger to pick something up rather than the whole hand.

You can encourage your baby to improve their fine motor skills by laying them under a play gym , using wrist or ankle rattles, or moving a colorful toy around so they can track it with their eyes.

For toddlers, activities that might improve fine motor skills include encouraging them to pick up objects with tongs, building with blocks, and doing craft projects. You can also encourage toddlers and preschoolers to play with sensory toys like clay or playdough, sponges, dry pasta, or water toys.

Examples of Fine Motor Skill Milestones

Children will start developing small, coordinated movements in the newborn period, and by early elementary school, are likely able to do some tricky things, like writing the alphabet and fastening buttons. Here's a selection of fine motor skills you can look for your child to develop as a baby, toddler, and preschooler.

Birth to 2 months

• Will close hand when an object is placed in their palm (grasp reflex)
• Moves arms in random motions

3 to 6 months

• Can open and close both hands
• Brings their hands to their mouth
• Reaches for toys using both arms and can transfer them from hand to hand

6 to 9 months

• Begins to grasp and hold onto objects using their thumbs
• Can hold a bottle independently
• Uses a raking grasp to move objects with fingers

9 to 12 months

• Puts small or medium-sized objects in a cup or container
• Develops pincer grasp (using index finger and thumb to grasp objects)
• Feeds themselves finger foods

12 to 18 months

• Builds a block tower two blocks high
• Removes socks
• Points with isolated finger
• Scribbles with crayons on paper with a fisted grip

18 months to 2 years

• Turns pages in a book one page at a time
• Can scribble
• Holds and drinks from a cup without spilling much

2 to 3 years

• Zips and unzips large zippers
• Can snip with scissors
• Can draw crossing lines
• Can screw and unscrew lids

3 to 4 years

• Colors mostly in the lines
• Draws a circle after being shown an example
• Can get dressed with some help

5 to 6 years

• Cuts well with scissors
• Writes the alphabet and their name
• Can get dressed independently

How Milestones Are Adjusted for Preemies

If your baby was born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), they may develop motor skills later than other children the same age.  Talk to your pediatrician about adjusted expectations for your child as they grow.

Gross motor skills are movements that involve large muscle groups and are generally more broad and energetic than fine motor movements. These movements include walking, kicking, jumping, and climbing stairs. Some milestones for gross motor skills also involve eye-hand coordination, such as throwing or catching a ball.

Encourage your baby to work on their gross motor skills by doing lots of tummy time . Once they master that, encourage them to reach for (and later crawl towards) toys placed in front of them. To encourage your baby to walk , help them stand and take steps by holding their arms.

With toddlers and preschoolers, encourage them to build forts, dance to songs like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," play pretend, and pull their toys in wagons.

Examples of Gross Motor Skill Milestones

The phrase, "You must walk before you run" applies to child development, too. It takes a while for kids to learn to move their bodies in graceful or agile ways. These are some examples of gross motor skills your child might learn in their first several years, remembering that some children will develop some abilities a little earlier or later.

• Lifts head while on their belly
• Turns head from side to side while on their back
• Can kick arms and legs

3 to 4 months

• Pushes up on their forearms when on their belly
• Rolls over from their belly to their back
• Keeps head in line with their body when supported in a sitting position

5 to 6 months

• Rolls back and forth
• Brings their feet to their mouth when on their back
• Pushes up using their hands when on their belly
• Sits independently
• Crawls on their belly
• Crawls on their hands and knees
• Pulls to a standing position and starts to cruise around furniture
• Can walk with one or two hands held

1 to 2 years

• Crawls up stairs
• Learns to walk unassisted
• Can kick a ball forward
• Can walk and run fairly easily
• Jumps with both feet
• Can kick a ball with both feet
• Can balance on one foot
• Can catch a large ball

4 to 5 years

• Can ride a bicycle (with training wheels)
• Can skip on alternate feet
• Can learn to skate and swim

How To Track Developmental Milestones

For key developmental milestones , including motor skill development, many pediatricians rely on checklists created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics. These checklists show major physical, cognitive, and social/emotional milestones mastered by 75% of children at a certain age. The CDC also offers a free Milestone Tracker app you can refer to as your child grows.

What To Know About Motor Skill Delays

A child with motor impairments may have trouble moving in a controlled, coordinated, and efficient way. If your child seems to be delayed in developing fine or gross motor skills , they will likely undergo an assessment and may require physical or occupational therapy to catch up. Talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns—they should be able to point you in the direction of a specialist who can help.

Fine motor skill delays

Children with neurological conditions or developmental delays may have difficulty with fine motor skills. Difficulties with fine motor skills often aren't diagnosed until preschool when it becomes more obvious that children are struggling with different school activities, such as learning to copy shapes or letters.

Some children will be diagnosed with dysgraphia , a learning difference that affects writing skills, while others might be diagnosed with dyspraxia (also known as developmental coordination disorder or DCD), a condition that is still not widely understood. Kids with fine motor skill difficulties might need occupational therapy, modifications, or assistive technology.

Gross motor skill delays

It may be easier to notice if your child isn't reaching gross motor skill milestones because gross motor skills are among the most anticipated. You're probably eagerly anticipating your baby rolling over , crawling , pulling themselves up along furniture, and taking their first steps . As your child grows, it's natural to note when they are running and playing and how well they do in physical games and sports.

Gross motor skill delays may also be a sign of dyspraxia . If children's gross motor delays affect everyday movements, they may receive physical therapy and need modifications or assistive technology to keep up with mobility or athletics.

It's natural to compare your child to a same-age peer or sibling who has precociously learned to skip down the street or write their name in chalk on the blacktop, but some kids simply take a little longer to feel comfortable with certain movements.

