100 Books to Read Before Kindergarten
To help support early literacy at home, we've created a collection of some of our favourite books to enjoy with your child during their first five years. Rediscover classics, explore something new, and read what you love! Early exposure to books and reading have a multiplying effect on children’s success throughout their school years. Why not enjoy reading with your child now and install that life-long love of reading in them!
Get Started
Click on a title from the list below to go to its catalogue record, there you can place a hold for the book. You can either request the book on its own, or get it in a bag with 4 other classic books.
- Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
- The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey
- Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
- Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
- Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
- A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
- Jillian Jiggs to the Rescue by Phoebe Gilman
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin and John Archambault
- Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
- The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone
- Fortunately by Remy Charlip
- Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
- It’s a Tiger by David LaRochelle
- Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
- Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
- Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
- The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
- Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say (only available in this bag)
- Journey by Aaron Becker
- Night Cars by Teddy Jam
- Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
- The Mitten by Jan Brett
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
- Brave Irene by William Steig
- The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel
- Red is Best by Kathy Stinson
- Chicken, Pig, Cow by Ruth Ohi
- Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
- The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
- Sing a Song of Mother Goose by Barbara Reid
- Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins
- A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker
- Big Bear Hug by Nicholas Oldland (only available in this bag)
- The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
- Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
- Harry and the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
- Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
- Stanley’s Party by Linda Bailey
- Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
- Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman
- Chalk by Bill Thomson
- Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems
- Chester by Melanie Watt
- Tuesday by David Wiesner
- Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth
- Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
- The Library by Sarah Stewart
- Skinnamarink by Sharon, Lois and Bram
- Flotsam by David Wiesner
- The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
- This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
- Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt
- Jamberry by Bruce Degen
- But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
- Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
- Blue Goose by Nancy Tafuri
- Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
- Boo Hoo Bird by Jeremy Tankard
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
- Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman
- Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
- Moo, Baa, La La La by Sandra Boynton
- Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
- I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
- Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
- The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
- Not A Box by Antoinette Portis
- The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg (only available in this bag)
- Caps For Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
- Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban
- Hooray for Hat by Brian Won
- The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco
- Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley
- Stella: Star of the Sea by Marie-Louise Gay
- Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
- Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
- Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
- Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie
- The Napping House by Audrey Wood
- Baby Beluga by Raffi
- The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
- There is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems
- Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
- The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood
- Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox
- Read Me a Book by Barbara Reid
- Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
- Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
- Hug by Jez Alborough
- Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day
100 Books Checklist
Explore our 100 Books To Read Before Kindergarten checklist and track your child’s progress. Download a printable version of the brochure.
More Literacy Activities
Early literacy goes beyond reading books; it is playing, talking, singing, and exploring together. At the library, you will find lots of ways to support your child’s learning journey. Borrow one of our Early Literacy Kits from the Library of Things, join in on storytimes and hands-on programs, or discover other fun activities designed to build early learning skills while making lasting memories.
Contact Us
Kawartha Lakes Public Library
P.O. Box 9000, 190 Kent Street West
Lindsay, Ontario, K9V 2Y6
Phone: 705-324-9411 ext 1291
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