Kindergarten Books
List of Best Selling Books
For Preschoolers Kindergartners
Looking for kindergarten books and children's chapter books? Here's a list of best selling books to help you choose good books for kids aged 3-6.
This list is also a useful resource if you're a writer looking for ideas and insights into what's popular with young readers:
Top-Selling Kindergarten Books #1: Story Books About Animals
Bestselling Kindergarten Books & Approximate Sales Figures
Marcus Pfister: The Rainbow Fish (over 4 million)
Robert McCloskey: Make Way for Ducklings (Caldecott Medal; 3 million)
Peter Zallinger: Dinosaurs (over 2.3 million)
Dodie Smith: 101 Dalmatians (over 2 million)
Syd Hoff: Danny and the Dinosaur (1.6 million)
Else Holmelund Minarik: Little Bear (1.6 million)
Natalie Standiford: The Bravest Dog Ever (over 1.25 million)
Marc Brown: Arthur's Birthday (over 1.15 million); Arthur's Reading Race (over 1.15 million); Arthur Goes to School (1 million)
Janell Cannon: Stellaluna (over 1 million)
Jon Scieszka: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! (over 970,000); The Stinky Cheese Man (Caldecott Honor; over 850,000)
Popular Book Series of Kindergarten Books About Animals, with Approximate Sales Figures
Beatrix Potter: Peter Rabbit series (150 million), especially The Tale of Peter Rabbit (45 million); The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (over 4 million); The Tale of Jemima PUddle-Duck (over 3.8 million); The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (over 3 million); The Tale of Tom Kitten (over 3 million); The Story of Miss Moppet; The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher.
Hans Augusto Rey: Curious George series (27 million)
Mercer Mayer: Little Crittur stories, especially Just Me and My Dad (over 4.7 million); Just Go to Bed (over 3.8 million); Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad (3.5 million); Just Grandma and Me (over 3.4 million); Just for You (3.4 million); All By Myself (3.2 million); I Was So Mad (3 million); I Just Forgot (over 2.7 million); When I Get Bigger (2.7 million); The New Baby (2.5 million); Just Me and My Mom (2.2 million); Me Too! (2.2 million); Just Me and My Puppy (over 2 million); Just Shopping with Mom (2 million); Just My Friend and Me (1.8 million); Just Lost (1.75 million); Just Grandpa and Me (1.75 million); Just a Mess (1.7 million); Just Me and My Little Brother (1.6 million); Just Me in the Tub (over 1.55 million); What a Bad Dream (1.55 million); Happy Easter, Little Crittur (over 1.4 million); Just Going to the Dentist (over 1.3 million); A Very Special Crittur (over 1.2 million); Just Me and My Babysitter (1.2 million); Just a Daydream (over 1 million); Just Me and My Cousin (over 1 million)
Stan and Jan Berenstain: Berenstain Bear series, especially The Berenstain Bear's New Baby (over 3.7 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room (over 3.6 million); The Berenstain Bears Go to School (3.3 million); The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food (over 3 million); The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear (over 2.9 million); The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV (over 2.9 million); The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners (over 2.9 million); The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers (over 2.8 million); The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist (over 2.8 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Truth (over 2.8 million); The Berenstain Bears in the Dark (over 2.6 million); The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor (over 2.4 million); The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight (over 2.4 million); The Berenstain Bears: No Girls Allowed (over 2.2 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter (over 2.1 million); The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies (over 2 million); The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Birthday (over 2 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Friends (2 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Week at Grandma's (over 1.9 million); The Berenstain Bears Go Out for the Team (over 1.95 million); The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp (over 1.9 million); The Berenstain Bears and Moving Day (over 1.85 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream (over 1.85 million); The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money (over 1.6 million); The Berenstain Bears' Nursery Tales (1.6 million); The Berenstain Bears' Trouble at School (over 1.5 million); The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat (over 1.5 million); The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Vacation (over 1.5 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare (over 1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Habit (over 1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and Mama's New Job (over 1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest (1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Slumber Party (1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and the In Crowd (over 1.35 million); The Berenstain Bears Trouble with Pets (over 1.35 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Big Road Race (over 1.35 million); The Berenstain Bears Get Stage Fright (over 1.2 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin (1.2 million); The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore) (over 1.1 million)
Arnold Lobel: Frog and Toad are Friends (over 2 million); Frog and Toad Together (Newbery Award; over 1.7 million)
Jean/Laurent De Brunhoff: Babar series (over 1.2 million), especially The Story of Babar (Carnegie Medal)
Favorite Kindergarten Books About Animals
Ruth Bornstein: Little Gorilla
Jan Brett: Annie and the Wild Animals
Wanda Gag: Millions of Cats
Russell Hoban: Bread and Jam for Frances; A Baby Sister for Frances; Best Friends for Frances; A Birthday for Frances
Katharine Holabird: Angelina Ballerina
Steven Kellogg: Can I Keep Him?
