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 and seasonal books 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)
Let’s Eat by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufmann
A diverse group of children get together to eat a variety of foods. This is very simple text paired with bright illustrations–perfect for building food vocabulary.
Construction Site: A Thankful Night by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Helen Morgan
It is a busy day on the farm and each truck has something special to be thankful for. This Lift-the-Flap book is a perfect introduction to gratitude and giving thanks.
Toddlers (18 months-3 years)
10 Dogs by Emily Gravett
If you are looking to practice counting with your toddler, look no further than this book by Emily Gravett. 10 Dogs pairs nicely with another of Gravett’s books, 10 Cats, published in 2022. Both are interactive adventures that will have your child excited to count up to ten and then back to zero.
Boop! by Bea Birdsong
In this silly, interactive book your toddler gets to boop the snoot (Translation: poke the nose) of multiple dogs! This is a great book to play with, and the wackiness of the words “boop” and “snoot” will leave your toddler asking to read it again and again.
I’ll Love You Till the Crocodiles Smile by Kathryn Cristaldi
From the author who brought you I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home, this book is another rhyming romp through the jungle. A great book for reading at bedtime and reminding your little one how much they are loved.
Mermaid Lullaby by Kenneth Kraegel
Three mermaid friends explore the colorful depths of the ocean together over the course of a day. This is a perfect bedtime story for all children who wish to be mermaids!
Preschoolers (3-5)
Birthday Soup by Grace Seo Chang
Everyone loves special birthday traditions, and for Korean-American Maia, it’s enjoying miyeok guk, or “birthday soup”! On her birthday, Maia gets to help make the miyeok guk and share it with her friends who come to her party.
The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals by Deborah Underwood
The origin story of every preschooler’s favorite farmer! A man who lives in the city insists he does not like animals–that is, until a cat shows up on his doorstep. And a dog. And a duck. And a goat (Do you see where this is going?). Before long there is no more room in his house, and he must move the animals to a farm with much more space.
Somewhere for Little Bear by Britta Teckentrup
Little Bear is happy in his cozy cave in the woods, but when a forest fire drives him out he must find a new place to roam. Many forest animals are not welcoming to him. Will he ever find a place to call home?
When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray
Something that many preschoolers have in common is their love of collecting rocks anywhere and everywhere. This picture book is an ode to rocks and why they are so special.
