Great Read Alouds: Get ready for kindergarten!

For many children kindergarten is not their first school experience. A lot of kids have had one or more years of preschool to help them prepare. However, other kids needs some practice before their first time in a structured school setting. It’s not too late to work on the skills that will help your child get ready for kindergarten. Read on for some tips to help all kids get ready to start school and some fun books to read together to practice school skills. 

10 Important skills for your child to have before kindergarten 

• Letter recognition – sing the alphabet song and point to the letters as you sing. 
• Recognize their name and the letters in their name. 
• Name and recognize colors – Play “I Spy” and have them find different colors –"I spy with my little eye the color yellow.” 
• Count and recognize numbers 1-10. 
• How to hold and use scissors correctly – let them cut scraps of paper for practice. 
• Recognize rhyming words – We have so many rhyming books! If they don't already have one, get your child a library card. Have them help pick out books you can read together. Singing rhyming songs is also fun.  
• Help your child develop independence – Encourage them to dress themselves, brush their teeth and wash their hands without reminders. 
• Play and share with others – Play a game where you need to take turns.  
• Follow simple directions – Give your child one to two step directions – “put your clothes in the hamper” or “pick up your books and put them in the basket”.  
• Empathy – Model it as you respond to your child with compassion. Identify your child’s emotions as they are happening. Ask your child how others might feel. 

Great books

Bear Sees Colors written by Karma Wilson & illustrated by Jane Chapman

While taking a walk with Mouse, Bear meets many other friends and sees colors everywhere. Can you find colors just like Bear? In addition to practicing colors, there’s a bit of rhyming in this one too. 

"A walk through the woods provides ample opportunities for spotting colors in Bear and Mouse’s latest adventure. 'Mouse and bear are walking;/ they are chitter-chatter-talking./ So much for them to do./ And the bear sees...' begins Wilson, as the animals appear against a white backdrop; both the open-ended rhyme and a pair of blue dragonflies hint at what awaits after the page turn. The next spread is a riot of blue, with Bear splashing in a river while flowers, fish, butterflies, and fruit offer readers many opportunities to 'spy blue with Bear.' Though Wilson’s rhymes can be a tad herky-jerky, Chapman’s vibrant acrylics give children plenty to pore over." – Publishers Weekly

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom written by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert

Follow an alphabet rhyme/chant about what happens when the whole alphabet tries to climb a coconut tree. Have your child point out the letters in their name. 

"The 26 characters in this rhythmic, rhyming baby book are a lowercase alphabet with attitude. 'A told b, and b told c, I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree' – which probably seemed like a good idea until the other 23 members of the gang decided to follow suit. Lois Ehlert's chunky block illustrations show the luxuriant green palm standing straight and tall on the first page, but it begins to groan and bend under its alphabetical burden. First the coconuts fall off, then ("Chicka chicka... BOOM! BOOM!") all the letters also end up in a big heap underneath. A very simple board-book version stops there, but this original text goes on to introduce the helping hands of the 26 uppercase "mamas and papas and uncles and aunts." –Richard Farr

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas

Three dust bunnies Ed, Ned and Ted are demonstrating how much they love to rhyme. A fourth dust bunny, Bob, is trying to warn them of approaching danger. Can Bob save them? What extra rhymes can your child think of?

"Preschoolers will recognize how it feels to be just a mite in a grown-up world, and they will enjoy the playful rhymes and simple wordplay as much as the bold scenarios of the tiniest creatures in danger from giants, and one hero who sees it coming." –Booklist

Caring with Bert and Ernie by Marie-Therese Miller

Bert and Ernie help young readers explore empathy. Kids will learn how to think about others, show that they care and help those around them.  

"hese books hit all the right notes as they define different emotions and provide examples of what those emotions might feel or look like . . . An excellent choice for SEL collections."―Booklist

One Big Pair of Underwear written Laura Gehl & illustrated by Tom Lechtenheld

This is a fun story about a bear who does not want to share his underwear and the animals who learn to share their snacks, toys, and more.

"Take one counting book, mix it with a comical tale of underwear-sharing, add some tongue-twisting rhymes, and soon there will be uncontrollable laughter....The rhymes follow familiar spelling patterns (including -ack, -eal, -ar, -at, -ook, and the nervous-making -uck), making this a perfect book for new readers (think Hop on Pop). The goofy situations are made even goofier through Lichtenheld's familiar and fabulous digitally colored pencil illustrations: it's hard to keep a straight face when cats are blowing up air mattresses or baboons are playing trombones. The final exuberant parade, and the quietly amusing end papers, ensure that this will be a popular book for story hours and independent reading alike. Who knew sharing could be so much fun?" –Horn Book

Froggy Gets Dressed written by Jonathan London & illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

Rambunctious Froggy hops out into the snow for a winter frolic but is called back by his mother to put on some necessary articles of clothing. 

"One morning Froggy wakes up and discovers snow--glorious snow! Of course he immediately wants to frolic outside, but his sleepy mother reminds him that frogs are supposed to sleep all winter. "Wake up when the snow melts," she calls out from her cozy bed. But Froggy insists. So off he goes after putting on his socks--"zoop," his boots--"zup," his hat--"zat," and his scarf--"zwit." The playful sound effects are perfect for read-aloud merriment and the watercolor illustrations by Frank Remkiewicz (Horrible Harry) are comic-strip silly. As soon as Froggy gets outside his mother calls out to remind him to put on his pants. This, as any child knows, means laboriously pulling off all footwear. "Zwit, zat, zup, zut." Then he forgets his coat and it's more "zut, znap, zum." And then--horror of horrors!--his mother yells out in front of all his animal playmates, "Froggy, your underwear!" (Which of course elicits giggles.) Ultimately, the on- and off-again dressing is too exhausting for Froggy and he winds up right back where he belongs. Good night, Froggy. For more adventures of Jonathan London's Froggy, explore Froggy Goes to School, Froggy Learns to Swim, and Froggy's First Kiss." –Gail Hudson

Local Resources

• Bring your child to library Preschool Storytimes. Join us for stories, songs and group play!
• Parents as Teachers – They provide support to families. Each school district has their own Parents as Teachers program. 
• TARC – They have a variety of programs including a feeding clinic and Parents and Children Together