Library System Names 100 Best Books for Early Literacy

The Waseca-Le Sueur Regional Library System has created a list of the best 100 books to develop early literacy skills. We now have brochures available that list the books, all of which are stocked at our nine libraries. Research has shown that the early literacy skills that are the strongest and most consistent predictors of later literacy development include alphabet knowledge, awareness of the sounds in words, rapid naming of letters and objects, and writing letters. These books have been chosen for their ability to support these early literacy skills, the books’ quality, and because kids’ love them. We are so excited to share these books with our communities.

THE LIST:

Barnett, Mac Chloe and the Lion

Barnett, Mac Count the Monkeys

Becker, Bonny A Bedtime for Bear

Bee, William Digger Dog

Boynton, Sandra Moo, Baa, La La La

Brett, Jan The Mitten

Brown, Peter Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

Byrne, Richard This Book Just Ate My Dog

Carle, Eric The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Casanova, Mary One Dog Canoe

Christelow, Eileen Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Church, Caroline Ten Tiny Toes

Clements, Andrew Big Al

Cooney, Barbara Miss Rumphius

Crews, Donald Freight Train

Cronin, Doreen Click Clack Peep

Curato, Mike Little Elliot, Big City

Cutbill, Andy The Cow that Laid an Egg

Daywalt, Drew The Day the Crayons Quit

DePaola, Tomie Tomie’s Little Mother Goose

Dewdney, Anna Llama Llama Hoppity Hop

Dicmas, Courtney The Great Googly Moogly

Diesen, Deborah The Pout-Pout Fish

Fleming, Candace Muncha, Muncha, Muncha

Fleming, Candace Oh, No!

Folgueira, Rodrigo Ribbit

Fox, Mem Time for Bed

Fox, Mem Where Is the Green Sheep?

Fuge, Charles I Know a Rhino

Gelber, Lisa P Is for Peanut

Gibb, Sarah Rapunzel

Gibbs, Edward I Spy with My Little Eye

Gravett, Emily Monkey and Me

Haughton, Chris Oh No, George!

Helakoski, Leslie Big Chickens

Henkes, Kevin A Good Day

Hills, Tad Duck and Goose

Hodgkinson, Leigh Smile!

Hutchins, Pat Rosie’s Walk

Jarkins, Sheila Marco Flamingo

Judge, Lita Flight School

Kaplan, Michael Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake

Keats, Ezra Jack The Snowy Day

Kimmel, Eeric Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock

Kling, Kevin Big Little Brother

Kubler, Annie Five Little Ducks

Kubler, Annie Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

La Rochelle, David It’s a Tiger!

La Rochelle, David Moo!

Laden, Nina Peek-a-Zoo

Lester, Helen Tacky the Penguin

Litwin, Eric Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

Long, Lauren Otis

Martin, Bill Barn Dance

Martin, Bill Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Martin, Bill Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Massie, Diane Redfield The Baby Beebee Bird

McDonnell, Patrick Me . . . Jane

Most, Bernard The Cow That Went Oink

Munsch, Robert The Paper Bag Princess

Novak, B.J. The Book with No Pictures

Numeroff, Laura If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Oxenbury, Helen Clap Hands

Oxenbury, Helen We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Parr, Todd It’s Okay to Be Different

Patricelli, Leslie No No Yes Yes

Patricelli, Leslie Quiet Loud

Penn, Audrey The Kissing Hand

Pinkney, Jerry The Lion and the Mouse

Portis, Antoinette Froodle

Potter, Beatrix The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Priddy, Roger First 100 Animals

Raschka, Christopher A Ball for Daisy

Reynolds, Aaron Creepy Carrots!

Rinker, Sherri Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site

Risom, Ole I Am a Bunny

Root, Phyllis Flip Flap Fly

Rubin, Adam Dragons Love Tacos

Sakai, Komako Emily’s Balloon

Saltzbert, Barney Chengdu

Scanlon, Liz All the World

Scieszka, Jon The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

Sendak, Maurice Where the Wild Things Are

Seuss, Dr. Horton Hatches the Egg

Sierra, Judy Zoozical

Stanton, Brandon Little Humans

Steggall, Susan Red Car Red Bus

Stein, David Interrupting Chicken

Stower, Adam Silly Doggy

Thomas, Jan Can You Make a Scary Face?

Thompson, Lauren Little Quack

Tougas, Chris Dojo Daycare

Tullet, Herve Press Here

Waddell, Martin Owl Babies

Willems, Mo Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Willems, Mo Knuffle Bunny

Willems, Mo There Is a Bird on Your Head

Wood, Audrey Piggies

Wood, Don and Audrey King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub

Wood, Don and Audrey The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

 

Romp and Rhyme is funded by the Minnesota Department of Education through a Library Services and Technology Act [LS-00-15-0024-15] grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.