The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902) is our number one: short, picture-led and free to read on Project Gutenberg, where it is marked public domain in the USA. The Real Mother Goose and The Little Red Hen follow. Every book here was first published long enough ago to be public domain in the United States, and each is free to read online.
| # | Name | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Tale of Peter Rabbit | Best for a first real picture book at circle time | Free |
| 2 | The Real Mother Goose | Best for rhymes with toddlers and twos | Free |
| 3 | The Little Red Hen | Best for repeat-along retelling with 3s to 5s | Free |
| 4 | The Story of the Three Bears | Best for a Goldilocks unit with 3s to 5s | Free |
| 5 | Johnny Crow's Garden | Best for a short rhyming read for twos and threes | Free |
| 6 | Millions of Cats | Best for a repeating chant with 3s to 5s | Free |
| 7 | The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin | Best for 4s and 5s who like riddles | Free |
| 8 | The Tale of Tom Kitten | Best for a getting-dressed theme | Free |
| 9 | The Golden Goose Book | Best for a folk-tale week from one book | Free |
| 10 | The Velveteen Rabbit | Best for a calm read-aloud with 4s and 5s | Free |
Beatrix Potter (author and illustrator), 1902
The Frederick Warne edition, which says first published 1902 inside the book. Gutenberg marks it public domain in the USA, free to read online or download. A short, picture-led story that suits 2- to 5-year-olds at story time.
Watch for The scan is small on a projector; Gutenberg's own summary gives a different year.
Visit The Tale of Peter Rabbit ↗ Facts read on the maker’s page.
Illustrated by Blanche Fisher Wright, 1916
The 1916 rhyme book (year on its title page), with a picture for every rhyme. Gutenberg marks it public domain in the USA. Short rhymes suit 2-year-olds, and older preschoolers can join in.
Watch for Some old rhymes have dated or rough content; pick and choose.
Visit The Real Mother Goose ↗ Facts read on the maker’s page.
Retold and illustrated by Florence White Williams (Saalfield), 1918
A 1918 Saalfield edition of the old folk tale, illustrated throughout. Gutenberg marks it public domain in the USA. The repeated question of who will help suits 3- to 5-year-olds retelling the story.
Watch for The Gutenberg book page itself gives only a release date; the 1918 date is inside the book.
Visit The Little Red Hen ↗ Facts read on the maker’s page.
L. Leslie Brooke (F. Warne), early 1900s
Brooke's illustrated Goldilocks story, scanned from the New York Public Library. Internet Archive marks it not in copyright and dates it to the 1900s. Free to read in the browser or download. Suits 3- to 5-year-olds.
Watch for The exact first-publication year is not stated; it's a page scan.
L. Leslie Brooke, 1903
A rhyming animal picture book, marked first edition 1903 inside the book. Gutenberg marks it public domain in the USA. Very short rhyming lines suit 2- to 4-year-olds.
Watch for A few rhymes use old words that need explaining.
Visit Johnny Crow's Garden ↗ Facts read on the maker’s page.
Wanda Gág (Coward-McCann), 1928
The 1928 picture book, a 32-page scan from the Library of Congress Rare Book division. The page says it is now public domain in the United States. Free to read online or download as PDF or EPUB. The repeated cat chant suits 3- to 5-year-olds.
Watch for The cats fight and vanish in the story; preview it before reading to the youngest.
Beatrix Potter, 1903
Potter's story of a cheeky red squirrel and an owl. Gutenberg marks it public domain in the USA and gives 1903 in its summary. It has riddles in rhyme, so it suits 4- and 5-year-olds best.
Watch for The owl hurts Nutkin's tail at the end; preview it for the youngest.
Beatrix Potter, 1907
Potter's short story of three kittens who spoil their clothes before a tea party. Gutenberg marks it public domain in the USA and gives 1907. Suits 3- to 5-year-olds.
Watch for Small pictures and old-fashioned words; best read up close to a small group.
L. Leslie Brooke (Frederick Warne), 1905
Four illustrated tales in one book: The Golden Goose, The Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs and Tom Thumb. The title page says first printed 1905. Gutenberg marks it public domain in the USA.
Watch for Longer than a single picture book; Tom Thumb suits 5s more than 3s.
Visit The Golden Goose Book ↗ Facts read on the maker’s page.
Margery Williams; illustrated by William Nicholson, 1922
The toy-rabbit story with Nicholson's pictures. Gutenberg marks it public domain in the USA. Best read aloud to 4- and 5-year-olds over two sittings.
Watch for Long, and it includes a scarlet-fever scare; too long for twos.
We weighed these, most important first. The order is our judgement against them, not a score or a vote, and a different teacher could reasonably order it differently.
We took no money, free products or affiliate commissions for any place on this list, and no link here carries a tracking code. Every fact was read on the maker’s own page on October 30, 2026; prices carry that date because they change. See how we choose and the ad-free promise.
Last checked October 30, 2026. Something out of date or missing? Tell us and we will fix it; makers can send corrections, never money.