Best Early Learning Books for 4 Year Olds

Here are the top 30 early learning books for 4 year olds. Please click Read Review to read book reviews on Amazon. You can also click Find in Library to check book availability at your local library. If the default library is not correct, please follow Change Library to reset it.

1. Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Book and Plush Gift Set

by: Sherri Duskey RinkerTom Lichtenheld
Release date: Aug 02, 2016
Number of Pages: 32
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The New York Times bestselling bedtime book (four years-and-counting!) is now available in mini format with a cute plush!

Snuggle up with a plush Excavator and this portable mini edition of the international bestseller.
As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they’ll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play! With irresistible artwork by bestselling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld and sweet, rhyming text, this book will have truck lovers of all ages begging for more.

This adorable plush + book gift set will be a bedtime favorite for construction-crazy kids everywhere. Love the story and need even more excitement? You and your little reader can CRUNCH, VROOM, BEEP, YAWN and SNORE along with Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site SOUND BOOK—also available!

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Sleep

2. One

by: Kathryn Otoshi
Release date: Oct 01, 2008
Number of Pages: 32
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Blue is a quiet color. Red’s a hothead who likes to pick on Blue. Yellow, Orange, Green, and Purple don’t like what they see, but what can they do? When no one speaks up, things get out of hand — until One comes along and shows all the colors how to stand up, stand together, and count. As budding young readers learn about numbers, counting, and primary and secondary colors, they also learn about accepting each other’s differences and how it sometimes just takes one voice to make everyone count.
tags:

Children’s Books

3. Wolf Story

by: William McCleeryWarren Chappell
Release date: Dec 01, 1988
Number of Pages: 88
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A young father tells his five-year-old son humorous variations on the theme of a hen escaping the clutches of a wily wolf.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Foxes & Wolves

4. Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors (Sidman, Joyce)

by: Joyce SidmanPamela Zagarenski
Release date: Apr 06, 2009
Number of Pages: 32
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With original and spot-on perceptions, Joyce Sidman’s poetry brings the colors of the seasons to life in a fresh light, combining the senses of sight, sound, smell and taste. In this Caldecott Honor book, illustrator Pam Zagarenski’s interpretations go beyond the concrete, allowing us to not just see color, but feel it.

tags:

Children’s Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature

5. Hubert’s Hair Raising Adventure (Sandpiper Books)

by: Bill Peet
Release date: Sep 19, 1979
Number of Pages: 40
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Hubert the lion, terribly vain about his beautiful mane, tries everything to make it grow back after it goes up in smoke.
tags:

Children’s Books > Humor

6. Where’s My Sweetie Pie?

by: Ed Emberley
Release date: Jan 01, 2010
Number of Pages: 14
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I’ve looked low,
I’ve looked high, but…
Where’s my sweetie pie?

Little ones will love listening and playing along with this adorable lift-the-flap book from beloved Caldecott Award-winning author/illustrator, Ed Emberley. Featuring a heart-shaped die-cut on the front cover and seven fun lift-the-flaps inside, this interactive board book shows a variety of cuddly critters hiding in all different places-but there’s no sweetie pie to be found! The anticipation of what’s hiding on the next page will keep kids guessing and giggling all the way to the surprise ending-when a double lift-the-flap reveals a heart-shaped mirror and shows who the real sweetie pie is!

tags:

Children’s Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Valentine’s Day

7. Now One Foot, Now the Other (Sandcastle)

by: Tomie dePaola
Release date: Nov 15, 1991
Number of Pages: 32
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When his grandfather suffers a stroke, Bobby teaches him to walk, just as his grandfather had once taught him.
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Multigenerational

8. Mama Mama (Growing Tree)

by: Jean MarzolloLaura Regan
Release date: Sep 08, 1999
Number of Pages: 16
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MAMA MAMA
For babies just entering the world,
this comforting poem affirms the
special bond between mothers
and babies everywhere.

