For the youngest family members, begin your read-aloud sessions with toddlers' books. Choose books for toddlers and preschoolers that have engaging illustrations and inviting stories.

The following reading list of classic children's books is a sampler of wonderful books available for toddlers and preschoolers. Be sure to choose original books not abridged versions. Before long, your preschoolers will be ready for chapter books and other types of popular children's books.

  • Margaret Wise Brown: Goodnight Moon, The Big Red Barn
  • Eric Carle: The Very Hungry Caterpiller, Pancakes, Pancakes, A House for Hermit Crab, Animals Animals (poetry), The Tiny Seed
  • Virginia Burton: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, The Little House, Katy and the Big Snow
  • Jean Darby: That's Me in Here
  • Robert McCloskey: Make Way for Ducklings, One Morning in Maine, Blueberries for Sal
  • Robert Munsch: Love You Forever
  • Beatrix Potter: The Tale of Peter Rabbit and the other 22 volumes (Potter's miniature books are all treasures)
  • Maurice Sendak: Where the Wild Things Are
  • Chris Van Allsburg: The Polar Express, Jumanji
  • Dr. Suess: Anything by this author is an asset to any home library
  • P. D. Eastman: Are You My Mother?, Go, Dog, Go!, Big Dog . . . Little Dog
  • Ludwig Bemelmans: Madeline, Madeline's Rescue
  • Leo Politi: Song of the Swallows, Juanita
  • Tomie dePaolo: The Art Lesson, Tom, Charlie Needs a Cloak, The Quilt Story, Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato
  • Peggy Parish:Amelia Bedelia (series)
  • A. A. Milne: Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner, When We Were Very Young (poetry), Now We Are Six (poetry)
  • Robert Louis Stevenson: A Garden of Verses (poetry)

These resources can help you choose good literature for your children. Take them along to the bookstore or library. Teach your children to be discerning when picking out reading material.

  • Books that Build Characterby William Kirkpatrick, Gregory and Suzanne Wolfe
  • Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
  • Honey for a Child's Heartby Gladys Hunt

Check out the The Caldecott and Newberry awards lists for more recommendations.