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Best Books

The 15 Best Books For 4 Year Olds (2023 Buying Guide)

written by DaddiLife 8th January 2021
best books for 4 years old, 4 year old books, what should my 4 year old be reading, best 4 year old books, great books at 4 years old

Updated 30th December 2021.

At four years old, many children will start to enter the school system and join Reception class / Elementary School, which means their formal education will begin. As far as reading goes, they will probably start to learn phonics and will begin to blend sounds to make words. They may also start to learn comprehension skills.

What does this mean for your reading to them? Well, for the first time your child can read to you, which has benefits all its own! If they bring books home with them, try to find time to listen to them read every day. Be patient, and be full of praise! Reading to your child is still important. In fact, it’s essential. In this guide we cover what to consider when buying the best book for a 4 year old, and our reviews of the best books for this age.

Table of contents
What to consider when buying books for 4 year olds
The 15 best books for 4 year olds
   1.     First Day At Bug School
   2.     Mr Big 
   3.     The Cat in the Hat
   4.     This Book Just Ate My Dog!
   5.     Too Many Carrots
   6.     Swapsies
   7.      I Am Bear
   8.     Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy Buttons
   9.     The Gruffalo
   10.   Aliens Love Underpants
   11.    The Day the Crayons Quit
   12.    Ruvalino Changing Bag Backpack 
   13.    Billy and the Beast 
   14.    Luna Lucy and the Planets 
   15.    There’s a Bear on my Chair 
How to read to a four-year-old
Four year old books - Dad Stories

What to consider when buying books for 4 year olds


What to consider for 4 year old books, best books for 4 year olds, what makes a great book for 4 years old

Learning to read can be frustrating at this age, so reading to them during this period ensures they still think of books and reading as fun, interesting and an opportunity to snuggle up with mum and dad. Beyond keeping it fun, there are other key things to consider for what makes a great four-year-old book:

  •  1: Learning about the world. As well as being fun, reading can now help your child learn more about the world around them. Stories can be a little longer and more complex, because by four your child is likely to have a vocabulary of more than 1,000 words. 
  •  2: Expressing themselves. By the age of 4, children can also string sentences of four or five words together quite easily, so consider books that give you the opportunity to let your child express themselves. Ask them what is happening on the page, why a character is behaving in the way it is, and what might happen next, and listen to their answers. This could be the start of a discussion, not just a simple Q&A.
  • 3: Feed their curiosity. It’s worth adding some factual non fiction books to the book collection when the turn 4. Four-year-olds are endlessly curious and fact books will probably mean you end up answering a lot of questions, but that’s a good thing!  


The 15 best books for 4 year olds


   1.     First Day At Bug School

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Editors Review

“It’s the story of a first day at school, told with fun rhymes, gentle humour and clear, simple illustrations.”


A rhyming, fun-filled celebration of school to get your child ready for the big day.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Lots of surprisingly cute bugs.
  • "Book Trust Pick" verified

ANY ISSUES?

  • It’s a great read for a specific time - the run up to the first day of school - but possibly a bit redundant after that.


   2.     Mr Big 

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Editors Review

“It’s a small book with a big heart, teaching all about inclusion and not judging books by their covers."


He looks hard as nails, but inside Mr Big is a BIG softy. How can he convince others to stick around?

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Bold colours and simple illustrations help the story along nicely.

ANY ISSUES?

  • The story is definitely a discussion starter, but remember to keep it light.


   3.     The Cat in the Hat

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Editors Review

“Unforgettable characters and great rhymes your child will want to hear (and perhaps read) again and again.”

 

Don’t miss out on this magical mystery tour of mayhem. A bona fide children’s classic.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The rhythm of the story keeps you turning pages in a way few books can match.
  • A "Book Trust Verified" pick

ANY ISSUES?

  • Nope. It has stood the test of time.


   4.     This Book Just Ate My Dog!

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Editors Review

“It’s a wonderfully imaginative story, with the centre of the pages acting like some weird Bermuda Triangle of books.”


When a book starts devouring pets and people, Bella - and you - must investigate.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • It encourages the reader to join in with the hunt.
  • The concept of the kids shaking the book to become the rescuers is very entertaining.

ANY ISSUES?

  • It’s a bit abstract - great for lots of kids, maybe less appealing to some.


   5.     Too Many Carrots

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Editors Review

“It’s about sharing and friends, so some nice messages for little people (i.e. the kids).”


Rabbit needs to quit his selfish ways before the world is covered in carrots!

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The brisk, lively narrative, and great illustrations.
  • Also has a useful section for counting with the kids.

ANY ISSUES?

  • Quite a simple story, so perhaps not as suitable for those approaching five as those just turning four.


   6.     Swapsies

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Editors Review

“It’s funny, sparky and you’ll root for Fang and Sox.”