Arnold Lobel: Frog and Toad series: Frog and Toad are Friends; Days with Frog and Toad; Frog and Toad Together; Frog and Toad All Year
Else Holmelund Minarik: Little Bear; Little Bear's Friend; A Kiss for Little Bear; Father Bear Comes Home; Little Bear's Visit (Caldecott Honor)
Dr Seuss: Horton Hatches the Egg
William Steig: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (Caldecott Medal); Doctor De Soto (Newbery Honor)
Top-Selling Kindergarten Books #2: Stories About Parent & Sibling Relationships, Friends & School
Bestselling Kindergarten Books & Approximate Sales Figures
Clement Moore: The Night Before Christmas (over 3.2 million)
Judith Viorst: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (over 2.7 million)
Ludwig Bemelmans: Madeline (Caldecott Medal; over 1.6 million)
Ezra Jack Keats: Snowy Day (Caldecott Medal; 1.3 million)
Else Holmelund Minarik: Little Bear (1.6 million)
Marc Brown: Arthur's Birthday (over 1.15 million); Arthur's Reading Race (over 1.15 million); Arthur Goes to School (1 million)
Popular Book Series of Kindergarten Books About Family, Friends & School
Mercer Mayer: Little Crittur stories, especially Just Me and My Dad (over 4.7 million); Just Go to Bed (over 3.8 million); Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad (3.5 million); Just Grandma and Me (over 3.4 million); Just for You (3.4 million); All By Myself (3.2 million); I Was So Mad (3 million); I Just Forgot (over 2.7 million); When I Get Bigger (2.7 million); The New Baby (2.5 million); Just Me and My Mom (2.2 million); Me Too! (2.2 million); Just Me and My Puppy (over 2 million); Just Shopping with Mom (2 million); Just My Friend and Me (1.8 million); Just Lost (1.75 million); Just Grandpa and Me (1.75 million); Just a Mess (1.7 million); Just Me and My Little Brother (1.6 million); Just Me in the Tub (over 1.55 million); What a Bad Dream (1.55 million); Happy Easter, Little Crittur (over 1.4 million); Just Going to the Dentist (over 1.3 million); A Very Special Crittur (over 1.2 million); Just Me and My Babysitter (1.2 million); Just a Daydream (over 1 million); Just Me and My Cousin (over 1 million)
Stan and Jan Berenstain: Berenstain Bear series, especially The Berenstain Bear's New Baby (over 3.7 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room (over 3.6 million); The Berenstain Bears Go to School (3.3 million); The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food (over 3 million); The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear (over 2.9 million); The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV (over 2.9 million); The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners (over 2.9 million); The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers (over 2.8 million); The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist (over 2.8 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Truth (over 2.8 million); The Berenstain Bears in the Dark (over 2.6 million); The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor (over 2.4 million); The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight (over 2.4 million); The Berenstain Bears: No Girls Allowed (over 2.2 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter (over 2.1 million); The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies (over 2 million); The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Birthday (over 2 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Friends (2 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Week at Grandma's (over 1.9 million); The Berenstain Bears Go Out for the Team (over 1.95 million); The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp (over 1.9 million); The Berenstain Bears and Moving Day (over 1.85 