books for Kindergarteners

These picture books make excellent read-alouds at home or in the classroom for ages 5-6. Many will leave students giggling and some will help with new school-year emotions. Plus, it's time to put those early literacy skills into action and learn how to read! The beginning readers found below offer sight words, rhyming words, and repetition akin to the classic Bob books but with a bit more fun.

Don't forget to add nonfiction to your Kindergartener's palate to ignite curiosity and expand their vocabulary.

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Stickler Loves the World by Lane Smith book cover

picture books for kindergarteners

The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett

A very hungry troll underestimates the clever goats crossing his bridge.

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham

Zebra is presenting the alphabet, but his friend isn’t happy when he learns M isn’t for Moose.

What Color Is a Kiss? By Rocio Bonilla

Monica has never painted a kiss before. Is it red like spaghetti sauce or green like a crocodile? Better ask mom! Perfect for exploring colors or inspiring art projects.

Otto the Book Bear by Katie Cleminson

Otto is happiest when his book is read, but when it’s left behind he ventures out to find a new home.

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type book cover

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Farmer Brown is hearing too much typing and not enough milking from his cows.

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Lilly will need patience to wait for class share time to show her plastic purse.

We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

The first day of school is even harder when your classmates look delicious.

Toys Meet Snow by Emily Jenkins

Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic enjoy their very first snow day.

Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes book cover

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin

Pete discovers the library, lunchroom, and playground in his new school shoes.

I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll

Ethan needs Gabe the Monster’s nightly scares to go to sleep.

Open Very Carefully by Nicola O'Byrne

Beware the crocodile! Do you think he can escape this book?

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

Chester doesn’t want to start school, but Mrs. Raccoon knows a secret that will comfort him while they’re apart.

The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach

It all started with a bear, lost in a city, who found sandwich, but was it really him?

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

Camilla Cream worries so much that she may break out in stripes.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

When the zookeeper is home sick, the animals decide it’s time to take care of him.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything book cover

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

Clomp, clomp, shake, shake! Has the little old lady finally met her match?

Dad's First Day by Mike Wohnoutka

Dad isn’t ready for school to start and Oliver must convince him it will be alright.

The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

The wolf’s huffing and puffing blows a pig right out of the story!

beginning readers for kindergarteners

Goat Wants to Eat by Laura Gehl

Every time Cat finds a bed, goat eats it!

Fox Has a Problem by Corey R. Tabor

Fox's kite is stuck in a tree! Will he and his friends find the right plan to get it down?

COMING

SOON!

nonfiction for kindergarteners

Lightship by Brian Floca (387.27)

Floating lighthouses were used across the oceans and Great Lakes where lighthouses could not be built.

Things That Float and Things That Don't book cover

Things That Float and Things That Don't by David A. Adler (532.25)

Questions about density and floatation are answered, plus activity ideas.

A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis (575.68)

Perfect introduction to the life cycle of plants, plus, the backmatter includes excellent info about the parts of a sunflower.

Chameleon, Chameleon by Joy Cowley (597.95)

The story of a chameleon exploring the rainforest
told through extraordinary photographs.

Island: A Story of Galapagos by Jason Chin (508.866)

Discover plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth.

Biggest, Strongest, Fastest by Steve Jenkins (591)

Find out which animals are record holders.

Barnum's Bones by Tracey Fern (921)

Story of the paleontologist who discovered the first documented skeleton of the T-Rex.