Best Books for 3 Year Old Children
The list of the top 10 books for 3 year olds introduces your child to a colorful world of wonder with plenty of animal friends to spare. Whether teaching your child about self-love via a frog who just does not want to be a frog, introducing the young one to the classic tale of a very hungry caterpillar, or learning what to do if you find your sandwiches missing from your picnic basket, this list makes encouraging a love of books easy and fun.
The top 10 books for 3 year olds provide younglings with the foundation they need to start kindergarten. Many children in the United States start school without the literary background they need for academic success–but fear not–your child does not have to be a statistic! Pick your favorites to read out loud with your little one and enjoy the clever wording and fun illustrations. This list offers a treasure trove to pick from so you child starts kindergarten with a head full of words and images….and an already-amazing imagination.
What’s here: This fantastic compilation of the ten best books for children 3 years of age was created by real moms and educators who enjoyed these books themselves or taught them in class. Numerous types and themes of books are included in the list to keep your youngin’ stimulated.
For shoppers: Purchasing any of these high-quality book options is easy–just visit Amazon! Please note that we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. Also, note that our recommendations are 100% made because we love the companies and products and are never influenced in any way by any commission we may receive.
Post Updated: April 9th, 2017
What’s Here:
1. What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss
2. First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
3. I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty
4. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
5. The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
6. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
7. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
8. Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
9. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
10. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Top 10 Best Books for 3 Year Olds:
1. What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss
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In the #1 spot of the top 10 books for 3 year olds in 2017 – What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss.
In this Dr. Seuss classic, a brother and sister visit a pet store, both seeking the perfect pet. They can only choose one, but these two siblings have different opinions on what makes the perfect pet. Quirky illustrations and rhymes!
The book takes this classic childhood moment and uses it to illuminate a life lesson: that it is hard to make up your mind, but sometimes you just have to do it!
My son was puzzled and concerned the first time we read the book – which pet did they choose? He asked me over and over. We had a great chat about what pet he thought they had chosen. Funnily enough every time we read it now he wonders the same thing, often coming up with different answers.
2. First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
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First 100 Words by Roger Priddy also makes it to a high spot among the best books for 3 year old kids this year.
When your little one has mastered the basics of “mama” and “dada,” this book helps expand their vocabulary. There are 100 words, all with accompanying illustrations or realistic, colorful photographs for picture/word association. The cover is padded for easier grip.
3. I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty
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Hitting third place on the list – I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty.
Frog is the unhappiest frog in the world—or, at least he thinks so. He hates being a frog…a slimy, green, hoppy frog. He wants to be anything else. However, when he meets a ravenous wolf that eats everything BUT frogs, this jumpy amphibian’s views of himself begin to change.
This story is hilarious and that little frog is charming and funny. Simplistic page text, that builds to the conclusion in a fun and silly genre, that is perfect for young children. The illustrations are perfection and the message is fortified with each page turn.
4. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
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The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin makes it to the 4th spot among the best books for three year olds this year.
As parents, we want to encourage our kiddos to reach for the stars. We want to create dreamers with big imaginations, but also the hard work and respect to turn those dreams into realities. This book is a quirky, colorful tale about little girls and boys destined for wonderful things.
It is beautifully written and illustrated. The story is sweet and simple and easy to read. There are both boys and girls depicted in the book, but it is a boy having the tea party, a boy using the sewing machine, a girl on the tree swing, and a girl as a superhero. That’s a great thing in this day and age and I am happy my son is learning about that in books at such a young age.
5. The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
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Marking its own spot at #5 among the top 3 year-old kids’ books for 2017 – The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach.
What would you do if you came back to a picnic to discover your sandwiches missing? You would ask your friend what happened, of course. In this story, that aforementioned picnic pal weaves an unbelievable tale about a hungry bear.
A bear finds a pick-up truck filled with berries, eats them all, then promptly falls asleep. He wakes up in the city, where he smells interesting smells, finds fun places to climb and play, and eventually discovers a sandwich that he eats. Caught in the act by a pack of dogs, he runs away, finds a boat, and makes the trip back to his forest home. On the last page, the reader discovers who has been telling the story, throwing an element of doubt into the whole tale.
6. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
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Next up on the list – The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
This book is a childhood favorite of mine that I have loved reading to my son over and over again. Author Eric Carle tells the tale of a very hungry caterpillar, one that eats heaps of delicious, colorful foods to grow plump. Eventually cocooning, he transforms into a beautiful butterfly.
This is a brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture book for youngster. It just captures my son’s attention immediately. The premise of using the life stages of a butterfly (from egg to caterpillar to cocoon to butterfly) to teach young kids about numbers and counting, colors, days of the week and even food.
7. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
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A returning favorite among books for three year olds – The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt also makes the “best of” list for 2017.
All Duncan wants to do is color and draw. Those are his favorite things—so much so that he uses his crayons every. single. day. One morning, he wakes up to discover his crayons are on strike. They are tired, worn out, and demanding. How can Duncan make them happy?
Drew Daywalt’s clever story of this box of crayons gone rogue will get the whole family laughing at the letters written by the occupants of the ubiquitous yellow and green box.
8. Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
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Hitting 8th of the top books for kids age 3 – Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin.
Another favorite that I read to my little one on a regular basis. This book is all about dragons. Ones who love tacos of all kinds…but some tacos equal blazing trouble for dragons. Namely tacos with delicious, dragon-luring, spicy salsa.
This is a silly book with great illustrations. I love that my older son and younger son can enjoy this together. They laugh out aloud and really get into this book. They really get a kick out of it.
9. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
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Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney is one of my personal favorites on this list. ????
If you ever played the “I love you,” “I love you more,” “I love you most,” game with your youngster, then this book is a must-read for you and your babe. In this story, Little Nutbrown Hare and his daddy share their love for one another in sweet, meaningful ways.
My sons love this book and compete all the time. It is great bedtime book and I find it really gets him into the relaxing and ready for bedtime routine. A great book, classic in our house.
10. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
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Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle is the final pick of 2017’s top ten list of books for 3 year old boys and girls.
Introducing…Blue! Adorable, reliable, and somewhat clunky, this trusty little pick-up truck is a friend-maker extraordinaire. This trait comes in handy when poor Blue gets stuck in the mud on a mucky, yucky, all-dirt road. His animal friends come to help.
This is a great book about helping others and getting together to be a great team. It is a cute book. My son loves the mud and can’t really focus on much else, but nonetheless I love the story and moral here so it is a go-to in our house.