Last Updated: April 29th, 2025

Read, Read, Read: Why Books Before Kindergarten Are a Game-Changer

Did you know that reading to your child even before they can talk can significantly impact their future success? It’s true! Sharing stories with your little one is more than just a cozy bedtime ritual; it’s a powerful tool for building a strong foundation for their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Let’s dive into the incredible benefits of immersing your child in a world of books before they step into kindergarten.

With that in mind, I’ve been saving library check out receipts for months in order to finally log the books I’ve read aloud to my kids (and keep track of our progress). I loved this concept of 1,000 books before kindergarten and am so excited to add to this list as time goes on. I hope you enjoy some of the books as much as we did.

Below, I have listed the name of the book and the author and eventually I’ll have a short description for each book as well so you know what they are about. Most of these books were checked out through our local library. If you don’t have a local library card yet, I highly recommend it for the kiddos. I’ve even enjoyed checking out cookbooks from time to time.

If you need to find a program near you, you can use the official challenge website as a starting point https://1000booksbeforekindergarten.org/ . I believe they also have a 1000 books before kindergarten app for your phone that you can use to track your progress as well, but I have not used it.

Since we are on the topic of reading and literacy, you might want to consider introducing your child to phonetics. Check out my tutorial on making phonetic sound tubs here, or, sandpaper letters.

I will continue to add to this list as time goes on. HAVE FUN &….. READ ON!

A Giant Reading List: 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge

1. Sheep in a Jeep 5-Minute Stories
   by Nancy E.Shaw
   
2. The Berenstain Bears Love Their Neighbors
   by Jan and Mike Berenstain
   
3. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?
   by Bill Martin Jr.
   
