Favorite Storytime Read Alouds: Preschoolers

Feiffer, Jules

George is a puppy who does not sound like a puppy should, despite the efforts of his mother.

Joy, Angela, 1975- author.

A child reflects on the meaning of being Black in this anthem about a people, a culture, a history, and a legacy that lives on.

Morales, Yuyi

A stunningly, illustrated autobiography in which award-winning author Yuyi Morales tells her own immigration story.

Also available in Spanish in our Youth International Languages collection, under Soñadores.

Feeling too grumpy to fly, Bird begins to walk and finds that his mood changes as other animals join him. This is an engaging story about a grumpy little bird who learns how to walk out his bad mood with the help of some friends. Good lessons about friendship and coping with the occasional case of the crankies. It is fun to read this book while walking along with Grumpy Bird. Walk your way into a better mood!

Frog truly believes he is a unicorn. He has a rainbow-colored (clip on) tail, a pretty horn (party hat), and he can fly, too (on the swings). Goat keeps telling Frog he is NOT a unicorn. But when you truly believe--POOF, sometimes magic happens.

Potato is worried about what might happen in the future, causing Flamingo to worry, too, but their friend, a little girl, encourages them to focus on enjoying the present, instead.

Nelson, Kadir

With spare text and breathtaking oil paintings, If You Plant a Seed demonstrates not only the process of planting and growing for young children but also how a seed of kindness can bear sweet fruit.

Chicken's cow visitors try to jump, dance, and wiggle on his couch, which is much too tiny for such exuberant activities.

Stutzman, Jonathan author.

Eating too much pie causes Llama to rip his dancing pants, opening a black hole and threatening the entire universe.

Although he doesn't feel like talking, a young boy responds to questions by drumming on various objects, including a bucket, hat boxes, and garbage cans, echoing the city sounds around him. When a marching band rounds Max's corner, something wonderful happens. Brian Pinkney's rhythmic text and lively pictures are certain to get many a child's foot tapping, many a youngster drumming.

Mimic the movements of different animals and learn a little science along the way.

Brown, Tameka Fryer

Jamie describes his mood throughout the day, using colors and rhythmic text, as he changes from an "easy green mood" while drawing a picture for his sister to a "brooding black mood" when he is teased for doing so.

When rambunctious Little Dragon's flame goes out, only his mother can fix it.

Little monkey will not get out of bed, so the doctor prescribes some exercise, and monkey learns to dance. An energetic monkey gets kids clapping, stomping and shaking while they learn to name their body parts. Rhythmic rhymes and colorful illustrations make this book fun to read over and over.

When the aroma of Omu's homemade stew fills the air, her neighbors arrive, one by one, for a taste until all is gone except for her generous spirit.

It's not easy living with a bear, but one little boy learns that sometimes, a bear in the family can end up to be the best thing in the world!

This is the story of a determined Ojibwe Grandmother (Nokomis) Josephine Mandamin and her great love for Nibi (Water). Nokomis walks to raise awareness of our need to protect Nibi for future generations, and for all life on the planet. She, along with other women, men, and youth, have walked around all of the Great Lakes from the four salt waters - or oceans - all the way to Lake Superior.

Thunder Boy Jr. wants a normal name...one that's all his own. Dad is known as Big Thunder, but Little Thunder doesn't want to share a name. The book is full of love and family humor expressed in the unique illustrations by Yuyi Morales.

Khan, Hena author.

As a young girl observes that each of six women in her life wears her hijab and hair in a different way, she considers how to express her own style one day.

Berger, Samantha author.

A child who likes to draw and write stories imagines what would happen if there were no pencils, paper, or other tools for being creative.