14 best books for young children

Books for young children play a pivotal role in early education and teaching. They are designed to support a child's development across various domains, including literacy, language, cognitive skills, and social-emotional growth. Here's what you should know about books for young children in the context of schools and education:

  1. Diversity and Inclusivity: Modern books for young children often strive to represent diverse cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. They promote inclusivity and help children develop an understanding of the world's diversity.

  2. Literacy Development: Books are essential tools for teaching literacy skills to young children. They introduce them to letters, words, and reading comprehension. Schools often use a variety of leveled readers to accommodate different reading abilities.

  3. Phonics and Sight Words: Many books for young children incorporate phonics and sight words, which are foundational to early reading. They help children learn to decode words and recognize common sight words.

  4. Picture Books: Picture books are a staple in early childhood education. They combine engaging stories with colorful illustrations, fostering a love for reading and storytelling.

  5. Read-Alouds: Teachers frequently use read-aloud sessions to expose young children to a wide range of books and stories. This practice helps develop listening skills, comprehension, and vocabulary.

  6. Early Math Concepts: Some books for young children introduce basic math concepts like counting, shapes, and patterns, helping them build mathematical literacy.

  7. Interactive and Hands-On Books: Interactive books with flaps, textures, and movable parts engage young children's senses and fine motor skills. These books can be valuable for early education.

  8. Emotional Intelligence: Books often explore emotions, empathy, and social situations, helping children develop emotional intelligence and social skills.

  9. Classroom Libraries: Schools typically have classroom libraries filled with age-appropriate books, allowing teachers to create literacy-rich environments.

  10. Guided Reading: Teachers use guided reading sessions to work with small groups of young readers. They choose books tailored to each group's reading level to provide targeted instruction.

  11. Home-School Connection: Encouraging parents to read with their young children at home is a common practice. Schools often send home reading materials and provide guidance on how parents can support their child's literacy development.

  12. Literacy Assessments: Schools may use literacy assessments to gauge a child's progress in reading and identify areas that need improvement. These assessments inform teaching strategies and interventions.

  13. Early Readers and Emergent Literacy: Young children often start with early reader books that contain simple sentences and repetitive text. These books are designed to build confidence in new readers.

  14. Teaching Resources: Educators have access to various teaching resources and guides that help them select appropriate books and design effective lessons for young children.

  15. Reading Comprehension: As children advance, they work on developing reading comprehension skills, which involve understanding and analyzing the content of books.

In summary, books for young children are integral to education and play a vital role in fostering early literacy, language development, and a love for reading. They are versatile tools that teachers use to support children's learning and growth in school and at home.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best books for young children on the market
  

The Complete Adventures of the Borrowers

HMH Books for Young Readers

Based on 1 reviews Check latest price

I Love You to the Moon and Back

Tiger Tales

Based on 23 reviews Check latest price

Magic Tree House Boxed Set, Books 1-4: Dinosaurs Before Dark, The Knight at Dawn, Mummies in the Morning, and Pirates Past Noon

Random House Books for Young Readers

Based on 10 reviews Check latest price

Product features

Magic Tree House Series
Begin here if you’re new to reading chapter books!
Move on to more challenging adventures with longer page counts!
Facts to go along with your favorite Magic Tree House stories!

Grumpy Monkey

Random House Books for Young Readers

Based on 10 reviews Check latest price

Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, Fox in Socks)

Random House Books for Young Readers

Based on 10 reviews Check latest price

Product features

Beginner Books
Board Books
Boxed Sets
Classics
Learning Library
Bind-Ups

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Based on 379 reviews Check latest price

The Wonderful Things You Will Be

Random House Books for Young Readers

Based on 13 reviews Check latest price

Product features

The Wonderful Things You Will Be

Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young

Knopf Books for Young Readers

Based on 313 reviews Check latest price

Sesame Street Elmo Manners Books for Kids Toddlers -- Set of 8 Manners Books

Based on 3 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Sesame Street Elmo "My First" manners books set for kids and toddlers, featuring Elmo and friends in 8 different storybooks that teach manners. Colorfully illustrated Sesame Street Elmo Manners Books join Elmo as he teaches sharing and caring. The perfect books to teach the concept of manners. Includes the following titles: Let's Share; Be Polite; Please and Thank You; Good for You; Taking Turns; Be a Friend; All About Feelings; Working Together. Sesame Street Elmo manners books for toddlers and kids are 16 pages each and measure 5x5 inches, soft cover. This Sesame Street manners books set for kids is durable and high quality. These easy to read, richly illustrated books will introduce young children to the joys of books and reading! Perfect for teaching manners to kids and toddlers. Sesame Street Elmo party favors, party supplies.

  • Sesame Street Elmo "My First" manners books set for kids and toddlers, featuring Elmo and friends in 8 different storybooks that teach manners.
  • Colorfully illustrated Sesame Street Elmo Manners Books join Elmo as he teaches sharing and caring.
  • The perfect books to teach the concept of manners. Includes the following titles: Let's Share; Be Polite; Please and Thank You; Good for You; Taking Turns; Be a Friend; All About Feelings; Working Together.
  • Sesame Street Elmo manners books for toddlers and kids are 16 pages each and measure 5x5 inches, soft cover. This Sesame Street manners books set for kids is durable and high quality.
  • These easy to read, richly illustrated books will introduce young children to the joys of books and reading! Perfect for teaching manners to kids and toddlers. Sesame Street Elmo party favors, party supplies.

User questions & answers

Question: Which language are the books in
Answer: ENGLISH. Great investment!
Question: Would these be ok for a delayed/autistic just-turned 4 year old
Answer: I think they would. Even if they can’t sit and listen, still read the books out loud. It teaches them a lot even know you might not think they’re listening! They are. They helped my grandson!
Question: Are they bath books? They're categorized as bath toys but nothing says they're waterproof
Answer: They aren't bath toys, they are normal books.
Question: Are these board books or are the pages just regular paper
Answer: JUst regular paper. My 3 year old loves them. Probably not as good for younger children.

Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves

The National Association for the Education of Young Children

Based on 188 reviews Check latest price

If Animals Kissed Good Night

Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Based on 37 reviews Check latest price

Product features

The perfect bedtime story for your little one!

Your little one will discover a number of animals, animal baby names, animal body parts, and animal sounds. With charming illustrations to match children are able to visualize how animals would kiss their loved ones good night. They might even notice the similarities between animals and humans.

Star Gaze: Star Gaze: The Story of the Young Zachary who Wanted to Reach the Stars and Show them to the World by Creating a Technology and Learning about Investing while Chasing his Dreams

Based on 11 reviews Check latest price

My Magical Gifts (The Magic of Me Series)

Based on 250 reviews Check latest price

Literature for Young Children: Supporting Emergent Literacy, Ages 0-8

Based on 53 reviews Check latest price

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