Image: MomJunction Design Team
The best books for 3-year-olds should include colorful illustrations to engage the young ones while you read to them. Although they might not know how to read and understand all that is in the book, they can imitate you and also learn a few words and sentences. Besides, it’s a great idea to instill a love of books in children from an early age, and these engaging picture books offer a suitable way for it.
Elisabeth Daly, a state-certified high school English teacher and book blogger, says, “Reading to children is fun for everyone. Not only is reading together a special bonding experience, it also helps nurture children’s brains. Remember, the more they read or are read to, the better their chances of becoming an avid book reader later in life.”
If you are looking for some of the best-selling books by renowned children’s authors to keep your little one engaged and improve their literacy skill, choose from this list of a variety of books we have compiled for you.
Top Picks
15 Best Books for 3-Year-Olds
1. Best Brilliance:The Wonderful Things You Will Be
Author: Emily Winfield Martin
This beautiful book contains rhyming phrases interspersed with colorful illustrations across the book. The theme of the book is humorous and warm. It is one of the best creative storytelling books that you can read to your three-year-old before bedtime.
Quick fact2. Best Mythos:Dragons Love Tacos
Author: Adam Rubin
This fantastic book describes a funny story about dragons who love tacos, and how you can befriend them by throwing a taco party. The dragons in this story love tacos, but they hate spicy salsa, so beware! Dragons Love Tacos is a popular read-along book with a humor-filled storyline and sketches.
3. Best Cheerful:Grumpy Monkey
Author: Suzanne Lang
Jim, the chimpanzee, wakes up one morning to find that everything around him is perfect – the sun is shining bright, the sky is blue, and the bananas are just sweet. However, Jim is not happy and is grumpy to the bewilderment of his friends. Each page of this children’s favorite book has colorful illustrations with remarkable detail to keep a child engrossed.
Quick fact4. Best Generosity:The Giving Tree
Author: Shel Silverstein
The interactive picture book tells the time-tested story of a selfless tree that gives away its fruits, leaves, and wood so that someone can benefit from it. The classic story teaches the child the essence of helping others, making it a perfect book for fostering children’s emotional development. The Giving Tree was published in 1964 and is considered to be one of the best books for toddlers and young children.
Quick fact5. Best Delight:Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?
Author: Brianna Caplan Sayres
Here’s an imaginary tale where the author wonders where diggers, trucks, and other automotive machinery sleep at night. Children will love the colorful and beautiful illustrations present on every page of this gorgeous book. Use this book to stoke the imagination of a three-year-old while introducing them to a variety of automobiles and heavy-duty vehicles.
6. Best Fantasy:The Gruffalo
Author: Julia Donaldson
A jungle mouse creates an imaginary monster named Gruffalo to protect himself from predators. Each time the mouse encounters a dangerous animal, he would say to them that he has to meet the Gruffalo. While other animals develop a fear of Gruffalo, the mouse triumphantly roams around the forest without any concern. The jovial story is full of attractive illustrations of animals and has gained multiple positive testimonials. The animal-themed storybook will captivate your animal-loving child’s attention.
7. Best Spectacular:Blue Hat, Green Hat
Author: Sandra Boynton
A group of funny animals wears clothes of different shades to teach the reader about colors. The animals are hilariously portrayed, with a bird who always wears the wrong clothes being the funniest one! The funny book is time-tested and entertaining and has adorable illustrations. Children can play the game of identifying colors at the turn of each page.
8. Best Oceanic:The Snail and the Whale
Author: Julia Donaldson
A snail and a whale become best friends and set out on a journey of the oceans. The snail, who has never traveled beyond its home, is fascinated by the vast expanse of water. But there is a moment when the whale drifts close to the shore, leaving the snail panicked and in a hurry to save its giant friend. This parent-recommended and well-illustrated book tells a beautiful story of a friendship between two unlikely friends.
9. Best Interactive:Press Here
Author: Herve Tullet
Press Here is an interactive book without any screens or lights. Each page has instructions that prompt the toddler to touch a point on the page or blow gently on it. That leads to the next page that has an illustration and text describing the result of the toddler’s action. Press Here is an exceptional book for parents and three-year-olds who love to be an active part of the reading sessions. Get your hands on this interactive storybook for preschoolers with multiple positive testimonials to make the storytelling sessions more memorable for your child.
