Are you looking for the absolute best books for three-year-olds? As a childcare worker and mother, I’ve made the job easy by reading thousands of books to children over the years. As children grow, the books that they enjoy will change. They develop their understanding of stories and characters, and can appreciate hidden details in the illustrations that they may have missed in the past. While many of the books I have suggested for two-year-olds will still hold great appeal (click here if you’re interested in interactive books, lift the flaps and picture books for two-year-olds) these are the absolute best books for three-year-olds that I have found.

Best Books for Three-Year-Olds – Books with a Theme

The best books for three-year-olds are the ones that reflect their current interests. Three-year-olds know what they like, and they don’t mind reading a whole stack of books about the same topic. If they’re into diggers and cars and vehicles, there are many to choose from. They may be into dinosaurs, pirates, sparkles or unicorns. Thankfully, many books have been written with each of these themes.

Dinosaur Books:

How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

Dinosaur Roar by Paul Strickland and Henrietta Strickland

Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow and Adrian Reynolds (and others in the series.)

Dinosaur Dads by Lesley Gibbs and Majorie Crosby-Fairall

Pirate Books:

I Wish I Had A Pirate Suit by Pamela Allen

The Littlest Pirate by Sherryl Clark and Tom Jellett

How I Became A Pirate by Belinda Long and David Shannon

Sparkly Books:

Any in the series by Matilda Rose and Tim Budgen

Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris (and others in series)

The Princess Parables series by Jacqueline Johnson and Jeanna Young

Five Sparkly Mermaids by Christie Hainsby and Dawn Machell

Unicorn Books:

Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey

How to Catch a Unicorn by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton

Fancy Nancy and the Quest for the Unicorn by Jane O’Conner and Robin Preiss Glasser

Whimsical Books:

Anything by Dr Suess

Best Books for Three-Year-Olds – Funny Books Packed With Humor

The best books for three-year-olds are those that make them laugh. These are the funniest picture books I’ve found, and I guarantee you’ll be in stitches too as you read them. Most also have several books in the series, so if you’re child can’t get enough of this brand of humor, search up the author and keep sharing the fun.

The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith and Katz Cowley

The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak

Do Not Open This Book by Andy Lee and Heath McKenzie

Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen

The Wrong Book by Nick Bland.

Mr McGee series by Pamela Allan

Belinda by Pamela Allen

There’s a Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone

There’s Brocolli in my Ice Cream by Emily McKenzie

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

Too Many Cheeky Dogs by Johanna Bell and Dion Beasley

Mossies vs Flies by Sarah Speedie and Rebel Challenger

Errol by Zanni Louise

Bad Crab by Amelia McInerney

Best Books for Three-Year-Olds – Characters to Connect With

Children this age are building relationships with characters from books, especially those that are a part of a series – like Macca the Alpaca and Pig the Pug, and are starting to learn lessons about empathy, respect, self-control and kindness through the stories they are told. This is also the age where they can start to appreciate fairy tales like Jack and the Bean Stalk and Little Red Riding Hood.

Pig the Pug series by Aaron Blabey  

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson

Zog by Julia Donaldson

Macca the Alpaca series by Matt Cosgrove

Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement (and others in series)

How to Make Friends in 6 Easy Steps by Dhana Fox and James Hart

Florence and Fox by Zanni Louise

Miss Understood by Kat Apel and Beau Wylie

Three Billie Goats Gruff by Stephen Carpenter

Koko and the Coconut by Turia Pitt and Emilie Tavaiarii

Best Books for Three-Year-Olds – Books that Reflect Real Life

The best books for three-year-olds are books that contain something a child can relate to, like bath time, or storms, or going to childcare. They are also becoming aware of different celebrations throughout the year – like Easter and Christmas and even Book Week. Attending childcare will be making them aware of other festivals and changes in the weather and seasons

Hotel for Bees by Alison McLennan

Toy Mountain by Stef Gemmill and Katharine Hall

Too Much Stuff by Emily Gravett

Billie B Brown Childcare series by Sally Rippin

Seasonal Books:

Window by Jeannie Baker

The Waterhole by Graeme Base

Get Back in Your Books by Rory H Mather

Book Week Bear by Rory H Mather

An Aussie Year by Tania McCartney

Are We There Yet? by Allison Lester

ABC Australia by Frane Lessac

Bim Bam Boom by Margaret Wild

No Baths Week by Katrina McKelvey

When the Waterhole Dries Up by Kaye Baille

Big Rain Coming by Katrina Germein

Dairy of a Wombat by Jackie French