The Best Kindergarten Read Aloud Books
The best kindergarten read aloud books are enjoyable, educational and heart warming.
I’ve spent the last decade curating a collection of quality kindergarten read a louds for our home school curriculum. My kids and I are both excited to share our favorites with you today!
Kindergarten is the perfect time to introduce many new concepts to your child. At 5 years old, they are ready to explore the world through science and culture. History is an intriguing concept and they are beginning to recognize words and even read! Kindergarten is the perfect time to enjoy a gentle feast of quality read aloud books.
Read through a day in the life of our gentle but thorough kindergarten curriculum here!
Kindergarten Read Aloud Book List
This kindergarten read aloud book list is categorized by the following topics:
- Fun Read Alouds For Kindergarten
- Science Based Read Alouds
- Historical Kindergarten Read Alouds
- Culture and World Exploration
- Kindergarten Books That Awaken Wonder
- Kindergarten Chapter Book Read Alouds
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Fun Read Alouds For Kindergarten
These fun kindergarten read alouds are colorful, witty and filled with rhythm and humor, making them easy to return to again and again:
Mercy Watson Series By Kate DiCamillo
The Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo is full of fun and engaging characters. The adventures of a charming pig named Mercy and her interesting friends will thrill your child with silly plot lines. Explore Deckawoo Drive and its many fun characters through this entire series. Engaging character development and fun vocabulary words both educate and entertain.
Amelia Bedelia Books
Amelia Bedelia has been around for ages, and for good reason! She is a beloved children’s character whose life is full of funny mishaps. Enjoyable and easy to read, the Amelia Bedelia series teaches your child about double word meanings. Silly and engaging, these books are a delight for both children and adults.
Frog And Toad
Frog and Toad face many fun amphibian adventures together, taking your kindergartner along for the ride. With classic illustrations and simple yet humorous stories, your child will enjoy this love able duo.
*Frog and Toad sometimes throw little fits about losing buttons or spring coming early. This is a great time to talk about attitudes with your child in a relaxed and humorous way. Purchase the full collection here.
The Seven Silly Eaters
This is a fun, lyrical story of a mother trying to feed her seven silly children. This book is an enjoyable introduction to poetry, with engaging illustrations. My children adore the Seven Silly Eaters! Purchase here.
Lentil
Lentil is a young boy who can’t sing so he decides to learn the harmonica. And learn he does, entertaining an entire town along the way and winning over the local grump. My boys have been enthralled with this character!
There are many engaging and wholesome FUN read aloud books that are especially enticing for busy children. In addition to those listed above, we also enjoy the Berstein Bear Series, and all books by Julia Donaldson!
Science Based Kindergarten Books
Kindergarten is a wonderful time to gently study science with your children. We’ve enjoyed the following books that awaken science curiosity and can be used as a starting point for in depth science studies:
Make Way For Ducklings
Venture with a mallard pair as they find the perfect spot for their nest of eggs at the Boston Public Gardens. This beautiful book by Robert McCloskey would be a wonderful addition to a spring nature study, with subsequent bird outings! Visit Nature Inspired Learning for duck coloring pages.
Give Me Back My Bones
With lyrical prose and vibrant illustrations, Give Me Back My Bones is an excellent way to teach children human anatomy. Fun and engaging, this book includes a free pirate skeleton bone poster. Your child will return to this book over and over and you’ll be an expert on the basic bones of the body in no time!
The Magic Schoolbus Series
If you are a 90’s child, you probably have fond memories of Ms. Frizzle and her crazy school bus science field trips. Well, my kids are here to tell you that this series is still relevant, fun and full of scientific facts. Fasten your seat belt as Ms. Frizzle takes you on wild school bus rides through the human body, inside a hurricane, and more!
While we’ve enjoyed the entire series, my kids are particularly fond of Lost In The Solar System and On The Ocean Floor.
Struggling with your morning homeschool routine? Read this.
Are You A Snail? (Backyard Book Series)
Are You A Snail? by Judy Allen is a fun and beautifully illustrated walk through the life of a snail. This book is part of the Backyard Book Series, which provides a gentle and fun journey through the lives of backyard insects. Easily digestible science facts abound. My children love this series!
