It's a tricky business, choosing appropriate read aloud chapter books for preschoolers. This is especially true for your three year old, since–as every parent all knows–there is a world of difference between "just three" and "almost four".
3- and 4-year-olds with older siblings might simply enjoy the family bonding time that comes with reading aloud chapter books. My youngest listened in to story time when I read aloud to his older brother, even though I didn't always choose chapter books that were appropriate for preschoolers.
I knew his reading comprehension was not at level of the books I was reading, but my then 3-year-old loved to chat with me about the stories we read and I listened carefully, because he gave me a clues as to which books he truly comprehended. His responses helped me fine tune this list of chapter books for preschoolers and 3-year-olds. If you count out all the series books, you'll have more than 50 books to choose from!
You should absolutely not abandon reading picture books, but if your 3 and 4 year enjoy chapter books, by all means, let them! You'll love our list of favorite picture books for 3 year olds.
(Note: this post contains affiliate links that earn from qualifying purchases.)
Chapter Books for Preschoolers
Also check out this advice on how to help young children love chapter books.
My Father's Dragon (series) by Ruth Stiles Gannett. This classic 1940s adventure novel about how a clever lad rescues a baby dragon is my number one recommendation for a first chapter book read aloud.
Catwings (series) by Ursula K. Le Guin. Cats with wings? You know there are a lot of adventures to be had! Four flying cats leave the city for the country, where they must overcome danger. Not to worry, all ends happily. This is another set of very short novels suitable for even the youngest listeners.
Oh, Sal by Kevin Henkes. Sal is the 4-year-old sister of Billy Miller, the hero of his own chapter book series. The action takes place during the holiday season. Sal had a new baby sister who still needs a name, her Uncle Jake is visiting, and Sal is trying to find her missing gift. A sweet story with some gentle laughs.
Dinosaur Trouble by Dick King-Smith. I love to sing the praises of Dick King-Smith (most famous for Babe: The Gallant Pig, although I don't recommend that chapter book for preschoolers) as an essential go-to author for early chapter books. In this one young dinosaurs make friends and take on the scary T-Rex. Lately, my son has been asking for this one over and over and over!
Hickory by Palmer Brown is a very short and sweet novel and will be enjoyed by the youngest in your family as well as the oldest. Hickory, his brothers Dickory and Dock live with their parents in a grandfather clock. Hickory, however, longs to experience the outdoors. When spring comes he decides to explore the meadow and meets Hop the grasshopper. The two form a friendship and yet Hop tells Hickory that when the warm weather fades, so will the grasshopper's song. Hickory convinces Hop to set out with him so that they will always be warm, thus thwarting inevitable mortality. The ending is ambiguous but not scary, and instead provides fodder for conversation with the kids.
Lady Lollipop by Dick King-Smith. A spoiled princess chooses a pig for her eighth birthday present. During the pig's training the princess, herself gets a bit of a makeover. Also try the sequel, Clever Lollipop. These may be good for your young 3 year old.
MORE: Heartwarming Family Read Aloud Books
Milly Molly Mandy by Joyce Lankester Brisley. This is a cheerful, wholesome and charming collection of timeless stories about a young girl and how she goes through her first experiences like spending her pennies, sleeping away from home and looking after a hedgehog. Darling and a terrific choice for parents who want a classic book for kids with short attention spans. Perfect stories for 3 year olds.
Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole (series) by Wong Herbert Yee. There are a few Mouse and Mole books (Yee is one of our favorite authors) and they are in the easy reader section of the library. However, they also make good read alouds for young 3s.
Yours Sincerely, Giraffe by Megumi Iwasa. This quirky Japanese import will charm both child and parent. One day, bored Giraffe decides to send a letter via Pelican Mail to the first animal Pelican meets beyond the horizon. He ends up with Penguin as his pen pal and the two exchange charming letters full of questions. The two become friends and decide to meet, but first Giraffe wants to make a costume so he will look just like Penguin. There is nothing remotely frighting in this charming, sweet and immensely playful short novel.
Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren Castillo. What a marvelous book! I have long admired Castillo's illustrations and this gentle chapter book is perfect for kids who like cozy and gentle reads. A storm carries away Hedgehog's stuffed toy dog, Mutty, leaving Hedgehog feeling lonely. She sets out to find Mutty, following clues that lead her to encounters with other friendly animals who help her. Eventually all the creatures meet a human, Annika May, who has lost something of her own. All the animals have charmingly distinctive personalities.
The Little Water Sprite by Otfried Preussler. The book begins with the birth of Little Water Sprite and each chapter tells of a new adventure he has while learning and exploring in his little mill pond home. At first I thought my son would find this book dull, but he actually loved it, and hearing about the Water Sprite's pranks and his friendship with Cyprian the Carp. The roles played by Mother and Father Water Sprite are quite dated but no more than in any other classic tale.
MORE: Classic children's books you haven't read... yet!
Ribsy by Beverly Cleary. I love this stand alone book about Henry Huggins' dog. Poor Ribsy gets lost, but has amusing adventures before he finally finds his way back to Henry.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue (series) by Kate DiCamillo. Mercy is a toast-loving pig who happens to get into all sorts of crazy scrapes. Excellent for young 3s and accompanied by delicious, colorful pictures.
SuperDuper Teddy by Johanna Hurwitz. (series) This was one of Kiddo's first read alouds. Teddy is a four-year-old who gets his first job feeding the neighbor's cats. All of the kids live in the same apartment building in NYC. There is an entire series of Riverside Kids books and although you may be able to find them at your library, most are out of print (sad face).
