10 Best Books for 4-Year-Olds
Updated 29 September 2020
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Author
Daniel is our primary content producer here at TheToyZone. He is a big kid at heart and a self confessed geek. His mission is to find toys that kids will treasure, researching and writing about toys he wants to play with himself.
A four-year-old is likely to have ideas about what they want from a book. Some kids might enjoy a basic book with fewer words; others might love flicking through a picture book. Basically, it‘s all about having fun at this age but finding the right book for them can be a terrifying task.
To make it easier for you, we‘ve looked to real parents and their online reviews to find the 10 best books for four-year-olds. Rest assured, all of these books come with the parental seal of approval and we removed any books that were attempting to pull us in with fake reviews. So read on to find the best option for the kid in your life.
1Goodnight Moon
This is a classic bedtime story that combines rhymes with soft colored illustrations. The story follows a little bunny in his room at bedtime as he tells everyone and everything he loves good night.
What we love
- It comes in a hardcover format to make it more durable
- The rhymes are easy to read and help kids learn some common rhyming words
What We Don't Like That Much
- The pages are thin and can rip easily if not handled with care
2Harry the Dirty Dog (Harry the Dog)
We chose this as one of the best books for four-year-olds because it is a timeless and fun tale about an adorable dog, Harry. This story follows Harry throughout his day. Avoiding a bath, Harry, who is a white dog with black spots, ends up becoming so dirty that he looks like a black dog with white spots!
What we love
- The illustrations help enhance the overall story visually
- The story has relatable characters
What We Don't Like That Much
- This is just one of the stories about Harry, others books are all sold separately
3Tikki Tikki Tembo
This book follows the adventures of a little boy who fell down a well. He has a long name, and this story was created based on an old Chinese folktale. The story will inspire and comfort kids.
What we love
- It comes in paperback and Kindle format
- The main character is relatable and has a fun name
What We Don't Like That Much
- It would be better in a hardcover or board format
4Go, Dog Go (I Can Read It All By Myself, Beginner Books)
This story will make kids laugh and smile. It's about dogs and it was edited by Dr. Seuss to ensure it provides a quality story for young children. Finally, it has fun illustrations that set this book apart from others like it.
What we love
- This story is designed to help encourage children to read by themselves
- It comes in a hardcover and Kindle format
What We Don't Like That Much
- It does diverge from the original slightly
5Last Stop on Market Street
This is an exciting tale about a young boy and his grandmother! CJ is very inquisitive about why they do the things they do. This book will help kids see the value of what they have and appreciate things in their life.
What we love
- It has a durable hardcover
- Beautifully illustrated to enhance the story
What We Don't Like That Much
- Sentence structure makes it a little bit harder to read aloud
6The Giant Jam Sandwich
Within this story, children can join Bap the Baker and the townspeople in a crazy idea to help rid their town of a swarm of four million wasps. It uses easy to read rhymes that are lyrical, but will their crazy idea work and help get rid of their wasp problem?
What we love
- This book is made from high-quality board for durability
- It makes an interesting story for any time of the day
What We Don't Like That Much
- The illustrations are beautiful but could be more complete in some areas
7Madeline
Madeline is a beloved classic character in literature for young children and this is the first book that introduces Madeline to the world. It has beautiful whimsical illustrations of Paris and the story is easy to read and follow for four-year-olds.
What we love
- It has a young and courageous heroine that is relatable to many children
- The illustrations help kids to visualize being in the story with Madeline
What We Don't Like That Much
- Could do with an easier-to-read font
8The Going-To-Bed Book
Four-year-olds can enjoy this classic bedtime story. It follows the bedtime routine of a family, and it has funny and relatable characters for kids to learn about. Finally, it is made from high-quality board, which makes it suitable for them to read by themselves without worrying about ripped pages.
What we love
- It has whimsical illustrations that use soft colors for bedtime atmospheres
- The words are simple and easy to read for beginners
What We Don't Like That Much
- Font could be easier to read
9TouchThinkLearn: ABC (Baby Board Books, Baby Touch and Feel Books, Sensory Books for Toddlers)
This book is excellent for helping kids to learn the alphabet and it uses different textures to promote their sensory skills at the same time. Each book is made from high-quality board, which makes it excellent for four-year-olds that might still be rough with things.
What we love
- The book is easy to turn and won’t tear easily
- It covers the entire alphabet
What We Don't Like That Much
- It is large and weighs 2.8 pounds, which can be heavy for younger children
10The Paper Bag Princess (Classic Munsch)
This is one of the best books for four-year-olds because it will capture their imagination as young Princess Elizabeth has to challenge a fierce dragon in order to save her beloved prince. It's a fun book and challenges role stereotypes, with the princess being a heroine instead of always being rescued by her prince.
What we love
- The book uses an easy-to-read font for younger children
- It is available for purchase in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover format
What We Don't Like That Much
- It’s a small book that can fit in the palm of your hand