10. Best Curiosity:First the Egg
Author: Laura Vaccaro Seeger
The book starts with a solution to the dilemma about what came first, the hen or the egg. Each page has a sketch and a cut-out, which gives a clue of the picture on the next page. This fun book creates a guessing game and teaches children about the transformation of eggs into birds, caterpillars into butterflies, and tadpoles into frogs!
11. Best Adventure:If Animals Kissed Good Night
Author: Ann Whitford Paul
During a conversation with her mother before bedtime, a young girl wonders if other animal mothers and children wish each other ‘good night’ too. It starts a thread of imagination about how each animal family would wish each other a good night. If you have an imaginative three-year-old who loves animals, then they will enjoy this wonderful book. The thoughtful theme and creative story make it a perfect bedtime book.
12. Best Chronicle:The Day the Crayons Quit
Author: Drew Daywalt
A young boy opens his pack of crayons but instead finds a stack of envelopes with letters in them. Each letter is a complaint written by the crayons that have quit their work and are dissatisfied by how they are used. The expert-approved and colorful book is funny and has surprises and an original storyline, making it a must-have on your child’s preschool reading list.
13. Best Spectacle:Room on the Broom
Author: Julia Donaldson
A witch and her pet cat are merrily flying on the magic broom when the wind comes in and blows away the witch’s hat, her bow, and then the wand. Three different animals on the ground pick up the fallen items. But to return the items, the animals want a ride on the broom, which leaves the witch wondering if there is enough space for all of them on the slender broom? Get your hands on this exceptional book to unlock the mystery of this silly story and offer your child an engaging story time.
14. Best Adorable:If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Book
Author: Laura Numeroff
A boy gives a hungry mouse a cookie. After a cookie, the mouse asks for milk. Since the tiny mouse cannot have milk from a glass, he asks for a straw. After drinking milk, the mouse wants to see his milk mustache in the mirror. The series of funny events continue as the mouse keeps asking for more and more things. It is an adorable book with a subtle message on the importance of sharing.
15. Best Heartwarming:The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author: Eric Carle
It is an illustrated story of a caterpillar and its transformation from an egg to a butterfly. Each page of this classic book contains drawings that document the life of the caterpillar, its daily adventures, and its eventual metamorphosis into a butterfly. The Very Hungry Caterpillar was released in 1969 and is considered to be one of the best books for children even today. It makes a suitable choice for story time and can get your child interested in fantasy adventure tales.
How To Choose The Right Books For 3-Year-Olds?
Here are some points to consider while buying a book for a three-year-old.
- Interests: If there is a specific concept or theme that your baby is fascinated by, it might be a good idea to buy related books to keep them engaged.
- Illustrations: Look for books with bright and creatively designed illustrations that appeal to children and help them remember the stories better.
- Age-appropriate content: Ensure the book’s content is appropriate for the age, so your child learns the necessary values and lessons and does not pick up inappropriate words.
- Language: Choose early learning resources with words or sentence structures that three-year-olds can easily understand. Even if the child can’t read the book independently, hearing easy words and sentences can help them relate and learn quickly.
- Font size and style: Ensure the content is printed in large, easy-to-read fonts and has appropriate spacing for comfortable viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What types of books should three-year-olds read?
Books with colorful illustrations, short stories, and easy vocabulary would be an ideal choice for a three-year old.
2. Should a three-year-old be reading?
Three-year-olds have a very fresh and flexible mind, and reading is a great addition for introducing them to new vocabulary, helping in their brain development, and stimulating their imagination.
3. Are three-year-olds too old for board books?
No, three-year-olds are not too old for board books. In fact, board books made of thick and sturdy cardboard are an ideal solution for ensuring that your child does not easily damage the book.
4. How many books should I read to my toddler a day?
Reading once or twice a day is enough. Therefore, you can pick two books per day. However, it also depends on your child’s interest and attention span.
Books with numerous colorful pictures can captivate and intrigue a 3-year-old. Thus, introduce them to one of these books at a young age and instill a love of reading in them while improving their literacy skill. The fun and colorful picture books listed here are interesting and easy to understand and interspersed with lovely illustrations. They make great options as bedtime books and can encourage children to begin their reading journey. So, bring home a few of these classic and expert-approved children’s books and let your child’s imagination soar.
Infographic: What Are The Benefits Of Reading Out To Children?
Every small action goes a long way, even when it comes to parenting. Besides entertaining little ones, reading out to kids has psychological and cognitive benefits. This infographic explains the advantages of reading stories aloud to children and toddlers. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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