Sequencing Books
I love books as educational tools. When children learn through reading, it makes the learning process fun. These are some of my favorite sequencing books. I have read these with my kids and used them in speech therapy sessions to learn important concepts.
The concepts of first, beginning, next, middle, and last are not only important in storytelling, but are essential topics for learning how to read. I have written an article about the importance of sequencing that you can check out if you are interested in learning more.
Below, I included my favorite sequencing books for you to check out and I love them all. What makes these books “sequencing books” is that the order in which things happen is crucial for the story development. There is often a lot of repetition in these books as well.
The Best Sequencing Books
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Sequencing Book for Young Children
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff – Jump to Section
The Best Sequencing Book for Preschool
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson – Jump to Section
The Best Sequencing Book for Kindergarten
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Sequencing Books For Young Children
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Author: Laura Numeroff
Illustrator: Felicia Bond
Year: 1985
Genre: Board Book
Age: 2 – 5
More info: Part of the If You Give A Series
Plot
If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk. And so the story continues in a big circle until the mouse is thirsty again. The adorable pictures and silly consequences will help your little one understand sequencing.
Why Jackie loves it
I use this book in speech therapy all the time to work on sequencing and cause and effect. This is a great book to give you question prompts for your little one.
Find this book in: Best Books 2-Year-Old / Kids Books About Food / Animal Books for Kids/ Sequencing Books
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author: Eric Carle
Illustrator: Eric Carle
Year: 1968
Genre: Board Book
Age: 0 – 5
More info: International Bestseller
Plot
There are so many things about this classic book for kids that I love. Not only can you talk about days of the week, food, and counting, but you can follow the caterpillar on his journey to becoming a butterfly. When it comes to books for 3-year-olds, this one is tops.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a gorgeous introduction to nature, food, counting, and days of the week. It’s a classic for a reason! This is a delightful books that can be also be used to teach sequencing and vocabulary.
Find this book in: Classic Kids Books / Preschool Books About Food / Best Board Books / Educational Books for 3-year-olds / Counting Books / Sequencing Books
The Napping House
Author: Audrey Wood
Illustrator: Don Wood
Year: 1984
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2 – 5
Plot
The illustrations and repetition in this book make it one of my favorite books with prepositions for toddlers. Everyone in the napping house piles onto the one bed to sleep.
Why Jackie loves it
The rhythm and repetition make it easy for your toddler to “read” the book with you. This is one of my favorite read-aloud books and is a delightful bedtime story that is also great scaffolding for children who are learning to put two words together.
Find this book in: Best Books for 3-year-olds / Sequencing Books
There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Author: Simms Taback
Illustrator: Simms Taback
Year: 1997
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2-5
More info: Caldecott Honor Book
Plot
This is a hilarious and completely ridiculous story about an old lady who eats whole animals. Crazy? Absolutely, but because it is so absurd, the story is so much fun to read and is a perfect sequencing book.
This Caldecott Honor book has amazing, die-cut illustrations that make this book interactive as well.
Why Jackie loves it
I love reading this book and singing the song. This is also a fantastic book to read to practice sequencing
Find this book in: Sequencing Books
Plot
The adorable photographs in this book are captivating. As you follow Squirrel through his day, your little one can practice sequencing too. What is the first thing Squirrel does? What does he do next? What was the last thing Squirrel did?
Why Kirsten loves it
The details in each photo will have you reaching for this story again and again. This book is the perfect sequencing book for kids.
Find this book in: Sequencing Books
Sequencing Books for Preschoolers
Room on the Broom
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
Year: 2001
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2 – 8
Plot
A friendly witch takes to the night on her broomstick, but as the wind blows away her hat, her bow, and her wand, she finds some cute friends to join her on her ride. Will her friends be able to save her from a hungry dragon? This classic Halloween book for kids is now a cartoon movie!
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a year-round book in my house. The sweet tale by Donaldson and the fun illustrations by Scheffler will have this on your favorites list long after Halloween is over!
Why Jackie loves it
The wonderful rhymes in this book tell the story of friendship and inclusivity. This is one of my favorite books to promote reading readiness.
Find this book in: Witch Books for Kids / Halloween Picture Books / Halloween Movies Based on Books / Rhyming Books / Dragon Books for Kids / Best Books for 2-year-olds
This is Not My Hat
Author: Jon Klassen
Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Year: 2012
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2-6
More info: The Hat Trilogy 2 of 3
Caldecott Medal Winner, 2013
Plot
This funny story kids’ book is about a fish thief! A little tiny fish stole a hat from a giant sleeping fish and he thinks he can get away with it.
But will he be able to, or will he end up getting caught? This one will have you chuckling aloud as you read it!
Why Jackie loves it
Not only is this book hilarious, but it is also a great book to use for teaching sequencing! You can ask questions like, Who did the fish see first? Where did he go next?, And what happened at the end? This is a great book to start with when teaching sequencing because it is straight forward.