Jenny and the Cat Club (series) by Esther Averill. Averill started writing about Jenny and her gang of feline friends in the 1940s and they still hold up today. These are short chapter books and go quickly for kids with less than stellar attention spans.
Mrs. Noodlekugel by Daniel Pinkwater. A babysitter who brings gingerbread mice to life? That's got to be fun. In fact, these books are quite silly and imaginative. My 3 ½ year old, loves this one and asks for it all the time. He can listen to it in one sitting.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald. Speaking of old ladies with funny names... you've no doubt heard of this one. It's generally recommended for slightly older children, but I read it to a 3 year old and a 7 year old at the same time and found it to entertain both boys equally. The chapters can be long, so make sure you have a few other chapter books under your belt before you start this one.
Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne. Children of all ages love the wit and wisdom of Winnie the Pooh, plus it is wonderful for parents to reread classics they remember hearing when they were little. A wonderful gentle choice and great for bedtime! Don't be surprised if you hear your children chanting "Tiddely Pom," during the day.
The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz. A fairy must get used to living in the sunlight and along the way exhibits bravery and ingenuity while befriending other garden creature. Best for four and five year olds.
Boo's Dinosaur by Betsy Byars. Boo has an imaginary dinosaur friend, but her brother Sammy needs some convincing. This is a great choice if you are looking for a book about good sibling relationships. Also try the sequel, Boo's Surprise
, which is equally imaginative. Your three-year-old should be able to appreciate this one.
The Anna Hibiscus (series) by Atinuke books were written with early readers in mind, but the stories about Anna and her extended family in Africa make excellent read alouds for even the younger three-year-olds.
The Children of Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren. These gentle chapter books preschoolers will enjoy are often overlooked for the more well known Pippi Longstocking by the same author. The chapters can also function as stand alone stories about a charming group a children and neighbors in Sweden's farmland. You might like it as an alternative to the Little House books.
Lotta on Troublemaker Street by Astrid Lindgren. (series) Since we are talking Astrid Lindgren books, here's another overlooked series by her, also appropriate for young listeners, and a good one to start your chapter book journey. Lotta is five years old and has a bit of trouble keeping out of scrapes. If you like the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, here is her Swedish counterpart.
Emil and the Great Escape (series) Okay, okay, I can't resist! Here's another Astrid Lindgren series. Emil is good natured and well-meaning, but that doesn't keep him out of trouble! What I love about Emil is that even though he gets into mischievous scrapes on and around the family farm, his heart is always in the right place. Plus, the old-fashioned charm of Lindgren's storytelling is appropriate for all ages.
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Florence and Richard Atwater. I first read this 1939 Newbery Honor Book to my older son when he was four, but we have also listened to the audio book many times and my 3-year-old spent a lot of the story giggling. It's hard not to laugh at a house full of silly penguins.
Two Times the Fun by Beverly Cleary. Four stories about 4 year old twins by dependable author Beverly Cleary. The Ramona series can be hard as a first chapter book read aloud because the chapters are so loooong. Start here instead.
MORE: Books for fans of Beverly Cleary
Toys Go Out (series) by Emily Jenkins. Jenkins' droll storytelling style is perfect for communicating the adventures of toys when their owner is away. The featured characters learn all about life in a perfect, child-like way. One caveat: the final book, Toys Come Home may have a few things that could be deemed scary, but you could just skip that chapter.
Thornton Burgess Animal Stories. If your children like old-fashioned animal stories, these classics might be just right. Burgess started writing these stories in 1910 and there are more than 20 of them to keep you busy.
James Herriot's Treasury for Children. This is a collection of longer stories rather than a true chapter book, but lovely, comforting tales and beautiful illustrations will charm your young animal lover.
Pee-Wee's Tale (series) by Johanna Hurwitz. A guinea pig escapes to Central Park and learns some life skills from his new squirrel friend. Animal stories are always a winner in our house and I think kids can really relate to the feeling of being small in a big, big world.
Tumtum & Nutmeg (series) by Emily Bearn. Here's another book for those of you with children who love stories about animals. Two mice get caught up in adventures while trying to improve the lives of the children living in Rose Cottage. It is the perfect blend of daring rescues and charming sweetness. It will remind you of classic books like The Borrowers.
Gooseberry Park by Cynthia Rylant. This charming story follows the adventures of a bat with a taste for junk food, a kind dog and a wise hermit crab as they try to save their friend Stumpy the Squirrel and her new babies.
Gooseberry Park and the Master Plan by Cynthia Rylant. This is a companion book to the wonderful Gooseberry Park novel, but written for younger reader and as such makes a great chapter book for 3-year-olds. We adored both books. In this title, the colorful cast of characters band together during a drought and come up with a plan that involves a cat, a possum, a raccoon, 200 owls, and 20 packs of chewing gum.
Dory Fantasmagory (series) by Abby Hanlon had my son in stitches as we were reading it. Dory is a highly imaginative 6-year-old. Her older brother and sister invent a "Mrs. Gobble Gracker" in order to scare Dory into "not behaving like a baby," but Dory grabs onto the idea and her imagination runs away. It's hard to describe the whole intricate plot here, but the way Dory's imaginary world and real world overlap is hilarious.
The Princess in Black (series) by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale. When monsters start harassing the sheep, Princess Magnolia dons her secret identity and swoops in to save the day. Tongue in cheek humor, color illustrations, and action make this a great read aloud. In case you are thinking this is a "girl book", my son LOVED these books and had me read them over and over.