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals

9. Justice For All

by: Mary Wright
Release date: Nov 01, 2004
Number of Pages: 177
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This book is engineered to challenge the young readers while engulfing readers of all ages. Each reader, allowing their mind to walk barefoot from the first page through the last, will gain a refreshing zest for life.
tags:

Children’s Books

10. Mr. How Do You Do Learns to Pray: Teaching Children the Joy and Simplicity of Prayer (The Mr. How Do You Do series)

by: Kelly JohnsonJan Hamilton
Release date: Sep 01, 2015
Number of Pages: 32
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In Book 1 of the Mr. How Do You Do series, travel with Mr. How Do You Do as he asks:

  • Is God too high above to hear me?
  • Does He care what I have to say?
  • Does He want to speak to me?

Watch how his simple prayer: “Oh, dear Jesus, teach me to pray . . .” takes him on an incredible journey with his feathered friend Ruby Robin. Through beautiful illustrations and childlike communication, Mr. How Do You Do teaches children (and adults alike) that prayer is just as easy as a conversation with a friend. We serve a living God who wants to hear from us and communicate to us every day. If you’ve ever wondered how to communicate the importance and power of prayer to your child, Mr. How Do You Do Learns to Pray is a great resource to help you do just that.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kelly Johnson is a lover of Jesus. She’s convinced that as children (of all ages) encounter His love and His character-in a relational way-their lives will be forever changed. Mr. How Do You Do is a whimsical, joy-filled teacher. Her prayer is that through his stories, many will learn invaluable life lessons and experience lavish love and boundless joy!

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: Jan Hamilton is grateful for the opportunity and gift of art the Lord has provided, allowing her to be a part of the Mr. How Do You Do series. “He is the author and finisher of our faith. Everything I am and have is a gift from Him.”

tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Religious Fiction > Christian

11. Curious George and the Ice Cream Surprise

by: H. A. Rey
Release date: May 02, 2011
Number of Pages: 24
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George is looking for a way to beat the summer heat. Swimming, running through sprinklers, a glass of lemonade—none can help George cool off! What George really wants is a sweet, cold treat from the ice cream truck, but will he ever catch it?

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Apes & Monkeys

12. Who Hops?

by: Katie Davis
Release date: Sep 01, 1998
Number of Pages: 40
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Frogs hop. Rabbits hop. Kangaroos hop. Cows hop. Cows hop?! No they don’t, of course, and so begins the simple repetitive pattern of this clever book. From the cow that doesn’t hop to the giraffe that doesn’t crawl, animals on brightly colored page after page offer up giggles galore and a delightfully silly look at the way some creatures do–and don’t–get around. When the time comes to guess who hops and flies and slithers and swims and crawls, observant young readers just might know the answer!
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals

13. Busy Chickens (A Busy Book)

by: John SchindelSteven Holt
Release date: Mar 01, 2009
Number of Pages: 20
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Hens, roosters, and chicks take center stage in the latest addition to the Busy Book series. Through gorgeous color photographs children will recognize chickens–both familiar and spectacularly fancy–busy performing actions like squawking, perching, leaping, and more.Reviews“Those who don’t love chickens need not apply. This full color photographic board book is all about barnyard birds in action: “cheeping,” and “leaping”; “caring” for their eggs; as well as chickens with elaborate mohawks and an interest in taking naps. For those who wish to move beyond the coop, a series of other “Busy” beasts are available.” —Publishers Weekly
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Birds

14. Love Is a Special Way of Feeling

by: Joan Walsh Anglund
Release date: Oct 04, 1999
Number of Pages: 32
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Available again to celebrate Joan Walsh Anglund’s best loved books for children and adults.
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Emotions & Feelings

15. Such a Silly Baby!

by: Steffanie LorigRichard LorigAmanda Shepherd
Release date: Dec 20, 2007
Number of Pages: 36
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Bursting with bright illustrations and a rollicking text, this boisterous book invites readers to hoot, neigh, snort, and giggle along with a very silly baby.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals

16. Alphabetics: An Aesthetically Awesome Alliterated Alphabet Anthology

by: Patrick ConcepcionTraci Concepcion
Release date: Sep 12, 2014
Number of Pages: 64
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From Atticus, the altruistic astronaut, to Zooey, the zonked zombie, this book revamps the ABCs. C is for Cat? D is for dog? Not in this book! Here, Colossal Cornelius captures his companions with his camera and Daisy the diver dares a death-defying dip with dinosaurs. In Alphabetics, each of the alphabet’s twenty-six letters is depicted with an awesome alliteration–not to mention an illuminating illustration–that will captivate and stimulate young minds. Although the lettered tales are meant to be humorous and fun, they also serve a commendable purpose. Complex words are introduced to expand children’s vocabularies and linguistic horizons. The book includes a glossary so that readers can look up any terms that are unfamiliar to them.
tags:

