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You’ve been waiting for this. You read board books to your baby and picture books to your toddler. Now you’ve got a preschooler and you can’t wait to start reading chapter books!
Why reading chapter books to preschoolers is a good idea
Reading chapter books to preschoolers is a good idea for a few reasons.
First, preschoolers want to be big! What better way to satisfy a preschooler’s longing to be “big” than to read “big” books like his older siblings read.
Secondly, reading chapter books to preschoolers builds lots of skills, like listening skills and comprehension skills. Kids can’t rely on illustrations to get meaning, because there is far more text than illustrations in a chapter book. Kids have to listen carefully and visualize what’s happening in the story. Also, chapter books can’t be read in one sitting, so preschoolers’ comprehension skills develop as they recall what’s happening in a story over many days or weeks.
Finally, preschoolers develop their attention span because the story takes longer to finish, and there are less illustrations to hold their attention.
How to know if your preschooler is ready for chapter books
The best way to know if your preschooler is ready for chapter books is to try reading one! But if you’re still hesitant, there are two signs to look for.
First, can your preschooler attend to reading several picture books back to back? In other words, when your son hands you a pile of books, and it takes you half an hour to get through them, he’s probably ready to listen to a chapter book.
A second sign to look for is when your child shows an interest. Is she pulling a chapter book off the shelf and asking you to read it?
What to look for in chapter books for preschoolers
To get the best reading experience with your preschooler, look for these qualities in your chapter book selections:
- Short in overall length
- Short chapter length
- Illustrations every 2-3 pages
- Topics of high interest (animals, kids their age)
What to expect when reading chapter books to preschoolers
You may be bursting with anticipation the first day you pick up that chapter book, ready to dive in. Don’t be discouraged if your preschooler doesn’t share your enthusiasm. If you know what to expect, you won’t throw in the towel when your first attempt at reading a chapter book flops.
Preschoolers lose interest quickly.
Preschoolers have short attention spans, so at first they may wonder where all the pictures went and lose interest. In this case, read with extra enthusiasm. Tell them to hang in there because there’s a picture on the next page. And keep it short. If your preschooler can’t make it through a whole chapter, that’s okay. Stick in a bookmark, and call it a day.
Preschooler need to move.
Expect preschoolers to get wiggly. Their young bodies are meant to move, so don’t take that as a sign that they can’t listen to you read aloud a chapter book. Let them doodle or play with legos. Or, read aloud during lunch. It’s a great way to keep my son at the table long enough to eat something.
Preschoolers can be forgetful.
Preschoolers may forget what’s happening in the story if you haven’t read for a few days. Just talk about it together. “Do you remember what happened last time we read?” (I’m usually the one with the bad memory and need to look back).
10 Terrific Books to Read Aloud to Preschoolers
To save you time, I’ve compiled a list of 10 terrific books to start reading to your preschooler today.
1. My Father’s Dragon (affiliate link) by Ruth Stiles Gannett
This is my all-time favorite book to read aloud to preschoolers. Both my son and daughter loved the clever ways that the main character tricked the different animals on his mission to rescue the dragon. If your child loves this story too, you’ll be delighted to know that the adventure continues in Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland.
2. Catwings (affiliate link) by Ursula K. Le Guin
I found this book years ago at a used book sale, and it was a big hit with my daughter. She always loved using her imagination, so the idea of cats with wings was right up her alley. Once the kittens learn to use their wings, they escape the dangers of the city to face new challenges in the country.
3. Mercy Watson to the Rescue (affiliate link) by Kate DiCamillo
Mercy Watson, a pig adopted into the loving arms of the Mr. and Mrs. Watson, loves to eat buttered toast. In this first book of a 6 book series, Mercy, the “porcine wonder,” is afraid of sleeping alone. But when Mercy climbs into bed with the Watsons, and the floorboards start to give way under her weight.
Here’s a reading of Mercy Watson to the Rescue on YouTube. You’ll notice that the large font size, short chapters, and frequent illustrations make this is a good chapter book choice for young preschoolers.
4. Winnie the Pooh (affiliate link) by A. A. Milne
A.A. Milne was inspired to write the story of Winnie the Pooh while watching his son, Christopher Robin, play with his stuffed animals. Each animal in the story has a distinct personality that makes every adventure entertaining. There’s a movie version that my son loves and got him hooked on the book.
5. Beatrix Potter Complete Tales (affiliate link)
This book is not really a chapter book, but a collection of the 23 classic tales told by Beatrix Potter. I wanted to include it on the list, because every child deserves to hear these tales read aloud. Full of adventure and beautiful vocabulary, the 23 original tales have strong appeal to preschoolers.
After reading this collection you may want to pick up individual copies of the tales your child likes best. These tiny books are just the right size for small hands. For summaries of each tale, check out the Beatrix Potter website.
6. Two Times the Fun (affiliate link) by Beverly Cleary
Both boys and girls will enjoy the contrasting personalities of the four year old twins, Janet and Jimmy. Sometimes they get along, and other times they have squabbles. In the end, they celebrate the fact that they’re growing up when their parents surprise them with new, big beds.
7. Charlotte’s Web (affiliate link) by E.B. White
This beautiful, classic tale of friendship between two unlikely creatures, a pig and a spider, makes a wonderful read aloud. I would recommend reading this book with your older four year old who’s experienced shorter chapter books. The death of Charlotte may upset your young preschooler, but it’s a good way to introduce the topic of death to older preschoolers.
8. Frog and Toad (affiliate link) by Arnold Lobel
This chapter book is a great one to start with if you’re preschooler has a limited attention span. The chapters are short with big print and illustrations. Technically, it’s an early reader book, but I think it’s a great choice for transitioning from picture book to chapter book. And everyone loves Frog and Toad.
9. Dinosaurs Before Dark (affiliate link) by Mary Pope Osborne
Jack and Annie stumble upon a tree house in the woods that’s filled with books. As Jack is looking at a dinosaur book he whispers how he wished he could see a Pteranodon for real. Suddenly, the wind begins to blow, and the tree house begins to spin. Jack and Annie are transported to another time, another land filled with living dinosaurs.
10. The Littles (affiliate link) by John Peterson
A family of tiny people, with long tails, lives in the walls of a home belonging to big people. In this first book, Tom and Lucy, the children in the family, discover a new cat in the house. Full of adventure and fantasy, this classic series will have your preschooler asking for more.
Conclusion
Reading chapter books to preschoolers helps them develop comprehension skills, listening skills, and increases their attention span. Preschoolers get excited about reading “big” books, too. Although reading aloud to a preschooler can have its challenges, most preschoolers are ready to tackle chapter books. Starting with shorter chapter books, like Frog and Toad, and working toward longer ones, like Charlotte’s Web is a great way to keep your preschooler engaged.
Your Turn
What are your favorite books to read to preschoolers?