The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems is a delightfully charming chapter book illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi. In Paris, the adventurous Flea convinces the intimidated Diva to take a trip around the city to explore the wonder of life outside. Then Diva assures Flea that inside an apartment isn't so scary and the two friends embrace how much greater their world is now, for knowing each other.
Cobble Street Cousins (series) by Cynthia Rylant. Three cousins live with their aunt while their professional dancer-parents are touring the world. Lily, Tess and Rosie have lots of wholesome neighborhood adventures like baking and selling cookies and putting on theatricals. For parents who want to avoid sassy characters, this is a good series; lauded author Cynthia Rylant has a talent for writing stories which are simultaneously modern and old-fashioned.
The Miniature World of Marvin and James by Elise Broach. If I were to recommend a book about two beetles jumping into a pile of pencil shavings inside an electric pencil sharpener, you might look at me a little askew. Actually the book is about how the beetle, Marvin, spends his time while his best friend (and human), James, is at the beach. The pencil sharpener incident is simply the most memorable part of the story and the one that my son wanted me to read to him again and again.
Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel is an easy reader, but it also makes a wonderfully quirky and funny read aloud for 3-year-olds. Read a story a night and then turn to our list of books like Frog and Toad for more great selections like this.
The Little Bear series by Else Holmelund Minarik is a sweet classic! It will be easy to read all the stories of a sweet little bear learning life's lessons in one sitting, but you can also stretch them out over several nights at bedtime. What I love about using easy readers as a first chapter book read aloud is that kids, when they are ready to read independently, will more readily pick up old favorites.
Socks by Beverly Cleary. Socks narrates his own tale of life after a new baby enters his previously quiet home. It's hard to go wrong with Beverly Cleary. Dog fans can pick up a copy of Ribsy. Many parents start with Ramona but even little kids will love listening to Sock's adventures if they aren't ready for something longer.
The Lighthouse Family (series) by Cynthia Rylant. Rylant's use of language in this charming series harkens back to back to classic children's literature (think: Beatrix Potter and Kenneth Grahame) and when the stories end you are sure to feel all cozy and secure.
The Adventures of Sophie the Mouse (series) by Poppy Green, illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. A very sweet and wholesome early chapter book series about a friendly mouse who lives and goes to school in Silverlake Forest.
A Bear Called Paddington (series) by Michael Bond. For experienced preschool read aloud listeners reach for the Paddington books. Oh the scrapes Paddington gets into! For weeks my child could not take a bath without referencing the way Paddington flooded the Browns' house. During the final chapter, he was literally jumping on the bed with laughter as Paddington bumbled through his magic show
More book lists with great chapter books for preschoolers:
- Gentle Chapter Books to Read Aloud
- Chapter Books for 4-6 Year olds (great for Kindergarten, too)
maryanne @ mama smiles says
Awesome post! Have you read Enid Blyton's "Faraway Tree" series? My kids enjoyed that - although, it may have helped that I changed the kids' names to match my three (it's about two girls and a boy)
Jen says
Thanks - these are some fantastic suggestions. My boys are 3 and 6 and the 6 year old has only recently been asking for chapter books (he is not a very advanced reader though). The 3 year old just listens to whatever his brother likes! We've only read some Enid Blyton and Alice in Wonderland so far but my older boy has recently become obsessed with Andy Griffiths (an Australian author)to the point of harassing book shop owners if they don't have the one he is after! They are not my favourites by any means but the 13 Storey Treehouse is the first 'chapter' book that he read by himself (and it was a real struggle for him) and he was so proud of himself afterwards that I had to swallow my objections (and remind myself that I am not the book's target audience). Also, his first grade teacher told me that at lunch time the boys in her class have been sitting by themselves under a tree reading Andy Griffiths books to each other in a sort of self-organised book club so there must be something in them! It will be great to have a few other suggestions to offer him though before I go too completely crazy so thanks again for the post.
Momand Kiddo says
Jen, that's so great that the boys formed their own book club! I've never heard of Andy Griffiths. I'll have to see if his books are available here in the States. Thanks for your comment!
Jen says
Andy Griffiths is HUGE in Australia but I have no idea how well known he is in other countries. He's well-known for being a good author of books for reluctant/struggling boy readers keen on reading - a genre I was always very sceptical about until I had my own struggling boy reader and became less judgemental! According to my son (and the local bookshop owners he harassed last weekend), the long-awaited sequel to the 13 Storey Treehouse (the 26 Storey Treehouse) is ALREADY available in the USA. He is very indignant about this as we have to wait until 1 Sept until it is published here even though Andy Griffiths is an Australian author.
Helen Handley says
Great list- thanks! We love Buster Bear and all the subsequent books by Thornton Burgess.
Momand Kiddo says
I remember reading all the Burgess books when I was a kid, too.
earthcore says
We enjoyed the Teddy Robinson stories by Joan G. Robinson and My Naughty Little Sister by Dorothy Edwards.
Momand Kiddo says
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll have to look them up.
Catherine @ Story Snug says
Earthcore - I loved those as a child too 🙂
We love Dixie O'Day Life in the Fast Lane. It's a great first chapter book written to bridge the gap between picture books and chapter books. I'm sure a three year old would enjoy it too.
http://storysnug.com/2013/11/dixie-oday-fast-lane/
Kim @ The Educators Spin On It says
Thanks for creating this list. It's always a challange to make them age appropriate for content. Now I need to head off to the library to check them out! Just pinned it onto our Reading Board to share with others. http://pinterest.com/educatorsspinon/reading-activities/
Momand Kiddo says
Kim: Thank you!
