Children’s Books Your Preschool Teacher Wants You to Read Together this Summer

Is there anything more important than reading to a young child? I mean, probably, but it certainly ranks up there pretty high. Not only does it provide a special bonding time, but it helps get little ones ready for sitting at the carpet and listening for 5 to 10 minute increments, it creates opportunities to talk about a variety of topics, and it provides the chance to expose them to important concepts such as letters, words, numbers, rhyming, alliteration, friends, emotions, and so much more. Scheduling 10-15 minutes out of your day during the summer months to sit together and read a book or two is one of the most important things you can do for preschool readiness, and studies have shown that re-reading the same books over and over again to young children is especially important for their literacy development! These are some great books to have in your library to start reading, and re-reading, and re-reading today.

Chick-a Chick-a Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

It’s a classic for a reason. Chick-a Chick-a is not only a great introduction to the written alphabet (Can you find the “a”? Where is the “b”?) but it has a great rhythm that makes the kids want to “read” along with you. This is a book that should be put into everyone’s nightly rotation.

Not Yet, Yeti by Bethany Freitas

Teaching about perseverance is so important before the first day of school. Your little one can learn along with Yeti that it’s okay if something is really hard the first try, but you just have to keep trying and you will get better. At the beginning of the story our loveable Yeti screams and cries whenever he tries something new that is a little hard for him, but with help from his teacher and friends he learns the power of the word “yet” and figures out strategies to help with his frustration.

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan Higgins

Penelope Rex has never gone to school before, so she isn’t sure how to make friends. She is shocked and saddened when none of her classmates want to play with her after her first day, and goes home to tell her parents. After a short discussion (the Rexes know their Penelope well), they figure out that her classmates don’t like it when Penelope eats them, so they send Penelope back to school with the advice “don’t eat your classmates!” Penelope soon discovers that if she treats her classmates with kindness, then they want to be around her and play with her. This book teaches such an important lesson in reciprocity, but wrapped in a funny and engaging story.

The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak

Not every book needs to have an underlying message. Teaching kids that reading can be fun is just as important. Let yourself get silly with this one and listen to the giggles overflow. It will make your heart happy.

Any book that works on re-telling and/or sequencing

Being able to actively listen is an acquired and learned skill. A great way to practice that skill is through books. Read a story with a child and then ask them to tell you who or what the story was about, and what happened first, next, and last. Sometimes they will be able to tell you exactly what happened, sometimes their vocabulary isn’t yet expansive enough and holes need to be filled in, and sometimes you might wonder if they heard the same story you did. It’s all a learning opportunity, and time well-spent together. Any fairytale is great for this, as is The Napping House by Audrey Wood, and Joseph had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback.

Katie is both a Bookseller and Preschool Teacher Extraordinaire! If you’d like to read more about her, check out her Interview with Bookseller!