Books that Build Phonemic Awareness

Read to your child whenever you get the chance. The following books are rich in rhyme and help build phonemic awareness. The list was compiled by reviewing recommendations, Caldecott awards, catalog excerpts and my own memory. All are available at major public libraries at no cost to you. This list is just a starting point as there are many, many good books in print. For instance, searching the Los Angeles Public Library for "Juvenile Stories in Rhyme" returns 2612 titles. I recommend that you and your child visit your local library regularly and choose books to enrich every evening.

Pass the Peas, Please by Dina Anastasio
Which Witch is Which? by Judi Barrett
My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch by Graeme Base
How Big is a Pig? by Clare Beaton
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

Tiny Tim Collection by Jill Bennett
Honk! Toot! Beep! by Samantha Berger
Nana's Hog by Larry Dane Brimner
I Love You, Good Night by Jon Buller
Altoona Baboona by Janie Bynum

Mrs. McTats and her Houseful of Cats by Alyssa Capucilli
I Saw the Sea and the Sea Saw Me by Megan Montague Cash
Who is Tapping at my Window? by Alhambra Deming
Sing a Song of Popcorn by Beatrice deRegniers
A Dragon in a Wagon by Lynley Dodd

Casey Jones by Allan Drummond
Rub a Dub Dub by Kin Eagle
Top Cat by Lois Ehlert
10 in a Bed by Anne Geddes
Stop that Noise! by Paul Geraghty

Mole in a Hole by Rita Golden
Six Sleepy Sheep by Jeffie Gordon
Skunks by David Greenberg
Nora's Room by Jessica Harper
A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hobermann

Scat Cats by Joan Holub
Surprises Collection by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Miss Spider Series by David Kirk
Bus Stop, Bus Go! by Daniel Kirk
I Can Fly and The Happy Day by Ruth Krauss

A Frog Went a Courtin' by John Langstaff
When the Dark Comes Dancing by Nancy Larrick
Chugga-chugga Choo-choo by Kevin Lewis
Mice Twice by Joseph Low
Nathaniel Willy Scared Silly by Judith Mathews

A Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
Messy Bessy by Pat McKissack
The Cat Barked by Lydia Monks
Dinosaur Chase by Carolyn Otto
The Helen Oxenbury Nursey Story Book by Helen Oxenbury

Pickles in My Soup by Mary Pearson
Splat! by Mary Margaret Perez-Mercado
Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky
There Was an Old Witch by Howard Reeves
The Best Storybook Ever by Richard Scarry

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
A Giraffe and a Half and Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
The Three Wishes by Judith Stamper
I Love Trains by Philemon Sturges
Green Eggs and Ham and Cat in a Hat by Dr. Suess

Mrs. McNosh and the Great Big Squash by Sarah Weeks
Finders Keepers by Will and Nicolas
Dumpy LaRue by Elizabeth Winthrop
Clara Ann Cookie, Go To Bed by Harriet Ziefert