Rebecca & Jeff says
Awesome post! Thank you for the great list! Both my 3 year boy old and my 2 year old girl love the Mercy Watson books! I'm excited to try out some of these others!
Momand Kiddo says
Mercy Watson is hard not to love. She is a pretty crazy pig.
Fanny Harville says
Great list!
My son was about 4 1/2 when we started reading chapter books, and the first book was The Railway Children by E. Nesbit. We read many "transitional" chapter-type books before that age -- text-heavy series of linked stories with continuous characters but not continuous plot, such as Pooh, Herriot's Treasury, Thomas the Tank Engine, etc.
I describe the process of working up to true long, chapter-divided fiction here: http://fannyharvilleunschool.blogspot.com/2009/07/chapter-books.html
Momand Kiddo says
That was a good post. I agree, text-heavy stories are a good way to go.
Amy says
This is a GREAT list! I have a son who just turned 4 and another son who is 2 1/2, and I've discovered many of the same favorites as you! We absolutely adore Mercy Watson, and we recently read My Father's Dragon and Elmer and the Dragon, and we're currently reading Mr. Popper's Penguins. Have you read The Littles? My sons really enjoyed that one (although I found myself a little bit bored for most of it). And I'm glad you mentioned Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle because I've been wondering if that was too old for them, but now I think I'll try it. I especially love this list because you have tried it out on three-year-olds! So many chapter books are recommended for older kids, but if you're reading out loud, then the younger crowd can definitely enjoy them, too!
Momand Kiddo says
Amy, thanks for the suggestion of The Littles, I haven't read that one yet (although I remember the Saturday morning cartoon when I was a kid, Ha ha!).
It's true, 3 year olds can be very tricky, but trial and error is sometimes necessary because all kids are different.
Happy Reading!
Mandy says
What a great list - thanks for putting it together. I'm looking forward to giving some of these books a read. We started reading chapter books to my son when he was 3 (he's now 5) and some of our favorites have been Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and The Boxcar Children.
Momand Kiddo says
Those are also some wonderful choices!
Creative Kid Snacks says
Just pinned this idea!
Found you through the Kids Co-op. Fantastic resources here!
Amy @ Creative Kid Snacks
Momand Kiddo says
Thanks!
Elizabeth says
We loved Milly Molly Mandy around these parts. Great list of titles I've never heard of, and I call myself a book worm. 🙂
Momand Kiddo says
I've heard of Milly Molly Mandy, but we haven't read it yet. It's a good suggestion.
Terri Thompson says
What a fabulous book!! We've been reading the Magic Treehouse series, but now I have more I want to read to my girls. PeeWee's Tales and Catwings in particular look like fun choices.
Momand Kiddo says
Thanks, Terri. Both are good books about animals in the city. I hope your girls enjoy them.
Raising a Happy Child says
Wow, this is a terrific list. There are a lot of books here that we read and some that we didn't. I know that I probably read some chapter books to Anna when she was 3, but now I can't remember what they were. We still didn't try anything by Astrid Lindgren, I really have to get my act together 🙂
Unknown says
Can someone please suggest some chapter books for a young 3 about Christmas? I would really appreciate it!
Momand Kiddo says
That's a tough one. There area a lot of Christmas chapter books, such as The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and L.F. Baum's The Adventures of Santa Claus, but I'm not not sure I would suggest them for a 3 year old. You could try The Best Christmas Pageant Ever if your child is almost 4, but it might be better for a 4-6 year old Read Aloud. You might check in the Bridge Book/Easy Reader section of your library since a lot of series have a holiday edition.
New Kid really likes Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake, which takes place at Christmas. Technically it does have chapters, but it is so short you can read it in one sitting. Also the Mouse and Mole book series has "Winter Wonderland", though it is not specifically about Christmas.
Llael says
I know this is ages old, but in case any one else is interested - my almost 3 yo really enjoyed Dragon's Merry Christmas, by Dav Pilkey. Admittedly, to call it a chapter book is an exaggeration. It's an easy reader with "chapters," and full of pictures. My son will listen to it twice over in one sitting. But still, something to try out. Very funny and sweet mini stories.
Anonymous says
You really love Astrid Lindgren! We read (and loved) the Pippi books with our 3-3 1/2 year old but found an Emil book to be more Swedish than universal. All time favorite was Little House in the Big Woods, but our kid was just 2 when we first read that. Wind in the Willows and the shorter The Reluctant Dragon by Graehme are high on the list. She also really liked The Secret Garden and we've read all the age-appropriate Betsy Tacy books. Also, we liked the Gooney Bird stories by Lowry. Very funny, but a bit heavy on the insults for a 3 year old.
Momand Kiddo says
I do love Lindgren. It's the Swede in me. I agree the Betsy-Tacy books are also an excellent choice, but we haven't read those aloud yet (no many books, so little time!) I read The Reluctant Dragon to Kiddo (it's on my post of favorite dragon books) but I found the sentence structure was too much for my 3 year old.
Thanks for your comment!
Jamie @ The Unlikely Homeschool says
This is a great list. We have read many of these and will look into the rest. I am one of the hosts of the Weekly Kid's Co-op and will be featuring this post as my top picks tomorrow.
Mary Ryan says
Love this list! I'm featuring it today on my Kids Co-op post! Thanks for such a great resource.
http://sugarsnips.com/?p=2201
Joyce says
Fantastic post! Thank you for rounding up so many great books. I know what I'm always looking for new books and love when I have several laid out before me. 🙂 thank you for sharing!
Momand Kiddo says
Your welcome. I hope you find something that you can enjoy together.
