Picture books are, of course, a necessity for preschoolers. While they should fill the bookshelves of homes and classrooms, they should share shelf space with simple chapter books. Because chapter books are read aloud over the course of many days and have less extensive illustrations than picture books, they help young children develop listening skills, understand characterization, recall complex narratives, and imagine details.
No one suggests reading Jane Eyre – or even Harry Potter – to a group of four year-olds. To sustain young children’s interest, book choice is important. For a child’s or a preschool class’s introduction to longer narratives, choose books with short, self-contained chapters and frequent illustrations.
Starter Chapter Books for Preschoolers
Chapter books in which each chapter is actually a separate short story are the perfect place to start. Children are not required to remember plot points from session to session, but learn to expect the main characters to behave in predictable ways. In addition, these books usually have illustrations at least on every other page, so they are not a huge jump away from the visual aspect of picture books.
Frog and Toad Are Friends
by Arnold Lobel
[Harper Collins, 1979, ISBN 0064440206]
Preschoolers are universally enchanted by these tales of mismatched buddies – lovable grump Toad and his optimist pal, Frog. The two share friendship and perfectly child-sized adventures – searching for a lost button, getting over embarrassment, and waiting for mail, for example. While the words are simple, the stories are complex enough to generate teachable discussions among children and adults about perseverance, procrastination, and the nature of friendship.
The author of Frog and Toad Are Friends, Arnold Lobel, excelled at this type of “bridge” book for preschoolers. There are three other books in the Frog and Toad series (a Newberry Honor award and a Caldecott winner among them) and additional Lobel collections, such as Mouse Tales and Owl at Home, for children who enjoy the first Frog and Toad book.
Tales of Oliver Pig
by Jean Van Leeuwen
[Puffin, 1993, ISBN 0140365494]
Arnold Lobel illustrated this collection of stories about Oliver Pig and his family. Preschoolers will be familiar with Oliver’s adventures – baking with grandparents, playing hide and seek with his father, and learning how to deal with (and love) a younger sibling. The stories all focus on the home and interpersonal relationships. There are several more books in the Oliver Pig series, and the baby sister, Amanda Pig, also has her own series.
Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers
by Cynthia Rylant
[Simon Spotlight, 1999, ISBN 0689825250]
Unlike the previous two examples, the books in the Henry and Mudge series tell a single story spread over three or four chapters. However, they contain vivid illustrations on every two page spread and are often short enough to be read in a single session. In The Sneaky Crackers, Henry and his dog, Mudge, use a spy kit to roam the neighborhood in search of clues. Rylant includes details, like Mudge drooling on a magnifying glass or chewing a rock, that endear the large dog to young children.
Ready to Listen to “Real” Chapter Books
When children are ready for “real” chapter books with more words, less pictures, and a single story with subplots that takes days or even weeks to tell, look for books with short chapters and themes appropriate to preschoolers.
Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon
by Ruth Stiles Gannett
[Random House, 1997, ISBN 0679889116]
Originally published in the 1940’s, this anthology tells the adventures of Elmer Elevator and his dragon friend. In the first story, “My Father’s Dragon,” Elmer sets off to free a dragon, armed only with items common to any preschooler’s junk drawer – a lollipop, chewing gum, a rubber band, etc. The story contains humor, adventure, and just enough action to keep little ones interested, but not scared. The other two books in the anthology, “Elmer and the Dragon,” and “The Dragons of Blueland,” further the adventures as Elmer and the Dragon travel home and Elmer meets the dragon’s family.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
by Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater
[Little, Brown, 2011, ISBN 0316186465]
Despite the photo of Jim Carrey (from the movie version of the book) on the cover, the interior illustrations remain Robert Lawson’s originals. They perfectly complement this simple story of a house painter and dreamer who receives a penguin as a gift. When that one penguin turns into ten, Mr. Popper and his family adapt their household to accommodate their new “pets.” There is very little conflict in the book – just absurd happenings and creative additions (installing an ice rink in the basement) that preschoolers will find memorable.
There are many more chapter books appropriate for preschoolers than the ones highlighted here. Once they have been introduced to the pleasures of listening to extended narratives, children will find their own favorite authors, characters, and stories.
Nicole Fravel - Ms. Fravel is an educator, curriculum developer, and parent with over 15 years of experience in elementary and early childhood ...
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