10+ Best Early Reading Books for 3-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect early reading books for 3-year-olds to spark your little one's love for reading? Finding the right books can be a game-changer in your child's developmental journey. Whether you're looking for engaging stories or interactive books that encourage learning through play, we've got you covered. Keep reading to discover our handpicked lists of early reading books for 3-year-olds that are sure to captivate and educate your eager little readers.

Fun Early Reading Books for 3-Year-Olds

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: The story follows a caterpillar as it eats its way through a variety of foods before finally pupating and emerging as a butterfly.
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces concepts of counting, the days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly, all in a simple and engaging way.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy colorful illustrations and learning about nature.

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck—all parade across the pages of this delightful book.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its repetitive and rhythmic text makes it easy for little ones to join in the reading, enhancing their pre-reading skills.
  • Perfect for: Children who delight in identifying animals and reciting rhythmic, repetitive texts.

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
  • Genre(s): Alphabet Book, Rhyme
  • Synopsis: The letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh no - Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom!
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun and lively story that helps kids learn the alphabet in a memorable and rhythmic way.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are starting to learn their ABCs and enjoy vibrant, colorful illustrations.

• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
  • Genre(s): Bedtime Story, Classic
  • Synopsis: In this classic of children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, a young bunny goes through a bedtime ritual of saying "goodnight" to various objects in the room.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its gentle, rhythmic words and calming pictures make it an ideal bedtime read.
  • Perfect for: Kids who need a soothing story to help them wind down at bedtime.

• Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Family
  • Synopsis: Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare show their love for each other as they vie to measure their affection in ever more creative and quantifiable ways.
  • Why we recommend this book: It beautifully illustrates the boundless and tender love between parent and child.
  • Perfect for: Young children and parents looking for a heartwarming bedtime story to share.

• Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap Book, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: A child writes to the zoo asking them to send a pet. The zoo sends a series of unsuitable pets that are all sent back for different reasons, until they finally send the perfect pet.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its interactive lift-the-flap features engage young readers and keep them guessing what comes next.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy interactive reading and animals.

Educational Early Reading Books for 3-Year-Olds

• Peek-A Who? by Nina Laden
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Interactive
  • Synopsis: This simple, yet engaging book uses rhyming and predictable text coupled with cut-out windows that hint at what's to come next.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Visual perception, cause and effect, language development
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines playful mystery with cheerful illustrations, making it irresistible for little readers.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who love playing peek-a-boo and enjoy interactive guessing games.

• First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: A book filled with 100 essential words and colorful pictures to help children learn about the world around them.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Vocabulary building, object identification, language skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a great tool for helping young children expand their vocabulary and develop picture-word associations.
  • Perfect for: Youngsters starting to form their first words and parents who want to encourage early language skills.

• I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak, illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Family
  • Synopsis: A rhyming story that celebrates the unconditional love between a child and their parent.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional intelligence, vocabulary, parent-child bonding
  • Why we recommend this book: Its sweet, simple text and adorable illustrations perfectly capture the heartfelt emotions of love.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers and their parents, especially as a bedtime story to reinforce love and security.

• The Little Blue Box of Bright and Early Board Books by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Classics
  • Synopsis: This collection includes four titles: Hop on Pop, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!, Ten Apples Up On Top!, and The Shape of Me and Other Stuff.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Rhyming, counting, exploring shapes, creative thinking
  • Why we recommend this book: Dr. Seuss's playful language and imaginative concepts are great for engaging young minds.
  • Perfect for: Dr. Seuss fans and children who enjoy whimsical stories with educational themes.

• Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap Book, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: In this interactive book, children join the fun as Sally the dog searches for her mischievous little puppy, Spot, around the house.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Problem-solving, memory, and interactive play
  • Why we recommend this book: Its repetitive, playful text and flaps to lift make each page a delightful game of hide and seek.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love animals and enjoy interactive books where they can participate in the story.

