22 Books/Series to Read with Preschoolers

For 2016 one of my major goals is to read more books. I feel like that is a goal that I set for myself every year, but I really want to make it a major focus in our lives for 2016. Obviously one problem with reading is having the time to do it. Derek and I have worked out that Saturdays will be my day where I just plow through all my blog writing for the week and then that leaves me all the other days to be more focused, and hopefully a better mom. I hope to still be able to  get my daily blogging tasks done during nap time on weekdays, but I ultimately want my evenings to be freed up so  I can just relax and read before bed each night. 

While I'm setting higher reading goals for myself, I want Jay to know that it's something that we value in our home too. I started reading him chapter books this last year. We read Mr. Popper's Penguins, The First Magic Tree House book, and Funny Frank (about a chick who wants to be a duck), and he did really well with all of them. I really want to start swapping out his picture books at bedtime with more chapter books and make it into something we do everyday. So here are 22 books/series we plan on plowing through this year. 

Book descriptions via Amazon

Monkey Me Series: Clyde's a hyperactive kid, and his twin sister Claudia does her best to keep him out of trouble--but after a class field trip to the science museum, and a zapped banana, he suddenly finds that excitement transforms him into a real monkey, which may help him catch the thief who took the golden monkey.
Leroy Nicker Saddles Up: Leroy Ninker has a hat, a lasso, and boots. What he doesn’t have is a horse — until he meets Maybelline, that is, and then it’s love at first sight. Maybelline loves spaghetti and sweet nothings, and she loves Leroy, too. But when Leroy forgets the third and final rule of caring for Maybelline, disaster ensues. Can Leroy wrestle fate to the ground, rescue the horse of his heart, and lasso loneliness for good? Join Leroy, Maybelline, and a cast of familiar characters — Stella, Frank, Mrs. Watson, and everyone’s favorite porcine wonder, Mercy — for some hilarious and heartfelt horsing around on Deckawoo Drive.
Mr Putter and Tabby Drop the Ball: Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, love to take naps — too many naps. What they need is a sport! Luckily Mrs.Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke, know of a baseball team they can join. It's not long before Mr. Putter is ready to play ball, but will his creaky knees cooperate? And can Zeke avoid wreaking havoc on the field? Win or lose, this baseball team will never be the same!

Sydney and Simon: Full Steam Ahead: Sydney and Simon are twin mice on a mission to save the wilting flowers in their window box. During a humid heat wave, their window got stuck, and now they can't open it to water their blossoms before the neighborhood flower show. The young chapter book underscores how the characters use STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) to learn about the water cycle on earth and in the home and, ultimately, to rescue their flowers. Curious readers can learn more in a glossary and author's note.

Frindle: Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there's nothing Nick can do to stop it.

Stuart Little: Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell the cat. Though he's shy and thoughtful, he's also a true lover of adventure.

The Cricket in Times Square: Tucker is a streetwise city mouse. He thought he'd seen it all. But he's never met a cricket before, which really isn't surprising, because, along with his friend Harry Cat, Tucker lives in the very heart of New York City―the Times Square subway station. Chester Cricket never intended to leave his Connecticut meadow. He'd be there still if he hadn't followed the entrancing aroma of liverwurst right into someone's picnic basket. Now, like any tourist in the city, he wants to look around. And he could not have found two better guides―and friends―than Tucker and Harry. The trio have many adventures―from taking in the sights and sounds of Broadway to escaping a smoky fire.

Jamesand the Giant Peach: After James Henry Trotter's parents are tragically eaten by a rhinoceros, he goes to live with his two horrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge. Life there is no fun, until James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree and strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. Inside, James meets a bunch of oversized friends—Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, and more. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the great adventure begins!


The Littles: Meet the Littles, a family like any other but with a few tiny differences! They live in the walls of the Bigg family house where they get everything they need. In return they make sure the Bigg house is always in good repair.

Charlotte's Web: Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter.

Charlieand the Chocolate Factory: But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

Toys Go Out, Toys Dance Party, Toys Come Home: Here is the first book in the highly acclaimed Toys trilogy, which is followed by the companion booksToy Dance Party and Toys Come Home. These six linked stories from Emily Jenkins, and illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner Paul O. Zelinsky, showcase the unforgettable adventures—and misadventures—of three extraordinary friends. 

DinosaurTrouble: All pterodactyls know that flying dinosaurs are superior, and all apatosauruses know that any dinosaur with only two legs is surely second-class. Nosy, a pterodactyl, and Banty, an apatosaurus, become great friends even though their parents have forbidden them to play together. With Nosy's fast flying and Banty's smarts, the two take on the biggest predator on the Great Plain, and conquer their parents' prejudices in one great adventure.

Three Tales of My Father's Dragon: The classic fantasy trilogy of Elmer Elevator and the flying baby dragon has delighted children and their parents for generations. Now, on the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary, Random House is proud to bring the three timeless tales together in one beautiful commemorative edition, complete with the original delightful illustrations.  A Newbery Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book, My Father's Dragon is followed by Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland Each story stands alone, but read in succession, they are an unforgettable experience.

FavoriteThornton Burgess Animal Stories Boxed Set: Six storybooks presenting the best-known Burgess tales, each newly reset in large, easy-to-read type, each with a charming full-color illustration on the cover—all packed in one convenient storage case. Instilling valuable lessons about animals, nature and the environment, the stories feature favorite Burgess characters: Peter Cottontail, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, Grandfather Frog, Reddy Fox, Happy Jack and Danny Meadow Mouse.

1 comment

  1. You should add the Mercy Watson series to your list! They are a great transition into chapter books and are an absolute favorite at our house.

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