4 years old is such an exciting age for both child and parent! Some children are starting kindergarten and receiving their first formal reading education. Even if they are not, they have hopefully been hearing and watching you read children’s books to them for a few years now, so they have some abilities to recognize letters, words, and sounds.
To help you find the right books to help your 4 year old fall in love with reading, the team at Sawyer has put together a list of the best books for 4 year olds. We’ve also included some of our favorite educational toddler books, so they can see that learning is fun, and toddler books about family, so they are ready to make new friends who might have different backgrounds than themselves!
Best books for 4 year olds
Here are some of our best books for 4 year olds and hopefully, they can give you a break by reading to you!
The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
Why do 4 year olds love The Book with No Pictures?
You might think a children’s book without pictures would be boring, but that is because you haven’t read The Book with No Pictures, yet! This fun book gets children and adults excited with silly words, funny imagery (that you have to use your imagination to see), and great opportunities for children to get involved. Plus, it’s written by comedian, screenwriter, and actor B.J. Novak! What’s not to love?
Buy The Book with No Pictures
Kindergarten, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg
Why do 4 year olds love Kindergarten, Here I Come!?
This fun picture book, which comes with a sheet of stickers, will get your 4 year old excited to start school. The poems will have you and your child giggling and help reduce any jittery feelings so they are confident and ready to take on this new adventure.
Buy Kindergarten, Here I Come!
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Why do 4 year olds love The Day You Begin?
A beautiful story, The Day You Begin illustrates the moments where your child might feel different from others and how they can be courageous and push through anyway. When they do, they see that those are the days they begin to be magical. This book also is great for learning empathy and how to connect with others. These are both extremely important for children as they begin going to school.
Buy The Day You Begin
Swapsies by Fiona Robertson
Why do 4 year olds love Swapsies?
4 year olds who are getting ready to go to school need to understand the importance of sharing and Swapsies is a great way to show them. Not only is the book simple enough for them to sound out some of the pages, but also it has a great message that sharing is fun!
Buy Swapsies
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin
Why do 4 year olds love Pete the Cat?
Toddlers love repetition and songs and Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons has both! Both you and your child will fall in love with the rhymes and story and then after it's done, you can download the free song so the fun never stops!
Buy Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
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Toddler books about family
As toddlers get ready for school, it is important for them to learn about the different types of families they might discover with their friends. Here are some of our favorite toddler books about family so you can explore with your child!
- Besos for Baby by Jen Arena | Buy
- Mommy, Mama, and Me and Daddy, Papa, and Me by Leslea Newman | Buy & Buy
- Dim Sum for Everyone! by Grace Lin | Buy
- Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer | Buy
- Who’s In My Family? by Robie H Harris | Buy
- ABC A Family Alphabet Book by Bobbie Combs | Buy
- Full, Full, Full of Love by Trish Cooke | Buy
- Waiting for Baby by Rachel Fuller | Buy
- We Belong Together by Todd Parr | Buy
- Two Homes by Claire Masurel | Buy
Educational toddler books
These educational toddler books are a great way to teach the alphabet, colors, numbers, and more so that your child is excited about learning while they read. You’ll be surprised how much they can pick up!
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by John Archambault | Buy
- F is for Fart by J. Heitsch | Buy
- My First Book of Planets by Bruce Betts | Buy
- All About Weather by Huda Harajli | Buy
- Let’s Go to the Potty by Allison Jandu | Buy
- Ten on a Twig by Lo Cole | Buy
- Mix It Up by Herve Tullet | Buy
- Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman | Buy
- Quantum Physics for Babies by Chris Ferrie | Buy
- I Spy Everything by Amelia Sealey | Buy
We hope we have given you plenty of options for books for 4 year olds so that you can delight and entrance the children in your life with the magic of reading! If you are looking for even more fun reading-related activities, Sawyer educators Southlake Tutoring Academy and Cultivating Literacy have online read alouds and book clubs for children of all ages! Check them out, and more exciting activities, on the Sawyer marketplace.
