The best rhyming books for kindergarten have great rhythm, pitch-perfect rhyme, and fun storylines, too! Check out our favorites, right here.
Rhyming books for the win!
If you’re looking for the best rhyming books for kindergarten on up, you’re in the right place!
Let’s be honest. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m not the biggest fan of rhyming stories. Simply put, in my experience as a children’s librarian, a rhyming book can make or break storytime.
Why?
If the rhyme is on point, storytime soars with rhythm and fun.
But if, on the other hand, the rhyme is off, storytime just … bombs. You find yourself stumbling over stanzas, frustrated with the rhythm and meter, and wondering why all these extra words were thrown into sentences – or why some words don’t truly rhyme at all!
Nonetheless, rhyming stories do play an important part of early literacy development, which means they are perfect for kindergarten kiddos that are beginning to learn how to read.
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Why kids should hear great rhyming books
The ability to hear and recognize rhyming words is a foundational concept for little ones. Why? Because phonemic awareness (the ability to hear and manipulate individual sounds) is a skill that must be mastered.
Great phonemic awareness usually leads to more success in reading and writing. And one way to develop phonemic awareness is through reading or playing with rhyming words. Rhyming helps children notice the different sounds within words, and it helps children understand how language works.
Make sense?
Thus, a good rhyming book is gold! They may not always be the easiest to find, but the selections below? They’re awesome. From silly stories to tender ones, we’ve got you covered. Check out our awesome list!
Frequently Asked Questions
The ability to hear and recognize rhyming words is a crucial foundational concept in literacy development. It is typically the first phonological awareness skill that kids develop, often between the ages of 3 and 4. Through rhyme, children learn to segment words into distinct sounds, called phonemes, which subsequently helps as kids begin to decode words. Rhyming is also important for introducing word families!
Absolutely! We have a terrific list of nursery rhyme books right here. These books practically beg to be read aloud to young readers, and they are an important part of your child’s bookshelves!
I love Atticus Caticus because it always engages children and contains such fun words to exaggerate and act out. I also love Room for Everyone, as it is a beautiful and fun diverse picture book, and kids love riding along with the dala dala to Zanzibar! Both of these books are featured below.
Our Favorite rhyming books for kindergarten and older!
This fun rhyming read-aloud follows a young boy’s cat during the course of the day. No matter whether the cat is lounging, stretching, or sharpening his nails on a chair, this infectious read-aloud will have kids bopping to the rhythmic text as they delight in the story and the vibrant illustrations that purr with fabulous energy. A perfect read-aloud, especially for little pet lovers! For more darling children’s books about cats, click the link!
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This energetic and FUN book is one of my favorite new rhyming read-aloud books. Come along on a trip to the beach in Zanzibar! Musa and Dada hop into the dala dala for the journey to the sea, but the bus keeps stopping to pick up more people… and animals too! “It’s hotter than peppers out there in the sun! Come in, there’s room for everyone!” But is there?? This one is an absolute joy to read aloud, with pitch-perfect rhyme, fabulous illustrations, and a storyline that makes kids of all ages squeal with glee!
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My students cannot get enough of this book about what happens when one little girl goes out to run an errand all by herself, for the very first time. Will Nanette get the baguette from the baker Juliette without taking a bite? Or will Nanette be beset with so much regret by making a mess of her biggest responsibility yet? Kids will devour this rhyming, rollicking romp, and you will — no doubt — have a blast reading it aloud! For more awesome children’s books about food, click here!
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The sun is setting, and inside the mouse family house, the 38 Wink kids are embarking on a wild bedtime routine! With pitch-perfect rhyme and fun alliteration, little ones will delight in watching the adorable mice go through much the same bedtime routines they do. It’s fun, it’s funny, and it’s a sweet read-aloud that will be loved by grown-ups and children alike! This is a perfect children’s bedtime story.
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Every morning, Sofia’s Abuelo walks with her to school until the fateful day he hurts his ankle at the local landfill. Sofia misses their walks terribly after his injury, and she wonders what can be done about the awful Mount Trashmore in their neighborhood. When she suddenly has an idea to turn the landfill into a park, Sofia sets out to achieve her goal, but that includes a visit to City Hall. Sofia is just a kid – will anyone take her seriously? Sofia doesn’t give up on her idea and instead perseveres, setting out to show that even though she is just a young girl, she’s got the brain and the grit to turn her idea into reality. Make sure to also check out the other books in this series that continue to stand the test of time: Iggy Peck, Architect, Rosie Revere, Engineer, and Ada Twist, Scientist!
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There’s no debating it – my students are totally obsessed with this rhyming book, and it makes readers young and old crack up due to its hilarious text and even funnier illustrations. After all, while we all may know that “it’s good to eat a carrot/ it’s good to eat a steak/ it’s bad to bite your sister/ she’s not a piece of cake,” the reminder is always helpful! We simply love this fun series! Make sure to check out People Share With People, too!
