Best Books-Preschoolers
By the age of three the love of reading is usually very much engrained in children. Research shows that reading to pre-schoolers regularly improves language growth, emergent literacy and independant reading achievement in the years to come.
Here are some of our tried and tested favourites for Preschoolers aged 3-5 years old.
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We're Going on a Bear Hunt
For brave hunters and bear-lovers, the classic chant-aloud by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river and squelch through the mud in search of a bear.
There is a bird on your head!
This book is amazing! I originally purchased it in 2012 when i was teaching a year 1/2 class. I used it to teach dialogue as the simple text makes it easy for all students to get involved in shared reading. But oh my goodness i did not anticipate how much of a hit this book would become! We ended up reading it every morning for a term, they were so obsessed! When Maisie was around 3 i read it to her and the same thing… obsessed! Told entirely in speech bubbles with a repetitive use of familiar phrases, this highly original book from award-winning author Mo Willems this book will have your little one in fits of laughter!
Hairy Maclary 10 in 1
The Hairy Maclary story books are so well written they are a pleasure to read over and over again! This treasury is the complete collection of Hairy Maclary's mischievous and mad adventures and includes over 10 stories- the perfect bedtime story book! When ever Maisie lets me choose a book i always pick this one!
Included stories- Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy; Hairy Maclary's Bone; Hairy Maclary Scattercat; Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper; Hairy Maclary's Rumpus at the Vet; Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness; Hairy Maclary, Sit; Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack; Hairy Maclary's Hat Tricks; Hairy Maclary, Shoo.
Furry tails 8 in 1
Love Hairy Maclary just as much as we do? You’ll definitely want to add these ones to cart too! It includes 8 tails of all Hairy’s feline friends!
Inside the collection you will find stories such as-
Slinky Malinki; The Minister's Cat ABC; Slinky Malinki, Open the Door; Slinky Malinki Catflaps; Scarface Claw; Slinky Malinki's Christmas Crackers; Slinky Malinki, Early Bird; Scarface Claw, Hold Tight!
Gus the Asparagus
Meet Gus! Gus might be the only asparagus in his family, but he is happy. However, when he goes to school he starts to realise that he doesn’t always ‘fit in’. Gus is here to help kids understand that it’s okay to be different. He will soon become a favourite with anyone who has ever felt a little bit out of place.
This book is so well written and a must have for every child! The author never reveals why Gus is “different” but reading it from a teachers perspective it definitely hints at a ASD and/or ADHD diagnosis. This book has really helped Maisie to understand why some children may thing and act differently to her and has helped her manage her feelings about this.
The Day Crayons Quit
An award winning book about a little boy named Duncan and his box of crayons, which one day decide to go on strike because they are not satisfied with how they are used. Duncan tries to find a way to solve this problem, in order to keep his crayons happy and be able to draw again
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge
This is a beautiful story about a little boy visiting his older friends in a retirement village. They have a great bond, until sadly one of the ladies begins loosing her memories. What is Wilfred Gordon to do?
This one makes me tear up every time i read it! it’s so beautiful!
Where’s my Teddy?
Eddy's lost his teddy, Freddy, so he goes off into the woods in search of the missing bear. The dark, horrible woods hold a gigantic surprise for Eddy, who discovers his teddy bear has grown much too big to cuddle. Could it be a case of mistaken identity? Fast-paced and fun, the perfect book for any child with a special comfort toy.
Feelings book set
This gift set includes the complete 10 book collection of the best selling Feelings series in hardback editions. Through simple text and beautiful illustrations, this series is especially designed to help children better understand their feelings and how to identify, manage and express those feelings in an appropriate and acceptable way, both to themselves and others. These books provide an invaluable tool to help build confidence, self esteem and contribute to a healthy emotional foundation upon which children can thrive. This set includes books- Happy, Angry, Jealous, Scared, Love, Sad, Kind Nervous, Lonely and Disappointed.
