Recommended Books

Our library of recommended books for children ages two through five has been carefully selected by literacy experts in the field.  These are simply suggestions.  All listed books may not be appropriate for all classrooms.  Please consider the needs and ages of the children you read to when making your book selections.  Children love being read books that you enjoy.  Pick books that you remember.  Books with big pictures, repetition, rhyme, and surprise are always great hits.

• Click the link below for the 2012 American Library Association Notable Books:  http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb
• Click here to see a list of recommended books from our Experienced Readers.
• Click here for Ready Readers Suggested Read-Aloud Books
• In addition to our list, Ready Readers has opened an Amazon store.  Click here to visit our store. Browse our Amazon store for favorite books, descriptions, reviews, etc.  If you choose to buy a book, Ready Readers receives a percentage of the sale.
• Browse your local library’s website or talk with your local children’s librarian or bookseller about great read-aloud suggestions.

• The St. Louis County Library website: http://www.slcl.org/
• The St. Louis Public Library website: http://www.slpl.org/

• Pat Simons, the founder of Ready Readers, has also compiled a list of her favorite best read-aloud preschool books for children.  Download this invaluable list here.

• Additional high-quality read-aloud book lists are included in the following:

• The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
• Reading Together:  Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read by Diane Frankenstein
• Reading Magic:  Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox
• Black Books Galore!:  Guide to Great African American Children’s Books by Donna Rand, Toni Trent Parker, and Sheila Foster

• Every year, 85 St. Louis College of Pharmacy students read weekly for Ready Readers.  Dr. Theresa Prosser and Dr. Amy Tiemeier of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy along with Ready Readers Executive Director, Lisa Greening, wrote eight health units including great read-aloud suggestions and activities.  For a copy of these units that include a list books and activities about sleep, brushing your teeth, exercise, your body, nutrition, taking care of me, and feelings, download the Preschool Health Literacy Units.
• During the summer of 2011, thirteen (13) high school interns in the PALS (Pet Advocate Leaders) program at Nestle Purina Petcare volunteered and read weekly to preschool-age children at Kingdom House, Meramec Head Start, North Spring Head Start, Central Catholic, and Carondelet Head Start.  The interns read 3 books a week about dogs and cats, sang songs including “Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone,” and taught the children how to approach animals, pet them, and take care of them.  This six week “Dog and Cat Read-Aloud Preschool Curriculum” written by Ready Readers Executive Director, Lisa Greening, is available by clicking here.