Rhyming is such an important skill for young learners. Having children listen to different rhyming words in picture books is a great way to help children identify rhyming words.
If you are looking for some great rhyming books for kindergarten, check out our list of books to read below. The books below are so fun and engaging! With these fun books, your students will be laughing and rhyming in no time.
*This post contains affiliate links.
Best Rhyming Books for Kindergarten
Reading rhyming books is a great way to improve phonological awareness skills and build up other important literacy skills. In this post, we are sharing some of our favorite rhyming books for kindergarten students.
I have always found that reading rhyming books together creates such funny and memorable moments. Many times, rhymes are silly and can be unexpected, which creates a lot of laughs from our little ones! Children’s laughter is contagious so I am sure you will be laughing soon enough.
Need more help teaching rhyming? Be sure to check out our blog post on how to teach your child how to rhyme.
BEST Rhyming Books For Children
1. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
The Gruffalo is a fun story about a mouse who is walking through the forest. The mouse happens to avoid conflict by tricking the others into thinking that he’s about to meet a very scary creature… the Gruffalo! I found the rhymes in this book to be simple and engaging. This is a great and entertaining book for young children.
2. The Koala Who Could by Bright Rachel
Kevin is a scared Koala who does not want to leave his tree. However, with the help of some friends, maybe Kevin actually can leave his tree. This book will make a fun story to read together. Complete with swirling text flow and bold illustrations, The Koala Who Could has a great message for all readers.
3. Where’s My Mom? by Julia Donaldson
With the help of a butterfly, a little monkey tries to find his mother. On their journey to find the little monkey’s mom, they encounter many different jungle animals. Julia Donaldson writes an engaging story with rhymes that are both effortless and fun.
4. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury
This classic rhyming book is a must-have for young readers. The storytelling in this book is very rhythmic and engaging, making it a very fun read-aloud story for all. The repeated rhyming words in this book are clever and fun.
5. Room on the Broom by Julia Donalson
This book is perfect for the Halloween season, but the fun rhymes and story can be enjoyed year-round! The wonderful illustrations in this book will surely captivate little readers. The valuable lesson of friendship is important for children of all ages to hear.
6. Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
With beautiful illustrations and repetitive rhyming, this book is great fun. Children will play a game of “I Spy” looking for popular nursery rhyme characters on each page. The rhyming words are easy to identify with the book’s short text, making this a great book to teach rhyming words.
7. Hairy MacLary’s Bone by Lynley Dodd
The lovable dog Hairy MacLary must protect his bone from his friends (who all have hilarious names!). The rhymes in this book are silly and fun, which will surely make this an enjoyable book for all readers.
8. Bumpus Jumpus Dinosaurumpus by Tony Mitton
The rhyming in this book is so fun to read! It is such a fun book. I think your children will love the excitement and anticipation that this story brings as well. There are so many fun movements from our different dinosaur friends. Tony Mitton certainly makes rhyming a blast with this story.
9. The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
This story about a grumpy fish who tries to find a little happiness is a fun and cute book that children will like. The Pout-Pout Fish has silly rhymes that will surely make young children smile and laugh. This book is a great addition to any library, especially if you are working on rhyming words. This book has quickly become one of my son’s favorite books!
10. The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson
I do believe Julia Donaldson can be crowned “The Queen of Rhyming Books” any day now! The Snail and the Whale is a charming book about under-the-sea adventures with two new friends. This book has beautiful illustrations and rhythmic rhymes that will make teaching rhymes a breeze.
11. Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
This book is perfect for teaching rhyming words. Mem Fox does a fabulous job of writing a playful, catchy, and simple story about some silly sheep. The vibrant illustrations make this a must-have book for classroom libraries. I love that this book is simple but still very engaging.
12. Dog On A Frog? by Kes and Claire Gray
This book has wonderful illustrations that will make your children laugh! This is a genuinely funny book that will not only entertain your children but also help your children develop those important rhyming skills. A hilarious book that I love to recommend!
13. There’s a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins
Uh Oh! A bear has made himself quite cozy on Mouse’s chair. What is Mouse to do? This funny and playful book will surely keep your little readers entertained and engaged. The excellent rhymes in this book are much fun.
14. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Lucille Colandro
In this book, you will follow this silly story of an old who keeps swallowing some unusual things. There are so many great books that are a part of this series. I highly recommend you check all of them out!
15. The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith
This quirky donkey will leave you and your little readers laughing and smiling! The rhymes are silly but catchy. By the end of the book, your children will be singing along to all of the silly rhyming words.
16. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin
I always love recommending this book because you get to take your children on a very fun alphabet adventure up a coconut tree. Kids will love the illustrations and the rhyming in this classic book. This is a wonderful book to help teach rhyming.
17. Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
It is time for all of the hardworking construction machines to get to bed in this sweet book. Gentle rhymes and captivating illustrations make this book soothing but entertaining as well.
18. Llame Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama Red Pajama is another bedtime storybook that many children can relate to. The gentle rhymes and expressive illustrations make this children’s book a must-read. The Llama Llama series is another one of my favorites. If you are looking for even more rhyming books, check out all of the charming books that are in that series.
19. Down by the Cool of the Pool by Tony Mitton
Get ready for a fun rhyming adventure in this silly story. This book’s lively rhymes and colorful illustrations create a playful atmosphere that will have children joining in and dancing to the rhythm.
20. Silly Tilly by Eileen Spinelli
Children will love the rhyming words and pictures in this silly book. They will giggle from start to finish listening to all of the silly things that Tilly does. This book will leave a lasting impression and will be a great addition to any bookshelf.
21. Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
I have always loved this book. The storyline is quite funny and will get your little ones laughing and giggling. The illustrations are colorful and engaging. When you are teaching rhyming words, this book will surely be a big hit. A great read!
Why Rhyming BOOKS matter FOR KINDERGARTEN
Rhyming is an important skill that falls under the umbrella of phonological awareness. Simply put, this is your ability to manipulate and change sounds in words.
Having strong phonological awareness skills leads to better reading skills. This is because your child is better able to recognize those different sounds in words. When a child has strong phonological awareness skills, they can identify individual sounds within words and understand how sounds correspond to letters.
When we rhyme, we recognize that two words have the same ending sounds. For example, ‘rock’ and ‘clock’ both have the same ending sound… so those two words are rhyming words.
It is important to know why rhyming books are a great way to help young readers.
The Importance of Rhyming Books
Children are drawn to rhyming books – and for very good reason. Young readers love the repetition that comes along in rhyming books. They’re really enjoyable to listen to. They are just downright fun!
Not only are rhyming books genuinely fun for children but these rhyming books are an important part of early literacy skills. As we have discussed, rhyming books help children develop their phonological awareness skills.
By reading rhyming books to your young kids, you can help them improve their ability to rhyme. In turn, they will develop a natural sense of it. It’s an important step to becoming a skilled and confident reader!
Having your child read rhyming books is the best way to practice rhyming.
I am excited to share you with some of my favorite rhyming books. Some of these rhyming books will make a great bedtime story. Other books are perfect for a classroom read-aloud. Either way, these books below are great reads.
Things to consider when choosing rhyming books for kindergarten
Complexity of Language
Kindergarten students are learning a lot of important language skills at this age. Choose rhyming books that won’t be overly simple. You want to select books that will introduce rhymes in a fun way. You will be looking for that perfect balance of finding a book that is both entertaining and right at your child’s level!
Rhyme Scheme
A reason why children love rhyming books is because they have a catchy rhythm. When you discover a great rhyming book with a good rhyme scheme, your children will enjoy the story. Try and find books that have a predictable rhyming pattern that is fun to follow.
Illustrations
Illustrations are a big part of your child’s reading experience. Older children still love vibrant illustrations as well. Picture books with high-quality and captivating images help complement an already wonderful story. Pictures in children’s book help spark their imagination and immerse themselves into the story they are reading.
Book Theme/Message
A great story is not only entertaining but it can also teach a wonderful lesson to children of all ages. Be on the lookout for books that include inspirational characters, enriching values, and positive messaging. Stories that can teach important life lessons are always beneficial.
How to Encourage Rhyming Skills at Home
Rhyming is an important pre-reading skill. As a parent or educator, you can help foster these important phonological awareness skills. By incorporating some simple but effective strategies, you can help encourage rhyming skills at home.
Apart from rhyming books, there are a few other ways to work on rhyming skills together. Let’s briefly go over some of those other ways.
Rhyming Games
Silly rhyming games can be such a fun way to incorporate rhyming into your daily routine! A simple way to do this would be to have your child come up with rhyming words for different objects around the house.
For example, “What rhymes with door?” Floor!
Nursery rhymes and songs
Nursery rhymes are a classic for a reason! Singing along to these types of songs exposes children to different rhyming patterns to help develop a sense of rhythm. Signing these songs together can be such a fun experience together.
The key is to make these experiences low-pressure, enjoyable, and interactive. Watch your child’s rhyming skills grow!
Related Posts
How to Teach Your Child Rhyming Words
