Looking for children’s books for 3 year olds? This comprehensive list includes a list of 52 books to read with your child, perfect for the whole year!

Your 3 year old likely enjoys reading—no surprise there. In fact, a kindergartener’s interest in reading a book outside of school is 100%. But by fourth grade, that interest drops to 54%. That’s almost half. What changes in fourth grade?

Parents stopped reading to their kids.

At some point, our kids won’t “need” us to read to them. When they can read every word in a book, we assume the next logical step is to leave reading to them. Almost like it’s potty training—once they master it, they no longer need our help.

But that’s not the case with reading aloud. The more we read to them, especially at a young age, the longer their interest in reading will hold. They’ll associate reading with something special and positive.

So here’s a challenge I’d like to extend to you: Read aloud to your kids. Even when they get to the age where they can read every word in the book, keep reading to them. They love the bonding experience of sitting next to you, hearing your voice

52 children’s books for 3 year olds

My 3 year old twins are in that neat stage of reading where they’re able to comprehend story lines. We’ve moved from simple baby books to those with more complex words and clear stories to remember.

I compiled 52 books a 3 year old would love to read. It’s surprisingly tricky to find books that fit this age. You want them hard enough to challenge but not too difficult they lose interest.

These 52 books fit that criteria. And they’re also books my kids loved. We read more books than these, but I’m only listing the ones we all enjoyed.

In fact, check out what fellow mom Lexi had to say about the list:

“Hi Nina! I loved this list. My child is heading into 3 and loves reading. This was super helpful because it gives me an idea as to what he might like! Thank you!” -Lexi

And why 52? I like preparing for the new year with 52 books I recommend, one for each week. Think of it as your weekly guide to fantastic books your 3 year old would love to read.

So take a look at these amazing reads for a year’s worth of reading material for your little one.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase.

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Source: The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease

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