The Rainbow Fish
The Rainbow Fish, with his shimmering scales, is the most beautiful fish in the ocean but he is proud and vain and none of the other fish want to be his friend - until he learns to give away some of his most prized possessions.
The Wonky Donkey
I discovered this book long before it was a household name, back when i used to teach Kindy! You either love this book or you hate it and i am 100% in LOVE! It’s a little wordy and a little repetitive but oh my goodness the amount of joy it brings to children is all worth it! It’s clever, original and hilarious! A must have in my opinion! If you already have and love this edition, checkout the other ones like The Dinky Donkey or The Grinny Granny.
The Very Cranky Bear Collection
‘The Very Cranky Bear’ is so popular for good reason! In the Jingle Jangle Jungle on a cold and rainy day,
four little friends found a perfect place to play.
Moose had marvellous antlers and Lion, a golden mane. Zebra had fantastic stripes and Sheep ... well, Sheep was plain. When four friends encounter a cranky bear, Moose, Lion and Zebra all think they know how to cheer him up. But it is plain, boring Sheep who has the answer. Vibrant illustrations and a fun, engaging story make this book perfect for reading aloud. I was going to link the singular book but honestly, once you read it you will want the whole collection anyway!
Jabari Jumps
In a sweet tale of overcoming your fears, debut author-illustrator Gaia Cornwall captures a moment at the swimming pool between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can't help but root for.
Green Eggs and Ham
In this most famous of cumulative tales, the list of places to enjoy green eggs and ham, and friends to enjoy them with, gets longer and longer. Follow Sam-I-am as he insists that this unusual treat is indeed a delectable snack to be savoured everywhere and in every way.
Have you filled a bucket today?
The concept of bucket filling is an effective metaphor for encouraging kind and considerate behaviour and for teaching the benefits of positive relationships. I’ve used this heart-warming book both in my work as a teacher and at home with my children. It encourages kindness and empathy by using the concrete concept of an 'invisible bucket' that holds good thoughts and feelings. When you do something kind, you fill someone's bucket; when you do something unkind, you dip into someone's bucket. This book focuses on how our social interactions positively or negatively affect others and encourages children to be more mindfull of others.
Edward the Emu
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.A timeless Australian classic that continues to delight young children - and their parents 'Edward the Emu was sick of the zoo, There was nowhere to go, there was nothing to do, And compared to the seals that lived right next door, Well being an emu was frankly a bore.’
A beautiful story about loving yourself just the way you are.
The Family Book
From New York Times bestselling author-illustrator, Todd Parr, comes a delightful picture book that celebrates the diversity of families. It is never too young to introduce conversations about diversity. The more we talk about it at home the less children will feel they need to investigate themselves and potentially upset their friends in the process.
It’s ok to be different
It's okay to need some help.
It's okay to be a different colour.
It's okay to talk about your feelings.
It's okay to make a wish...
It's Okay to Be Different cleverly delivers the important messages of acceptance, understanding and confidence in an accessible, child-friendly format featuring Todd Parr's trademark bold, bright colours and silly scenes. Targeted to young children first beginning to read, this book will inspire kids to celebrate their individuality through acceptance of others and self-confidence.
The Very Quiet Cricket
One day a tiny cricket is born and meets a big cricket who chirps his welcome. The tiny cricket tries to respond, but there is no sound. The quiet cricket then makes his way into the world, meeting one insect after another, each of whom greets the little cricket with a cheery hello--the hum of a bee, the whirr of a dragonfly, the whisper of a praying mantis. The cricket rubs his wings together each time, but nothing happens, not a sound. A great lesson in trying, trying and trying again. The importance of persistence, resilience and not giving up on yourself are such important lessons for our youngest readers!
My Cat Maisie
We purchased this book because of the name sake but quickly fell in love with the story. Andrew was a little boy who didn't have anyone to play with. When a scruffy ginger cat arrives at his house, Andrew learns how to be gentle with her and they become firm friends.