Reading Tip: One of the best ways to study science with a 5 year old is to pick a topic and head to the library. Check out as many books as you can on the topic. Then, immerse yourself in that world! If you are studying butterflies, grow and release some! If you are into volcanoes, make one! Keep science fun and engaging.
Historical Read Aloud Ideas
History in kindergarten? You betcha! Children can cultivate a genuine interest in history at this age, and this is the perfect time to introduce quality role models who have accomplished great things.
There are many wonderful books to choose from:
How Ben Franklin Stole The Lightning
Ben Franklin, the delightful historical wizard that is beloved for his enthusiasm for life and his great inventions, is a fun study for 5 year olds. This captivating book is BELOVED by my children (age 3, 6, and 8). From Amazon:
“Wonderfully inventive art evokes the ebullient spirit of an American original, the great Ben Franklin. Told with narrative flair, this book focuses on his famous lightning experiments. In an inventive way, Rosalyn Schanzer brings us a brilliant and ever-curious American original. “
Ordinary People Change the World (Series)
Brad Meltzer’s Ordinary People Change the World series is a magnificent way to introduce young children to historical figures. Written in comic book style, these books are humorous yet packed with historical facts, the perfect combination for young children. We especially loved learning about Neil Armstrong through this series, but there are many to choose from!
The audio books that go with the Ordinary People series are phenomenal. Buy a few and listen to them on car rides!
Culture and World Exploration
No need to buy plane tickets to travel the world with your children, a book can take you just as far! Kindergarten is a fantastic time to book travel with your children! Here are several quality books your 5 year old will love:
How To Bake An Apple Pie and See The World
Traveling the world to bake an apple pie is really very easy… at least according to this book! A family treasure, we have read this culturally diverse book thousands of times. You will travel from England to Jamaica, and almost everywhere in between, collecting the perfect ingredients for a fresh apple pie.
We have used How To Bake An Apple Pie And See the World as a unit study with 5 In A Row curriculum three times! There is a wonderful apple pie recipe at the end of the book, which makes it interactive and fun. You can use this book as a starting point to study many cultures, as well as food origins.
Madeline Series
The Madeline series is an excellent way to introduce engaging prose while exploring the beautiful world of Paris:
“In an old house in Paris
that was covered with vines
lived twelve little girls
in two straight lines
the smallest one was Madeline.”
Fearless young red haired Madeline is always up to something magnificent. Her bold and charming ways intrigue both boys and girls. She would make a great character study on bravery! Madeline introduces children to a vintage version of France, providing an immersion in both culture and history. Buy the Madeline treasury here.
Kindergarten Books That Awaken Wonder
These kindergarten books will awaken wonder in your child and encourage curiosity and joy.
Reading Tip: We have used a gentle curriculum called 5 In A Row for our early years. This home school curriculum includes many beautiful books that will awaken wonder in your child. You do not have to incorporate the curriculum to benefit from these books, but it can be used so effortlessly (with no prep) I highly recommend it!
Night Of The Moonjellies
From spending the day at grandma’s hamburger stand to a nighttime boat ride releasing a moon jelly, this beautiful book has got the joy of childhood covered. With rich illustrations and a comforting story line, both parents and children alike will enjoy this lovely childhood memoir by Mark Shasha.
Beatrix Potter Books (All)
Beatrix Potter is not a book, of course, but an author. All of her books are capable of awakening wonder and stirring up enjoyment for reading in your 5 year old!
Potter’s characters, from the famous Benjamin Rabbit to the lesser known Mrs. Tiggy Winkle (and more), are an absolute delight. With winsome and charming animals and classic watercolor illustrations, a collection of Beatrix Potter is a must have for every kindergarten library. These classic books are often mistakenly thought of as nursery rhymes, but the full set has a rich and detailed story line.
It is my belief that the works of Potter have the ability to slow life down for a child and teach them about natural beauty and the art of watercolor. In and of themselves, these books are a rich educational resource that can be utilized simply.
