Do you remember learning to read? Do you remember the first stories you read as a child with your parents? I remember my favorite story as a child, Green Eggs & Ham, my mom must have read it to me hundreds of times, because I memorized nearly every word. Even now, more than 30 years later I can still remember many of the passages from this wonderful book and when I quote the lines with my children. They just laugh. You can make reading fun too with this list of 50 books to read before your child turns 5.
Learning to read is one the most important skills your child will learn in school (and maybe start learning before they start school). We can inspire our children to love reading even before they are able to read the words in the story by reading great stories with them when they are young.
This special list of 50 books to read before you are 5 includes many of my personal favorite books from my childhood and new books I have found and read with my children many times. Reading these books together you will laugh, your child will learn and you will grow your bond with your child.
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50 Books Every Child Should Read Before They Are 5
Classics
3. The Cat and the Hat Comes Back
8. Amelia Bedelia Makes A Friend
9. The Berenstain Bears: Mamas Helpers
10. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on A Bed
11. The Three Billy Goats Gruff
12. The Little Engine That Could
14. Corduroy
15. The Gruffalo
Bedtime Stories
17. Goodnight Moon
18. God Bless You and Good Night
20. I Love You To the Moon and Back
21. I Love You As Big as the World
Fun Stories
25. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
26. The Very Hungry Caterpiller
27. Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?
29. Momma, Will You?
33. If You Give A Mouse a Cookie
34. I Wish You More
38. What’s the Big Idea, Molly?
39. The Mine-o-saur
Faith-Building Stories
44. The Prayer of Jabez for Little Ones
45. I Prayed for You
46. God Gave Us You
47. Just in Case You Ever Wonder
48. The Donkey Who Carried A King
49. My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God’s Word in Little Hearts
50. The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers (Little Blessings)
These books are all so much fun to read and will build the foundation for your child to love reading all their life.
Start good reading habits when your children are small. Read every day at the same time like right before bed or naptime. As your child develops reading skills, encourage them to choose their favorite books to read.
Your turn…
What’s your child’s favorite book? How many times have you read it together?
Great list! I don’t have children but I think helping them develop a love of books while they’re young is so important. I loved “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. Visiting from LMM.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a favorite at our house too. All of Eric Carle’s books are great!
This is such a great compilation! Though I don’t have little one, I can share it with friends that do … thanks for sharing!
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Thank you Jacky!
This is a great list of books! We have read several of the books you have listed here. My all time favorite to read with my kids are the Llama books.
Hi Renee, I love the Llama, Llama books too. It was hard not to include all of them in this list!
LOVE this! Reading was always an important part of my life and I’m hoping to make it an important part of my boys’ lives. We’re huge fans of One Fish, Two Fish!
Hi Morgan, I grew up reading all the Dr. Seuss books. They are favorites.