How to Read with a Preschooler

Preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) are ready for books about concepts like numbers, colors and shapes, as well as longer books with more complex emotional themes.  Before starting a new book, talk about the cover of the book and ask your child to tell you what they think the story will be about. Make connections to what they already know. This will help them make connections to knowledge they already have and build on that knowledge. 

Here are some more tips for reading with a preschooler: 

• Ask questions about the story and encourage your child to ask what they are wondering about. 
• Make reading aloud a regular part of your routine — just 20 minutes each day can make a big difference in raising a reader. 
• Have your preschooler help you hold the book or turn the pages.  
• Talk about the characters and what they are doing. Build comprehension skills by asking simple who, what, when, where, why and how questions.  
• Let your child "pretend read." Encourage them to point to the pictures in a book and make up their own story, retell a favorite story or "read" aloud to their stuffed animals. 
• Your child will still want to hear their favorite stories again and again. As you read them, push your child to think deeper--ask questions about the characters' emotions or what your child thinks will happen after the story ends. 
• As you read, make connections between reading stories and writing text. Help your child notice that in English, we read from left to right.  When you're not reading a book, point out the written words you see in the world around you. Ask your child to find a new word each time you go out. 
• Use your finger to track the flow of the words as you read to help your child understand that sentences are made up of individual words. 

Try some of these great books for preschoolers: 

Extra Yarn: A modern classic about generosity and community. 

Everybody in the Red Brick Building: Build early literacy skills with this lighthearted bedtime book. 

Broken: Everybody makes misakes, it's how you handle them that matters. 

Don't Blow your Top!: A silly but meaningful story about big feelings. 

Next to Me: Take a look around your neighborhood with fresh eyes after reading this book!

Green Is A Chile Pepper: You'll walk away from this book hungry!

Jabari Jumps: This sweet story encourages resiliance and confidence. 

Saturday: Sometimes things don't go your way, but it's who you're with that matters most. 

The Sleeper Train: Can't sleep? Catch a ride on the sleeper train!

The Rabbit Listened: A simple book with a powerful message about empathy.