Are you my mother?
The must-have, heartwarming and hilarious classic about a baby bird in search of his mother!
Originally created by Dr. Seuss, this book encourages children to read all by themselves, with simple words, repetitive phrases and illustrations that give clues to their meaning.
Come down, cat!
The day is ending, night is falling, and Nicholas's cat won't come down. High on the roof she licks her paws while Nicholas worries about her up there all alone. How can he coax her into the safe, warm house? She doesn't even want to come down from the roof . . . or does she?
It’s the ending of this story that does it for me! Beautifully showing what you see in yourself isn’t always the same as what others see you!
The monster at the end of this book
If your little one enjoys watching sesame street this is a must have book. Furry old Grover begs the reader not to turn the page . . . for a monster is at the end of the book! Just wait for the twist!
Ish
Is your little one a perfectionist? Do they get frustrated or even want to give up when they do something that isn’t just right? This is the book for them! Drawing is what Ramon does. It's what makes him happy. But in one split second, all that changes. A single remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily for Ramon, though, his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently and she opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things exactly right...
My mouth is a volcano!
All of Louis thoughts are very important to him. In fact, his thoughts are so important to him that when he has something to say, his words begin to wiggle, and then they do the jiggle, then his tongue pushes all of his important words up against his teeth and he erupts, or interrupts others. His mouth is a volcano! My Mouth Is A Volcano takes an empathetic approach to the habit of interrupting and teaches children a witty technique to capture their rambunctious thoughts and words for expression at an appropriate time. Told from Louis' perspective, this story provides parents, teachers, and counselors with an entertaining way to teach children the value of respecting others by listening and waiting for their turn to speak.
All Are Welcome
Warm and inspiring, ‘All Are Welcome’ lets young children know that no matter what differences others have, all should be treated with equal kindness. Engaging lyrical text and bright, accessible illustrations make this book a must for every child's bookshelf.
I Want My Hat Back
Told completely in dialogue, this quirky, hilarious, read-aloud tale plays out in sly illustrations brimming with visual humour and winks at the reader who will be thrilled to be in on the joke.
Maisy goes to preschool
We adore these Maisy’s first experiences books! Whether you’re helping prepare your little one to start daycare or school or they are a seasoned pro they will love following Maisy to preschool. There’s painting and snack time, stories, naptime (a bathroom break in between) and many more activities in her action packed day.
Maisy goes on a plane
If your child is about to embark on a plane for the first time or if they’ve been in the skies before they will love this book! Follow Maisy as she checks in at the airport, finds her seat (by the window!) and makes some new friends on her flight. From the whoosh at takeoff to waiting in line for the bathroom, from buckling seat belts to arriving in a whole new wonderful place, flying is more fun with a friend like Maisy on board.
First experiences collection
We purchased our first Maisy book simply due to the name sake but quickly fell in love with the stories! Our Maisie loves them as they are so relatable to her every day life! There are so many in the Maisy Mouse collection but these “first experience” books are our favourite! This 15 book pack is fantastically prices and i promise you’ll love them all!
The little book of friendship
Friendships are like flowers. If you take care of them, they grow and bloom until you have a beautiful garden! The Little Book of Friendship helps children learn what they need to know about making friends, and how to be a good friend to others.
Hattie and the Fox
Hattie, a large black hen, tries to warn the other animals on the farm that there is something or someone lurking behind the trees. The suspense is brilliantly built up in the illustrations by slowly revealing a fearsome fox that is waiting to pounce.
Hattie and the Fox combines repetition and imagery to create a dramatic tale of a clever hen who saves herself and all her farm friends from a hungry fox.
The Pigeon HAS to go to school!
Mo Willems' Pigeon is back in a hilarious story perfect for those about to start school."
Why does the Pigeon have to go to school? He already knows everything! Well ... almost everything. And what if he doesn't like it? What if the teacher doesn't like him? What if he learns TOO MUCH!?!
