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Pre-K

14 Must-Have Books for 3-Year-Olds

by Iva-Marie Palmer

Photo credit: Blend Images - KidStock, Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

My once-upon-a-time three-year-old is now a big ol’ five-year-old (correction: he’d say “five-and-a-half”) but I still remember our go-to picture books from that age. Now I look forward to the days when I can trot out the same reads for my toddler, who will be three before I know it! And if we’re lucky, my older son will be the one pulling these from the bookshelf to read to his baby brother and me.

All by Myself (Little Critter)

All by Myself (Little Critter)

by Mercer Mayer

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Mayer’s Little Critter has become one of the most enduringly popular characters in the children’s book world. Funny and relatable, little ones easily see themselves in Critter’s many adventures growing up. This particular story relates to kids who want to do everything without help from their parents. Sound like any three-year-olds you know? From buttoning his overalls to tying his shoes, Critter is determined to do it all by himself. The one thing he can’t do on his own just yet? Read a bedtime story. Aw!

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Little Owl’s Night

Little Owl’s Night

by Divya Srinivasan

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Set under a silver moon, this soothing story follows curious Little Owl as he glides through the forest saying good-evening to hedgehogs, skunks, and frogs. The lush nighttime scenes feel wonderfully cozy, and by the time Mama Owl whispers what daytime is like, even energetic toddlers are ready to tuck their wings and drift off.

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The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse

by Eric Carle

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Eric Carle hands kids a paintbrush and permission to let their imaginations run wild. A red crocodile, a polka-dotted donkey, and (of course) a brilliantly blue horse parade across bold spreads that practically beg young readers to shout out colors and dream up masterpieces of their own. It’s the perfect pick for rainy-day art sessions and impromptu fridge-gallery exhibitions.

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You Are a Lion!

You Are a Lion!

by Taeeun Yoo

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Story time meets stretch time in this exuberant introduction to yoga. Simple prompts invite kids to “roar like a lion,” “flutter like a butterfly,” and “hiss like a snake,” turning each pose into a burst of imaginative play that channels wiggles into calm, confident movement — no yoga mat (or jungle) required.

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Llama Llama Red Pajama

Llama Llama Red Pajama

by Anna Dewdney

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A delightful and prolific series, Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama is a reader favorite. The magic began back in 2005 with Llama Llama Red Pajama, a rhyming read-aloud that finds young Llama Llama feeling nervous about falling asleep by himself — and Mama Llama coming to the rescue. This extra-special edition includes a CD audio recording of Dewdney reading the story, bonus Llama Llama tales, and even a keepsake print. It's the perfect place to start with the beloved series, or an exciting new addition to your collection.

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The Little Engine That Could: 90th Anniversary Edition

The Little Engine That Could: 90th Anniversary Edition

by Watty Piper, illustrated by Dan Santat

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An absolute classic since it was first published in 1930, The Little Engine That Could is still charming readers worldwide. We love this 90th anniversary edition, which features illustrations by Caldecott Medal winner Dan Santat and an introduction by Dolly Parton. It pays homage to the original illustrations while adding even more life and cheerful triumph to the timeless story of perseverance.

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Dragons Love Tacos

Dragons Love Tacos

by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

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This silly book about, you guessed it, dragons that love tacos (and parties!), is a huge hit with the preschool set. The illustrations are entertaining and include subtle jokes that are fun to find as the storyline becomes more familiar.

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How to Say Hello to a Worm

How to Say Hello to a Worm

by Kari Percival

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If your three-year-old loves digging in the dirt, this playful “how-to” guide is their new field manual. Friendly, direct text shows little gardeners how to greet squirmy worms, pat pea shoots, and admire every wiggly, muddy miracle hiding in the backyard, turning outdoor exploration into a joyful ritual of respect for nature.

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Miss Rumphius

Miss Rumphius

by Barbara Cooney

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Every time we read this timeless classic, my preschooler starts scheming ways to “make the world more beautiful” just like Alice Rumphius does. From globe-trotting adventures to seaside days spent sprinkling lupine seeds, the story gently plants big ideas about caring for our planet in the hearts of even the smallest listeners — and the riot of purple, pink, and blue flowers on every page is pure magic for budding nature lovers.

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The Incredible Book Eating Boy

The Incredible Book Eating Boy

by Oliver Jeffers

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Charmed by the illustrations, my son chose this read as a vacation souvenir from City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco. The story of a boy who eats books — and gets smarter as a result — quickly became my son’s most-read picture book, causing us to seek out Jeffers’s other picture books. As a book-loving mama, you can imagine my heart-leaping delight when I overheard my son tell friends at a bookstore that Oliver Jeffers is his favorite author. So, as you seek books for your child at any age, I mostly recommend letting them lead the way!

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The Wonderful Things You Will Be

The Wonderful Things You Will Be

by Emily Winfield Martin

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This sweet and whimsical picture book is an ode to the many bright possibilities children's futures hold, and a reminder that their parents will always love them - no matter which direction their compass guides them. With simple, rhythmic text and gorgeous oil-painting illustrations, The Wonderful Things You Will Be impresses upon children that they are worthy of love and that it's their inner qualities that matter most. Pair it with the companion growth chart to keep the positivity flowing.

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Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever

Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever

by Richard Scarry

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Richard Scarry's beloved, fun-filled universe is a surefire hit for little readers, and his Best Word Book Ever is especially ideal for vocab-building three-year-olds. All throughout Busytown, characters are getting ready for their days, starting art projects, and jetting off to the playground. There are so many words to express their activities and the objects they encounter! This colorful compendium will do wonders for your toddler's verbal skills.

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The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo

by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

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Ooh, I don’t want to spoil The Gruffalo if you haven’t read it, because it’s kids’ storytelling at its finest. The wonderfully rhymed tale of a mouse who invents a fearsome creature called the Gruffalo to ward off enemies is both amusing and a marvelous lesson in quick-thinking and imagination.

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Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go

Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go

by Richard Scarry

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This was a book I remembered reading as a preschooler, so I trotted out my old copy when my son became vehicle-obsessed. But even if cars and trucks don’t rev your three-year-old’s engines, the hunt for Goldbug in each scene (each page is a busy burst of activity in Scarry’s magnificent style) will have them eager to explore.

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2014 and updated in 2025.