List of Picture Books That Promote the Five Parent Practices
Revised April 2024
Many libraries are helping parents to prepare their young children to learn to read, using tips from Every Child Ready to Read: Every Child Ready to Read – Read. Learn. Grow. This initiative supports parents by suggesting books and activities that support the five practices of Talking, Singing, Reading, Writing, and Playing. Below is a list of fun picture books to read aloud to preschoolers. Offer these books at storytime or list them on a handout for parents so they can read these books at home to their children and follow up with related activities.
Read
Agee, Jon. The Wall in the Middle of the Book.
Alexander, Kwame. How To Read a Book.
Allen, Jonathan. I’m Not Reading!
Barnett, Mac. How This Book Was Made.
Barton, Chris. Book or Bell?
Bates, Janet Costa. Time for Bed, Old House.
Becker, Bonny. A Library Book for Bear.
Becker, Helen. You Can Read.
Bell, Davina. All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors.
Benton, Jim. The End (Almost).
Bishop, Poppy. Bear’s House of Books.
Blatt, Jane. Books Always Everywhere.
Boyd, Lizi. Who Loves Books?
Browne, Anthony. Willy’s Stories.
Bruss, Deborah. Book! Book! Book!
Burk, Rachelle. Don’t Turn the Page!
Byrne, Richard. This Book Just Ate My Dog!
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin. The Library Fish Learns to Read.
Carnavas, Peter. The Boy on the Page.
Cherrix, Amy. Good Night, Little Book Store.
Cole, Rachael. Mousie, I Will Read to You.
Coyle, Sarah. The Biggest Story.
Czajak, Paul. The Book Tree.
Dewdney, Anna. Llama Llama Loves to Read.
DiTerlizzi, Angela. Have You Seen This Book?
Donald, Alison. The New LiBEARian.
Driscoll, Amanda. Duncan the Story Dragon.
Dyckman, Ame. Read the Book, Lemmings!
Emmons, Lauren. No Cats in the Library.
Ferry, Beth. The Bold, Brave Bunny.
Fliess, Sue. Books for Me!
Fletcher, Tom. There’s a Monster in Your Book.
Fletcher, Tom. There’s a Witch in Your Book.
Fortenberry, Julie. Grandpa and Jake.
Foster, Travis. Give Me Back My Book!
Freedman, Deborah. Shy.
Freedman, Deborah. The Story of Fish and Snail.
Funk, Josh. Lost in the Library.
Funke, Cornelia. The Book No One Ever Read.
Giovanni, Nikki. A Library.
Gravett, Emily. Again!
Harper, Charise Mericle. A Big Surprise for Little Card.
Hattin, Shona. The Reading Bug.
Higgins, Ryan T. Be Quiet!
Hillenbrand, Will. Santa’s Story.
Hirst, Daisy. I Do Not Like Books Anymore~
Hodgkinson, Leigh. A Place to Read.
Jackson, Richard. Have a Look, Says Book.
John, Jory. You’re Going to Love This Book!
Kilgore, Emily. The Christmas Book Flood.
Kohara, Kazuno. The Midnight Library.
Lai, Trevor. Piggy.
Le, Minh. The Perfect Seat.
Lehrhaupt, Adam. Book’s Big Adventure.
Lehrhaupt, Adam. This Is a Good Story.
Lin, Grace and Kate Messner. Once Upon a Book.
Llanos, Mariana. Benita and the Night Creatures.
Lloyd, Megan. Building Books.
MacLeod, Mrs. & Mr. How to Eat a Book.
Manley, Curtis. The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read.
McClintock, Barbara. The Five Forms.
Messner, Kate. How to Read a Story.
Moore, Inga. Moose’s Book Bus.
Morales, Yuyi. Dreamers.
Murray, Diana. Doris the Bookasaurus.
Ohi, Debbie. Where Are My Books?
Parachini, Jodie. This Is a Serious Book.
Parsley, Elise. How to Catch a Clover Thief.
Preston-Gannon, Frann. Sloth Slept On.
Ramsey, Ellen. A Book for Bear.
