This month, Richmond Public Library launched the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, 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)
ABC Learn With Me: Touch and Trace Nursery Rhymes by Emily Bannister
This interactive, tactile board book allows little hands to touch and explore the Alphabet. Sing the ABC song after reading together.
Global Baby Grandparents by Maya Ajmera
Babies love reading books that show the faces of real people. With Grandparent’s Day landing on September 8th, this is the perfect book to read together in September.
Toddlers (18 months-3 years)
Doris by Lo Cole
Doris is a shy elephant who hides among other animals on every page. Your little one will love trying to find Doris in this clever seek and find.
It’s Fall! by Renee Kurilla
This is the perfect book to read on the first day of fall, September 22nd. A young girl partakes in a variety of fall activities: jumping in leaf piles, visiting a pumpkin patch, and carving a Jack-o’-lantern. Ask your child what they are excited to do this fall!
Greetings, Floof! by C.J. Hong
When Dr. Greta Goodnite encounters Floof (a Ploofian from outer space), she needs the help of the reader to ensure Floof feels welcome. This silly, interactive story is sure to prompt a fit of giggles.
Not-a-Box City by Antoinette Portis
The bunny from the Not-a-Box and Not-a-Stick series is back for another sequel! As bunny starts building a cardboard city, friends join in to help. When bunny starts getting possessive and bossy, they soon learn that it’s more fun to share with friends than to play alone.
Preschoolers (3-5)
Desert Song by Laekan Zea Kemp
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month with this lyrical celebration of family and nature. A Latino family sings and plays instruments on their porch as a desert storm moves in around them.
Moo Hoo by Audrey Perrott
Milton the Bull cries all the time at everything—he can’t help it! He is self conscious about his emotions until he meets a sheep who is just like him! A great story to talk about feelings and expression.
A Mischief of Mice by Christie Matheson
One chilly fall morning, a group of mice goes missing. The other forest animals (an “unkindness of ravens” and a “scurry of squirrels”) attempt to solve the mystery of where they went. A great book for discussing collective nouns.
Sheepwrecked by Ashley Belote
Baa-hoy, mateys!! Explore the high seas with a band of scalawag sheep who get stuck on a deserted island–or so they think. Perfect to read for Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19th.
