1000 Books Before Kindergarten: November 2025Like this list

20 items

• This Land

  the History of the Land We're on

  Fairbanks, Ashley,

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  Before your family moved in, who called your home their own — and who was there long before houses stood at all? Told through a series of postcards showing the history of Indigenous people around America and inviting kids to see their own backyard…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Let's Go, Baby!

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  Your little one will be captivated by bright photos of other babies just like them: eating, playing, splashing and exploring their world. Sweet photos celebrate everyday moments.

• I Made These Ants Some Underpants!

  Wilder, Derick,

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  When a child is told there are underwear rules to follow, he says "Nope!" and turns to creating undies for every creature he can imagine, from ants to dragons. Packed with rhymes, giggles and questionable fashion choices, this is a hilarious tale of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Fox Versus Fox

  Tabor, Corey R.,

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  When a woodland fox meets a suspiciously fluffy, snow-colored "fox," he's pretty sure there's been a mix-up — until the newcomer starts outfoxing him. Packed with sneaky tricks, dramatic one-upmanship and a surprise friendship, this laugh-out-loud…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Gymnastica Fantastica!

  Stewart, Briony,

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  Meet Gymnastica, a tiny tornado of energy who flips, flops and flies through a day of delightful moves! With bouncy rhymes, this playful story celebrates big imaginations and the courage to keep on tumbling.

• Log Life

  Hevron, Amy,

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  When one of the world's oldest trees falls, it's not the end; it's the beginning of a whole new forest story. Packed with beautiful illustrations, this book reveals the secret life of nurse logs and the tiny creatures they support for centuries to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Not a Smiley Guy

  Horvath, Polly,

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  Ernest is a happy kid; he's just not a smiley guy. However, everyone is obsessed with getting him to smile, even going so far as to get him a pet elephant! This humorous story shows that happiness comes out in different ways.

• Chooch Helped

  Rogers, Andrea L.,

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  Little brother Chooch is a whirlwind of "help" that often leaves a mess behind — requiring a lot of patience from his big sister! This heartwarming story celebrates the chaos and laughter of siblings. The author is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

• When the Sun Goes Down

  Acosta, Alicia,

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  As the sun sets behind the hills, animals big and small hurry home to their families. Join Giraffe, Elephant, Parrot and friends in this colorful celebration of families and the special places we all call home.

• Watch Out for the Lion!

  Hartman, Brooke,

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  Warning: This book claims there's a ferocious lion inside, ready to turn any kid into "rugrat ravioli" (yikes!). But as you poke at tails and claws, you might find this so-called beast is more of a silly surprise than a scary snacker. Get ready to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Noisy Puddle

  a Vernal Pool Through the Seasons

  Sweeney, Linda Booth, 1963-

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  Explore the magical, ever-changing world of a vernal pool — a special kind of puddle habitat that pops up in the spring, dries up by summer, reappears in the fall and freezes over in the winter. Who knew a puddle could hold seasonal surprises?!

• Howdy, Partner!

  Breen, Steve,

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  Meet Sky, the no-nonsense cowgirl, and Ty, her goofy but reliable T. Rex partner, running the fastest delivery service this side of the Mississippi. Together, they'll tackle a tricky bear problem, proving that with teamwork and a little dino-sized…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Bored Panda

  Bender, Mike, 1975-

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  When the Wi-Fi goes down, the boredom hits hard! With nothing else to do, Panda ventures outside and meets some animal friends who help reboot his imagination. The best adventures happen when you look around.

• The Quickest Bedtime Story Ever!

  Fitzgerald, Louise (Acting coach),

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  Get ready for the world's fastest bedtime story — just 10 words long (seriously!). But first: fluff the pillows, wrangle the teddy bears and survive a few dramatic delays in this laugh-out-loud wind-down that somehow makes not reading the story half…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• We Are Definitely Human

  Fang, X.,

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  When three extremely normal "humans from Europe" crash their definitely-not-a-spaceship in Mr. Li's field, he does the neighborly thing: invites them in and helps fix their "car." With hot dogs worn as hats and serious sportsball enthusiasm, these…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Flap Your Hands

  a Celebration of Stimming

  Asbell, Steve, 1983-

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  Four neurodivergent kids navigate overwhelming moments using stims — self-regulating movements that help them feel safe and seen when feelings bubble over. With rhythmic text and bold illustrations, this book invites all children to embrace their…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Just What to Do

  Lukoff, Kyle,

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  When the people they love are sad, a thoughtful child tries everything to help — funny faces, kind words — but each person needs something different. Through gentle, heartfelt moments, this story helps young readers understand that when it comes to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Windsongs

  Poems About Weather

  Florian, Douglas,

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  Introduce kids to the wonders of weather through playful poems that twist, swirl and zigzag just like the storms they describe. With each page shaped like rain, wind or lightning, kids will discover both the power of nature and the creative magic of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Quill the Forest Keeper

  Tolman, Marije,

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  Quill is a hedgehog who works hard to keep his corner of the world clean. Yet, every time he cleans one area, another one gets dirty. Exhausted by his efforts, he pauses to rest, and his friends step in to help when they realize how much his efforts…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten

  View on jeffcolibrary.org

  Get your child ready to read by sharing books together! 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nationwide challenge to read, you guessed it, 1,000 books with your little one before they start kindergarten. The library’s special program for you and…Read moreRead more of this annotation