10+ Best Books for 4-Year-Old To Learn to Read w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect books for 4-year-old to learn to read? Finding the right reading material can be a game-changer in your child's learning journey, sparking both imagination and a love for reading. Whether you're looking for engaging stories or interactive books that challenge young minds, we've got you covered. Keep reading to discover our curated lists of books that are ideal for helping your little one become a confident reader!

Fun Books for 4-Year-Old To Learn to Read

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Humor
  • Synopsis: Sam-I-Am persistently follows another character throughout the book, trying to convince him to try green eggs and ham in various locations and with different companions.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its repetitive and rhyming text helps young readers grasp phonics and word recognition, making it a fun and engaging way to practice reading skills.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy playful stories and are just starting to read on their own.

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Pattern Books
  • Synopsis: A teacher and various colored animals including a brown bear, a red bird, and a goldfish are sequentially asked what they see, introducing young readers to colors and creatures.
  • Why we recommend this book: It features simple repetitive text and bold, colorful artwork by Eric Carle, which makes it ideal for helping children associate words with colors and objects.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are learning to identify colors and enjoy animal illustrations.

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Alphabet Book
  • Synopsis: The lowercase letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree, but will there be enough room? As the tree bends, the chaotic adventure of the letters begins.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its rhythmic, rhyming text makes learning the alphabet exciting and memorable, and the story's playful spirit captures the joy of learning.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are just starting to learn the alphabet and enjoy lively, rhythmic stories.

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, illustrated by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Educational
  • Synopsis: This classic follows the journey of a caterpillar eating its way through a variety of foods before finally pupating and emerging as a butterfly.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches days of the week, counting, and the life cycle of a butterfly with engaging cut-out illustrations and simple text.
  • Perfect for: Young children who are curious about nature and enjoy stories with a transformational element.

• Where's Spot? by Eric Hill, illustrated by Eric Hill
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Lift-the-Flap Book
  • Synopsis: Sally, Spot's mother, searches for him around the house, finding other animals behind the doors and inside furniture before she finds Spot at the end.
  • Why we recommend this book: The interactive lift-the-flap format encourages participation and makes reading a playful activity, which is great for keeping young readers engaged.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers who love interactive reading sessions and playful storylines.

Educational Books for 4-Year-Old To Learn to Read

• Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers by Bobby Lynn Maslen, illustrated by John R. Maslen
  • Genre(s): Educational, Early Reading
  • Synopsis: This set of 12 books is designed to help children at the very first stages of reading. Each book introduces a few new letters and sounds in a progressively challenging set of books.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Phonics, basic English reading skills, simple sentence construction
  • Why we recommend this book: The books use repetition and simple illustrations to reinforce learning, making them effective for building confidence in new readers.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are just starting to decode words and sentences.

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Adventure
  • Synopsis: The story captures a day in the life of a young boy named Peter as he explores his neighborhood after the season's first snowfall.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Environmental awareness, vocabulary expansion, understanding of seasonal changes
  • Why we recommend this book: Its simple narrative and beautiful illustrations capture the wonder of a snowy day, making it a delightful read for young children.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who enjoy stories about exploration and everyday adventures.

• Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, illustrated by Rod Campbell
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Lift-the-Flap Book
  • Synopsis: A child writes to the zoo asking them to send a pet. The zoo sends various unsuitable pets that are all sent back for different reasons, until the perfect pet arrives.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Animal recognition, vocabulary, understanding of adjectives
  • Why we recommend this book: The interactive flaps and simple, repetitive text engage young readers and help them predict the next outcomes, which is great for cognitive development.
  • Perfect for: Young children who love animals and interactive reading experiences.

• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Bedtime Story
  • Synopsis: In this classic book, a gentle bedtime ritual is depicted as a young bunny says goodnight to everything in the "great green room."
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Rhyming, rhythm, calming bedtime routines
  • Why we recommend this book: Its soothing pace and comforting repetition make it a perfect bedtime read for young children.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers who benefit from a peaceful story time before sleep.

• Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman, illustrated by P.D. Eastman
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A baby bird hatches while his mother is away, falls from his nest, and goes on a quest to find her, asking various animals and objects, "Are you my mother?"
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Animal identification, mother-child bonding, question formation
  • Why we recommend this book: The repetitive question-and-answer format helps children practice deductive reasoning and the story's plot is engaging and sweet.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy mother-child stories and tales of small adventures.