4. The Snail and the Whale
   by Julia Donaldson
   
5. The Berenstain Bears All Aboard!
   by Jan and Mike Berenstain
   
6. Cow Girl
   by Amy Cobb
   
7. Pete the Cat Phonics Box
   by James Dean
   
8. Red Titan and the Runaway Robot
   by Ryan Kaji
   
9. Pinkalicious: Treasuretastic
   by Victoria Kann
   
10. Curious George Feeds the Animals
    by Hans Augusto Rey, Margret Rey
    
11. It’s Raining!
    by Gail Gibbons
    
12. From Milk to Ice Cream
    by Lisa M. Herrington
    
13. Today Is Monday
    by Eric Carle
    
14. Pinkalicious Fishtastic!
    by Victoria Kann
    
15. What About Worms?
    by Ryan T. Higgins
    
16. Millions Of Cats
    by Wanda Gag
    
17. Minnie and Moo Wanted Dead or Alive
    by Denzys Cazet
    
18. One Patch Of Blue
    by Marthe Jocelyn
    
19. Picnic with Mommy: Fun Lift the Flaps and Child Friendly Recipe!
    by Kathryn Smith
    
20. Where’s Waldo? The Great Picture Hunt
    by Martin Handford
    
21. I Am a Meadow Mermaid
    by Kallie George
    
22. Maakusie Loves Music
    by Chelsey June, Jaaji, Tamara Campeau
    
23. A Dog Called Bear
    by Diane Fox
    
24. Memory Jars
    by Vera Brosgol
    
25. Lego Ninjago: Level Up!
    by Random House
    
26. How to Be a Land Monster
    by Disney Books
    
27. Special Delivery: A Books Journey Around the World
    by Polly Faber
    
28. Eee-Moo
    by Annika Dunklee
    
29. Weasels
    by Elys Dolan
    
30. Hey, Who Made This Mess?
    by Primo Gallanosa
    
31. What Matters Most
    by Emma Dodd
    
32. Hotel Fantastic
    by Thomas Gibault
    
33. Pancakes Pancakes!
    by Eric Carle
    
34. The Tiny Star
    by Mem Fox
    
35. Wendy & the Dog Wash: The Sound Of W
    by Joanne Meier, Cecilia Minden
    
36. Maggie’s Ball
    by Linsay Barrett George
    
37. Alligators
    by Grace Hansen
    
38. I Just Don’t Like the Sound Of No
    by Julia Cook
    
39. Oh No!
    by Candace Fleming
    
40. A Book For Bear
    by Ellen Ramsey
    
41. Fine As We Are
    by Algy Craig Hall
    
42. Clovis Keeps His Cool
    by Katelyn Aronson
    
43. Monty and the Poodles
    by Katie Harnett
    
44. Caps For Sale
    by Esphyr Slobodkina
    
45. Minnie and Moo Go to Paris
    by Denys Cazet
    
46. A Perfect Day
    by Lane Smith
    
47. All Around Bustletown – Spring
    by Rotraut Susanne Berner
    
48. Annie and the Apple Fairy
    by Thomas Nelson
    
49. Bear Wants to Sing
    by Cary Fagan
    
50. Because Nothing Looks Like God
    by Lawrence Kushner & Karen Kushner
    
51. Blue Sky
    by Audrey Wood
    
52. Book’s Big Adventure
    by Adam Lerhaupt
    
53. Crafty Chloe
    by Kelly DiPucchio
    
54. Group Hug
    by Jean Reidy
    
55. Happy Birthday, Mrs. Millie!
    by Judy Cox
    
56. Ice Cream and Dinosaurs
    by Eric Litwin
    
57. Just in Case You Ever Wonder
    by Max Lucado
    
58. Maisy’s Toys – Los Juguetes de Maisy – A Dual Language Book
    by Lucy Cousins
    
59. My New Big Kid Bed
    by Debbie Bertram
    
60. The Ark
    by Margot Benary-Isbert
    
61. The Green Bath
    by Margaret Mahy
    
62. The Hello, Goodbye Window
    by Norton Juster
    
63. The Invisible String
    by Patrice Karst
    
64. The Lost House
    by B.B. Cronin
    
65. The Oak Inside the Acorn
    by Max Lucado
    
66. The Pirate Who Said Please
    by Timothy Knapman
    
67. There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe
    by Melissa Everett
    
68. Yes
    by Jez Alborough
    
69. Pete the Cat: Play Ball!
    by James Dean
    
70. Pete the Cat: At the Beach
    by James Dean
    
71. Pete the Cat: The Wheels on the Bus
    by James Dean
    
72. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
    by James Dean
    
73. Pete the Cat: Three Bite Rule
    by James Dean
    
74. Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map
    by James Dean
    
75. Pete the Cat: The Pete’s Go Marching
    by James Dean
    
76. Pete the Cat Secret Agent
    by James Dean
    
77. Pete the Cat: Crayons Rock!
    by James Dean
    
78. Pete the Cats Groovy Imagination
    by James Dean
    
79. Danny and the Dinosaur
    by Syd Hoff
    
80. Happy Birthday, Danny and the Dinosaur!
    by Syd Hoff
    
81. Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp
    by Syd Hoff
    
82. The Berenstain Bears and the Truth
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
83. The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
84. The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
85. The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
86. The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
87. The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
88. The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Chores
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
89. The Berenstain Bears Learn to Share
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
90. The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
91. The Berenstain Bears Trouble with Money
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
92. The Berenstain Bears and the Joy Of Giving
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
93. The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
94. The Berenstain Bears Lend a Helping Hand
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
95. The Berenstain Bears Safe and Sound!
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
96. The Berenstain Bears and the Tooth Fairy
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
97. The Berenstain Bears Computer Trouble
    by Jan and Mike Berenstain
    
