Rhyming Books for Preschool Through Kindergarten Ages
Since young children learn through repetition, rhyming books are the perfect choice for kids in preschool and Kindergarten ages. The repeated sounds and rhythmic patterns help children to remember what they hear, which in turn increases their literacy skills.
From the time my kids were little, I read nursery rhymes to them. Why do children love rhyming stories? Because when you can’t read something, your mind is looking for some form of stimulation. Repeating the same sounds and rhythms IS your reading. They are building a repertoire!
To better understand why rhyming stories are good for young children, I recommend reading Pam Barnhill’s blog post The Benefits of Nursery Rhymes on Preschool Development.
What happens when a child hears nursery rhymes and rhyming books every day? They will repeat them throughout the day. You will most likely hear hear your child beg, “Again! Do another one!”
Children love to hear the same phrases over and over so that they can remember and repeat them. The books in this post are some of the favorite rhyming books I have loved reading to my preschoolers over the years.
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Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes
Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes is a classic book of rhymes that belongs in every home library. Rhymed verses such as Hickory, Dickory, Dock,Little Miss Muffet, Humpty Dumpty, as well as many other rhyming stories are so much fun for little readers. Many nursery rhymes have been put to song. If you can sing some of them and add motions, your preschooler will relish this time with you. You will be folding laundry and hearing them in the next room saying, “this little piggy went wee wee wee aaaaaall the way home!” with delight.
- Hardcover Book
- unknown author (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Blue Sky Press; Library Binding edition (2 May 2007) (Publisher)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear is a simple, yet engaging children’s picture book. It is a rhyming story going through the different animals imaginatively seen, like a purple cat, a blue horse a black sheep, and many other animals that see another animal on the next page.
- Martin Jr., Bill (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 09/15/1996 (Publication Date) – Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Goodnight Moon is my favorite bedside book for kids. As the reader turns the pages, he discovers every little detail in a young bunny’s room. He wishes the house and the mouse and the socks and clocks good night. Lastly, he says goodnight to the moon.
- Beloved by generations of readers and listeners
- Quiet poetry and gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day
- Author: Margaret Wise Brown; Illustrator: Clement Hurd
- 32 pages
- Brown, Margaret Wise (Author)
Hop On Pop by Dr. Seuss
This is the perfect Dr. Seuss book for early readers! Its silly rhymes (sometimes boring for adults) engage younger children. It is also a great way to introduce picture books to newer readers. Young readers get excited to move on from reading lesson books to “real” books. Hop on Pop has little stories with fun rhymes that will improve kids language skills without them even realizing it.
- Combines phonics and word recognition
- Highly recommended
- This is one of the books of the ‘beginner books’ series, which by exacting blends of words and pictures encourage children to read all by themselves
- Hardcover Book
- Dr. Seuss (Author)
Llama, Llama, Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
A young llama is worried when his mom leaves him to fall asleep and begins worrying that something has happened to her, and he feels alone in his quiet room. Eventually, his mama llama comes in and reassures him that she is always with him.
- Baby Llama turns bedtime into an all-out llama drama!
- Tucked into bed by his mama, Baby Llama immediately starts worrying.
- Children will relate to Baby Llama’s need for comfort.
- Hardcover Book measures 10.51 x 10.51in and contains 40 pages.
- Recommended for Ages: 3 – 5 years.
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherry Dusky Rinker
My two year old is fascinated with construction vehicles and wants me to read this book over and over. This is a fun book with great rhymes about a big construction site, as they conclude their day’s work, putting aside their labor and going to sleep.
- Author Sherri Duskey Rinker’s sweet rhyming text soothes little ones into a peaceful rest|Full of irresistible artwork by illustrator Tom Lichtenheld| Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site is the perfect read-aloud |Ideal for children ages 3 to 5 years old|Great for young construction fans|This adorable hardcover bedtime book is a go-to gift for any occasion
- Hardcover Book
- Rinker, Sherri Duskey (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 04/20/2011 (Publication Date) – Chronicle Books (Publisher)
Time For Bed by Mem Fox
This is an excellent kid’s bedside book by Mem Fox, with cute illustrations. Listen and watch as the baby animal’s mothers tuck them in for bed. I like to read this to my toddlers before afternoon nap. It’s a soothing book that helps them to settle down.
- A bedtime story with rhyming text and lovely watercolor images of baby animals.
- Hardcover Book
- Mem Fox (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 09/24/1993 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Another classic story out of the many written by Dr. Seuss, this comical storybook follows Sam, as he tries to convince his friend to share his enjoyment of green eggs and ham. His friend, however, is in a definite state of absolute refusal. He has to go to great lengths to get Sam to eventually try the infamous green eggs and ham.
- Sam-I-Am mounts a determined campaign to convince another Seuss character to eat a plate of green eggs and ham
- Illustrated in color
- By Dr. Seuss
- Hardcover Book
- Dr. Seuss (Author)
Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
This is a funny book with great rhymes as the letters of the alphabet try to all clamber up onto the coconut tree until the tree collapses and they all get banged up. However, the race to climb up the coconut tree is still ongoing!
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Martin Jr, Bill (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 36 Pages – 03/22/2011 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
Bear’s New Friend by Karma Wilson
One of Karma Wilson’s great bear books, Bear’s New Friend describes in its simple rhymes the adventures of Bear. He is out playing in the woods on a hot summer day when he meets many friends along the way.
- Hardcover Book
- Wilson, Karma (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 04/01/2006 (Publication Date) – Margaret K. McElderry Books (Publisher)
Each Peach, Pear, Plum by Allen Ahlberg
The book begins with a young boy, Tom Thumb, and a poem-filled I-spy game, where the reader meets characters from both fairy tales and nursery rhymes, ending as they spy plumb pie — and everyone!