Raul the Third. Vamos! Let’s Go Read.
Rocha, Ruth. Lines, Squiggles, Letters, Words.
Rosenthal, Amy Krouse. Don’t Blink!
Ruurs, Margriet. Come, Read with Me.
Ruzzier, Sergio. This Is Not a Picture Book!
Sadler, Judy Ann. Nothing Happens in This Book.
Saltzberg, Barney. Hug This Book!
Sandall, Ellie. Everybunny Dream!
Schu, John. This Is a Story.
Schwarz, Viviane. Is There a Dog in This Book?
Sedita, Francesco. This Is the First Book I Will Read to You.
Segal-Walters, Julie. This Is Not a Normal Animal Book.
Selasi, Taiye. Anansi and the Golden Pot.
Silvestro, Annie. Bunny’s Book Club.
Slater, David Michael. The Boy and the Book.
Sorosiak, Carlie. Books Aren’t for Eating.
Sterer, Gideon. I Will Read to You.
Stewart, Sarah. This Books Is Mine.
Stoop, Naoko. Red Knit Cap Girl and the Reading Tree.
Sundin, David. The Book That Did Not Want to be Read.
Surnaite, Margarita. The Lost Book.
Tarpley, Todd. Library Books Are Not for Eating.
Trukhan, Ekaterina. Apples for Little Fox.
Underwood, Deborah. Reading Beauty.
Van Biesen, Koen. Roger Is Reading a Book.
Wallace, Gwendolyn. The Light She Feels Inside.
Watson, Stephanie. Best Friends in the Universe.
Watt, Melanie. Have I Got a Book for You!
Weinstein, Jacob Sager. Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian.
Willis, Jeanne. Not Just a Book.
Yolen, Jane. How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Read?
Zeltser, David. The Night Library.
Write
Alexander, Kwame. How to Write a Poem.
Amato, Max. Perfect.
Austin, Mike. Monsters Love Colors.
Bossio, Paula. The Line.
Cabrera, Jane. The Thank You Letter.
Cordell, Matthew. King Alice.
Daly, Cathleen. Emily’s Blue Period.
Dominguez, Angela. Knit Together.
Dzotap, Alain Serge. The Gift.
Florian, Douglas. How to Draw a Dragon.
Freedman, Deborah. By Mouse and Frog.
Gay, Marie-Louise. Any Questions?
Haworth, Katie. Around the World: Follow the Trail.
Hirst, Daisy. Alphonse, That is Not OK to Do!
Hopkinson, Deborah. The Story of a Story.
Johnson, Crockett. Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Johnson, Mariana Ruiz. The Book That Kibo Wrote.
Levington, Rebecca G. Brainstorm!
Lies, Brian. Got to Get to Bear’s.
Light, Kelly. Louise Loves Art.
Lionni, Leo. The Alphabet Tree.
Lloyd-Jones, Sally. Look! I Wrote a Book! (And You Can, Too!).
Mack, Jeff. The Things I Can Do.
MacLachlan, Patricia. Chicken Talk.
Prince, April Jones. You Are a Reader! You Are a Writer!
Rosenthal, Amy Krouse. Exclamation Mark.
Rowe, Chelsea H. Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything.
Russell, Natalie. Lost for Words.
Saltzberg, Barney. Inside this Book (Are Three Books).
Savage, Stephen. Little Plane Learns to Write.
Scanlon, Liz Garton. Dear Substitute.
Schubert, Leda. Reading to Peanut.
Sheinmel, Courtney and Susan Verde. Sallie Bee Writes a Thank You Note.
Stead, Philip C. Ideas Are All Around.
Varon, Sara. My Pencil and Me.
Venable, Colleen. Amy the Red Panda Is Writing the Best Story in the World.
Ward, Helen. Spots on a Box.
Watson, Stephanie. Best Friends in the Universe.
Watt, Melanie. Chester’s Masterpiece.
Winter, Jeanette. Henri’s Scissors.
Woodruff, Liza. A Quieter Story.
Zwillich, Julie. Phoebe Sounds It Out.
