10+ Best Early Reading Books for 4-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the lookout for the perfect early reading books for 4-year-olds? Finding the right books to spark your little one's imagination and reading skills can be a delightful adventure. In this blog, we'll explore a variety of early reading books tailored specifically for 4-year-olds, each designed to entertain and educate. Keep reading to discover our handpicked selections that are sure to captivate your budding reader!

Fun Early Reading Books for 4-Year-Olds

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This beautifully illustrated book follows a caterpillar as it eats its way through a variety of foods before finally transforming into a butterfly.
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces concepts of counting, the days of the week, and life cycles in a simple, 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, Rhyming Book
  • Synopsis: A teacher and various colorful animals including a brown bear, a red bird, and a goldfish are asked what they see, introducing children to different colors and animals.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its rhythmic, repetitive text helps build language skills and memorization.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who are just starting to recognize colors and animals.

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
  • Genre(s): Alphabet Book, Rhyming Book
  • Synopsis: The letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree and then tumble down, providing a lively way to learn the ABCs.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun, rhythmic story that makes learning the alphabet exciting and memorable.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are learning their ABCs and enjoy playful stories.

• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
  • Genre(s): Bedtime Story, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: In a great green room, a young rabbit says goodnight to all the familiar things around him.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its gentle, calming rhythm makes it a perfect bedtime read that helps establish a nighttime routine.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy soothing stories before bedtime.

• Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap Book, Adventure
  • Synopsis: Sally searches for her missing puppy, Spot, around the house, with flaps that lift to reveal other animals hiding in unlikely places.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages interaction and participation, which can help develop motor skills and curiosity.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love interactive reading and playful surprises.

Educational Early Reading Books for 4-Year-Olds

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Rhyming Book
  • Synopsis: Sam-I-Am persistently follows the protagonist, trying to convince him to try green eggs and ham in various locations with different companions.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Rhyming skills, vocabulary expansion, trying new things
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun, engaging book that uses rhyme and repetition to help early readers develop phonemic awareness and reading fluency.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are beginning to read and enjoy playful, repetitive text.

• Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Bedtime Story
  • Synopsis: Little Llama experiences bedtime fears and learns how to handle them with his mama's reassurance.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional regulation, bedtime routines, parent-child bonding
  • Why we recommend this book: It addresses common bedtime fears and anxieties in a way that is comforting and relatable for young children.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who face difficulties at bedtime or experience separation anxiety.

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A young boy named Peter explores his neighborhood after the first snowfall of the season.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Observation skills, exploration, experiencing and appreciating the natural world
  • Why we recommend this book: It captures the magic and boundless possibilities of a snowy day through the eyes of a child, encouraging exploration and curiosity.
  • Perfect for: Children who love snow days and adventures.

• Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Family
  • Synopsis: Little Nutbrown Hare shows his daddy how much he loves him as they prepare for bedtime.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional expression, family bonding
  • Why we recommend this book: It beautifully illustrates the tender relationship between parent and child, with a sweet message about the immeasurable nature of love.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy heartwarming stories and spending time with family.

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Animal Story
  • Synopsis: This classic tale follows the mischievous adventures of Peter Rabbit as he gets into trouble in Mr. McGregor's garden.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Consequences of actions, problem-solving, adventure storytelling
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches moral lessons through the exciting and sometimes perilous adventures of Peter, engaging children's imaginations and teaching them about caution and curiosity.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy stories about animals and playful mischief.

Challenging Early Reading Books for 4-Year-Olds

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: A clever mouse uses the myth of a terrifying creature called the Gruffalo to fend off predators, only to encounter the real Gruffalo in the woods.
  • Why this book is challenging: The book introduces elements of strategic thinking and problem-solving that are more complex than typical stories for this age group.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages creativity and quick thinking, showcasing how intelligence can overcome might.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love engaging stories with a twist and learning about cunning and cleverness.

• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Rhyming Book, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: A kind witch invites various animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat, leading to an adventure involving a dragon.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative structure and rhyming schemes are intricate, promoting phonemic awareness and memorization in a more advanced context.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches themes of friendship and cooperation through an engaging, rhythmic tale.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who enjoy stories about teamwork and magical adventures.

• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Environmental
  • Synopsis: The Lorax speaks for the trees against the greedy Once-ler in a tale that explores the consequences of environmental exploitation.
  • Why this book is challenging: It deals with complex themes like environmental conservation and industrial greed, which are usually not explored in early childhood literature.
  • Why we recommend this book: It raises awareness about environmental issues in a way that is accessible and impactful for young readers.
  • Perfect for: Children who are curious about nature and learning the importance of taking care of the environment.

• Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Imagination
  • Synopsis: A rabbit shows the reader that a simple box is not just a box but a vehicle for imaginative play and endless possibilities.
  • Why this book is challenging: The minimalistic presentation and abstract concept challenge young readers to use their imagination to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes creativity and imaginative play, essential skills for cognitive development.
  • Perfect for: Young thinkers and dreamers who love to invent and imagine.

• Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Animal Story
  • Synopsis: After being separated from her mother, a young fruit bat named Stellaluna tries to fit in with a family of birds she meets.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the celebration of differences, which are profound and thought-provoking.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches important lessons about diversity and acceptance through the touching story of Stellaluna.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy animal stories and learning about acceptance and friendship.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! Are you looking to make reading a fun and engaging activity for your 4-year-old? Here are some simple exercises that can help develop their reading habits early on. Each exercise is designed to be enjoyable and beneficial for young readers.

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Flip through the pages of a book, looking at the pictures and discussing what might be happening.
  • How it helps: Enhances prediction skills and sets the stage for understanding the story.
  • Tips: Ask open-ended questions about the pictures to encourage your child to think and express their ideas.

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

• Alphabet Soup
  • What it is: Together, look for letters or words that start with each letter of the alphabet in a book.
  • How it helps: Helps with letter recognition and understanding the connection between letters and sounds.
  • Tips: Make this a playful activity by using funny voices or creating a small reward system for each letter found.

• Story Sequencing
  • What it is: After reading a story, ask your child to retell the story in their own words.
  • How it helps: Improves comprehension and memory skills.
  • Tips: Use story cards or pictures as cues to help them remember and sequence the story events.

• Read and Repeat
  • What it is: Read a short sentence and have your child repeat it after you.
  • How it helps: Builds vocabulary and helps in understanding sentence structure.
  • Tips: Keep sentences short and simple to match your child's attention span and understanding.

• Match the Word
  • What it is: Write down simple words from the book on separate cards and ask your child to match them with words in the book.
  • How it helps: Reinforces word recognition and spelling.
  • Tips: Start with two to three words and gradually increase as your child becomes more comfortable with the activity.

Remember, the key to helping your 4-year-old develop good reading habits is to keep the activities light, fun, and regular. Try to incorporate these exercises into your daily reading routine and watch your little one grow into a happy and confident reader! Happy reading!