Bethany says
Thanks for this list. I haven't read a lot of the newer ones yet. We've done some chapter books with our preschooler but he has trouble maintaining interest in them still. The first books he loved though, were Mary Pope Osborne's Odyssey series.
Momand Kiddo says
I agree that not every three year old is ready to listen to chapter books. My current three year old is much more squirmy at reading time than my sever year old was, when he was three. We never read the Odyssey series, but I did have to read every single Magic Treehouse book!!!
Janice says
I am not sure what the rush is to begin to read chapter books with three year olds. With such a wide variety of fabulous picture books with amazing illustrations out there it seems premature to rush pre-schoolers into this genre. Another genre of books that is fantastic for young children is Song picture books which are books with text tyat is a song (e.g. Wheels on the Bus)and children develop self-efficacy through their ability to follow the text even if they are not yet reading. Singing songs, painting and exploring sensory activities to me seems like a more valuable way to spend that time. I suspect that one argument might be the development of imagination by not having pictures to view however this could also be accomplished by spending time in dramatic play.
Mom and Kiddo says
Janice: I completely agree with everything you say. There is no rush and the vast amount of books I read to my kids are picture books. A good article on why to begin reading chapter books to your preschooler can be found here: http://www.daddyread.com/readingChapter.html
No one should read chapter books to any child who is uninterested and no one should read chapter books to the exclusion of picture books. There is certainly room for all kinds of books in any child's literary education. Thanks for your comment.
Katie says
I know I'm responding to a very old comment - but maybe someone new reading this (like me) will see this. I agree that chapter books should not be used to the exclusion of picture books (or transition/early reading books). But, we use chapter books at bedtime. With 3 kids, I don't always sit with them individually during this time to read 3 separate books. I sit in the hallway between their rooms, turn the lights off and read to everyone at once. They love it, and they can close their eyes to imagine the story playing out. I see a place for all kinds of books with the little ones. I think it also depends on the child's maturity. My daughter loved chapter books starting at age 3, while my son is just starting to enjoy them at age 4. Every child is so unique!
Also, wanted to add that our son love, love, LOVES the Henry Huggins stories by Beverly Cleary.
Erica says
Thanks for sharing your experience! Happy reading.
Sara C says
We love so many on this list that I feel absolutely compelled to find and try the few we haven't read yet. Thanks!
Momand Kiddo says
Yea! I hope you'll enjoy reading them with your kids.
Sarah says
Great list! I found this through Pinterest. We used to read chapter books to our son in his first year, just so he could hear us reading to him. We've read through a few Harry Potter books as well as the Neverending Story. Now that he's older he doesn't have the attention span and wants books that he can interact with. I'm looking forward to trying some of your suggestions. Maybe with simpler language and storylines he'll be interested in chapter books again (because Goodnight Moon is getting really old, really fast).
Mom and Kiddo says
Thanks Sarah - I also think picture books are still good to read at this age, so if he's not willing to sit through chapter books, there are lots of great picture books. Have you seen Press Here by Herve Tullet? It's a terrific interactive picture book for preschoolers.
Angie says
My three year-old absolutely loves Mercy Watson. My two-year old also enjoys "pig" as he calls it. My three year-old has been read the many Frog and Toad stories over and over so many times he has them mostly memorized. Lobel's Frog and Toad is in the same league as early chapter books, as far as I am concerned.
My six year-old loved the Magic Treehouse Series which we read to him in it's entirety when he was an early four. Some of the later books are a little scary for preschool age kids.
Mom and Kiddo says
Angie: thanks for sharing your ideas. I agree, Frog and Toad is another excellent choice and I did end up having to read almost every Magic Treehouse book to my son! It was quite the journey!
http://tinyurl.com/jaydragan36843 says
I really found this specific post , “Over 50 Chapter Books for Preschoolers and 3 Year
Olds”, quite interesting plus the blog post was in fact a remarkable read.
Many thanks-Mavis
JAL says
What about Cynthia Rylant? The Henry and Mudge series, and the Mr Putter and Tabby series are both wonderful. (Although Annie I find way too girly.)
Mom and Kiddo says
I agree! Those are great choices and my kids loved listening to them Mr. Putter was a particular favorite of ours.
Natalie says
Thank you so much for this list! I have just finished reading the first two Magic Tree House books to my 3.5 year old daughter and I found this post while searching for new books to read to her. I am going to start the third, while I am waiting for some of these books to arrive.
MomandKiddo says
Thanks for your comment, enjoy your books!
Emmy says
My 3 year old son wants to read at least 2 Berenstein Bear books each night (a favorite of mine growing up). I think it might be time to start introducing him to chapter books. Are there any chapter books you can think of that have bears as the main characters?
Great post! This gives me some great ideas when I go to the library this afternoon!
MomandKiddo says
Hmmm. That's a tough one. There is a series called The Berenstein Bears Big Chapter Books. I have never read them, though. There is a very short chapter book called "Grin and Bear It" about a bear who wants to be a comedian. I love that one.
jimmy says
Winnie the pooh
Lindsey says
I hope I'm not repeating someone (I just skimmed over the comments), but I wanted to recommend the Mr. Putter & Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant - I don't know that I would count them as "true" chapter books, more of a hybrid, but they are sectioned into chapters as an early-reader style. My Greek professor lent one to my (then 3-year-old) daughter - someone had given it to him because the main character reminded them of Dr. Z - and we absolutely fell in love with the series! Luckily our local library has quite a few of them. 🙂 (I also LOVE that the main characters are seniors, which is a good exposure for kids who don't always come into contact with senior adults.)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_15?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=mr.+putter+and+tabby&sprefix=mr.+putter+and+%2Caps%2C335 - here's what Amazon has. 🙂 (no affiliate, just a link for you to see them!)
