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Inside: Discover 20 lovely books for 2-4 year olds and enjoy them with your little readers!
Every year, at the beginning of June, I prepare a list of books to read with my children during the summer months.
This list makes it much easier for me to encourage reading and enjoy lovely stories with my kids throughout the summer.
We read together almost every day, and discovering new stories together is such a great way for us to connect and start conversations on all kinds of topics.
When choosing the books for our summer reading list, I always follow 3 simple rules:
- I make sure to include a variety of topics. I choose both books based on my kids’ interests and books that can inspire them to explore new topics.
- I try to select both funny, adventurous books and heartfelt, inspiring stories that can spark interesting conversations with the kids.
- I adjust our list throughout the summer based the feedback I receive from my kids. Sometimes we discover an author, a topic, or a series we love, and we replace some of the books on the list with new ones.
If you are looking for some lovely stories to read with your little ones this summer, I gathered here a list of books that are perfect for 2-4 year olds!
📚 At the end of the article, you’ll also find a printable list including all the books that you can download and use throughout the summer.
20 awesome books for 2-4 year olds
⭐ What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside (by Julia Donaldson) – an engaging rhyming adventure at the seaside
⭐ 100 Dogs: Playful Pups to Count (by Michael Whaite) – an award-winning book that combines fun rhymes with engaging illustrations
⭐ In My Heart: A Book of Feelings (by Jo Witek) – a wonderful book that celebrates all feelings and teaches kids about emotions
⭐ Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes (by James Dean) – a nice story with a fun sing along that keeps young kids engaged
⭐ Only One You (by Linda Kranz) – a beautiful story with a lovely message
⭐ Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book (by Britta Teckentrup) – an educational book with peekaboo holes that spark curiosity and teach kids about the seasons
⭐ The Rabbit Listened (by Cori Doerrfeld) – a heartwarming story about empathy and kindness
⭐ A Unicorn Named Sparkle (by Amy Young) – a funny, heartfelt story about a girl who learns to accept and love her imperfect unicorn
⭐ The Snail and the Whale (by Julia Donaldson) – an inspiring story about friendship with engaging rhyming text and beautiful illustrations
⭐ Llama Llama Misses Mama (by Anna Dewdney) – a story about Llama Llama’s first day of preschool that can help you start conversations with your kids about this important milestone in their lives
⭐ Good Night, Little Blue Truck (by Alice Schertle) – a lovely bedtime read for young kids
⭐ Strictly No Elephants (by Lisa Mantchev) – a best-selling book with a sweet story about the power of friendship
⭐ Max and Marla Are Having a Picnic (by Alexandra Boiger) – a cute story about friendship and the power of forgiveness
⭐ Press Here (by Herve Tullet) – an interactive book that takes kids on a magical journey as they follow the instructions on each page
⭐ Tap the Magic Tree (by Christie Matheson) – a lovely interactive book about a tree that goes through changes as seasons come and go
⭐ Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book (by Rod Campbell) – an interactive lift-the-flap book that is great for toddlers
⭐ Gossie (by Olivier Dunrea) – a lovely, engaging story for young readers with beautiful illustrations
⭐ Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (by Mo Willems) – a simple, silly story that invites the kids to get involved and answer to the pigeon who insists on driving the bus
⭐ How to Babysit a Grandpa (by Jean Reagan) – a funny, heartwarming story that celebrates the special bond between a little boy and his grandpa
⭐ Lola Plants a Garden (by Anna McQuinn) – a lovely book about a girl who decides to plant a garden with her mom
How to download the printable list
If you want to explore some of the books on this list with your kids, I created a printable list you can download and use throughout the summer.
This printable list is part of our exclusive resource library.
To access the library, click the link below and you’ll get the password for accessing the printable file (and many other printable resources for kids).
📚 Download the printable book list here
If you are already a member of the Playful Notes community, access the printable library here using the password you can find at the bottom of any of my emails.
⭐ You can also find a list of all these books on Amazon here.
I hope you and your kids will enjoy reading these books together!