Sing
Allenby, Victoria. Good Morning, Grumple.
Ashman, Linda. Rock-a-Bye Romp.
Bigwood, Kira. Secret, Secret Agent Guy.
Black, Michael Ian. Cock-a-Doodle-Doo-Bop!
Carnavas, Peter. A Quiet Girl.
Chapin, Tom. The Library Book.
Colby, Rebecca. There Was a Wee Lassie Who Swallowed a Midgie.
Craig, Lindsay. Farmyard Beat.
Davenier, Christine. It’s Raining, It’s Pouring!
Deedy, Carmen Agra. The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet!
Diaz, Lucky. La Guitarrista.
Dominguez, Angela. Sing, Don’s Cry.
Gorman, Amanda. Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem.
Harrington, Tim. Nose to Toes, You Are Yummy!
Heidbreder, Robert. Song for a Summer Night: a Lullaby.
Higgins, Ryan T. We Will Rock Our Classmates.
Hillenbrand, Will. Down By the Barn.
Hughes, Langston. Lullaby (for a Black Mother).
Jaramillo, Susie. Little Sunny Sunshine/Sol Solecito.
Ketteman, Helen. The Ghosts Go Haunting.
Ketteman, Helen. There Once Was a Cowpoke Who Swallowed an Ant.
Lies, Brian. Bats in the Band.
Lithgow, John. Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo.
Litwin, Eric. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes.
Lopez, Rafael. We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands.
MacIver, Juliette. Yak and Gnu.
Marino, Gianna. Following Papa’s Song.
Marley, Ziggy. I Love You, Too!
Marley, Ziggy. Music Is in Everything.
Martin, Bill Jr. Spunky Little Monkey.
McGowan, Jayme. One Bear Extraordinaire.
Metzger, Steve. Twinkle, Twinkle, I Love You.
Murray, Alison. Hickory Dickory Dog.
Norman, Kim. If It’s Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws!
Numeroff, Laura. Nighty-Night, Cooper.
Poll, Willie. My Little Ogichidaa: An Indigenous Lullaby.
Portis, Antoinette. Now.
Schofield-Morrison, Connie. Get the Rhythm.
Sierra, Judy. E-I-E-I-O: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm (with a little help from a hen).
Shields, Carol Diggory. Baby’s Got the Blues.
Smallman, Steve. Hiccupotamus.
Smith, Danna. Mother Goose’s Pajama Party.
Soo, Phillipa. Piper Chen Sings.
Stein, David Ezra. Hush Little Bunny.
Van Dusen, Chris. Hattie & Hudson.
Weinstone, David. Music Class Today!
Wissinger, Tamera Will. This Old Band.
Wu, Mike. Ellie in Concert.
Talk
Adderson, Caroline. Norman, Speak!
Ashman, Linda. Rain.
Averbeck, Jim. One Word From Sophia.
Barnett, Mac. Just Because.
Bottner, Barbara. Miss Brooks’ Story Nook.
Dipucchio, Kelly. Poe Won’t Go.
Flake, Sharon. You Are Not a Cat!
Fleming, Denise. Shout! Shout it Out!
Fox, Mem. Tell Me About Your Day Today.
Gay, Marie-Louise. Any Questions?
LaRochelle, David. Moo!
Le, Minh. Drawn Together.
Light, Steve. Diggers Go.
Maclean, Roz. More Than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Mean.
Mayer, Ellen. A Fish to Feed.
McPhail, David. I Promise.
Meddaugh, Susan. Martha Speaks.
Most, Bernard. The Cow That Went Oink.
Murphy, Mary. Say Hello Like This.
Petty, Dev. I Don’t Want to Be a Frog.
Plecas, Jennifer. BAH! Said the Baby.
Rosenberg, Liz. What James Said.
Sauer. Tammi. Wordy Birdy.
Sitomer, Alan Lawrence. Daddy’s Zigzagging Bedtime Story.
Stein, David Ezra. Interrupting Chicken.
Stein, David Ezra. Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant Surprise.
Stein, David Ezra. Interrupting Chicken – Cookies for Breakfast.