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream (over 1.85 million); The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money (over 1.6 million); The Berenstain Bears' Nursery Tales (1.6 million); The Berenstain Bears' Trouble at School (over 1.5 million); The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat (over 1.5 million); The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Vacation (over 1.5 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare (over 1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Habit (over 1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and Mama's New Job (over 1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest (1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Slumber Party (1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and the In Crowd (over 1.35 million); The Berenstain Bears Trouble with Pets (over 1.35 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Big Road Race (over 1.35 million); The Berenstain Bears Get Stage Fright (over 1.2 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin (1.2 million); The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore) (over 1.1 million)
Arnold Lobel: Frog and Toad are Friends (over 2 million); Frog and Toad Together (Newbery Honor; over 1.7 million)
Favorite Kindergarten Books About Family, Friends & School
Shirley Hughes: All About Alfie; Alfie Gets in First; An Evening At Alfie's; Alfie and the Birthday Surprise; The Alfie Collection;
Russell Hoban: Bread and Jam for Frances; A Baby Sister for Frances; Best Friends for Frances; A Birthday for Frances
Cynthia Rylant: The Relatives Came (Caldecott Honor)
Amy Schwartz: Her Majesty, Aunt Essie
Peter Spier: Peter Spier's Christmas and Peter Spier's Rain
Jean Van Leeuwen: Amanda Pig series, especially Amanda Pig and Her Big Brother Oliver; Amanda Pig on Her Own; Oliver, Amanda, and Grandmother Pig; Tales of Oliver Pig; More Tales of Oliver Pig; More Tales of Amanda Pig
Top-Selling Kindergarten Books #3: Best Fantasy Books & Adventure Books for Kids
Bestselling Kindergarten Books & Approximate Sales Figures
Enid Blyton: Noddy series (200 million)
AA Milne: Winnie-the-Pooh series (70 million)
Maurice Sendak: Where the Wild Things Are (Caldecott Medal; 6 million)
Margery William: The Velveteen Rabbit (over 2 million)
Ludwig Bemelmans: Madeline (Caldecott Medal; over 1.6 million)
Syd Hoff: Danny and the Dinosaur (1.6 million)
Kay Thompson: Eloise (over 1.5 million)
Kindergarten Books: Best Fantasy Books & Adventure Stories
Ursula Le Guin: Catwings and sequels - Catwings Return; Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings; Jane on Her Own: A Catwings Tale
Arthur Ransome: The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship (Caldecott Medal)
David McPhail: Edward and the Pirates
William Steig: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (Caldecott Medal)
Michael Bond: A Bear Called Paddington
William Steig: Brave Irene
Top-Selling Kindergarten Books #4: Meeting Preschoolers' Needs for Love, Acceptance & Self-Esteem
Bestselling Kindergarten Books & Approximate Sales Figures
Robert Munsch: Love You Forever (over 8 million)
Kathryn and Byron Jackson: Saggy Baggy Elephant (7.5 million)
Watty Piper: Little Engine That Could (over 5 million)
Mercer Mayer: Just Me and My Dad (over 4.7 million); Just Grandma and Me (over 3.4 million); Just Me and My Mom (2.2 million); Just Grandpa and Me (1.75 million); A Very Special Crittur (over 1.2 million)
Debra Frasier: On the Day You Were Born (over 1 million)
Popular Kindergarten Books that Meet Preschoolers' Needs for Love, Acceptance & Self-Esteem
Jamie Lee Curtis: Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born
Dayle Ann Dodds: Sing, Sophie!
