Pre-K–Kindergarten · ages 4 · levels R1
Reading Books for 4-Year-Olds
The very first English books for 4 year olds: 18 picture books where each page shows one thing and names it – "The cup." – so a child can read along after hearing it once.
Ages 4Pre-K–KindergartenLevels R118 books2 free to read
Free reading level test
Not sure which book to start with?
Read a few short texts and answer two questions about each. Young children tap the picture that matches the words. The test finds your exact level, from R1 to R29, and opens the right shelf of books.
- Ages 4 and up
- 5–10 minutes
- No timer
- Picture questions for young readers
At four, a book is one picture and one or two words a page, and the same pattern on every page. That repetition is the point: by the third page a child is saying the words before the narrator does. These books sit at levels R1, about Pre-K–Kindergarten.
With a four year old, let the narrator read the whole book first while your child points at each picture. On the second go, pause before the last word of each page and let them say it.
The 18 books on this page, by topic: Animals (3), Food & Cooking (3). Good first picks: “The Little Bird”, “My Breakfast”, “The Night Sky”.
Animals
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Food & Cooking
More books
Questions about books for 4 year olds
Can a 4 year old really read these?
Most will listen and point first, then join in with the repeated words. That is how reading starts, in any language.
Should a 4 year old know the alphabet first?
No. These books work by picture and pattern, not by sounding out letters. Knowing a few letters helps, but it is not needed to start.
Do the books have audio?
Yes. A narrator reads every page and each word lights up as it is spoken; characters have their own voices.