20 Books To Read Aloud To Your Kindergarteners

Tell-A-Tale, a concept e-magazine that focusses exclusively on stories is the first and only e-magazine in India that exclusively publishes stories about other storytellers, providing them with a platform to reach a pan-India audience. Here, they list out the best 20 books every parent needs to read out to their kindergarteners. 

Books are the one thing that stands by a person their entire lives. And while there are the few anomalies who develop a love for reading late in life, the joy of exploring the enchanting world of stories in childhood has a charm of its own. If you are a parent wondering how to get your kids to read, here are 20 books you simply must start with. Read them aloud to your little ones and they will soon be clamouring for more!

1. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White – A tale of friendship and faithfulness towards friends, this is the story of a pig who befriends a spider in the barn. But when the pig is threatened, the spider must do all she can to save her friend.
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle – Initially published in 1969, this classic is the story of a caterpillar's journey into a butterfly. Kids love the illustrated version.
3. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein – A story of love, warmth and compassion, this classic beautifully talks of the joy of selflessly giving, carrying a lesson for kids as well as elders.
4. Panchatantra Stories by Pt. Vishnu Sharma – A compilation of stories written around 200 B.C., with timeless lessons hidden within them.
5. The Great Hiss by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda – It's never too early to learn non-violence – this tale of an arrogant snake teaches just that.
6. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch – An endearing tale of a mother's love for her child, just so ideal for reading-aloud to your child.
7. Gajapati, Kulapati by Ashok Rajagopalan – Kids will fall in love with the words in this story that rhyme, repeat and are in rhythm.
8. Noddy in Toyland by Enid Blyton – For most kids, this is an introduction into the magical worlds that Enid Blyton created, as they adventure with Noddy, Big Ears and all the other inhabitants of Toyland.
9. Heidi by Johanna Spyri – Orphaned Heidi is sent to live with her grumpy grandfather in the Alps, but soon grows to love the mountains. Pick up the illustrated version of this classic.
10. The Original Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A.Milne – Take your kids on an adventure with Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, Eeyore, Piglet, Owl, Tigger and Christopher Robin.
11. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell – This is the story of a horse, who is given away by his master, but who learns to find joy and love with his new masters; a classic.
12. Padma Goes To Space by Swetha Prakash – Why can't volcanoes erupt juice and freeze into ice-creams. Learn to believe and dream and fly the universe with Padma.
13. Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak – Beware when you read-aloud this book with your kid. For all you know, next time you enter his room, he may have set off on a journey into his own "Wild Things" world!
14. The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt – What happens when crayons are tired of being themselves? They quit! You and your kid will laugh your way right to the end with this bestseller.
15. Tiger On A Tree by Anushka Ravishankar – Got a kid who's scared of tigers? Not anymore!
16. Harold and The Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson – Harold steps out into the night armed with a purple crayon, to travel through woods and across seas and past dragons before returning to bed, safe and sound. There is indeed no limit to a child's imagination.
17. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter – One of the earliest works of Beatrix Potter, the tales of mischievous Peter Rabbit and his misadventures are simple and heart-warming.
18. The Cat in The Hat by Dr Seuss – This classic is what most of us probably grew up reading.
19. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown – Bedtimes will no longer be tantrum times.
20. Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus by Mo Willems – A book that perfectly captures a toddler's temper tantrum.

This article was first published in Tell-A-Tale.