1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nationwide initiative to encourage reading to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. To learn more about how to start the program, visit the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten page on our website. It can be daunting to try to find books that your child will love. The following book recommendations are meant to highlight newer, seasonal, and books you might have missed in the collection that are high interest and appropriate for different developmental ages. For more book recommendations, check out RPL’s Bookologist service and our Storytime at Home blog series.

Babies (0-18 months)

Maisy Loves Jungles by Lucy Cousins

A great new addition to the Maisy book world! This book is a great way to talk with your kid about different animals you don’t see as often.

Hello Hello Numbers by Brendan Wenzel

A parade of wild animals walks, swims, and flies across the sturdy pages of this colorful book!

Toddlers (18 months-3 years)

On the First Day of Preschool by Tish Rabe

This book is a great way to introduce to your child what goes on at preschool. This story builds and counts up to 12 new things that they learn at preschool and always comes back to “learning about something new!”

Gymnastica Fantastica! by Briony Stewart

This book shows all the different types of things to do in gymnastics and how fun it can be!

Put Your Shoes On by Polly Dunbar

Sometimes it’s hard to leave the house and the more you are pushed to do something, the wilder your imagination becomes. Eventually you’ll do the task that was asked and get on your way. Both caregiver and child can appreciate the creativity and struggle shown in this book.

Catawampus!: A Story of Shapes by Ann Marie Stephens

Learn shapes in a fun and creative way with silly kitties!

Preschoolers (3-5)

Tenacious Won’t Give Up by Pam Vaughan

Mind over matter is a powerful ability and this book does a great job teaching that. It shows how negative thinking can affect your outcome, but when you shift your mindset the results will be amazing!

A Sky that Sings by Anita Sanchez

The main character doesn’t bird watch, she bird listens. She explains to her caregiver that if you listen closely the birds will talk to you. This book beautifully illustrates how you can experience the world in a different way when you don’t have one of your senses.

Joan in the Cone by Billy Sharff

When a puppy injures itself, she thinks all her fun days are behind her, but she quickly learns there are so many other things she can do.

When you go to Dragon School by Chelsea M. Campbell

A great book to talk about going back to school and how to embrace differences and find something special about yourself.