Did you know? Introducing the right books in early childhood doesn’t just build children’s knowledge & early literacy; it also imparts important life lessons, shapes their value and belief systems, and fosters a lifelong love for reading. It may aid in accelerating their academic performance in later years. Wondering what books to choose for your kindergartener? Read on to find the best early learning books in different categories.
Picture Books
Picture books include bright and vivid illustrations (that narrate the story) and very minimal text. These images are crucial in attracting the attention of children aged 2 to 3 years old, who are in the process of learning how to read. The placement of images helps develop the memory, sorting and recognition processes of toddlers. Some great picture books for toddlers include:
“ABC with Peppa” by Ladybird
It is a colourful board book with big pictures, bold fonts and engaging Peppa Pig illustrations—perfect for introducing the upper & lower-case alphabets to little ones.
“123” by Roald Dahl
A vibrant counting board book with big, bold numbers, engaging lines and interesting prompters that make maths seem fun.It is a visual treat for toddlers.
“Pop-up PekkaBoo! Colours” by DK
This interactive early learning book includes entertaining rhymes, lift-the-flap pages, pop-up images and tactile elements that make it easier for toddlers to remember the colours.
Rhyme Books
Rhyme books contain the right mix of rhythms, repetitions and vocabulary that aid in fluency and phonemic awareness. Besides introducing children to music and language, they also play a key role in fine-tuning memory and communication skills. They also lift children’s spirits and elicit positive emotions. Here are the top three picks.
“Hop on Pop” by Dr. Seuss
With its sing-song rhythm and silly storyline, this kindergarten rhyme book is very enjoyable and fun to read with friends.
“Elmo’s Tricky Tongue Twisters” by Sarah Albee
Elmo, our favourite Sesame Street character, visits kindergarten to make learning fun. The dizzying tongue twisters, playful theme, and beautiful imagery make little readers dissolve into fits of giggles.
“I See The Moon” by Nosy Crow
A treasure trove of classic kindergarten rhymes, this children’s book is a perfect bedtime companion. It includes a mix of old and new rhymes with brilliant illustrations by Rosalind Beardshaw that make it impossible to get distracted while learning.
Storybooks
Early childhood experts suggest that storybooks, with their invented characters, varying timelines, fantastical worlds, and descriptive themes, introduce children to new ideas and concepts. They’re excellent tools for developing a toddler’s imagination, creativity, value system, and ability to think & express themselves. Here are the top kindergarten books on the shelf if you’re looking for interesting stories.
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
You’ll surely find this early learning book in almost every preschool or daycare across the world. A children’s classic, it narrates the transformation of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly, subtly focusing on how its healthy eating habits brought about the change. The book includes a lot of repetitions and introduces little ones to different food items, numbers and days of the week.
“The Cat In The Hat” & “Green Eggs & Ham” by Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss’s storybooks are renowned for their diverse vocabulary, simple language and clever themes. They describe the adventures of Sam the Cat in the most enjoyable way. Children also get to learn “sight” and “sound” words like bump, thump, this, him, who, etc.
“The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein
This early learning book uses simple words to preach deep lessons and promote values like gratitude, self-sacrifice, sharing, etc. It’s the story of an apple tree that gives up an essential part of itself to make its human friend happy throughout its life: a must-read for all toddlers!
At Chrysalis Kids, the best preschool in Bangalore, we use reading and storytelling as tools to facilitate socio-emotional development and improve the memory & focus of our little learners. Our pre-school programmes are consciously crafted with an emphasis on reading, writing and recitation to ensure readiness for higher grades.Each class also has its own reading corner stacked with colourful books to promote and encourage a love for reading!!! Click to find out more.