98. The Berenstain Bears Easter Parade
    by Mike Berenstain
    
99. Usborne: ABC Lift the Flap Book
    by NILL
    
100. Usborne: Chef Lift the Flap Book
     by NILL
     
101. MAMA
     by Jimmy Fallon
     
102. DADA
     by Jimmy Fallon
     
103. Moo, Baa, La La La
     by Sandra Boynton
     
104. Goodnight Moon
     by Sandra Boynton
     
105. Pajama Time
     by Sandra Boynton
     
106. The Going to Bed Book
     by Sandra Boynton
     
107. Barnyard Dance
     by Sandray Boynton
     
108. Snuggle Puppy
     by Sandra Boynton
     
109. The Foot Book
     by Dr. Seuss
     
110. Greeen Eggs and Ham
     by Dr. Seuss
     
111. Fox in Socks
     by Dr. Seuss
     
112. The Cat in the Hat
     by Dr. Seuss
     
113. Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!
     by Dr. Seuss
     
114. Hop on Pop
     by Dr. Seuss
     
115. The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Things
     by Jan and Mike Berenstain
     
116. The Berenstain Bears and the Real Easter Eggs
     by Jan and Mike Berenstain
     
117. Sweetest Kulu
     by Celina Kalluk, Alexandria Neonakis
     
118. I’ll Be a Cowboy
     by Anita Bijsterbosch
     
119. Mustache Baby
     by Bridget Heos
     
120. Pillow Places
     by Joseph Kuefler
     
121. Oh, Tucker
     by Steven Kroll, Scott Nash
     
122. Sir Ryans Quest
     by Jason Deeble
     
123. Hide & Seek
     by Anthony Browne
     
124. Matildas Cat
     by Emily Gravett
     
125. Green Wilma
     by Tedd Arnold
     
126. When You Wish Upon a Star
     by Leigh Harline, Judy Collins, Ned Washington
     
127. Friends (Mostly)
     by Barbara M. Joosse
     
128. The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet
     by Carmen Agra Deedy
     
129. Wolf’s Coming
     by Joe Kulka
     
130. Berenstain Bears Sharing
     by Jan and Mike Berenstain
     
131. 10 Hidden Heroes
     by Mark K. Shriver
     
132. The Rainbow Fish
     by Marcus Pfister
     
133. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
     by Jane Cabrera
     
134. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
     by John Archambault and Bill Martin Jr.
     
135. The Clock Struck One
     by Trudy Harris
     
136. Dimity Dumpty
     by Bob Graham
     
137. Squeak!
     by Laura McGee Kvasnosky
     
138. The Lost Cousins
     by B.B. Cronin
     
139. If You’re Happy And You Know It
     by Jane Cabrera
     
140. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
     by Michael Rosen
     
141. The Wheels on the Bus
     by Jane Cabrera
     
142. Odd Dog Out
     by Rob Biddulph
     
143. Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth
     by Marie-Louise Gay
     
144. The Berenstain Bears and Love
     by Jan and Mike Berenstain
     
145. A Library
     by Nikki Giovanni, Erin K. Robinson
     
146. Apple Farmer Annie
     by Monica Wellington
     
147. Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?
     by Bill Martin Jr.
     
148. Everyone Poops
     by Taro Gomi
     
149. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
     by Judith Viorst
     
150. Good Little, Bad Little Pig!
     by Margaret Wise Brown
     
151. Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
     by Sherri Duskey Rinker
     
152. Mighty, Mighty Construction Site
     by Sherri Duskey Rinker
     
153. Little Blue Truck
     by Alice Schertle
     
154. Little Blue Truck Leads the Way
     by Alice Schertle
     
155. Little Blue Trucks Christmas
     by Alice Schertle
     
156. Yankee Doodle
     by Mary Ann Hoberman, Nadine Bernard Westcott
     
157. Absolutely One Thing Featuring Charlie and Lola
     by Lauren Child
     
158. Elmer and Rose
     by David McKee
     
159. Plant a Kiss
     by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
     
160. Dirty Gert
     by Tedd Arnold
     
161. Bubble Bath Pirates
     by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
     
162. 5-Minute Biscuit Stories
     by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
     