Mem Fox: Wombat Divine
Mary Hoffman: Amazing Grace
Leslie Parrott: God Made You Nose to Toes
Laura Segal: All the Way Home
Ann Warren Turner: Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies
Taro Yashima: Crow Boy (Caldecott Honor)
Top-Selling Kindergarten Books #5: Kids' Stories that Teach Values & Help Preschoolers with Challenges
Bestselling Kindergarten Books & Approximate Sales Figures
Shel Silverstein: The Giving Tree (over 5.6 million)
Watty Piper: Little Engine That Could (over 5 million)
Marcus Pfister: The Rainbow Fish (over 4 million)
Stan and Jan Berenstain: The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room (over 3.6 million); The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners (over 2.9 million); The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist (over 2.8 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Truth (over 2.8 million); The Berenstain Bears in the Dark (over 2.6 million); The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight (over 2.4 million); The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies (over 2 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Friends (2 million); The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money (over 1.6 million); The Berenstain Bears' Trouble at School (over 1.5 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare (over 1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Habit (over 1.4 million); The Berenstain Bears and the In Crowd (over 1.35 million); The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore) (over 1.1 million)
Judith Viorst: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (over 2.7 million)
Mercer Mayer: The New Baby (2.5 million); Just Going to the Dentist (over 1.3 million)
Arnold Lobel: Frog and Toad are Friends (over 2 million); Frog and Toad Together (Newbery Honor; over 1.7 million)
Margery William: The Velveteen Rabbit (over 2 million)
Virginia Lee Burton: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (over 1 million)
Favorite Kindergarten Books that Teach Values & Help Preschoolers with Challenges
Lenore Blegvad: Anna Banana and Me
Marc Brown: DW Rides Again; Arthur's Nose; Arthur's Eyes; Arthur's Tooth
Kevin Henkes: Julius, the Baby of the Word
Mercer Mayer: There's an Alligator under My Bed; There's a Nightmare in My Closet; and There's Something in My Attic
Emily Arnold McCully: Mirette on the High Wire (Caldecott Medal)
Judith Viorst: The Tenth Good Thing About Barney
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat: Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport
Bernard Waber: Ira Sleeps Over
Oscar Wilde: The Selfish Giant
Vera Williams: A Chair for My Mother (Caldecott Honor)
Top-Selling Kindergarten Books #6: Exposing Preschoolers Kindergartners to New Worlds, Experiences & Ideas
Bestselling Kindergarten Books & Approximate Sales Figures
Maurice Sendak: Where the Wild Things Are (Caldecott Medal; 6 million); In the Night Kitchen (Caldecott Honor)
Chris Van Allsburg: The Polar Express (Caldecott Medal; over 3.5 million)
Barbara Robinson: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (over 3 million)
Martin Handford: Where's Waldo? (over 2.9 million); Just Imagine (over 2.8 million); The Great Waldo Search (over 2.8 million); Find Waldo Now (over 2.7 million); Where's Waldo? The Ultimate Fun Book (over l.35 million)
Syd Hoff: Danny and the Dinosaur (1.6 million)
Janet and Allan Ahlberg: The Jolly Postman (over 960,000); The Jolly Christmas Postman (over 900,000)
Popular Kindergarten Books that Expose Preschoolers Kindergartners to New Worlds, Experiences & Ideas
Marjorie Flack: The Story About Ping
Donald Hall: Ox-Cart Man (Caldecott Medal)
Munro Leaf: The Story of Ferdinand
Michael and Esther Lustig: Willy Whyner, Cloud Designer
William Steig: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (Caldecott Medal)
Chris Van Allsburg: Jumanji (Caldecott Medal)
Jane Yolen: Owl Moon (Caldecott Medal)
Ed Young: Seven Blind Mice (Caldecott Honor)
Top-Selling Kindergarten Books #7: Kids' Poetry, Nursery Rhymes & Rhyming Songs for Preschoolers Kindergarners
Best Selling Kindergarten Books & Approximate Sales Figures
