Preschool and Kindergarten Summer Picture Book Reading List

Summer’s here, and so are the BEST picture books for your little readers!  Ready to spark giggles, build empathy, and inspire curiosity? These summer reads have everything you’re looking for.

A reader asked me to make a preschool and kindergarten summer reading list of picture books for pre-readers. So, I’ve compiled some of my favorite books to read aloud to your kids.

I hope this book list helps you and your kids enjoy many new picture books this summer!

Big themes, little listeners. Let’s dive in!

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Preschool & Kinder Summer Picture Book Reading List

Kindergarten & Preschool Books to Read: Read Aloud Favorites

These are sure to be repeated read aloud favorite for the readers on your lap.

• When Dinosaurs Walked the Earth by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Zehra Hicks
• Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friendby Bob Shea
• Benita and the Night Creatures by Mariana Llanos, illustrated by Cocretto
• Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz
• Looking for a Jumbie by Tracey Baptiste
• Pretty Ugly by David Sedaris, illustrated by Ian Falconer
• Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan
• The Bear’s Song by Benjamin Chaud
• It’s So Quiet: A Not-Quite-Going-to-Bed Book by Sherri Duskey Rinker
• Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
• 100 Dogs: Playful Pups to Count by Michael Whaite
• Group Hug by Jean Reidy
• Mina by Matthew Forsythe
• My Fade is Fresh by Shauntay Grant
• What Can a Mess Make? by Bee Johnson 
• The Rice in the Pot Goes Round and Round by Wendy Wan-Long Shang
• The Book That Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed, illustrated by Hatem Aly 
• I Am Dog! by Peter Bently
• Wonder & Awe by Annie Herzig

Kindergarten & Preschool Books to Read: Funny Picture Books

Kids love these funny books and will beg for multiple readings.

• The Little Butterfly That Could by Ross Burach
• How to Count to 1 by Casper Salmon
• B is For Bananas by Carrie Tillotson
• How Dinosaurs Went Extinct A Safety Guide by Ame Dyckman
• Who Ate Steve? by Susannah Lloyd, illustrated by Kate Hindley
• Unicorns Are the Worst by Alex Willan
• The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming
• The Book That Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed, illustrated by Hatem Aly
• This Is a Moose by Richard T. Morris, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
• Mr. Fox’s Game of “No!”by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka 
• I Am Not a Penguin: A Pangolin’s Lament by Liz Wong
• Pizza with Everything on It by Kyle Scheele, illustrated by Andy J. Pizz
• Dog Vs. Strawberry by Nelly Buchet, illustrated by Andrea Zuill
• Like by Annie Barrows and Leo Espinosa
• We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
• Poo-Dunit? A Forest Floor Mystery by Katelyn Aronson
• Mina by Matthew Forsythe
• Don’t Eat Bees (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog) by Mike Boldt
• A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree by Daniel Bernstrom
• One Sheep, Two Sheep by Tami Sauer
• Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan
• Walrus in the Bathtub by Deborah Underwood

Kindergarten & Preschool Books to Read: Picture Books with Lessons

Read about lots of characters similar and different than you. These are great books to build empathy and spark discussion.

• Bitsy Bat Team Star by Kaz Windness
• Who’s in Charge? by Stephanie Allain & Jenny Klion, illustrated by Marissa Valdez 
• Olive All At Once by Mariam Gates, illustrated by Alison Hawkins
• Towed by Toad  by Jashar Awan
• Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham
• Lulu the One and Only by Lynnette Mawhinney
• You’re So Amazing! written by James & Lucy Catchpole
• The Tale of the Valiant Ninja Frog by Alastair Chisholm
• When Charley Met Emma by Amy Webb
• The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• One of These Is Not Like the Others by Barney Saltzberg
• After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat
• Pigeon Math by Asia Citro, illustrated by Richard Watson
• Connor Kissed Me by Zehava, illustrated by Sarah K. Turner
• How to Apologize by David LaRochelle
• Too Much: An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutierrez, and illustrated by Angel Chang
• Donut the Unicorn Who Wants to Fly by Laura Gehl
• The Twist-a-Roo by Kathleen Doherty, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
• Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld
• One Small Thing by Marsha Diane Arnold

Kindergarten & Preschool Books to Read: Imaginative, Magical Stories

From quests to dragons and magical moments, these fantasy stories will inspire imaginations!

• Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
• Anzu the Great Kaiju by Benson Shum
• Brave As a Mouse by Nicolo Carozzi
• Kat Hats by Daniel Pinkwater
• Another by Christian Robinson
• Quest by Aaron Becker
• The Night Tent by Landis Blair
• Cinderella With Dogs! by Linda Bailey
• Izmelda The Fairest Dragon of Them All! by Joan Marr

Kindergarten & Preschool Books to Read: Nonfiction / Informational Fiction Books

These informational fiction and nonfiction books will expose your readers to new concepts including animals and science concepts.

• This is Not My Lunch Box! written by Jennifer Dupui
• Wombats Are Pretty Weird: A (Not So) Serious Guide by Abi Cushman
• Hello, I’m a Sloth written and illustrated by Haley and John Rocco
• Caves by Nell Cross Beckerman
• Pizza: A Slice of History by Greg Pizzoli
• Peculiar Primates Fun Facts About These Curious Creatures by Debra Kempf Shumaker
• Except Antarctica! by Todd Sturgell
• Mars: Earthlings Welcome by Stacy McAnulty
• Odd Beasts Meet Nature’s Weirdest Animals by Laura Gehl
• Let’s Go for a Walk by Ranger Hamza
• Walrus Song by Janet Lawler
• Fiona the Fruit Bat by Dan Riskin
• Hippos Can’t Swim and Other Fun Facts by Laura Lyn DiSiena and Hannah Eliot