- Ahlberg, Allan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 10/07/1986 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
One of the best picture books by Nancy Shaw with its humorous rhymes and drawings, this is a great read for young kids about some silly sheep and their troublesome dealings with their jeep.
- Recommended Age: 0-3 years
- Recommended Grade: Grade VPK
- Weight: 0.7 lbs
- Satisfaction Ensured.
- Produced with the highest grade materials
Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
This is one of my favorite books to read to the kids. Margaret Wise Brown’s children’s books are so beautifully depicted in their soothing and simple words and stories. In this sweet story, the reader is introduced to all the animals on the farm and the comfortable environment in which they dwell.
- Brown, Margaret Wise (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 01/06/1995 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins (Publisher)
The Owl and the Pussycat by Ian Beck
This sing-song rhyming book, from the original poem by Edward Lear, is a fun and adventurous story. An owl sings a love song to his love the pussycat, and the author creates an imaginative scene around them, including the land where the bong tree grows.
- Beck, Ian (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 10/03/1996 (Publication Date) – Corgi Childrens (Publisher)
Sheep Out To Eat by Nancy Shaw
Nancy Shaw tells about a flock of sheep out to eat at a restaurant. They are confused about the dishes served there, and end up causing havoc in the entire restaurant. Finally, they find the type of food that they like and are finally contented.
- Shaw, Nancy E. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 03/27/1995 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelman
“In an old house in Paris,” twelve little girls and Miss Clavel do everything together. But when Madeline wakes up crying one night, she is taken to the hospital to have her appendix removed. The other girls visit her and see all the gifts she gets before she returns home.
- Hardcover Book
- Ludwig Bemelmans (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 54 Pages – 01/01/1967 (Publication Date) – The Viking Press (Publisher)
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
This cute book follows the Little Blue Truck down the road, as he makes friends with all the road-side animals. They all make their noises and call to him. When his friend the Dump gets stuck in the mud, the Little Blue Truck and all his animal friends come to the rescue.
- Hardcover Book, Little Blue Truck Alice Schertle Author Jill McElmurry Illustrator Children’s Books Toddlers Trucks Cars Animals Kids
- Hardcover Book
- Schertle, Alice (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 05/01/2008 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle
The Little Blue Truck enters the busy, fast, city. Every one of the cars is in a hurry and agitatedly honks at Little Blue. Finally, the mayor steps out and tells the cars to listen to Blue’s proposition to go slow, and patiently take turns.
- Schertle, Alice (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 38 Pages – 07/07/2015 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton
Barnyard Dance was a favorite of our daughter when she was a toddler. She had us read it to her over and over again. All the farm animals gather and begin a dance in the hay of the barnyard, making all the fun sounds that animals do!
- Boynton, Sandra (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 09/27/2022 (Publication Date) – Boynton Bookworks (Publisher)
Over in the Meadow by Paul Galdone
Over In the Meadow is a counting rhyme book. The book begins with mother and “her little turtle one” and ends with a mother fox with her ten babies. It has little bits that describe what the animals are doing and saying as they go about their day and finally go to bed. This book has been put to a song which I sing to my child each time I read it.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Paul Galdone (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 06/01/1989 (Publication Date) – Aladdin (Publisher)
Five Little Monkeys, Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
Do you want to know the silly story behind the song about the five little monkeys jumping on the bed? You will learn here, as Eileen Christelow tells of the monkeys getting ready for bed. They jump on the bed, and when one of them gets hurt and the doctor tells them not to jump on the bed, they mischievously do it again.
- Hardcover Book
- Christelow, Eileen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 10/07/2014 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman
The seven Peters kids are a strange bunch in all their unique and separate food preferences. Mrs. Peters can hardly keep up with all the food she must prepare every day. She gets tired of it — and tomorrow is her birthday! The seven kids all put their dishes together, and it turns out so horrible they hide it in the oven…but their mother wakes up to a big surprise!
- The Seven Silly Eaters By Hoberman Mary Ann Frazee Marla ILT
- Hoberman, Mary Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 08/01/2000 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly! by Pam Adams
If you know the song for this book, your preschooler will just love singing it with you! This old lady thought nothing would happen by swallowing a single fly — but she keeps swallowing bigger and bigger animals. What will happen when she swallows a goat, a cow, a horse? ”Perhaps she’ll die!”
- Adams, Pam (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 14 Pages – 11/01/2000 (Publication Date) – Child’s Play International (Publisher)
There’s a Wocket in My Pocket by Dr. Seuss
Here is a simple story that your children will love. The main character goes about his house, showing off all the creatures that live there. For example, the Zable on the table or maybe the Geeling on the ceiling.
- Dr. Seuss (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 05/08/2018 (Publication Date) – Random House Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
Jamberry by Bruce Degen
The bear and his friend go on a berry adventure — collecting all kinds of berries — blackberries, hayberries, cranberries, and pawberries! This storybook concludes with an overwhelming berry jamboree!
- Degen, Bruce (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 01/22/2008 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins (Publisher)
This list of books is a wonderful selection to collect for your home library! Find a cozy spot in the house and read these great books with your preschooler. What classic rhyming book would you add to this list?
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Hi Sheri,
I’m curious about picture study. I’d like to start incorporating that into our morning time but I’m not sure how and where to get pictures, questions and artists. I know classical conversations offers stuff and ambelside does too, however we are eclectic homeschoolers. This coming year I’m focusing on geography and mapping, I’m using the Geography units from Gather Round. We’re starting with Europe. I’m thinking of using the artists in that unit study but if you have a better idea or place to get these I’d love to hear from you. Thank you for all your content it’s super helpful!
Faith over Fear,
Jenn Grant
P.s. I have 3 kiddos ages 12,10 and 4