Erica says
Lindsey, thanks for your comment. Yes, we love Mr. Putter, too. I agree that it's so wonderful that the characters are "old people" (lol). We've read all of them and they are great to tote around for a quick read. I didn't include them on this list for the reason you mention. I wanted to keep the list primarily to longer chapter books that would be read over a couple of days. Mr. Putter is primarily an easy reader but I agree that they are great books!
vanita says
I had not known there were chapter books for 3 year olds. my daughter would absolutely love the mercy watson series. i don't know...the kid loves pigs. thanks so much for the great list. bookmarking it for our next library trip!
Erica says
If she loves pigs, she will love Lady Lollipop, too!
Niki says
I came looking for chapter books for my 3 year old twins (okay, they'll be 4 on Saturday) because we just finished reading The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh. They found it on my shelf and requested it themselves, insisting on a new chapter every time we sat down to read. Seeing their love for it I knew I wanted to try more chapter book with them, but all the ones I could think of just aren't relatable for 3 year olds because the characters are older and often revolve around school (my kids are not in school at this time). I think the appeal of Winnie the Pooh was that the characters were animals in an imaginary environment and I'm happy to see more of those types of books on this list. Heading to the library ASAP!!!
Erica MomandKiddo says
I hope you find something they enjoy, Nikki.
Diana says
I just pinned this list a couple weeks ago and am grateful for the suggestions. I have found that there are more chapter books for girls than for boys and with two boys I'm always on the lookout for good ones. Here's a couple that we have also loved. We did the three Ralph books by Beverly Cleary (Mouse and the Motorcycle, Runaway Ralph, and Ralph S Mouse) and loved each one. We also read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl which led me to find a really great shorter gem by the same author called "The Giraffe, The Pelly, and Me". Seriously loved this little book-- such a silly story in old fashioned Roald Dahl style I think. A great starter book because it's on the shorter end with rough drawn pictures on each page.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Diana, thanks so much for stopping by to leave your thoughts. Those books are great additions to the list. My boys loved the Ralph books, too. The Giraffe, The Pelly and Me is a funny little book but I haven't read it aloud yet, thanks for the reminder to do so! -- my 4 year old also loves Dahl's short book, The Enormous Crocodile. Have you read that one? I like to encourage my fellow parents to read books with boy and girl protagonists no matter what gender the child is. Right now I am reading Betsy-Tacy to my boys (which many would consider a "girl" book) and they LOVE it!
Amanda says
I had Catwings as a child and LOVED it! It was so magical to me! Thanks for sharing, I had no idea there was a sequel.
Kerry says
My son loves "Owl At Home" by Arnold Lobel. I haven't tried his other chapter books, but I think he would also love those.
Erica MomandKiddo says
That's a great book, too.
Emily says
We read our four year old Lulu and the Brontosaurus, it was such a fun read. There are a couple other books about Lulu as well. Now we are reading The Fantastic Mr. Fox which she follows pretty well.
Amy says
Yes, I second this one! It was my daughter's first chapter book she sat through at 26 months old!
Jessica says
Thanks for this list! I bought "My Father's Dragon" on my Kindle and my 4-year-old son BEGS me to read it every night. It is our first- so great suggestion for an introduction to chapter books. I've pinned this list so I can refer back to it when we're at the library!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks, Jessica. My Father's Dragon is awesome. We've read all three books so many times. Even when my son's Kindergarten class read it, he still wanted me to read it to him at night!
Jessie says
Thanks so much for the great list. We are getting ready to travel overseas and I'm hesitant to check out books from the library to go anywhere but our house. However, I found several of these on audio at the library & will be adding them to my phone for the long day of travel. 🙂
Erica MomandKiddo says
Enjoy your trip! Audio books are so useful for travel. I'm so happy the list was useful for you!
Lisa says
I love this post. I had not thought of reading chapter books to my barely four year old. She loves books and will sit and listen to picture books for an hour and a half.
We took your advice and read the my father's Dragon books. Both the 4 yr old and 6 yr old loved them. Then we read the mercy Watson books. We can read those in one sitting so the kids don't think they are real chapter books. My kids loved Jenny Kinsley and the cat club so much that we ordered three more of them. We have read the magic finger and are just starting mr poppers penguins. Thanks so much! You have opened a whole new world of reading for us. My 4 yr old loves these books and my six year old sneaks off with the books and reads them himself. Yay!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and tell me this, Lisa. You've really made my day! I'm so glad your kids have been enjoying the books and it's nice to be able to read a mix of picture and chapter books to the kids. Happy reading!
Laura says
Thank you, thank you for this list. I've known for awhile my 3.25 year old has been looking for a story he can really get into and picture books weren't fitting the bill any more, but I couldn't find any books on his emotional level that also told an involved story.
We just finished the My Father's Dragon trilogy in three days, and we're really looking forward to trying out some more from this list. Too bad the dragon leaves in the end - I had to change things up on the fly since I knew my son would be really upset with the actual ending.