What if everybody did that?
If you drop just one piece of rubbish out the window, it’s no big deal…right? But what if everybody did that? What if everybody broke the rules…and spoke during story time, didn’t wash up, or splashed too much at the pool? Then the world would be a mess. But what if everybody obeyed the rules so that the world would become a better place? Using humorous illustrations rendered in mixed media, these questions are answered in a child-friendly way and show the consequences of thoughtless behaviour.
What if everybody said that?
If you tell someone that they can’t play with you, there’s no harm done, right? But what if everybody said that? What if everybody forgot to be kind—and made fun of other kids’ artwork at school, or told a fib, or refused to share with a person in need? The world wouldn’t be a very nice place to live. But what if everybody thought before they spoke, so the world would be a kinder place?
The Invisible Boy
Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody in class ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party . . . until, that is, a new kid comes to class. This is a beautiful book that that sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children.
Belinda
What is Old Tom to do? If he cannot catch Belinda, there will be no milk for anyone... Discover how he solves his problem in this classic, hilarious tale. The last page has Maisie and i in stitches each time we read it.
Mr Archimedes Bath
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. This classic will have your little ones thinking about volume and capacity.
Grandpa and Thomas
This is one of Maisie’s favourite books. Perhaps because it’s relatable for her. Thomas and Grandpa go the beach. It is an Australian summer. The sun is shining, the gulls are screeching and the sea is singing. Together they build a sandcastle, they have a picnic and they splash in the water. Until the weather turns.
Shhh! Little Mouse
Will the little grey mouse find something to eat, or will he wake the sleeping cat?
Inside Mary Elizabeth’s House
There is a monster at Mary Elizabeth's house - but her classmates don't believe her! One night she invites them all home to dinner…
I am Enough
The power of positive thinking. Positive phrases for little minds. Teach your little girl how to have a positive mindset, positive self-talk and mindfulness from an early age. You will help her to build confidence, strong self-esteem and how to live a positive life.
There is also one of these books especially for boys.
Room on the Broom
The witch and her cat fly happily over forests, rivers and mountains on their broomstick until a stormy wind blows away the witch's hat, bow and wand. Luckily, they are retrieved by a dog, a bird and a frog, who are all keen for a ride on the broom. It's a case of the more, the merrier, but the broomstick isn't used to such a heavy load and it's not long before... SNAP! It breaks in two! With a greedy dragon looking for a snack, the witch's animal pals better think fast!
Julie Donaldson Pack of 10
All of these Julia Donaldson books are so beautifully written and an absolute please to read! For less than $5 a book you really can’t go wrong!
Noni the Pony
Short listed fort The Book of the Year, Early Childhood, 2011.
Noni the pony is friendly and funny. Her shimmering tail is the colour of honey. She lives on a farm at Waratah Bay, and likes eating apples and carrots and hay.
If your little one loves this tale check out the other in this series including Noni goes to the beach and Noni counts to a million.
Imagine
The illustrations in this book are mesmerising! The inspiration for Denzel’s bedroom!
Imagine yourself deep in the jungle, under the sea, in a land of ice and snow, on a farm, in the moonlit bush, on an African plain, in a prehistoric swamp. Then turn the page and find all the animals living there.
A wonderful introduction to the natural world with intricate pictures to explore again and again, and a key to help you name all the animals.
Magic Beach
Imagine a perfect beach where you can swim, surf, splash through the waves, make sandcastles, hunt for treasure, explore rock-pools, muck about in boats, fish from the jetty, and build a bonfire under the stars. Come to Magic Beach, where adventure begins.
What are Feelings?
This thoughtful book explores happiness, sadness, anger, fear and worry in a friendly and approachable way for little children. Adorable animal characters experience different emotions, while flaps reveal the answers to important questions such as 'Why don't I feel happy all the time?' and 'How can I cheer up my friend?'