One Morning In Maine
This beautifully illustrated story will take your child on a journey celebrating the richness of life. Join young Sal as she looses a tooth, goes on a boat ride and enjoys an ice cream cone. The good life is found in simple moments just like these.
“Today is a specidal day for Sal because she gets to go to Buck’s Harbour with her dad. But when she wakes up to brush her teeth with her baby sister, she discovers something shocking…. Her tooth is loose!” – Amazon
Robert McCloskey truly has a way with children’s literature. Also enjoy Blueberries For Sal and Homer Price.
What’s Cooking At 10 Garden Street?
This delightful children’s cook book will take you through a journey of culture and cuisine. Complete with fun recipes and vibrant illustrations, this is a wonderful book that will teach your child lessons on cooking, culture, and community.
*My 3 year old and 8 year olds have also greatly enjoyed this book and its recipes.
The Best Kindergarten Chapter Book Read Alouds
Don’t hesitate to read chapter books aloud to your kindergartner! Most 5 year olds love a long story time, and there are many age appropriate chapter books to choose from. For busy children, set them up with blocks or play dough for a longer reading time.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Charlotte’s Web by EB White is a classic that you and your child will both enjoy. Become close friends with Wilbur the pig, Charlotte the charming spider, and even dreadful Templeton! The simple yet poetic writing of White makes this a truly valuable read for sharing the art of quality literature with your child. The audiobook, read by EB White himself, is rich and wonderful.
When you finish the book, pop in your favorite version of the movie and enjoy together!
The Boxcar Children
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner is a beloved series featuring four likeable orphan siblings who discover they have a wealthy and kind grandfather. The series follows the wholesome children through mysterious events they encounter and resolve.
The Boxcar Children is an engaging and fun series for 5 year olds but I feel that only the original novels are suitable for kindergarten. The newer books are more suspenseful and intense.
Little House On The Prairie Series
History, culture, agriculture and food science… all packed up in the enjoyable real life tale of Laura Ingalls Wilder. These books have enthralled two of my children, so far, and my son particularly enjoyed listening to Farmer Boy. You could use these books as a very thorough read aloud study covering history, nature, agriculture and more!
You can buy the whole set here of 9 books here.
Runaway Ralph By Beverly Cleary
Ralph, a fun loving mouse, just wants to adventure on his own. Anything with a motorcycle is sure to enchant young boys, and this fun loving rodent book is no different. The journey of Ralph in this 3 part series will have your 5 year old falling in love with literature.
We enjoy many of Bevery Cleary’s books, including Socks, Henry Huggins, and Ribsy.
Stuart Little
Stuart Little is the classic tale of a mouse born into a human family. Follow him on his many misadventures as he navigates a world designed for much larger creatures, and find out how far his bravado can take him!
Stuart is another funny little character who can get a bit moody, and would provide a great discussion for emotions and attitudes.
*All of E.B. White’s books for children are exceptional. His third book, The Trumpet of the Swan, is also an enjoyable read. You could do a gentle author study and read his three books in succession.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald
If you’d like to introduce your children to the art of humor with a dose of proper etiquette, this vintage series is truly delightful. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is called on again and again to help mothers far and wide adjust the ill behaviors of wayward children. Charming and silly, you and your children may just fall in love with these magical books and read them over and over.
*Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a vintage book series with parenting themes. The books do contain references to spanking, which some parents may not want to read.
Reading Tip: It’s ok to adjust and pivot when reading chapter books out loud to your 5 year old. Although my children have enjoyed many of the same books, my son has loved adventure based books the best. If a book isn’t working, don’t force it! Just choose a new one and save books that don’t yet garner interest for another day.
Enjoy Reading Aloud With Your Kindergartner
I hope this kindergarten read aloud book list has been a blessing to you and your young one. Time spent with pages gently fluttering and hearts connecting over the beauty of words is well spent.
“Today, take some time to read aloud with your children. But don’t just read your book…revel in it. Walk in it with your child, feel the air of the story fresh upon your faces and let the joy of the adventure come to life as your words speak wonder, laughter and goodness into the very heart and soul of your child.” -Jamie
What are your favorite kindergarten read alouds? Leave me a comment and let me know what we should add to our shelves!
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