Dr Seuss: Green Eggs and Ham (over 8 million); The Cat in the Hat (over 7.2 million); One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (over 6 million); Hop on Pop (5.5 million); Oh, the Places You'll Go! (over 5 million); Fox in Socks (3.7 million); and Mr Brown Can Moo! Can You? (over 2.65 million)
Watty Piper: Little Engine That Could (over 5 million)
Clement Moore: The Night Before Christmas (over 3.2 million)
Ludwig Bemelmans: Madeline (Caldecott Medal; over 1.6 million)
Favorite Kindergarten Books: Kids' Poetry, Nursery Rhymes & Rhyming Songs for Preschoolers
Edward Lear: The Owl and the Pussycat
Arnold Lobel: Whiskers & Rhymes
Eve Merriam: You Be Good and I'll Be Night: Jump-on-the-Bed Poems
AA Milne: When We Were Very Young; and Now We Are Six
Jack Prelutsky: The Beauty of the Beast: Poems from the Animal Kingdom
Michael Rosen: Poems for the Very Young
Michael Rosen and Susanna Steele: Inky Pinky Ponky: Children's Playground Rhymes
John Updike: A Child's Calendar (Caldecott Honor)
Clyde Watson: Catch Me & Kiss Me & Say It Again
Top-Selling Kindergarten Books #8: Favorite Funny Stories & Funny Poems
Bestselling Kindergarten Books & Approximate Sales Figures
Dr Seuss: Green Eggs and Ham (over 8 million); The Cat in the Hat (over 7.2 million); One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (over 6 million); The Cat in the Hat Comes Back (over 4 million); Mr Brown Can Moo, Can You? (over 2.65 million); There's a Wocket in My Pocket! (over 1.35 million)
Watty Piper: Little Engine That Could (over 5 million)
PD Eastman: Go, Dog. Go! (3.5 million)
Barbara Robinson: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (over 3 million)
Judith Viorst: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (over 2.7 million)
Patrick Catling: The Chocolate Touch (over 2.4 million)
Syd Hoff: Danny and the Dinosaur (1.6 million)
Esphyr Slobodkina: Caps for Sale (1.2 million)
Jon Scieszka: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! (over 970,000); The Stinky Cheese Man (Caldecott Honor; over 850,000)
Marilyn Sadler: It's Not Easy Being a Bunny (970,000)
Janet and Allan Ahlberg: The Jolly Postman (over 960,000); The Jolly Christmas Postman (over 900,000)
Popular Kindergarten Books in Series: Favorite Funny Stories & Funny Poems, with Approximate Sales Figures
AA Milne: Winnie-the-Pooh series (70 million)
Laura Numeroff: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1.8 million); If You Give a Moose a Muffin (1.15 million); and If You Give a Pig a Pancake (900,000)
Ludwig Bemelmans: Madeline (Caldecott Medal; over 1.6 million) and sequels
Favorite Kindergarten Books: Funny Stories & Funny Poems
Anne Isaacs: Swamp Angel (Caldecott Honor)
Sorche Nic Leodhas: Always Room for One More (Caldecott Medal)
Arnold Lobel: Mouse Tales
James Marshall: George and Martha and sequels
Susan Meddaugh: Martha Speaks (Caldecott Honor); Martha Calling; Martha Blah Blah
Will and Nicholas Mordvinoff: Finders Keepers (Caldecott Medal)
Peggy Parish: Amelia Bedelia and sequels
William Steig: Doctor De Soto (Newbery Honor); Gorky Rises
Arthur Yorinks: Hey, Al (Caldecott Medal)
Margot Zemach: It Could Always Be Worse (Caldecott Honor)
What kinds of stories are most popular with preschoolers? To find out, go to
Preschoolers Kindergartners' Stories: Great Ideas for Writing a Book
and
Creative Writing Ideas: Hot Favorites for Kids.
For creative writing ideas to help you write stories in a way that gets kids reading, go to
How to Write Stories Kids and Teens Want to Read.
Return from Kindergarten Books to Creative Writing Resources: Top Kids' Books Help You to Appeal to Target Audiences
Return from Kindergarten Books to Creative Writing: Write to Win Hearts
Acknowledgments: Publishers Weekly; Wikipedia; Barnes & Noble; Amazon.com; The New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children by Eden Ross Lipson, Three Rivers Press, 2000; Books Children Love by Elizabeth Wilson, Crossway Books, 2002; Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt, Zondervan 2002; For the Love of Reading by David Bouchard, Orca Book Publishers, 2004. Also, to all who have contributed reviews, information and advice, Thank You!
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