One of my favorite things I do for The Measured Mom is create book lists. My kids are always excited when we go to pick up our stack of reserved books at the library. And I love it when my Six plants herself on the couch between her brothers (ages 3 and 5) so I can have a quiet evening of dinner prep (as long as the baby is napping and my toddler can find something to do…).
Books to Read for Letter C
Letter C is a great letter — it was no trouble to gather a giant list of books. But don’t worry – I share only our favorites! You’ll find some of my kids’ best-loved books in this list of books to read for letter C.
Charise Mericle Harper
Cupcake is disappointed because unlike her siblings, she’s just plain vanilla. Candle hops up and laments that he’s just plain green. Together they brainstorm toppings that would make Cupcake special: pickles, spaghetti, smelly cheese… can you guess what turns out to be the perfect topper? This is a big favorite at our house and a personal favorite of mine – take a quick moment to reserve this hilarious book at your library! It would make a great birthday gift, too.
Judith Moffatt
Many versions of this story exist, but this early reader is my kids’ favorite. They like the collage illustrations and simple rhymes. This is one from our personal library, and I’ve read it more times than I can count!
Patricia Hubbell
This is a fantastic retro-style picture book with unique collage illustrations – a great book for kids who like things that go. You’ll love the rhymes too: “Start the motor! Turn the key! Compact car or SUV.”
Pamela Duncan Edwards
Books that use the same letter to start most of their words can get on my nerves. Not this one! It’s a wonderful story, not to mention a great vocabulary builder. Clara Caterpillar is a story about a common cabbage caterpillar. Catisha, catty and crimson, is full of conceit when she compares herself to the cream-colored Clara. But guess whose color comes in handy when predators come about?
Byron Barton
Barton’s simple books are great for toddlers, and my car-loving two-year-old is fully engaged for this book. The bright illustrations and very simple text share how a car owner takes care of his vehicle. Highly recommended for your smallest listeners!
Eric Carle
Here’s another great book for your toddler. He’ll enjoy naming the simple pictures on each page as Little Cloud turns into an airplane, clown, rabbit, and more.
Don Freeman
Do you remember this book from your childhood? I remember being fascinated by the department store teddy bear’s journey through the mall in the night. He’s on a journey to find his missing button in hopes that this will make him more appealing to children. In the end a little girl named Lisa adopts the less than perfect Corduroy.
Norman Bridwell
I’ll be honest – the Clifford books aren’t my all-time favorites. However, I think this is due to the over-commercialization of these books in recent years. If you go back to the first Clifford book, you can find the simplicity of the series. My kids love all the Clifford books, so I had to include a title about the giant red dog and Emily Elizabeth, the girl who loves him.
Brenda Guiberson
This is a wonderful book for your older preschooler. My Five (and his sister in first grade) are fascinated by the story of the amazing saguaro cactus. Did you know that the saguaro cactus is 75 years old before it grows a single arm? Or that over 150 years, it can grow to a weight of eight tons? The book also tells about the many animals who make the saguaro their home – hence the title.
Sherri Duskey Rinker
Have you ever driven by a construction site in the evening when all the big machines are quiet and still? This book brings those big machines to life in a tender way.
Karma Wilson
Here’s a funny rhyming book by the author of the Bear Snores On series. All the farm animals are happy with their traditional fare — the pigs love slop, the horses eat their hay, the chickens need their feed… but the cow loves cookies! This book’s clever and rollicking rhymes make it a great read-aloud!
Laura Numeroff
This is another title in the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series. While this one feels a bit more contrived than others in the series, the pictures and story are still irresistible. If you give a cat a cupcake, he’s going to want sprinkles to go with it… and on the story goes.
Ruth Krauss
This is an extremely simple story that has been popular for generations. A little boy plants a carrot seed, but everyone else is quite sure a plant won’t come up. They get quite a surprise at the end of the story!
Eric Carle
Here’s yet another classic book that every child should hear. The hungry caterpillar eats through many different kinds of food before he spins his cocoon and turns into a beautiful butterfly. My toddler loves to put his finger through the holes in the page where the caterpillar has “eaten.” (It might bother you that the book is scientifically inaccurate; caterpillars spin a chrysalis, not a cocoon. I just explained to my kids that the book had it wrong!)
Esphyr Slobodkina
Here’s yet another vintage book that is still popular today. The poor peddler! He works so hard to balance his caps on his head as he walks through town yelling, “Caps for Sale!” But a group of monkeys up in a tree steal all of his caps. How will he get them back? The surprise ending is our favorite part of the book.
Grace Maccarone
This is a great rhyming book with charming pictures. It’s a quick read and a book your preschooler will love so much he’ll soon be reciting it to you. It also works well for teaching opposites.
Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss wrote this book nearly sixty years ago, but its popularity has only increased over the years. There’s just something irresistible about the crazy cat who livens up the day of two children on a “cold, cold, wet day.”
Wanda Gag
Initially published over eighty years ago, this is the oldest vintage book in our book list for letter C. Kids may initially be resistant to the black and white illustrations, but this book has a charm that overcomes many kids’ resistance. An old man and woman are lonely, so the man sets off to bring a cat home to his wife. What does he find on the hillside but “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats!”? How will he choose the one just right for his little family?
Rob and Amy Spence
The train gets louder and louder as noisy animals climb aboard. Finally the engineer has had enough, and the animals quiet down. Told in rhyme with the repeating “Clickety Clack,” this book is an entertaining way to teach the sound of letter C.
Patricia Hubbell
Even if you’re a dog person, you’ll appreciate this book about every kind of cat imaginable… “Farm cats, city cats, sing-a-little-ditty cats…” The vibrant paintings will keep your toddler’s interest for this quick read.
Doreen Cronin
The cows have found an old typewriter, and now they’re busy making demands of Farmer Brown. When he refuses to give them electric blankets, they shut down the barn and his milk supply. A hilarious barnyard tale!
Alphabet Curriculum for Preschool
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Jackie Thiltgen
Where can I purchase the alphabet books?
Anna G
If you’re looking for the books featured in this post, just click on the links and purchase via Amazon.
Anna T
Hi Anna!!
Great name!! I wanted to give a big “THANK YOU” to you for your awesome site!! Definitely my go to place when I’m looking for enrichment activities for my son!!
Anna T
Taylor
Thank you so much!
Anna Geiger
Thanks for reading, Taylor!
Kate
Have you seen the new book, Captain Cat? Love it! I can’t remember where I found out about it–did you post it somewhere?
Anna Geiger
Hi Kate – no, I haven’t heard of Captain Cat. I’ll have to look into it!
Francis
We love Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site in my house. We also like the book she followed up with, Steam Train Dream Train. My boys love trains so I have put Clickety Clack on my list and Cactus Hotel sounds interesting too. Thanks for the list!
Anna Geiger
I hadn’t heard of Steam Train Dream Train, Francis. Thanks for the recommendation!
Kate
I loooooove long book lists from you, Anna! Eight books I’d never heard of on this list. Very exciting!
Anna Geiger
You’re my biggest book list fan, Kate 😉