At an age when children will be mixing more and becoming more independent, a great story about the importance of sharing.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • It’s great for modelling good behaviour.
  • It doesn't just promote sharing, but encourages readers to show off their skills too.

ANY ISSUES?

  • It’s a simple read - but four-year-olds may move on to reading some of it themselves.


   7.      I Am Bear

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Editors Review

"Bold illustrations, nice word play and great gags."


Bear is a trickster all right, even stealing doughnuts from the police officer!

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The rap-style rhyming - perfect for the story of a mischievous bear.

ANY ISSUES?

  • The rap style might not suit everyone.


   8.     Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy Buttons

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Editors Review

"This rock ‘n’ roll cat is one of the grooviest characters in young children’s fiction."


Can Pete keep singing without his groovy buttons? Sing along and help him find out.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • It comes with a free song, so you can sing along too.
  • The repetition, together with the tune, makes this a compelling read together.
  • A "Book Trust" verified pick.

ANY ISSUES?

  • None that we can think of.


   9.     The Gruffalo

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Editors Review

"The clever mouse who tricks his predator pals is a winner with children."


This modern classic is great for reading to kids of any age, and at four years plus children will start to explore the story on their own.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Lovely rhyming story, bright, simple illustrations.
  • A rare type of story where a child can love every character.
  • An Amazon Best Seller.

ANY ISSUES?

  • Nope. 13.5 million readers can’t all be wrong.


   10.   Aliens Love Underpants

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Editors Review

"Zany, odd and laugh-out-loud hilarious - fun for all the family!"


There are no underpants in space...but aliens love them anyway!

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The madcap rhyming text is the star of this show.
  • Supported by brilliant illustrations that will get the children curious and talking.

ANY ISSUES?

  • There’s no real story here, just crazy, fun rhymes.


   11.    The Day the Crayons Quit

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Editors Review

“The story of striking crayons is original, funny and fabulous!”


Blue doesn’t just want to colour water anymore. Orange and yellow aren’t speaking. How will Duncan draw now that the crayons have had enough?

HIGHLIGHTS

  • You can use different voices for each crayon and make the story unique.

ANY ISSUES?

  • The story will probably be of most interest to kids who love to draw.


   12.    5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime 

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Editors Review

“If you ever wanted to know that turtles can breathe through their bottoms, this is the book for you."


Why do we sleep? How do astronauts get ready for bed? Top bedtime facts to amaze and delight.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Everything is true, verified by Britannica.
  • Great short stories that are full of interesting facts.

ANY ISSUES?

  • Some kids might want a lighter story at bedtime.


   13.    Billy and the Beast 

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Editors Review

“It’s all about using your brains and sass to defeat a bunny-boiling monster. What’s not to like?”

 

When Billy and Fatcat hear a terrible rumble, it can only mean one thing…

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Sparky heroine Billy is fresh, feisty and unique.

ANY ISSUES?

  • Billy is great, but the Beast a bit of a loser!


   14.    Luna Lucy and the Planets 

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Editors Review

“It’s such good fun your children won’t even know they’re learning things at the same time.”


Lots of children love the night sky, and this is a great, fun way to expand their knowledge.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Space is fascinating anyway. Lucy and Neptune (her dog) make it fun, too.
  • Really well illustrated.

ANY ISSUES?

  • Not all kids will be into the solar system.


   15.    There’s a Bear on my Chair 

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Editors Review

“Witty rhymes, great art and a clever twist.”


If a bear’s on your chair, what on earth are you to do?

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Nice, simple language to encourage independent reading.

ANY ISSUES?

  • Not the most substantial read here. Some pages are just pictures.


How to read to a 4 year old


First of all, make sure you do read to your four-year-old. If your child has started exploring simple stories for themselves (don’t worry if not, many won’t have yet), you may be tempted to take a back seat. Resist that temptation. Reading to your child makes sure it remains a fun activity that you both enjoy, rather than just a piece of Reception-level homework. Here's a few other tips for getting the most out of reading with a 4 year old.

  • Take turns. Do let them take over whenever they want. If they start reading the words on a page before you do, let them carry on until they’ve had enough, helping them with words they don’t know. Let them be the judge of when to stop.
  • Prompt discussion. At this age, stories can act as the start of a really good discussion. When you’ve put the book down, ask what your child did and didn’t like, and if they seem keen widen the conversation to include relevant topics. If you’ve read a story set in space, talk about the moon and the stars and why they come out at night. If you’ve read about animals, talk about where you might find them in the world.
  • Make it a habit: It’s all common sense really. The main thing is, don’t get out of the reading habit just because school may be starting. It’s still one of the best things you can do with your child.


4 year old books - Dad Stories


There's nothing we love more than seeing dads reading with their 4 year old boy or girl. Here are some of the stories we've loved and been inspired by. 

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The 15 Best Books For 4 Year Olds (2023 Buying Guide) was last modified: January 4th, 2023 by DaddiLife

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