163. Aberdeen
     by Stacey Previn
     
164. Turkey’s Eggcellent Easter
     by Wendi Silvano
     
165. Mr. Putney’s Quacking Dog
     by Jon Agee
     
166. Caillou Happy Easter!
     by Melanie Rudel-Tessier
     
167. Love You Forever
     by Robert Munsch
     
168. The Very Hungry Catepillar
     by Eric Carle
     
169. Guess How Much I Love You
     by Sam McBratney
     
170. The Pout-Pout Fish
     by Deborah Diesen
     
171. Giraffes Can’t Dance
     by Giles Andreae
     
172. Where’s Spot?
     by Eric Hill
     
173. Lovey Things
     by Dr. Seuss
     
174. First 100 Words
     by Roger Priddy
     
175. On the Night You Were Born
     by Nancy Tillman
     
176. Meet The Dinos!
     by Fun Studio International
     
177. All About Feelings
     by Felicity Brooks and Frankie Allen
     
178. All About Worries and Fears
     by Felicity Brooks and Mar Ferrero
     
179. Elmo’s Tricky Tongue Twisters
     by Random House
     
180. Elmo’s Mother Goose
     by Random House
     
181. Elmo’s ABC Book
     by Random House
     
182. Baby Beluga
     by Alfred A. Knopf
     
183. Shoes
     by Elizabeth Winthrop
     
184. Peppa Pig Happy Easter!
     by Astley Baker Davies Ltd/Entertainment One UK Limited
     
185. The Story of Peter Rabbit
     by Beatrix Potter
     
186. Millie Mae Through The Seasons
     by Natalie Marshall
     
187. Jesus Says
     by Caroline Peters
     
188. It’s Okay to Be Different
     by Todd Parr
     
189. Healthy Foods from A to Z
     by Moonstone Press LLC
     
190. Don’t Worry Douglas
     by David Melling
     
191. Happy Dreamer
     by Peter H. Reynolds
     
192. Day At The Beach
     by Tom Booth
     
193. The Snail and the Whale
     by Julia Donaldson
     
194. What If You Could Sniff Like A Shark?
     by Sandra Markle
     
195. Let It Snow
     by Holly Hobbie
     
196. Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge
     by Mem Fox
     
197. Crazy Critter Adventures Yellowstone
     by Jenny H. Lyman
     
198. Hey Jack! The Toy Sale
     by Sally Rippin
     
199. Noah’s 2-by-2 Adventure
     by Carol Wedeven (Arch Books)
     
200. The Story of Creation
     by Beth Atchison (Arch Books)
     
201. The Parable of the Seeds
     by Joanne Bader (Arch Books)
     
202. Jesus Blesses the Children
     by Gloria Truitt (Arch Books)
     
203. A Man Named Noah
     by Karen N. Sanders (Arch Books)
     
204. Jesus Teaches Us Not to Worry
     by Julie Stiegemeyer (Arch Books)
     
205. The Great Catch of Fish
     by Lisa Konzen (Arch Books)
     
206. Cain and Abel
     by Nicole E Dreyer (Arch Books)
     
207. The Day Jesus Died
     by Bryan Davis (Arch Books)
     
208. The Story of the Empty Tomb
     by Bryan Davis (Arch Books)
     
209. The Week That Led To Easter
     by Joanne Larrison (Arch Books)
     
210. Hungry Mouths, Hungry Hearts
     by Heather Kaufman (Arch Books)
     
211. The Berenstain Bears’ Valentine Blessings
     by Mike Berenstain
     
212. Fancy Nancy and the Sensational Babysitter
     by Jane O’Connor
     
213. Fancy Nancy Budding Ballerina
     by Jane O’Connor
     
214. Pinkalicious: The Princess of Pink Slumber Party
     by Victoria Kann
     
215. Hot Wheels To the Extreme
     by Benjamin Harper
     
216. My Favorite Bedtime Rhymes
     by Sanja Rescek and Hannah Wood
     
217. The Wheels on the Bus
     by Phoenix International Publications, Inc.
     
218. Very First Book of Things to Spot
     by Usborne
     
219. I Can Be Brave
     by Usborne
     
220. Pete the Cat: Robo-Pete
     by James Dean
     
221. Pete the Cat: Cavecat Pete
     by James Dean
     
222. The Children’s Book of Virtues
     by William J. Bennett
     
223. Llama Llama Red Pajama
     by Anna Dewdney
     
224. Naughty Mabel
     by Nathan Lane & Devlin Elliott
     
225. No Is All I Know!
     by Chris Grabenstein
     
226. The Little Magician
     by Susanna Isern
     
227. A Fire Truck for Chuck
     by Annika Dunklee
     
228. How Do You Dance?
     by Thyra Heder
     
229. The Yawns Are Coming!
     by Christopher Eliopoulos
     
230. Little Messy Marcy Su
     by Cherie Fu
     
