Children’s Books and Activities for Practicing Rhyming Skills

Rhyming is one of the first steps in learning to read. When children hear and play with rhymes, they start to notice how words sound alike. This builds phonological awareness—a key skill for future readers!

Here are some fun children’s books that are full of rhymes, plus easy activities to go with each one:

1. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Activity: Rhyme Hunt
As you read, pause and ask your child to guess the rhyming word:
“Llama Llama red ___?” (Pajama!)
Then try finding more rhyming pairs together, like “llama” and “mama.”

2. There’s a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins
Activity: Rhyme Sorting
Pick out rhyming word pairs from the book and write them on slips of paper (like “bear/chair” or “fair/stare”). Mix them up and let your child match the rhyming pairs.

3. Down by the Bay by Raffi
Activity: Make Your Own Rhyme
After reading, try creating silly rhymes together:
“Have you ever seen a goat… in a ____?” Let your child finish it with a rhyming word like “coat!”

4. Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
Activity: Rhyme Match Drawing
Pick two rhyming words from the book (like “cat” and “hat”). Ask your child to draw both, then try thinking of more rhyming pairs to draw.

5. Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
‍‍Activity: Rhyme or Not?
‍Say two words (like “fun/sun” or “dog/cat”) and have your child say whether they rhyme or not. Let them take turns being the “teacher,” too!