Still, you want to be aware if your child has motor skill delays, as early intervention can help get them back on track. Keep up with your child's well visits so their pediatrician can monitor their development, and don't hesitate to speak up if you have any concerns.

Problems With Coordination . Child Mind Institute . 2023.

Fine Motor Development Milestones . Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago . n.d.

Is Your Baby's Physical Development on Track? . American Academy of Pediatrics . 2023.

Gross Motor Skills: Birth to 5 Years . Children's Hospital of Richmond . n.d.

CDC's Developmental Milestones . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . 2023.

Developmental coordination disorder and dysgraphia: signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and rehabilitation . Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment . 2019.

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Jennifer Love Hewitt Shares First Public Pictures of Her 3 Kids' Faces on Inheriting Magic Memoir Cover

The actress shares her three children with husband Brian Hallisay

Chelsea Guglielmino/WireImage; BenBella Books

Jennifer Love Hewitt shared the first public photo of her children 's faces in the most magical way possible!

The 9-1-1 actress, 45, shares a daughter and two sons with her husband, fellow actor Brian Hallisay . However, the couple never publicly posted pictures of their kids' faces until Wednesday, April 17.

“Here it is! My new baby!” Hewitt captioned an Instagram post while announcing her new book. 

The memoir, titled Inheriting Magic: My Journey Through Grief, Joy, Celebration, and Making Every Day Magical , was illustrated by Vanessa Rivera, according to the actress. 

On the cover, the I Know What You Did Last Summer alum sits front and center as she poses with a magic wand and a book of spells as her children — Autumn James, 10, Atticus James, 8, and Aidan James, 2 — gather around. 

BenBella Books

“I can’t believe how lucky I was to get her for this book! Moms who create magic are special!” Hewitt’s caption continued, adding, “Can’t wait for you guys to read it!”

She also spoke exclusively to E! News about the heartfelt project.

"It was the most stressful decision to show our kids or not show them," she told the outlet in an interview published Wednesday. "But my husband and I felt like we couldn't really tell our story without knowing who they are and how they have made our lives so full and magical."

"My kids also saved me in grief," she added. "They are gifts from my mom and have filled our hearts in such an incredible way. This book is for them!"

Jennifer Love Hewitt Instagram

Hewitt’s book will also discuss her mother Patricia Hewitt, who died in 2012 .

"I felt healed enough from losing my mom to finally be able to write about it," she told E! News. "I also have seen how creating little bits of magic for my kids and friends makes our memories and everyday lives special. I wanted to honor my mom and how much being a mom means to me and this felt like the best way."

She also previously discussed her growth via social media. 

“This year I went thru [sic] a lot no one knew about,” the actress wrote in a Dec. 31, 2023 Instagram post, noting that she was “ grateful for that privacy .”

She added that she “learned to be a better baker,” “took chances on myself and my bigger dreams,” and “sat deeper in grief and was able to let more go.”

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Hewitt told E! News she "reached a greater place of healing" while writing the book.

"But it also shows birthday parties, holidays, how to plan and some family recipes that I hold special," she continued. "As I create my brand, The Holiday Junkie, I wanted to show why I am that person and how it's a mindset and way of life not just a brand."

Inheriting Magic is set for a Dec. 10 release.

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Jennifer Love Hewitt Debuts Her 3 Kids on Book Cover: All the Details

Jennifer love hewitt shared a first look at her memoir inheriting magic , which features a rare glimpse of her and husband brian hallisay's three kids: autumn, atticus and aidan..

Jennifer Love Hewitt is entering a spellbinding new chapter—with help from her family.

The  9-1-1 actress proudly shared  the cover of  her memoir   Inheriting Magic: My Journey Through Grief, Joy, Celebration, and Making Every Day Magical , which features her and husband Brian Hallisay 's three kids   Autumn James , 10, Atticus James , 8, and Aidan James , 2.

In the sweet image, which marks the first time Jennifer has publicly shown her kids' faces, the Heartbreakers star holds up a wand and her spell book, while Autumn, Atticus and Aidan join in on the mystical moment.

"It was the most stressful decision to show our kids or not show them," Jennifer exclusively told E! News. "But my husband and I felt like we couldn't really tell our story without knowing who they are and how they have made our lives so full and magical."

In  Inheriting Magic , set for release December 10, Jennifer details her private journey following the death of her mother, Patricia Hewitt , in 2012.

"My kids also saved me in grief," she added. "They are gifts from my mom and have filled our hearts in such an incredible way. This book is for them!"

And for her mom.

"I felt healed enough from losing my mom to finally be able to write about it," she shared. "I also have seen how creating little bits of magic for my kids and friends makes our memories and everyday lives special. I wanted to honor my mom and how much being a mom means to me and this felt like the best way."

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Jennifer Love Hewitt's debut memoir includes never-seen-before family photos, Jennifer's fave family recipes and "the magic-making ethos of a self-proclaimed Holiday Junkie." Pre-order is available now.

And although the I Know What You Did Last Summer  alum  has been a household name for years , Jennifer is excited for fans to get a rare look inside her world.

"The real me. The mom me and not just the public version which has been so much of my life," she told E!. "It meant a lot in my healing journey to cry and write about my mom, to hurt and still honor her with telling people how special she was and still is in my life."

"I reached a greater place of healing from writing this book," the 45-year-old added. "But it also shows birthday parties, holidays, how to plan and some family recipes that I hold special. As I create my brand, The Holiday Junkie, I wanted to show why I am that person and how it's a mindset and way of life not just a brand."

Keep reading to revisit Jennifer's Hollywood evolution.

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