Find this book in: Sequencing Books / Kids Books About Fish
Dragons Love Tacos
Author: Adam Rubin
Illustrator: Daniel Salmieri
Year: 2012
Genre: Picture Books
Age: 2 – 5
More info: Dragons Love Tacos #1
Plot
Both the original story and the sequel feature taco-eating dragons who can’t stand spicy salsa! The whimsical illustrations are childlike and the stories are just plain silly! Your child will be giggling when they see the dragons burn down the house after eating spicy tacos.
Why Kirsten loves it
This book is adorable and hilarious. It is one we do not mind reading on repeat.
Find this book in: Books for 4-year-olds / Kids Books About Food / Dragon Books for Kids
Corduroy
Author: Don Freeman
Illustrator: Don Freeman
Year: 1968
Genre: Classic Picture Book
Age: 1 – 5
Plot
Corduroy is a bear who lives in a department story, waiting for someone to buy him. When a little girl finds him, her mother says she can’t have him because he’s missing a button. So he goes on an adventure to find one.
Why Jackie loves it
I love it when the little girl comes back and buys him with her own money and gives him a loving home. It’s a wonderful lesson that shows you don’t have to be perfect to be loved.
Find this book in: Best Books for 3-year-olds
Sequencing Books for Kindergarten
The Gruffalo
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
Year: 2005
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 3 – 7
Plot
This book is another classic in our house. Mouse proves that a little bit of brain is all you need when faced with a whole lot of muscle. We adore this rhyming wonder.
Why Jackie loves it
Not only is this book written in rhyme, but it is funny as well. It also has a very strong message about brains vs. brawn as well as bullying. I love using this to teach sequencing because the sequence of event in this book is perfect for the concepts of cause and effect.
Find this book in: Rhyming Books / Animal Children’s Books / Best Books for 5-Year-Olds / Monster Books for Kids
A Bad Case of Stripes
Author: David Shannon
Illustrator: David Shannon
Year: 2004
Genre: Picture Books
Age: 3 – 7
More info: Caldecott Honor Book
Plot
For little Camila, the first day of school doesn’t go according to plan when she wakes up covered in stripes! The reason? Camila is so worried about how people think of her that she breaks out in stripes!
Soon she’s not allowed to go to school, she’s being poked by doctors, and taking pills from experts, until a little old lady teaches her to accept herself and learn not to worry about what others think.
Why Jackie loves it
It’s a great way to discuss self-esteem with your child before they start school. this is also a great book to work on sequencing, and in this case, cause and effect.
Find this book in: Back to School Books / Children’s Book about Feelings / Best Books for 4-year-olds / Sequencing Books
Chalk
Author: Bill Thomson
Illustrator: Bill Thomson
Year: 2010
Genre: Wordless Picture Book
Age: 2 – 6
Plot
Three children discover a magical bag of chalk on a rainy day. As they begin to draw, magic happens and their creations come to life.
Why Jackie loves it
This wordless picture book will delight adults too. It’s the perfect playground book for a lovely day. Pack it in your activity bag, read it with your kids and let them draw their own chalk creations.
Find this book in: Playground Books / Best Books for 5-year-olds / Wordless Picture Books
The Wolf, The Duck, and the Mouse
Author: Mac Barnett
Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Year: 2017
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 3 – 7
More info: E. B. White Read Aloud Award Winner
Plot
A duck and a mouse find themselves inside a wolf’s belly and decide they like their life there. There is good food, and it’s relaxing, so when they find themselves back in the real world, they decide to find a way back.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a funny book that, at its heart, is about making a bad situation better. It is a strange and funny book that is so original. This is also a great sequencing story to work on cause and effect!
Find this book in: Best Animal Books for Kids / Best Books for 7-year-olds/ Sequencing Books
Expert Tip
There are some fantastic activities you can do to help children further develop their sequencing skills. Once the child is familiar with the story, try some of the following:
- Before turning the page, ask the child what they think is going to happen
- When you are finished a story, play a game of trying to remember what happened in the story from the beginning to the end. You can help your child and make it fun. If they can remember 3 things this time, maybe they will remember 4 next time.
- Pretend to make a “mistake”. For example, name the wrong animal in There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. See if your child can catch your mistake, If they do (or don’t), you can say, “I am so silly, that is not a cat, it’s a dog.”
- Use the internet to print up pictures of what happens in the story and see if your child can put it in the correct order. This works great for books like The Napping House or If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some great sequencing books for kids?
There are so many great books to teach sequencing to kids. Some of my favorites are Room on a Broom by Julia Donaldson, This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen, and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Felicia Bond
Related Content
Epilogue
I hope you love my list of sequencing books. Are there sequencing books I am missing from this list?
