Check out some of the best picture books to read aloud with your kids, on and off Epic!
What makes a great picture book to read aloud? Eye-catching illustrations, lively text, silly voices, timeless tales. These books have it all! Reading aloud is a great, interactive way to spend quality time with your child while instilling a love of reading that could last a lifetime.
So we rounded out these great read-aloud books to get you started, loved by generations of children and grownups alike. From rhyming children’s books for little ones to early chapter books, check out just a handful of the best picture books to read aloud below.
Best Picture Books to Read Aloud on Epic
Pete the Cat: A Pet for Pete
By: James Dean
Ages: 2-7
In this installment of the popular Pete the Cat series, Pete can’t wait to get his first pet. He visits the pet store and gets a goldfish, which he names Goldie. He then paints a cool painting of Goldie, and everyone wants one on their own! The problem is, Pete has homework to do and doesn’t have time to make them.
This beginning reader is a great conversation starter about balancing fun and responsibility for young kids.
Leo: A Ghost Story
Written by: Mac Barnett
Illustrated by: Christian Robinson
Ages: 3-5
Leo is a pretty cool guy. He likes to draw, read books and do other things ordinary kids like to do. But unlike ordinary kids, Leo’s a ghost. Most people can’t see him, and his good intentions are often misunderstood by those he encounters (including the new family that moves into his house). So one day, he decides he’s been a “house ghost” long enough and sets out to see the world as a “roaming ghost.” Along the way he befriends a young girl named Jane, and the two set off on a day of imaginative fun.
This sweet, light-hearted tale will show your kid the value of friendship and that it’s okay to be different (even if you’re a ghost).
Harold’s Fairy Tale (Audiobook)
By: Crockett Johnson
Ages: 3-6
Many of us remember little Harold and his enormous purple crayon from the treasured classic, “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” Now he’s back to (literally) draw us into a new adventure. This time he uses his purple crayon to create a bedtime fairy tale, where he encounters an enchanted garden, castles, fairies, flying carpets and more. This gentle audiobook is perfect for lulling little ones to sleep at nap time or before bedtime.
Rosie Revere, Engineer
Written by: Andrea Beaty
Illustrated by: David Roberts
Ages: 3-7
Rosie dreams of becoming a great engineer. Where others see garbage, she sees inspiration. Quiet and shy during the day, she builds amazing inventions by night, like dog dispensers and python-repelling cheese hats. But she’s afraid her creations will all fail, so she keeps them hidden and out of sight. But after a visit from great-great-aunt Rose (Rosie the Riveter), she sees that the only way to truly fail is to stop trying.
This beloved New York Times bestseller is a great way to encourage your kid to pursue their passions and embrace failure as a necessary step toward achieving their dreams..
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What do You See?
Written by: Bill Martin Jr.
Illustrated by: Eric Carle
Ages: 4 & under
From the creators of the classic “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?” comes this gem for preschoolers. With rhythmic text and colorful animal illustrations, this Read-To-Me version is a charming and beautiful introduction to the topic of conservation.
Goodnight Moon
Written by:
Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrated by: Clement Hurd
Ages: 4 & under
A little bunny, tucked away and ready for sleep, says goodnight to all the familiar things in its softly lit room. “Goodnight room, goodnight moon,” and everything from the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens.
With its melodic word sequences and gentle imagery, “Goodnight Moon” has lulled generations of sleepy tots to sleep. This classic bestseller is the perfect first book and bedtime story for your young reader or pre-reader.
Where The Wild Things Are (Audiobook)
By: Maurice Sendak
Ages: 4-8
Grab your copy of this gorgeously illustrated book and let your kids follow along with this audio version!
Adult fans of “Where the Wild Things Are” will remember Max, who’s transported far away to a magical forest filled with wild things after he threatens to eat his mother (eek!) and she sends him to bed without supper.
Fortunately, the wild things don’t eat Max, and instead make him their king. In the end Max realizes that king or not, he still needs the love of his parents. The story teaches kids about love, family and that it’s okay to have strong feelings and still treat others with love and respect.
I Want My Hat Back (Audiobook)
By: Jon Klassen
Ages: 5-7
In this audiobook version of the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book, a bear discovers his hat is gone, and he wants it back. So he politely asks each animal he meets whether they’ve seen it. After finding no luck, a deer asks the bear a question that jogs his memory—and he starts searching again with a vengeance!
This cumulative tale unfolds with irreverence and visual humor, ending with a mischievous twist that will delight your kid.
Other Recommendations
Want more? Here are a few of the best picture books to read aloud off our platform, all of which are available on Amazon.
The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!
By: Mo Willems
The bus driver is trying to get the pigeon to behave like a happy bird, but as fans of other books in the series like “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” know, this bird does NOT like to be told what to do. Throughout this hilarious board book, Pigeon runs through a gamut of emotions while attempting to thwart his nemesis, the bus driver.
The Book with No Pictures
By: B.J. Novak
A picture book with no pictures?! That’s right! This unconventional “picture book” is perfect for the kid who isn’t wow’ed by traditional illustrations. It’s full of brightly colored pages with outlandish phrases, made-up songs about nothing, and whimsical sounds that make it a blast to read out loud together. It’s clever, it’s ridiculous, and don’t be surprised if you want to read it over and over again.
The Day the Crayons Quit
By: Drew Daywalt
In this hilarious, colorful #1 New York Times bestseller, Duncan is getting ready to color, but when he opens his crayon box, the crayons are gone! Instead he finds only written letters saying they’ve had enough and quit. Blue crayon needs a break from coloring water. Black crayon is tired of just outlining. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking (they each think they’re the true color of the sun). Can Duncan appease the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?
Green Eggs and Ham
By: Dr. Seuss
“I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am.”
This beloved favorite is filled with whimsical rhymes and tongue-twisters kids can follow along as it lists all the great places you could enjoy green eggs and ham. With its silly narration and simple language, it’s a perfect first book to share with your little one.
The Monster at the End of This Book
By: Jon Stone
This book has a big furry blue monster waiting for you—oh no! Don’t worry. This adorable picture book from Sesame Street isn’t scary. Narrated by the lovable, furry monster Grover, he warns little ones that he’s learned there’s a monster at the end of the book and begs them not to turn the pages. But of course they can’t resist and are delighted by what actually awaits at the end.
That’s our list! For more great books to read aloud with your kid, check out our post: “Best Read-Alouds for Kids.”