231. I’m Sad
     by Michael Ian Black
     
232. I’m Gonna Like Me
     by Jamie Lee Curtis
     
233. I Love Vincent
     by Laura Ljungkvist
     
234. A Good Day For a Hat
     by T. Nat Fuller
     
235. All From a Walnut
     by Ammi-Joan Paquette
     
236. The Legend of Coqui
     by Georgina Lazaro
     
237. Max on the Farm
     by Kyle Lukoff
     
238. Leo, Rise and Shine!
     by Anna McQuinn
     
239. Pete the Kitty Wash Your Hands
     by Kimberly and James Dean
     
240. Goldilicious
     by Victoria Kann
     
241. A House
     by Kevin Henkes
     
242. The Little Tiger
     by Nicola Killen
     
243. Love was Inside
     by Andrew Joyner
     
244. Waiting for Tomorrow
     by Susan Yoon
     
245. Pete the Kitty’s Outdoor Art Project
     by Kimberly and James Dean
     
246. Some Bodies
     by Sophie Kennen
     
247. Brave As Can Be: A Book of Courage
     by Jo Witek
     
248. The Little Butterfly That Could
     by Ross Burach
     
249. B is for Bellies
     by Rennie Dyball
     
250. The Unbudgeable Curmudgeon
     by Matthew Burgess
     
251. Laundry Day
     by Jessixa Bagley
     
252. Animal Allies
     by Ginjer L. Clarke
     
253. Searching for Stinkodon
     by Megan McDonald
     
254. Pete the Kitty’s Outdoor Art Project
     by Kim Dean
     
255. Pizza Shark
     by Mike Lowery
     
256. Great Girl Stories
     by A Treasury of Favorites from Children’s Literature
     
257. The Year We Learned to Fly
     by Jacqueline Woodson
     
258. Potato Pants!
     by Laurie Keller
     
259. Be Brave, Be Brave, Be Brave
     by Anthony F. Falcon
     
260. It Began With Lemonade
     by Gideon Sterer
     
261. Summer Song
     by Kevin Henkes
     
262. No Fair!
     by Jacob Grant
     
263. Little Roja Riding Hood
     by Susan Middleton Elya
     
264. On The Go Awesome
     by Lisl H. Detlefsen
     
265. Hope
     by Matthew Cordell
     
266. Negative Cat
     by Sophie Blackall
     
267. The Queen on Our Corner
     by Lucy Christopher
     
268. Hug Machine
     by Scott Campbell
     
269. Yay, You!
     by Sandra Boynton
     
270. Don’t Laugh Joe
     by Keiko Kasza
     
271. Field Trip to Volcano Island
     by John Hare
     
272. I’m Sticking With You and The Chicken Too!
     by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
     
273. The Happiness of a Dog with a Ball in It’s Mouth
     by Bruce Handy
     
274. Tiny Acts of Kindness
     by Thuy Ha
     
275. This Book Is Not for You!
     by Shannon Hale
     
276. A Crack in the Track
     by A Thomas the Tank Engine Story
     
277. Something Smells!
     by Blake Liliane Hellman
     
278. Monkey Red Monkey Blue
     by Nicki Greenberg
     
279. When I Pray for You
     by Matthew Paul Turner
     
280. The Tossy-turny Princess and the Pesky Pea
     by Susan Verde
     
281. What A Shell Can Tell
     by Helen Scales
     
282. Dream, My Child
     by R. H. Sin
     
283. Accident
     by Andrea Tsurumi
     
284. Sugar in Milk
     by Thrity N. Umrigar
     
285. Is That you, Eleanor Sue?
     by Tricia Tusa
     
286. Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light
     by Apryl Stott
     
287. Nobody’s Duck
     by Mary Sullivan
     
288. Bad Day at Riverbend
     by Chris Van Allsburg
     
289. The Tiptoeing Tiger
     by Philippa Leathers
     
290. Very Good Hats
     by Emma Straub
     
291. See the Cat
     by David LaRochelle
     
292. Heartbeat
     by Evan Turk
     
293. Alfie Runs Away
     by Kenneth M. Cadow
     
294. Can I Give You A Squish?
     by Emily Neilson
     
295. Mouse’s First Summer
     by Lauren Thompson
     
296. The Unbudgeable Curmudgeon
     by Matthew Burgess
     
297. Animal Allies
     by Ginjer L. Clarke
     
298. Laundry Day
     by Jessixa Bagley
     
299. Fall Pumpkins
     by Martha E. H. Rustad
     
300. Friends Are the Best!
     by Natasha Bouchard
     
301. Forget-Me-Nots
     Poems To Learn By Heart
     

That’s all for now, folks! Do you have any favorite children’s books from your local library? Please recommend them below in the comments!

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