Erica MomandKiddo says
I'm so glad you enjoyed the trilogy -- and a little editing is something we've all done from time to time! 🙂
Melissa says
After getting the suggestion to try chapter books with my will-be-5-in-2-months Spirited daughter, to try to help her settle down for sleeping, I found this list. Also stumbled onto Mercy To The Rescue on her school's tumblebooks today - she loved it. I have not heard of most of this list (or the ones for 4-6 yr olds) despite being a voracious reader myself starting from early 4 (I memorized Fox in Socks), so will be checking out many! I wanted to remind you/your readers of Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. We started this tonight as it was the only chapter book we had, and it was very well received. We also have a chapter book starring Wembley Fraggle (I can't remember the title, its in her room where she's sleeping), there may be other equally good Fraggle books, too - they have colour pictures to ease the little ones into wordier stories, but if they've never seen Fraggle Rock they might be lost. Thank you for this list!!!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks Melissa! I agree Charlotte's Web is a wonderful read aloud. I didn't read it to my kids early because of the death of Charlotte (my child was very sensitive at that age) but many preschoolers love it. Fraggle Rock is like a blast from the past. 🙂
Noel says
My 4 1/2 year old's first chapter book was Benevenuto by Seymour Reit. It was my book as a child that my mother had saved. It also has pictures every couple of pages. He loved it and we are now on the search for more read aloud chapter books. Thanks for this list!
Erica MomandKiddo says
I've never heard of it. Thanks for the suggestion!
Sabriena says
The Lonesomest Doll by Abbie Farwell Brown was a favorite of my family when I was growing up. I am the oldest, so I don't recall for sure what would be the best age group, but I think it would fit in with this list. I would read it to my 4yo and 3yo if I had access to it. It was so well-loved in our family that it ended up somewhat in tatters, and my Mom actually called me a couple of weeks ago to tell me how sad she was that she couldn't find it to read to the youngest.
Sabriena says
I just looked this up, and it is no wonder my family did not just buy a new copy. It is an old book and I guess no longer in print?
Erica MomandKiddo says
That book sounds familiar. I wonder if I read it when I was a kid. I wish I could find a copy!
Rebecca @ Read and Go Do says
So excited to see this list! I actually bought the first book listed, My Father's Dragon, while pregnant with my first daughter who's now three! I just decided to test the waters by reading some of the Frog and Toad books last week (our local children's theater is featuring the musical based on the series next month). My three-year-old loves them and I think they are a great transition series! I highly recommend them if you aren't sure if your child is ready for chapter books yet.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Frog and Toad are great starter books, for sure!
Chelle says
I just found your website and am so excited! Thank you so much for all of the amazing book lists. I love that you include some information about scary/concerning parts in some books along with the information you share about your own children's ages and love of the books! Birdbrain Amos by Michael Delaney is one I've read at school and am looking forward to reading with my older preschooler now.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank you for the recommendation. Happy reading!
kpgray says
Our trusty children's librarian recommended the "My Father's Dragon" series as our first chapter book. When then followed that up with the "Toys go out" series also on her recommendation. My daughter is 3 and we now have picture books during the day and chapter books at bedtime-- both of us look forward to it!
Erica MomandKiddo says
I'm so glad to hear that! Happy reading.
Amy says
Hi there, I love reading chapter books to my 5 1/2 year-old and we have been reading them since he turned four. I also have a newly turned three-year-old and they just started sharing a room so bedtime books are now together. Is it too soon to include him in our chapter books? He doesn't seem to have the attention span to really comprehend but doesn't mind sitting through them either. Is it good for him to go ahead and get used to chapter books at this age? My 5 1/2-year-old and I would love to get into some better books. I've been trying to find books that meet both their needs and it results in short picture books only. It's a little boring and there so many great books out there. Thanks!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Hi Amy, Thanks for your question. My kids have a 4 year age difference and when my youngest was too little for chapter books I just read them to my older son at times other than bedtime, like meal time or after school when my youngest could be occupied with something else. If you want to do it at bedtime, what about reading both picture books and a chapter from a longer book? Your 5 year old is definitely not too old for picture books and even if your youngest isn't comprehending the chapter book they are getting a lot out of the snuggle time, just be sure you are still reading lots of picture books. 🙂
Katharine Luong says
Thank you for this wonderful post! I just came across it while searching Pinterest. I have 4-year-old twin boys, and all we've read so far in terms of chapter books are two of the Boxcar Children books; I wasn't sure where to go next. I ordered 3 of your great suggestions online and put a bunch more in our library list!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Wonderful! I'm glad to have been helpful. Happy reading!
Jessica Sager says
You have an incredible website! I could spend hours reading your lists, if not for the kids. Ha! I wonder if you might be able to help me. My five and a half year old son is way ahead of his reading age; for example, he was reading Winnie the Pooh (the one you listed above) - to himself - just a few months after his fourth birthday. Although we still read picture books to him, it's difficult is knowing what is age appropriate within his reading ability. I have a copy of Jim Trelease's "Hey, Listen to This!" that he snagged from the shelf and started to read. It includes a chapter from Mr. Poppers Penguins - also on your list here - and we checked the book out last week. My son loves it. I'm wondering if your list will work as a good guide for silent reading, too, at his age? I like to read his favorite parts to him, too, which I'm delighted he still requests - anything to be able to read-aloud! Sorry if this comment is so choppy. Between my ADHD, his exuberance and my two year old's delightful tantrum stage, it's a wonder I can write at all! Ha!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Hi Jessica, Thanks for your kind words about my lists! Yes, I think this list is great for silent reading. You may also find a lot of books appropriate for an advanced 5 year old (my oldest son was the same) on my lists of early chapter books. There are 100s of selections there. Go to my book list index and scroll down and you will see all the lists for that category: https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/books-for-kids
Happy reading!
Jessica Sager says
Wonderful! Thank you for responding so quickly. We're excited to get reading!
