Books for 3 year olds
Books for 3 year olds can be wonderfully noisy, funny and full of things to spot. Rhythm, repetition, bold pictures and familiar worlds help children join in, whether the story is about animals, nursery, friendship, bedtime or big feelings. At this age, good books stretch vocabulary without making a meal of it. They invite children to guess what comes next, talk about the pictures, laugh at the silly bits and enjoy that cosy reading time with an adult. For more details about how these books were selected, please see our Children’s Favourites article which explains the survey process. This list features books by Julia Donaldson, Judith Kerr, David McKee, Anna Llenas, Tom Percival, Joseph Coelho, Atinuke, Jessica Love, Sue Hendra, and Pippa Goodhart.
Books for 3-year-olds: favourites chosen by educators working with 3-year-olds
In randomised order
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
When a quick-witted mouse walks through the deep dark wood, it turns each predator’s appetite against them by inventing a terrible creature, only to meet the scary Gruffalo for real! For children aged 3+, the rhyme, repetition and clever trickster structure make it a superb read-aloud, with just enough suspense to keep both nursery and Reception groups leaning in.
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
A witch’s broom becomes more crowded every time she rescues her dropped belongings, until a dog, a bird and a frog are flying with her and her cat. A lively and vibrantly illustrated choice, it balances generous friendship, quick thinking and a dramatic dragon encounter in a rhyming format that children quickly join in with.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
Sophie and her mother are sitting down to tea when a large, polite, but very hungry tiger arrives unexpectedly and eats and drinks his way through the house. Children aged 3+ enjoy the deliciously matter-of-fact storytelling, the domestic detail and the funny situational shock of an impossible visitor behaving as if he belongs.
Elmer by David McKee
A patchwork elephant lives among grey elephants and wonders what might happen if he looked the same as everyone else. For younger readers, the bright artwork and sensitive humour open up easy conversations about colour, difference and being yourself. Highly recommended.
The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas
Mixed-up feelings have left the Colour Monster confused, so a little girl helps sort happiness, sadness, anger, fear and calm into colours he can understand. The clear emotional structure works well for preschool children, giving early-years teachers a friendly way to name feelings and talk about difficult moods.
Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival
Ruby is happy being Ruby until a small Worry appears, then grows bigger and harder to ignore. A reassuring choice, this Big Bright Feelings story gives anxiety a visible shape and shows, carefully and clearly, why talking can help children to regulate their feelings.
Luna Loves Library Day by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Fiona Lumbers
Library day is special for Luna because it means shelves full of stories and time with her dad. In the first Luna Loves story, early readers can follow a warm-hearted picture-book visit where books spark magic, mystery and a chance for Luna and her dad to mend a little of their own history.
Anna Hibiscus’ Song by Atinuke, illustrated by Lauren Tobia
Anna Hibiscus is so full of happiness that she asks her family how to let it out, but every answer only seems to make the feeling grow. Perfect for children aged 3+, the story moves through her wider family before a quiet moment with her mother helps Anna turn joy into song. Highly recommended.
My Hair by Hannah Lee, illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan
A birthday outfit is not the only decision to make when the biggest question is how to style your hair. The evocative rhyming text celebrates Black hair through twists, braids, dreads, fades and natural styles, with a joyful sense of choice, family and self-expression.
Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
A subway journey with Nana becomes unforgettable when Julian sees three women dressed as mermaids and imagines becoming one himself. The spare text and expressive pictures leave space for children to notice his creativity, his nerves and Nana’s tender acceptance. Ideal for shared reading and discussion.
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman
A busy school day brings together children in patkas, hijabs, baseball caps and yarmulkes, learning and playing side by side. This inclusive rhyming picture book offers a bright classroom picture of belonging, family differences and the reminder that every child has a place.
What the Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Lydia Monks
Two robbers, Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len, plan to steal the farmer’s prize cow, but the quietest creature in the farmyard has heard every word. The laugh-out-loud animal sounds, rhyme and satisfying trick on the thieves make this a lively farm story with excellent join-in potential.
Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam by Tracey Corderoy, illustrated by Steven Lenton
Two robber dogs are not nearly as good at burglary as they think, and one bungled break-in leads Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam towards a much better career. A funny story for children aged 3+, it turns crime-caper chaos into cakes, second chances and a very memorable pair of canine bakers.
Supertato by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet
In the supermarket aisles, a superhero potato keeps watch when a very naughty pea is on the loose and causing trouble for the vegetables. The bold, funny setup is great for preschool readers, mixing comic-book energy with food-based wordplay and an easy-to-follow battle between hero and villain. Highly recommended.
You Choose by Pippa Goodhart, illustrated by Nick Sharratt
Page after page invites children to decide where they would live, what they would wear, where they would sleep, who their friends would be and what games they would play. A highly imaginative and brilliant shared-reading choice for children aged 3+, it builds vocabulary, conversation and storytelling from Nick Sharratt’s lively, bold and funny pictures.
The Same But Different Too by Karl Newson, illustrated by Kate Hindley
Children and animals compare big and small, gentle and rough, playful and quiet, before discovering that bedtime stories can bring everyone together. For 3-year-olds, the rhyming opposites and laugh-out-loud pictures make difference feel relatable, easy to discuss and easy to explore.
The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Ros Asquith
Families come in many shapes, from single parents and two-mum or two-dad families to mixed-race families, extended families and households with disabled members. This magnificent book offers a broad, friendly look at homes, food, celebrations, school, work, pets and family trees, with lots to discuss.
Peep Inside Animal Homes by Anna Milbourne, illustrated by Simona Dimitri
Flaps and peep-through holes take children inside nests, warrens, hives, dens and dams to see how different animals make their homes. A hands-on non-fiction choice, it gives early learners lots of accessible factual information to spark curiosity about habitats and the hidden lives of animals.
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Reading for three-year-olds resources for teachers
- The National Literacy Trust provides free practitioner guidance on helping young children build joyful early experiences of books, stories and reading in early years settings.
- Early Words Together from the National Literacy Trust supports the communication, language and early literacy of children aged 3-4 through family engagement, shared talk, songs, rhymes, books and story activities.
- BookTrust’s Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler/Nursery programme offers book packs, activities and early years resources to help settings encourage families to read and share stories together.
- The Department for Education’s Help for Early Years Providers site includes official EYFS guidance on using stories, songs, rhymes, signs, props and imaginative play to develop communication and language.
- The Education Endowment Foundation’s Beyond the Book resource explains how interactive reading can strengthen vocabulary and early language, with practical prompts for adults sharing books with young children.
- The EEF’s Preparing for Literacy guidance report gives evidence-informed recommendations for children aged 3-5, including shared reading, storytelling and explicit vocabulary development.
- Scottish Book Trust’s Bookbug Session guidelines explain how early years settings can run story, song and rhyme sessions that build links between nursery, home and family reading.
- Speech and Language UK offers clear advice on sharing books with young children, including using sounds, songs, repeated phrases, picture talk and child-led exploration.
- The Summer Reading Challenge Pre-School Zone from The Reading Agency encourages early reading for pleasure, with information for families, libraries and educators working with children before school.
- NHS Best Start in Life gives practical 3-5 language ideas, including storytelling, conversation, library visits and everyday talk to help children learn new words.
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