Waber, Bernard. Ask Me.
Ward, Lindsay. Henry Finds His Word.
Watkins, Rowboat. Big Bunny.
Watt, Melanie. You’re Finally Here!
Wells, Rosemary. Say Hello, Sophie!
Wells, Rosemary. Use Your Words, Sophie!
Yum, Hyewon. Puddle.
Ziefert, Harriet. Can You Whoo, Too?
Play
Agee, Jon. My Dad Is a Tree.
Alexander, Claire. The Think-ups.
Allen, Pamela. Who Sank the Boat?
Aman, Kimiko. The Fox Wish.
Andreae, Giles. Giraffes Can’t Dance.
Ashdown, Rebecca. Bob and Flo Play Hide and Seek.
Ashman, Linda. Little Baby Buttercup.
Banks, Kate. Rumble, Grumble, … Hush.
Barros, Bruna. The Carpenter.
Batori, Susan. It Is a Tree.
Beaumont, Karen. Move Over, Rover.
Bloom, Suzanne. The Bus for Us.
Browne, Anthony. Hide and Seek.
Burningham, John. Mr. Grumpy’s Outing.
Collet, Geraldine. Little Worlds.
Corderoy, Tracey. The Boy and the Bear.
Crews, Nina. I’m Not Small.
Cronin, Doreen. Wiggle.
Davis, Kathy Ellen. Ta-Da!
Duke, Jenny. Where Did You Go Today?
Dunbar, Polly. Penguin.
Flye, Min. Box.
Garland, Sally Anne. Share.
George, Kallie. Secrets I Know.
Gravett, Emily. Bear & Hare – Where’s Bear?
Gravett, Emily. Bear & Hare – Snow!
Gravett, Emily. Matilda’s Cat.
Hacohen, Dean. Tuck Me In!
Harris, Robie H. Maybe a Bear Ate It!
Heapy, Teresa. Loved to Bits.
Heder, Thyra. Fraidyzoo.
Henkes, Kevin. Waiting.
Jackson, Richard. This Beautiful Day.
Joosse, Barbara M. Hooray Parade.
Kyung, Hyewon. Bigger Than You.
Lee, Michelle. Play With Me.
Leslie, Lindsay. Dusk Explorers.
Lillegard, Dee. Sitting In My Box.
Long, Ethan. Lion & Tiger & Bear: Tag, You’re It!
Mack, Jeff. Playtime?
Manceau, Edouard. Tickle Monster.
Martin, Bill Jr. Spunky Little Monkey.
Martin, David. Peep and Ducky Rainy Day.
Martin, Emily. Day Dreamers.
McBratney, Sam. Will You Be My Friend?
McDonnell, Patrick. Thank You and Good Night.
Miller-Lachmann, Lyn. Ways to Play.
Mills, Beth. Ella McKeen, Kickball Queen.
Morales, Yuyi. Niño Wrestles the World.
Moreau, Laurent. Play Outside!
Murguia, Bethanie Deeney. Zoe’s Jungle.
Noakes, Polly. Hide and Seek.
Oliver, Alison. Moon.
Petersen, Jessica. Old Tracks, New Tricks.
Pinkney, Brian. On the Ball.
Portis, Antoinette. Not a Box.
Raczka, Bob. Like Best Friends.
Rayner, Catherine. Molly, Olive, and Dexter Play Hide-and-Seek.
Sandell, Ellie. Everybunny Dance!
Smee, Nicola. Clip-Clop.
Spires, Ashley. The Most Magnificent Thing.
Stott, Ann. Want to Play Trucks?
Taylor, Thomas. Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake.
Torrey, Richard. The Almost Terrible Playdate.
Tullet, Herve’. Let’s Play!
Waddell, Martin. Owl Babies.
Whittingham, Jane. Wild One.
Wilson-Max. Ken. Lenny and Wilbur.
Woodcock, Fiona. Hiding Heidi.
Williams, Sue. I Went Walking.
Yoon, Salina. Found.
Yuli, Toni. Cat Nap.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University iSchool