If you want to help your child fall in love with reading and have a confidence boost before they start school, you’re in the right place!

In this blog article, we share a specially selected collection of the most popular books for kindergartners. You may even recognise some of the titles from your own childhood.

Read on to find out how to build your family or kindergarten book collection and support and encourage early years reading.

Expert-Recommended Kindergarten Reading List

Here’s a selection of classic, popular books for kindergartners. These titles appear in reading lists and are well-recommended books for preschool children.

You may recognise some, or all, of these children’s books. They appeal to young children and have particular value for early years education.

Classic and Much-Loved Picture Books

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • A simple story and bright artwork help children learn days of the week and counting.
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
  • One of the most popular books for kindergarteners, with its vibrant animal references supporting memory and language skills.
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
  • This story about emotions and imagination is a regular in lists of the best books for kindergarteners.
• We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury:
  • Children, and adults, chant along and act out the adventure.

Best Books for Kindergarteners That Encourage Participation

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault:
  • Introduces the alphabet for rhythmic read aloud sessions.
• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss:
  • Repetition and rhyme and loved by young children
• The Cat in the Hat by Dr Seuss
  • One of the classics, again combining rhymes with humour.
• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson:
  • This favourite introduces teamwork for young readers.

Award Winning Australian Favourites

• Possum Magic by Mem Fox
  • A celebration of family and animals
• Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French
  • A humorous look at Aussie wildlife and a long-time story time favourite.
• Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
  • A picture book and a learning experience about adventures and friendship.

Modern Books

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
  • An engaging story and smart rhymes make this choice popular for reading aloud
• How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
  • Encourages imagination and perseverance

Why Are Picture Books and Repetitive Stories Important?

Repetitive stories and picture books help young children develop a love of reading and are the start of their language skills.

Building Early Literacy Skills

• Rhymes and repetitive phrases, as in Dr Seuss’ stories and books by Julia Donaldson, help children to remember words and recognise patterns.
• Simple plots with bright images, like in the picture books by Helen Oxenbury and Oliver Jeffers, allow young children to connect words to pictures.
• Reading aloud from favourite books ensures children learn how language sounds and memorise new words.

Encouraging Engagement and Participation

• Children will join in with fun lines and phrases they remember, boosting confidence each time they get it right.
• Children are reassured by books with normal everyday experiences, like sharing with friends or getting ready for school. They help make the world more understandable, too.

Tips for Creating a Home and Classroom Reading List

A well-thought-out reading list for kindergarten can help children to love books, stories and reading.

Follow Your Child’s Curiosity

• Go for books reflecting your child’s interests. These may be fairy tale adventures, animals or everyday moments.
• Try to cover different styles and topics from the recommended reading lists for young children.

Consider Age-Appropriateness

• Ensure the themes and language suit early years readers.
• Picture books with simple text are fun and easy for young children to follow.
• As they grow, children will often be suited to reading material above or below their actual age.

Use Trusted Resources

• Check out local bookshops and libraries for lists of the best books for kindergartners.
• Respected sources, like the Children’s Book Council of Australia and the State Library of Queensland, will have reading lists for kindergartners

Practical Ideas for Supporting Young Readers at Home and School

The best early years books and an encouraging environment help young children build a love of reading from an early age.

Encourage a Shared Experience: Read Aloud Together

• When you read aloud with young children, you are growing your bond with them as well as introducing them to popular books for kindergarteners.
• Early years experts suggest using stories with rhythmic language and picture books to encourage participation from young readers.

Establish a Reading Routine

• Short, regular, daily reading sessions are better than long ones, plus the routine can establish positive habits for young children.
• Re-reading favourite fairy tale stories or books with rhyming text helps build understanding and fluency.

Make Books Accessible and Inviting

• Leave books for preschool and kindergarten around your home or classroom to inspire spontaneous and casual reading. 
• Include a mixture of genres, like rhyming books and picture books, so your children have options.

Talk About Books and Encourage Interaction

• Discuss the book after reading the story. Ask about characters and the plot, and what may happen next.
• Try connecting the story to their experiences to help comprehension. For instance, you could talk about food after reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric or animals in books by Helen Oxenbury

Visit the Library and Explore Reading Lists

• Your local library will have reading lists for children. Letting your children select their own books to build confidence and broadens their reading horizons. (Your writer was thrilled to become a library Saturday regular from a young age, developing a lifelong love of reading.)
• If your library has book-related events or story time sessions, they help children grow their love of reading while they socialise.

Let us Inspire a Lifelong Love of Reading

At Mount Peter Early Learning, we know that helping develop a love of books is one of the best gifts we can give young children. 

As educators and carers, our aim is to build a strong basis for every child’s confidence and enjoyment with reading. 

We see every day how picture books, fairy tale, and fun stories about family and adventure keep children reading. Titles from popular authors like Helen Oxenbury, Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, and Oliver Jeffers are favourites in our classroom reading lists and books for preschool sessions.

Are you looking for a welcoming, caring place where your child can develop a genuine love for books and learning? Speak to our friendly staff at Mount Peter Early Learning. We’re here to make these early years special.

Get in touch today to book a visit or speak with our team about how we can support your family.