How can i be kind?
Helping young children to explore what kindness is and why it's so important.
This thoughtful book explores how to be kind and why kindness is so important. A range of questions help children and their grown-ups to think, and talk, about being kind to others and ourselves, as well as nature and our planet. Beautiful illustrations help young children to understand big concepts by setting them in a world of friendly bugs.
See inside your body
Fabulous flap book that reveals the inner workings of the human body. Bright, original colour illustrations and diagrams display all the major organs of the human body and are accompanied by witty, clear and informative text. Contains over fifty embedded flaps that children can lift to reveal extra detail.
Peep Inside Bug Homes
Come on a bug hunt in this little book and discover ants building their nest underground, bees making honey in their hive and a bug hotel where lots of creepy crawlies have found a home. With colourful illustrations, flaps to lift and holes to peep through, there's so much to discover in this fascinating introduction to insects and where they live.
What Are Stars?
They twinkle in the night sky, but what exactly are stars? Which one's the nearest? Can humans visit a star? Curious little children can lift over 30 flaps to find the answers to these questions and many more in this delightful introduction to stars and the night sky, with simple explanations and gorgeous illustrations on every page.
On the way to Nana’s
Frances and Lindsay Haji-Ali take us counting backwards from fifteen to one on this spectacular journey in the far north of WA. When Frances and Lindsay lived with their family in Broome, they often set out to visit Nana in the tiny outback town of Wyndham over 1,000km north. These road trips took them across the magnificent Kimberley landscape and inspired this counting story.
Pizza day
On a sunny, summer day, a young boy and his father assemble the ingredients for a homemade pizza. From gathering fresh garden herbs to rolling out the dough for a crust to spreading on sauce and cheese, this picture book leads young chefs step-by-step through the process of making a favorite meal.
Stuck
One warm and windy day, Charlie and his friends decide to fly a kite. It takes off and soars and swoops and plunges ... straight into a tree. The kite is stuck! One by one, Charlie's friends each try to free the kite with their toys – all of which end up stuck in the tree along with the kite. Just when it looks as though everything is stuck forever, the cat loses its footing on a branch and sets off a chain reaction, sending their toys to the ground. But guess who is stuck now?
The snow wombat
Shortlisted for the Book of the Year, Early Childhood, 2017.
It's a big journey through the snow for a little wombat, meeting animals, birds and people along the way... but there's no place like home!
A heartwarming story set in the Australian High Country.
With Nan
CBCA award winner.
Simon takes a walk through the bush with his Nan and along the way finds out that things are not always what they seem.
Zoom rocket, zoom!
Come on a fantastic adventure to the moon and deep into space! This exciting book is full of amazing astronauts and super space vehicles, including moon buggies, lunar modules, robot spacecraft and lots more!
Up, Down and Around
Seeds dropping into soil, corn bursting from its stalks, children chasing butterflies and ants burrowing underground, everything in this vibrant picture book pulses with life - in all directions! Sprightly illustrations set the mood for a rhythmic text that follows nature's course to a feast of backyard bounty.
Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count on
Brightly coloured fish introduce young children to counting and basic addition in this fun and simple concept book. A great one for little ones who struggle with basic numeracy skills or have not shown an interest in numbers by the age of 3.
Can You Find Me?
Search for an echidna, a powerful owl, a frog and many more animals hidden on every page. Patrick Shirvington's striking illustrations hide each one of the animals just enough for the guessing to begin.
Just a little bit
When an elephant and a mouse try to play on a seesaw, they need help from some animal friends to balance the scales.
Rosie's Walk
Rosie's walk around the farmyard, pursued by the hungry but clumsy fox, has become a beacon in the world of children's picture books, an ever-popular classic which generations have enjoyed. Children love the humour of this near-wordless story. One disaster after another befalls the poor fox while Rosie goes on her way, supremely unaware of the danger behind her.
