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

Are you on the lookout for the perfect nursery books for your 3-year-old? Finding the right books can be a game-changer in developing your little one's love for reading. Whether you're searching for bedtime stories or interactive reads that spark imagination, we've got you covered. In this blog, we'll explore a variety of nursery books for 3-year-olds that are sure to captivate and educate. Keep reading to discover our top picks that will delight your preschooler!

Fun Nursery Books for 3-Year-Olds

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book follows the journey of a hungry 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 young readers to counting, the days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly, all presented through charming illustrations and simple text.
  • 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): Pattern 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, asking each other what they see.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its repetitive, rhythmic text encourages language development and memorization, making it a fun and engaging read for little ones.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who delight in identifying animals and reciting along with the reader.

• 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: It has a soothing, rhythmic text that helps calm young readers before bedtime, making it a perfect nighttime read.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy a calming bedtime story and those establishing a bedtime routine.

• 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. Will there be enough room? Oh no - Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom!
  • Why we recommend this book: Its lively, rhythmic text and bold colorful illustrations make learning the alphabet fun and exciting.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are starting to learn the alphabet and enjoy rhythmic, energetic stories.

• 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 by measuring how far they can reach and how high they can hop.
  • Why we recommend this book: It beautifully illustrates the boundless nature of love between a parent and child and encourages affectionate interactions.
  • Perfect for: Young children and their parents or caregivers looking to share a warm, loving story.

Educational Nursery Books for 3-Year-Olds

• Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: In this engaging book, young readers are invited to join Sally as she searches for her missing puppy, Spot, by lifting flaps to look behind doors, inside closets, and under beds.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Problem-solving, object permanence, interactive reading
  • Why we recommend this book: It's interactive and playful, encouraging children to participate actively in the story, which enhances their cognitive skills.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers who love interactive reading and playing hide-and-seek.

• Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: A child writes to the zoo asking for 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.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Animal recognition, vocabulary, reasoning skills
  • Why we recommend this book: Its simple, repetitive text and engaging lift-the-flap features make it a favorite for young readers, encouraging them to guess and learn about different animals.
  • Perfect for: Young animal lovers and children who enjoy interactive books.

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: A mouse walks through the woods and encounters several dangerous animals (a fox, an owl, and a snake). To scare them away, the mouse invents a monster called the Gruffalo. But what happens when the Gruffalo actually appears?
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Creativity, strategic thinking, storytelling
  • Why we recommend this book: It features clever twists and delightful rhymes that capture the imagination of both children and adults.
  • Perfect for: Children who love stories with clever characters and a touch of suspense.

• We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
  • Genre(s): Adventure, Family
  • Synopsis: Join a family as they venture through swishy swashy grass, a splashy river, and oozy mud in search of a bear. What will they do when they actually find one?
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Sensory skills, sequence of events, courage and teamwork
  • Why we recommend this book: Its repetitive and rhythmic text along with the beautiful illustrations make it a captivating read that encourages participation and movement.
  • Perfect for: Young adventurers and families who enjoy acting out stories together.

• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: A kind witch invites various animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat. When danger strikes, will the new friends be able to save the witch?
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Teamwork, problem-solving, rhyming and phonetics
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes themes of friendship and cooperation, delivered through rhythmic text and lively illustrations.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy magical stories and learning about the value of helping others.

Challenging Nursery Books for 3-Year-Olds

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Rhyme
  • Synopsis: Sam-I-Am persistently follows a character to convince him to try green eggs and ham in various locations and with different company.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces new vocabulary through rhyme and repetition, making it a playful challenge for young readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: This book encourages children to try new things and demonstrates persistence, all wrapped up in engaging rhymes that help with word recognition.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who enjoy catchy rhymes and are learning to embrace new experiences.

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Classic
  • Synopsis: This story follows the mischievous Peter Rabbit as he sneaks into Mr. McGregor's garden, despite his mother's warnings, leading to a series of adventures and lessons learned.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative includes more complex sentences and a higher level of vocabulary than typical nursery books.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches moral lessons about the consequences of disobedience and the importance of prudence.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy stories with animal characters and a bit of suspense.

• Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Classic
  • Synopsis: Madeline is a brave, plucky girl living in a boarding school in Paris, known for her adventurous spirit and poise in the face of challenges.
  • Why this book is challenging: The book features rich language and cultural references that provide a more sophisticated reading experience.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a classic tale that celebrates courage and resilience, presented through charming illustrations and rhythmic text.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy stories of adventure and strong female characters.

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Realism
  • Synopsis: Peter, a young boy, explores his neighborhood after the first snowfall of the season, discovering the joy and wonder of a snowy day.
  • Why this book is challenging: It uses a simple yet profound narrative to explore themes of curiosity and discovery, with subtle lessons on weather and seasons.
  • Why we recommend this book: This book captures the magic of winter through the eyes of a child, encouraging exploration and appreciation of the small wonders in everyday life.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love exploring the outdoors and experiencing the joys of different seasons.

• Corduroy by Don Freeman
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Adventure
  • Synopsis: Corduroy, a teddy bear in a department store, goes on a nighttime adventure to find his missing button, hoping to find a home.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative builds emotional depth and character development, which are typically more complex for younger children to grasp.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches values of perseverance and hope, and the importance of a loving home, all through the adventures of a charming bear.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy heartfelt stories of friendship and adventure.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to nurture a love for reading in your 3-year-old, here are some fun and engaging exercises that are just perfect for their age. These activities are designed to help them develop good reading habits early on, which can set the foundation for lifelong learning and enjoyment of books. Let's dive in!

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Flipping through the book and talking about the pictures before reading.
  • 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.

• Story Prediction
  • What it is: Encourage your child to predict what will happen next in the story.
  • How it helps: Develops critical thinking and comprehension skills.
  • Tips: Pause at key moments in the story and ask what they think will happen next.

• Read Aloud Together
  • What it is: You read a book aloud while your child listens and follows along.
  • How it helps: Improves vocabulary and phonetic awareness.
  • Tips: Change your voice for different characters to make the reading more engaging.

• Character Play
  • What it is: Acting out scenes from the book with your child.
  • How it helps: Enhances understanding of the story and characters.
  • Tips: Use simple props or costumes to make the play more fun and realistic.

• Rhyme Time
  • What it is: Identifying rhyming words in the story or creating your own rhymes.
  • How it helps: Develops phonemic awareness and language skills.
  • Tips: Encourage your child to come up with as many rhyming words as possible, even silly ones!

• Story Mapping
  • What it is: Drawing a map or sequence of events from the story.
  • How it helps: Helps with understanding the structure of stories and sequence of events.
  • Tips: Keep the activity colorful and use stickers or markers to highlight different parts of the story.

• Book Selection
  • What it is: Allowing your child to choose which book to read.
  • How it helps: Encourages independence and interest in reading.
  • Tips: Guide them towards age-appropriate books but let them make the final choice.

Wrapping up, these exercises aren't just about reading; they're about making the world of books exciting and accessible to your little one. By incorporating these activities into your reading routine, you're not only helping your child develop essential literacy skills but also fostering a deep love for reading. Happy reading!