Challenging Early Reading Books for 3-Year-Olds

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Rhyme
  • Synopsis: This beloved book features Sam-I-Am as he tries to convince a grumpy character to eat a plate of green eggs and ham.
  • Why this book is challenging: The use of simple vocabulary repeated in creative ways helps young readers develop phonemic awareness and decoding skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun, engaging way to introduce young readers to rhymes and repetitive patterns, which are crucial for early reading skills.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy playful language and silly concepts.

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
  • Genre(s): Classic, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: This story follows the mischievous Peter Rabbit as he sneaks into Mr. McGregor's garden, leading to a series of adventures and troubles.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative introduces more complex sentences and a richer vocabulary than typical for this age group.
  • Why we recommend this book: It captures the imaginations of young readers with its delightful narrative and beautiful illustrations, encouraging a love for storytelling.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy stories about animals and those beginning to engage with slightly more complex texts.

• Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
  • Genre(s): Classic, Adventure
  • Synopsis: Madeline is a brave, plucky girl living in a Paris boarding school. The book explores her adventures and the way she handles various challenges.
  • Why this book is challenging: It features themes of courage and resilience, presented through more sophisticated storytelling techniques.
  • Why we recommend this book: This book offers a glimpse into cultural and historical aspects of Parisian life, wrapped in engaging tales of a young girl's courage.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are ready for stories that explore a range of emotions and settings.

• Olivia by Ian Falconer
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Humor
  • Synopsis: Olivia is a feisty pig who has too much energy for her own good. She gets involved in various humorous situations through her imaginative and adventurous spirit.
  • Why this book is challenging: Olivia's adventures are presented in a sophisticated narrative structure with a rich vocabulary that challenges young minds.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a humorous and spirited book that encourages creativity and self-expression in children.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love to laugh and use their imagination, and who are ready for more complex sentences in their reading material.

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Adventure
  • Synopsis: This book captures the adventures of a young boy named Peter as he explores his neighborhood after the first snowfall.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces children to poetic concepts and a deeper level of narrative detail about exploring the world.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its beautiful illustrations and gentle storytelling invite children to explore and appreciate the simple joys of life.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy stories about exploration and experiencing the natural world.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're exploring early reading books with your 3-year-old, you're on a fantastic path. Reading at this age is all about making it fun and engaging. Below, I've outlined some simple exercises that can help your little one develop good reading habits early on. Let’s dive in!

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Flipping through the book and talking about the pictures before reading the text.
  • How it helps: Enhances prediction skills and sets a purpose for reading.
  • Tips: Ask your child to guess what the story might be about based on the pictures.

• Rhyme Time
  • What it is: Reading books with rhymes and emphasizing the rhyming words.
  • How it helps: Develops phonemic awareness which is crucial for learning to read.
  • Tips: Pause before a rhyming word and let your child fill it in.

• Story Retelling
  • What it is: Asking your child to retell the story in their own words after reading.
  • How it helps: Improves comprehension and memory skills.
  • Tips: Encourage the use of the book’s pictures as a guide for their retelling.

• Letter Hunt
  • What it is: Searching for specific letters or words on a page.
  • How it helps: Helps with letter recognition and familiarity with the alphabet.
  • Tips: Start with the first letter of your child’s name and then expand to other letters.

• Read and Repeat
  • What it is: Reading the same book multiple times.
  • How it helps: Reinforces language patterns and builds confidence in reading.
  • Tips: Try changing your tone or voice for different characters to keep it interesting.

• Interactive Reading
  • What it is: Encouraging your child to ask questions and make comments during reading.
  • How it helps: Engages critical thinking and interactive skills.
  • Tips: Show enthusiasm when responding to their questions and comments to encourage more.

Incorporating these exercises into your reading routine will not only make reading time more enjoyable but also more educational for your 3-year-old. Remember, the key is to keep it light and fun, so your little one always looks forward to exploring new books with you. Happy reading!