Five great books for Preschoolers – And their Parents who read to them

When my daughter was three years old, we spent many afternoons snuggled together on the couch while I read to her – sometimes up to ten picture books in a row. Most of the books we read came from the library. Because the books were borrowed, not purchased. I was fairly undiscriminating while making our selections. As a result, we plowed through a whole range of books – some of them more memorable than others.

My least favorite books were those based on a television show popular with the toddler set. (I won’t call out any names, but a map with floating eyebrows played a prominent role in this series.) I managed to develop the ability to read out loud while another part of my brain would be focused on what to make for dinner or which baby items needed to be sold on Craigslist.

Every now and then, I would be delighted to stumble across a story that was thoroughly entertaining to both me and my child. Now that my daughter is in kindergarten and learning to read on her own, my days as a narrator are numbered. Before we move into this next phase I want to share some of our favorite books from her preschool days.

Knuffle Bunny, A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems
New York: Hyperion Books for Children; c2004

This semi-autobiographical story depicts a routine daddy -daughter outing that goes awry when daughter Trixie’s beloved stuffed animal is lost. The interplay of hand-drawn characters overlaid on sepia-toned photographs of the author’s Brooklyn neighborhood is original and captivating. Willems’ masterful ability to convey a range of emotions with sparse use of line and language won him a Caldecott honor for this gem of a book. Be sure to read the second and third installments in the Knuffle Bunny series as well.

The Princess and the Potty, by Wendy Cheyette Lewison; Illustrated by Chris Brown
New York: Simons & Schuster Books for Young Readers; c1993

This tongue-in-cheek tale describes one particular’s princess path to becoming potty-trained. The author lightheartedly pokes fun at the antics of the adults throughout the kingdom who attempt to coerce the princess to use the potty instead of her royal diaper. The moral of this entertaining story is that the princess will ultimately become potty trained when she has decided that she is ready, regardless of the prodding from the adults in her life. For little boys, check out “The Prince and the Potty.”

Manana Iguana, by Ann Whitford Paul and Ethan Long
New York: Holiday House, copyright 2004

This modern and comical adaptation of “The Little Red Hen” recounts a week in the life of Iguana and her three friends as they plan and host a party. Iguana becomes frustrated with Conejo, Tortuga and Culebra as they repeatedly invent excuses to avoid helping with the party preparations. In addition to introducing the Spanish words for turtle, rabbit and snake, this book also teaches the days of the week in Spanish. The colorful illustrations depict Iguana becoming increasingly flustered as the week progresses. The rollicking text and smattering of Spanish words make it fun to read aloud. By the end of the story, Iguana lays down the law. Her friends realize that they have been lazy and they make amends, which proves a more satisfying ending than the conclusion to the original fable, on which this book is based.

This simple tale conveys a universal theme that can be appreciated by young and old alike – it is magical to find a friend who understands your point of view. The Bear in this story finds an object that he knows his friend Mouse will enjoy. Bear encounters several animal acquaintances while delivering this object to Mouse. Each one of these acquaintances makes dismissive comments about Bear’s new-found treasure. The negativity causes Bear to experience a moment of self-doubt. But then Mouse appears and confirms what Bear knew all along: “It’s the greatest thing ever!” Greg Foley’s Bear appears in several other books about friendship.

When Stella Was Very, Very Small by Marie-Louise Gay
Groundwood Books; Copyright 2009

This dreamy story captures the magic and wonder of the world, both literally and figuratively, as seen from a child’s point of view. Several of the pencil and watercolor illustrations are drawn as if the viewer is 30” tall. Parents who share their home with small people will also chuckle at the drawings depicting crayon-colored walls, a jump rope in the bathroom sink, a toothbrush on the floor, and toys, books and clothes strewn all about. Look for several other books featuring Stella and her little brother Sam.