Challenging Books for 4-Year-Old To Learn to Read

• Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Tongue Twisters
  • Synopsis: This book features a playful fox who speaks almost entirely in densely rhyming tongue-twisters.
  • Why this book is challenging: The complex wordplay and rapid pace of the tongue twisters provide a robust challenge for young readers, enhancing their phonetic skills and pronunciation.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun and engaging way to develop quick thinking and verbal dexterity.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy a verbal challenge and those who love playing with words.

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: A mouse walks through the woods and encounters several dangerous animals. To avoid being eaten, the mouse invents a creature called the Gruffalo... only to meet one!
  • Why this book is challenging: The rich vocabulary and rhyming patterns provide a linguistic challenge that goes beyond simpler children's books.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches strategic thinking and the power of intelligence over brute strength.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who love a good story and learning new words.

• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A kind witch invites various animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat. When danger arises, they all work together to overcome it.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative introduces elements of teamwork and problem-solving, layered with rhythmic and rhyming text that requires careful listening and reading skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes themes of friendship and cooperation through an engaging and whimsical story.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy tales of adventure and magical creatures.

• Stellaluna by Janell Cannon, illustrated by Janell Cannon
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Animal Stories
  • Synopsis: After being separated from her mother, Stellaluna, a young fruit bat, is raised by birds but struggles to fit in.
  • Why this book is challenging: The story introduces concepts of identity and acceptance, wrapped in a narrative that explores biological differences and similarities among species.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a heartwarming tale that encourages understanding and celebrating differences.
  • Perfect for: Children who are curious about animals and nature, and those learning about acceptance and friendship.

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, illustrated by Beatrix Potter
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Classic
  • Synopsis: This classic story follows the mischievous Peter Rabbit as he sneaks into Mr. McGregor's garden and faces the consequences of his actions.
  • Why this book is challenging: The sophisticated vocabulary and moral lessons presented in an old-fashioned storytelling style provide a higher reading level challenge.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches important lessons about obedience and the repercussions of misbehavior, all within a beautifully illustrated and timeless narrative.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy classic stories with moral lessons and engaging characters.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to help your 4-year-old embark on their reading journey, you're in the right place. At this age, kids are sponges for knowledge, and the right exercises can make learning to read both fun and effective. Here are some engaging activities designed to develop good reading habits in young children:

• Picture Book Exploration
  • What it is: Looking through picture books and talking about the images.
  • How it helps: Enhances vocabulary and comprehension before they can fully read text.
  • Tips: Let them choose books with colorful and engaging images to spark interest.

• Alphabet Games
  • What it is: Playing games that involve identifying and organizing letters.
  • How it helps: Reinforces letter recognition which is fundamental for reading.
  • Tips: Use magnetic letters on the fridge or letter cards for fun sorting games.

• Rhyme Time
  • What it is: Reading books or singing songs that emphasize rhyming.
  • How it helps: Develops phonemic awareness, an essential skill for reading.
  • Tips: Encourage them to come up with their own rhymes once they get the hang of it.

• Story Sequencing
  • What it is: Putting events from a story in order.
  • How it helps: Builds comprehension and ability to understand narrative structure.
  • Tips: Use picture cards from the story and help them arrange these in the order they happened.

• Interactive Read-Aloud
  • What it is: Reading a story to them but pausing to ask questions or predict what might happen next.
  • How it helps: Engages them actively with the text and encourages critical thinking.
  • Tips: Change your tone and voice for different characters to keep it exciting and engaging.

• Trace and Say Letters
  • What it is: Tracing letters with fingers while saying them aloud.
  • How it helps: Connects the physical act of writing with the verbal aspect of reading.
  • Tips: Start with letters in their name and other familiar words to keep them interested.

• Label Everything
  • What it is: Placing labels on everyday items around the house.
  • How it helps: Helps them associate written words with their corresponding objects.
  • Tips: Use large, clear print and involve them in making the labels.

• Match Words to Pictures
  • What it is: Matching simple words to corresponding pictures.
  • How it helps: Strengthens word recognition and vocabulary.
  • Tips: Start with words that describe the picture clearly and progress to more abstract concepts.

Incorporating these exercises into your daily routine can make a significant difference in your child’s early reading skills. Remember, the key is to keep the activities light and fun, ensuring that reading becomes a joy, not a chore. Happy reading!