Children’s Books > Early Learning > Basic Concepts > Alphabet

17. Bebé Goes Shopping

by: Susan Middleton ElyaSteven Salerno
Release date: Apr 01, 2008
Number of Pages: 36
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A quick trip to the supermercado? Not with Bebe in the shopping cart. Just as Mama is ready to throw up her manos, she gives sweet Bebe a box of animal cookies. A dulce, at last! Then they’re off to the checkout line, smiling all the way.
    
Includes a glossary of Spanish words.
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > New Experiences

18. The Grand and Glorious Cupcake

by: Brenna Nikalee RathLona Powell
Release date: May 05, 2015
Number of Pages: 44
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A child’s desire for cupcakes, the love of her mother, and the art of cupcake decorating. There’s nothing that captures the joy of childhood like sharing a cupcake. This sweetly illustrated children’s book guides color identification and counting. Includes a bonus vegan cupcake recipe!
tags:

Children’s Books

19. The Journey Home From Grandpa’s (A Barefoot Singalong)

by: Jemima LumleySophie Fatus
Release date: Jul 01, 2011
Number of Pages: 24
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Hop in the yellow car and look for all the other forms of transportation on the way home from Grandpa s. A beautiful, double-page spread at the end features all of the colors and modes of transportation from the story. Includes a dual-purpose audio and video CD to listen to the singalong on a CD player or listen and watch the video animation on a Mac or PC.
tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Stories In Verse

20. Eloise Ready-to-Read Value Pack: Eloise’s Summer Vacation; Eloise at the Wedding; Eloise and the Very Secret Room; Eloise Visits the Zoo; Eloise Throws a Party!; Eloise’s Pirate Adventure

by: Kay ThompsonHilary Knight
Release date: Jan 03, 2012
Number of Pages: 192
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Fans of Eloise will love this value pack of six Ready-to-Read stories for the price of four! For an added bonus, take a peek inside for tips to help your child become a reading star!

Emerging readers will love coming along with Eloise on six of her amazing tales. From a wedding day escapade to a trip to the zoo, every moment is an adventure with Eloise. Plus, check the inside of the packaging for a bonus set of tips to help your reading star soar to new heights. Included in this Ready-to-Read value pack are:

Eloise at the Wedding
Eloise’s Summer Vacation
Eloise and the Very Secret Room
Eloise Visits the Zoo
Eloise Throws a Party!
Eloise’s Pirate Adventure

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Girls & Women

21. Elusive Moose

by: Joan GannijClare Beaton
Release date: Sep 01, 2007
Number of Pages: 24
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Travel to the northern lands to search for the elusive moose hidden in every scene of this charming book. You’ll learn about the animals and the changing seasons in no time with the informative notes at the end.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals

22. Letter Sounds (Rock ‘n Learn)

by: Rock ‘n Learn
Release date: May 01, 1993
Number of Pages: 32
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Fun music and engaging activities help kids learn to read. After a quick review of the alphabet, young learners discover the most common sound each letter makes. Next, excitement builds as kids race the clock to say letter sounds before hearing the answers. After identifying sounds heard in silly sentences, children combine letters to make words. Finally, they read stories composed of short sentences. Approximately 51 minutes. Ages 47.
tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction

23. Presiona Aqui (Press Here Spanish language edition) (Spanish Edition)

by: Herve Tullet
Release date: Jul 25, 2012
Number of Pages: 56
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Press Here, the irrepressible New York Times bestseller, is now available in a Spanish language edition. With four starred reviews, a long-running spot as a New York Times bestseller, and appearances on almost every major “Best of Year” list, this remarkable book has won ardent fans everywhere with its simple but irresistible conceit: PRESS HERE on the yellow dot and watch the magic happen! Proving that the power of imagination trumps all technology and sophisticated language, this book’s compelling interactivity makes it perfect to read (and play!) in the multilingual home or classroom.
tags:

Children’s Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Language Learning > Spanish

24. There Once Was a Puffin

by: Florence Page JaquesLaura McGee Kvasnosky
Release date: Oct 27, 2002
Number of Pages: 24
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Boldly colored pictures complement a rollicking story in rhyme about a little puffin whose fondness for fishes (he has them for supper and tea) sets the stage for an unusual friendship.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Marine Life

25. Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color

by: Julia DenosJulia Denos
Release date: Mar 15, 2016
Number of Pages: 40
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A vibrant picture book featuring an irrepressible new character—perfect for fans of The Dot and Beautiful Oops!—from acclaimed illustrator Julia Denos. 