Megan says
Hey! You updated this list! Thank you! Two of my 3 year olds favorite read alouds are now on it... Diva and Flea, and the Storm series! So excited to see the additions!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks for stopping by again!
Anna says
Thank you for this! We started with Pooh at two years old, and My Father's Dragon and Little House in the Big Woods shortly after. He's two and a half now, and enjoying Charlotte's Web, but I've been on the hunt for more books at the My Father's Dragon level, which is perfect for him.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Happy reading! Glad you found the list useful.
Shannon says
Thank you! This list is exactly what I was looking for! I plan on ticking them off one by one. My five year old and I just finished The Night Fairy. Poor thing cried when it was over. "I wasn't READY!" she said.
Erica MomandKiddo says
The sign of a good book!
Shannon says
Update - ok we are loving your list. Since I wrote we have done TumTum and Nutmeg, My Father's Dragon, Cat Wings, Dory Fastasmagory, BUT - since I use a kindle, we are never ready for the end - and I have made this girl scream in frustration 2 more times when the book abruptly ended! I would love a loooooong chapter book that could last for a few weeks. Any suggestions?
Erica MomandKiddo says
Hi Shannon, Yes I have a lot of suggestions. If you go to my book list index (click here: https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/books-for-kids ), scroll down until you see the "Read Aloud" category. You will find several lists, such as the Books to read aloud to 4-6 year olds, 1st grade read alouds, funny read alouds, etc. Happy Reading!
Shannon says
Thank you so much. Just love this site - so helpful!
crystal says
We love our chapter books... that being said, my two-year-old sits through the Mercy Watson series and begs me to re-read them (!!) Our librarian actually turned us on to them. But I started reading chapter books to our son when he was four, and he is now six. Can't wait to try "The Princess in Black now since you said your son loved them at six as well. Love this list, thanks for sharing!
Heather says
Poppy Seed Cakes by Margery Clark is a great early chapter book for a young three - each chapter can be read as an independent story, but characters are consistent throughout, and it has not too much text and great colorful illustrations.
Love your lists!
Erica says
Thanks for the recommendation!
Megan says
Hello,
Have you tried the Lulu books by Hilary McKay? The series starts with LuLu and the Duck in the Park, which was definitely not our favorite and we almost gave up on the series... but we tried it again with LuLu and the Dog From the Sea and we were hooked!
Erica says
Hi Megan, I like the Lulu series. Very sweet. I've only read the first one though. I put it on a list of early chapter books, but it would be right at home in this list, too. Thank you for adding your recommendation!
Emily says
Update: Boo's Dinosaur and Boo's Surprise are both available on Kindle now
Erica says
Thanks!
Non Fiction Books to Read says
Hmm it appears like your site ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I'll just sum it up
what I wrote and say, I'm thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I'm still new to everything.
Do you have any recommendations for newbie blog writers?
I'd certainly appreciate it.
Kinsey says
Just started reading My Father's Dragon to my 3-1/2yo who absolutely DEVOURS picture books, and she's totally hooked after Chapter 1. I remember thoroughly enjoying this one in elementary school - gives me a good excuse to read it again too! She told me she was going to dream about the old alley cat tonight, I can't wait to hear about her adventures!
Erica says
Wonderful! Happy reading! 🙂
Marianne says
I just discovered your blog, and wanted to say how much I am enjoying it, and how useful it has been. Thanks so much for the great suggestions! My five-year-old is really getting into chapter books, and I've had great success with many of the titles you recommend. Thanks!
Erica says
I'm delighted to hear it. Thank you for letting me know.
RB says
If you search Amazon for My Father's Dragon it suggests about a dozen others from your list as "Customers who bought this item also bought..."
Good list
Erica says
Thank you, happy reading!
Keelia says
Thanks so much for this list! My 4 1/2 year old and I just finished my father's dragon and loved it. My son said "and we can read it again!" We don't have access to a great childrens librarian so this list is soooo helpful.
Sarah says
I just found your blog and am loving it!!! My almost 4 year old is currently loving the George and Martha books by James Marshall, which I also loved as a kid. We are heading to the library tomorrow to check out some of your suggestions!
Erica says
Thank you, Sarah! I hope you enjoy the books. Happy reading.
Heidi says
Even though people might not read the comments (I didn't!) I want to remind people to read these books to screen the content before reading them to your child. My husband started reading My Father's Dragon to our 3-year-old last night and was shocked that I had bought it. The mother character apparently makes statements of disdain for homeless people and even beats her child. While the former can be used as a teaching opportunity, I think it is hard to do so with the latter.
Llael says
I was shocked by that too when I skimmed it. My kiddo isn't quite ready for the book yet, but once he is, I'm thinking I'll skip over that part (at least until he's old enough to be able to make it a teachable moment - like 5 maybe?)
Llael says
Just wanted to say thank you for this great list! (and all your lists). I've started sampling some of the simpler books with my just turned 3yo. So far, he's enjoyed Two Times the Fun, Mrs. Noodlekugel, and, most of all, Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole. I particularly love how that last one inspired him to start pretend writing and dictating invitations!
Your book lists keep our library requests full each week 🙂
Elaine says
The Toys Go Out series was a HUGE hit for our 4-, 5-, and even 9-year old. They loved these stories and they couldn't stop talking about them.
Susie Bailey says
There is a lovely picture book with beautiful pictures about the toys.Toys Meet Snow
rachel says
Thank you for compiling such a great list! It's been so helpful for me. 🙂
Lisa P. says
Thanks a lot for this lovely list.
I know some of the books and will check out others.
At the moment my kid is so into this book, we read it every night:
Love,
Lisa