Top 12 Rhyming Books For Preschoolers Updated 04 /2024

You should read to your kids from the time they are very young to help them fall in love with reading. But, what do kids want to hear? And, just as important, what will parents want to read to their kids again and again?

Why don't you try books that rhyme? Rhyming is a word game for young kids. A lot of kids love words, which means they'll want to read even more. As soon as it's not too late, start reading aloud. Your child will fall in love!

Here’s a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry

collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by Polly Dunbar

There is never a bad time to start reading poetry to your kids, and this collection is a great place to start. From dawn to dusk, Jane Yolen has chosen poems by some of the most famous people in the world. Margaret Wise Brown, Gertrude Stein, Langston Hughes, and A. A. Milne are just a few of them.

The Gruffalo

by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

Wouldn't it be fun to learn more about the brave little mouse and his friendly Gruffalo? When Mouse was in the woods, he came up with a creature that would protect him from bad guys. Children will fall in love with both the characters and the rhymes they make.

Elmo’s Tricky Tongue Twisters

by Sarah Albee, illustrated by Maggie Swanson

Everyone's favorite Sesame Street character meets the Little Golden Book collection in this collection of dizzy tongue twisters that will make readers laugh until they can't stand it any longer.

Llama Llama Red Pajama

by Anna Dewdney

In the end, it's bedtime, but Baby Llama won't go to sleep. People will enjoy the rhymes in this raucous story about parents and young kids having a hard time getting their kids to go to bed.

Madeline

by Ludwig Bemelmans

A beloved classic for eighty years, Madeline owes much of its charm to the carefully crafted, sophisticated cadence of author Ludwig Bemelmans. If you're a parent or grandparent, you'll love seeing this childhood favorite set in New York City.

A Greyhound, A Groundhog

by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Chris Appelhans

When a greyhound and a groundhog meet, there is a lot of happy wordplay. Emily Jenkins is a master of wit, and Chris Appelhans's art makes it even more fun. You might recognize his style from the animated film "Coraline." In the story, an unlikely friendship is celebrated in a lovely way.

Rhyme Crime

by Jon Burgerman

Splat! was made by the same person who made the raucously fun game. Now, there's a rhyming crime. Someone’s swapped Marlow’s smile for a crocodile (pretty dangerous, if you ask me), and that’s not the only thieving going on around here. This will become a crowd favorite quickly.

Each Peach Pear Plum

by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg

A rhyming staple for every household, Each Peach Pear Plum features familiar fairytale characters and an “I Spy” component that readers can interact with more deeply as they age. Make sure your kids don't forget this one!

Baby-Boo, I Love You

by Sheryl Haft and Jane Massey

Toy Baby-Boo, I Love You is a great movie for kids who can't live without their favorite doll. The movie stars an adorable, pig-tailed girl who loves being a mommy for her favorite toy. The illustrations are soft and the rhymes are sweet. This is a sweet ode to the bond between a parent and their child.

Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months

by Maurice Sendak

 

To learn the months of the year, Maurice Sendak has fun with rhymes and illustrations. It's hard to forget, "In January it's so nice, as you slide on the ice, to drink hot chicken soup with rice!"

I See the Moon

by Nosy Crow, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

Rosalind Beardshaw's beautiful illustrations go well with a collection of classic rhymes that are great for getting ready for bed. Your kids will love to read along with familiar songs like "Star Light, Star Bright" and also learn new ones.

Marc Brown's Playtime Rhymes: A Treasury for Families to Learn and Play Together

by Marc Brown

"The Itsy-Bitsy Spider," "Wheels on the Bus," and "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" are some of the best-loved books for kids. No, I can't remember all of them. No need to worry, the instructions are there. If you and your family try this game, you'll be singing, dancing, and laughing in no time!

Giggly Wiggly: Playtime Rhymes

by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Chris Riddell

It's fun to play when it's time, so try Giggly Wiggly, a collection of happy, silly rhymes for the very young. These characters are going to be fun for them to read about, and you'll love how excited your child is when he or she reads.

Rhyming Dust Bunnies

by Jan Thomas

This is the story of three dust bunnies who love to rhyme and one who can't get it right. But when Bob saves the day, his friends realize he’s not such a dumb dust bunny. Children will enjoy the fun language and brightly colored animals on these pages.

There’s a Wocket in My Pocket! Dr. Seuss’s Book of Ridiculous Rhymes

by Dr. Seuss

It wouldn't be a list of rhyming books if Dr. Seuss didn't make it. In There's a Wocket in My Pocket!, a young boy goes on a tour of his house and meets a group of characters that could only be called Seussian! There's a Wocket is a great way to learn more about the world of Dr. Seuss. It's full of wordplay and his famous illustrations.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? 

By Bill Martin, Jr.

This is one of our favorite things to do every year. They can't wait to start calling out each animal before they even see it. In this picture you can see a Brown Bear, a Red Bird, a Yellow Duck, a Blue Horse and a Green Frog. You can also see the teacher or the mother and the kids.

---