In a place where color ran wild, there lived a girl who was wilder still. Her name was Swatch, and color was her passion. From brave green to in-between gray to rumble-tumble pink . . . Swatch wanted to collect them all. But colors don’t always like to be tamed. . . .

This is an exuberant celebration of all the beauty and color that make up our lives.

tags:

Children’s Books > Arts, Music & Photography > Art

26. Counting Our Way to Maine

by: Maggie Smith
Release date: Mar 03, 2015
Number of Pages: 32
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First published in 1995 by Orchard Books, this book takes one baby, two dogs, and three bicycles on a journey from the big city to Maine’s seacoast. Objects packed for the trip and things seen along the way are all happily counted, finishing in a shining finale as the family tallies 20 fireflies found during their last evening in Maine. In this enhanced edition, enjoy read-along and fun animations that bring attention to the items meant to be counted and bring the story to life along the way!
tags:

Children’s Books > Geography & Cultures > Explore the World > United States

27. My Birthday, Jesus’ Birthday

by: Holly DavisNancy Munger Anderson
Release date: Oct 01, 1998
Number of Pages: 16
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All children love birthdays — and all children love Christmas. My Birthday, Jesus’ Birthday helps them understand both days even more. With simple words and colorful illustrations, this book shows children how Jesus’ birth was like their own — and very different. And it affirms to each child that he or she is someone special to Mom, to Dad, and to God.
tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Religious Fiction > Christian

28. Ocean Creatures Jigsaw Book

by: Lee Krutop
Release date: Jun 30, 2004
Number of Pages: 12
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Kids love piecing together these five colorful jigsaw puzzles while reading fascinating facts about the creatures of the sea. Lee Krutop’s stunning images of the sea creatures of the world include the dazzling inhabitants of tropical reefs, the polar bears of the arctic, and the legendary sharks, squid, and stingrays of the inky-black deep. Each illustration is explained by informative text, making this board book as educational as it is entertaining.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Marine Life

29. Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes

by: Roseanne ThongJohn Parra
Release date: Aug 04, 2015
Number of Pages: 40
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In this lively picture book, children discover shapes all around them: rectangles are ice-cream carts and stone metates, while triangles are slices of watermelon and quesadillas. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this playful concept book will reinforce the shapes found in every child’s day!
tags:

Children’s Books > Geography & Cultures > Multicultural Stories > Hispanic & Latino

30. Go Go Mazes 4-6 (Gakken Workbooks)

by: Gakken
Release date: May 01, 2016
Number of Pages: 70
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The Go Go Series puts the emphasis on fun?so much so that children have no idea that they’re building important skills while they trace lines and shapes, cut and paste objects, solve mazes, create crafts, and tackle other simple, enjoyable activities. While they are playing, they are also:

??improving their hand-eye coordination

??building find motor skill

??learning how to follow increasingly challenging sequential directions

??sorting and matching things by shape or color

??enhancing their observational skills

??boosting their creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving skills

??acquiring and reinforcing healthy life habits

Every title includes Activity Stickers, Reward Stickers, and a Write-on/Wipe-off Game Board for more interactive learning.

??Reward Stickers: Let your child apply the reward stickers to each page when he or she is finished. Also, make sure to give plenty of praise! This is important for building confidence.

??Active Stickers: By using stickers to help make and complete the pages, your child’s creativity and imagination will be ignited.

??Write-on/Wipe-off Game Board: Crayons and whiteboard markers can be erased with a tissue. You can try it as many times, in as many ways as you like.

tags:

Children’s Books > Activities, Crafts & Games > Activity Books

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Last updated: Monday, December 5, 2016 3:32 AM