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If you’re a parent, you can definitely relate to the story within these adorable pages. Little Messy Marcy Su is just that – a mess! Marcy’s grandparents, Waipo and Waigong, are coming for a visit, but Marcy’s room is a total disaster. Not to worry, because Marcy Su knows just what to do to get ready for the big visit. Or does she? Can the floors and her stains and her room be cleaned before they arrive, or will Marcy’s grandparents think she’s being raised by wolves in the wild? This rhyming book is a total delight!
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This is such a fun read-aloud for little ones that serves as a concept book to teach colors, too! With terrific rhyme, the adorable story offers many opportunities for kids to interact as they journey along with the little brown mouse from house to house, through the garden, and on the bus among adorable rabbits. This rhyming book is pure joy and destined to become a classic!
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Ring! Ring! Ring! Can you hear his call? Paletas for one! Paletas for all! Everyone knows Paletero Jose has the perfect treats for a blistering hot day, and this adorable book follows one boy as he goes on a search for the paletero man through his bustling neighborhood. But what happens when the narrator finds the paletero man, and he discovers the dinero in his pockets is gone? He may just need the help of his multicultural community. We love this ode to neighbors, kindness, and paletas, of course!
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This is a darling story about a lovebird who does not like to be kissed. In fact, she squeaks emphatically, “no kissies!” if another bird tries to get too close! This causes drama among the other affectionate birds, and this huge chasm setting her apart from the other lovebirds makes Rissy feel weird too. When Rissy talks to her mother, mom imparts a valuable message: “Your body and your heart are yours, and you choose how to share./ You get to pick the ways you want to show us that you care.” This is a fabulous rhyming book about consent for kids, and is an important story to introduce the concept of bodily autonomy to children of all ages.
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A silly skeleton takes readers on an underwater scavenger hunt with one very important goal: he’s got to get his bones back! With humor, great rhythm, and fun illustrations, this one is a joy to read aloud and a perfect primer to begin teaching kids about anatomy in a creative and quirky way! Your little ones will be talking about mandibles and clavicles, femurs and fibulas, and they won’t even realize how much they are learning. This is such a great rhyming book and a fun anatomy book for kids, too!
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This book is such a delight, and such fun, too! We love reading this aloud because it undoubtedly has kids erupt into giggle fits each and every time. This is the story of a cat sitting on a mat when a rat arrives wearing a very nice hat. Need I say more? Between the silly text and the hilarious pictures, it’s sure to be a hit. It will go over especially well with kids learning the “at” family of sounds, too.
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In this twist on the Mother Goose poem, Mary is a style maven who helps other nursery rhyme characters get their glam on. But will they be too dressed up for recess? A total hoot, especially for your budding fashionistas! For more fabulous nursery rhyme books, click the link!
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Ever wonder what would happen if the Cinderella story took place somewhere far off in the galaxy? Wonder no more! Whoever said girls didn’t have a knack for repairs and engineering certainly never met Interstellar Cinderella, because this gal can do it all. And when the royal spaceship has engine troubles, she is the only one who can come to the prince’s rescue. The prince falls in love, of course. But does Cinderella want to be his wife? Nah. She’d much rather be the royal mechanic, thank you very much! For more fabulous fractured fairy tales, click here!
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This is a beautiful bedtime book that celebrates all the fun two children have while getting ready for bed as they visit their grandparents in India. Whether listening to captivating stories or partaking in rituals and traditions in the puja room, the family shares special moments with one another, capturing the universality of bedtime routines, the love between grandparents and grandchildren, and the wonder that, without fail, always accompanies the night sky.
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Oh my goodness, I laughed so many times reading this book, and my boys thought it was absolutely hilarious. I love books that play around with language, and this zany and hilarious conversation between a dad and his bear cub will you have giggling from start to finish — and learn homonyms and conjunctions along the way. If you love the old “Who’s on First” comedy routine, this is one of the funny children’s books sure to become a family favorite. We love these silly bears!
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Not only is this Caldecott Honor book a perfect introduction to musical instruments, but it’s also a counting book, too! From trumpets to trombones, duets to trios, children will delight in this rhythmic romp through the musical groups. This is such a fun and vibrant rhyming book that has stood the test of time and enthralled young readers for years!
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This is one of our favorite rhyming books! Dust bunnies Ed, Ned, and Ted rhyme all the time. But a fourth bunny, Bob, just can’t catch on. Unless he’s not actually trying to rhyme at all, and he’s instead trying to warn the others of some clear and immediate dangers… like brooms. Or even worse? The terrifying vacuum. Will Bob be their rhyming downfall, or will he save them from the broom — and eventual doom? I dare you to try to get through this one without laughing.
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This book is so tender and lovely! I simply adore the way it describes what makes a house a home, and how all homes are perfect for the creatures living in them. Whether homes are hard or soft, wet or sky, loud or proud, home is anywhere you love. With lyrical, rhythmic text and vibrant, accessible illustrations, young kids will pore over these pages, marveling at the different places both people and animals call home. Perfect for a study about houses and homes, and equally perfect for a bedtime read, this one is a true gem for little ones!
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An oldie but goodie, and one we love for the way it reminds us all to embrace each and every one of our attributes – even the most ungraceful! Even if you are different, even if you aren’t the best at every skill you undertake, this sweet story reminds us that we are still so very special— and so very great.
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