Do you love finding new picture books to read to your children? If your answer is yes, then this list is in for you! Below you will find over 150 The best read-aloud picture books Voted by teachers and parents!
The list is based on responses from more than 500 parents and teachers to the question, “What is your favorite picture book to read to your children?”
As I compiled this huge list of wonderful picture books based on your feedback, I was delighted to discover so many new children’s storybooks—books that I, as a teacher or mom, had never read before. For a picture book fan like me, this is so novel!
Of course, many of our tried and true favorites made the list too! With so many of the best children’s books of all time on this list, you’re sure to find something perfect to read aloud to your kids in preschool, kindergarten, or at home.
The best read-aloud picture books for children
So, what makes a good book for children to read aloud to? While there isn’t a magic formula, I think great picture books that will engage children will include:
- Fascinating illustrations: Not surprisingly, pictures determine a child’s first impression of a book, so choosing books with great illustrations is a great place to start.
- Compelling storyline: No one likes boring books! Also be sure to check that the amount of text per page corresponds to your child’s attention span.
- Topics your child may relate to: Moved? Waiting for the arrival of a new sibling? No matter what life experience your child is learning to cope with right now, there’s likely a great book (or ten!) that explores the same topic.
- Books that explore universally important themes: Books that explore themes like friendship, personality, or creativity can help our children understand human emotions and relationships.
- Give readers a surprise: Stories with unexpected endings or interesting physical features (such as textures or pop-ups on the last page) intrigue readers and are particularly suitable for younger children.
- Books that make them laugh: The humor in the books provides a great way to engage children of all ages.
- Books for fun with words: Reading aloud children’s books that are full of rhythm, rhyme, or repetition, or that are full of vocabulary fun, are especially attractive to young readers.
Remember, just because a book doesn’t interest your child now, doesn’t mean they won’t read it again in six months, a year, or even five years and regain interest and motivation to read and enjoy it. it!
Relevant: See also our big list of read-aloud chapter books, voted on by parents!
Trapped by Oliver Jeffers Must be one of the best children’s stories to read aloud! It shares a Freudian story of a kite stuck in a tree. When he threw the shoe away to knock it over, it also got stuck, and soon after, a whole bunch of fun stuff ended up stuck in the tree! Can Floyd get his kite back?
“Superworm” by Julia Donaldson He saved the day in various ways and was loved by his friends. But when Super Worm is captured by the evil Wizard Lizard, who can save him?
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble William Steig It’s about a donkey who accidentally turns himself into a stone with a magic stone. When his family discovers he is missing, they are devastated and Sylvester desperately tries to find his way home.
Selma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey It’s about a horse who dreams of being a unicorn, but when her dream unexpectedly comes true, she learns to love herself…even without the spark!
Thomas Snowsuit designed by Robert Munsch. This is a hilarious story about Thomas who is dissatisfied with his new snow suit and refuses to wear it despite his mother, teachers and even the principal pleading with him.
“Bedtime” by Mem Fox is a calming rhyme about small animals falling asleep. The perfect bedtime read aloud for young children.
“Little Seed” by Eric Carle. In autumn, a strong wind blows the flower seeds high into the sky and carries them to distant lands. One by one, many seeds disappear until only the smallest seeds remain.
“Grumpy Bear” by Nick Brand. Four animal friends take shelter from the rain in a cave, only to find that the cave has been occupied by a grumpy bear. Can well-meaning friends find a way to make the little bear feel happier?
Where is my Teddy? by Jez Albrough. Eddie gets the surprise of a lifetime when he discovers his teddy bear has grown too big to hug…but is the teddy bear really his?
Wherever you are, my love will find you Nancy Tillman. Love is the greatest gift we can give our children, something they can carry with them every day, and this book is a celebration of the love a parent has for their child.
For more fun frog-themed books, check out our collection of picture books about frogs.
“Donkey” by Craig Smith is a hilarious cumulative song, with each page telling us something new about the donkey, until we end up with a feisty, scrambling, cranky, smelly, tiny, gangly, goofy, winking, wacky donkey!
Sarah Ogilvy “The Worst Princess” This is the story of a spirited princess escaping from the clutches of a disappointing prince, a fun twist on the traditional princess story.
Maurice Sendak “Where the Wild Things Are”. When Max dresses up in a wolf costume to play pranks, his mother calls him a “savage” and sends him to bed without dinner in an award-winning celebration of emotion, imagination and the power of family.
Wilfrid Gordon Macdonald Partridge by Mem Fox. Wilfrid Gordon Macdonald Partridge lived next door to a nursing home where his favorite friend, Miss Nancy, for she too had four names. When Miss Nancy “loses” her memory, Wilfrid begins searching for her memories in this book and reading it aloud to children of all ages.
“The Boy Who Cried Wolf” by Joe Kulka. A howl echoed through the forest, and the animals quickly stopped what they were doing and ran home. Be careful – the wolf is coming! But things are not as they seem in this suspenseful story.
Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan. A wild dog captures a wombat and starts wombat stew, but he receives some rather unusual cooking advice from other bush animals, unaware that they are protecting their friend the wombat.
For more read-aloud picture books, like Wombat Stew, check out our collection of picture books about Australian animals.
Zog (Julia Donaldson) He’s the sharpest dragon in the school, but he’s also the most accident-prone! Fortunately, a mysterious little girl always came over to help bandage his bumps and bruises. But can she help him complete his most difficult test-capturing the princess?
Now that you have a bunch of great read-aloud book suggestions, be sure to check out our Read aloud prompts Make read-aloud time your favorite part of the day!
