Playing Preschool Book Lists » We Love These Children’s Books About Clothing
By Lauren Bercuson · Published: · Modified: · This post may contain affiliate links
Children’s books about clothing charm kids from the get-go because they can be so relatable. Even better, books about clothes also offer kids fun ways to learn about the world around them. Check out our list of favorites!
Table of Contents:
- Children’s books about clothes inspire quick connections
- Kids’ books about clothing teach kids about diverse people and cultures
- Frequently asked questions
- We love these children’s books about clothes!
There’s no doubt about it: kids love making connections to the stories they read.
Whether it’s the food they eat, the weather outside, or the bears they sleep with at night, books come alive when children can relate the stories they read to their own real-world experiences.
Children’s books about clothes are ripe for connection-making.
All kids have a favorite article of clothing, whether a sparkly pair of shoes, a beloved sweater, or those cherished pajamas from grandma and grandpa. When children read books about characters attached to special garments, they can’t get enough. They want to read and savor those books again and again!
They know those stories. They’ve lived those stories. And their excitement is palpable.
Kids’ books about clothing teach kids about diverse people and culturesI love children’s books about clothes for so many reasons. For those expressed above, surely. But also because books about clothes expose children to the diverse world around them.
Many of the clothing books on our list below center on garments important to a particular religion or culture. Reading these stories is a wonderful way to learn about people both around the world and right in your own neighborhood who proudly wear traditional clothing in honor of where they come from or what they believe. Reading is a wonderful way to take kids on a journey around the globe, and these children’s books about clothing bring our diverse world right into your home.
Our below list of children’s books about clothing contains books that will teach your children, make you belly laugh, and give you a good lesson in courage, too. Enjoy!
RELATED: We’ve got more than 100 children’s book lists on Happily Ever Elephants. Be sure to check out this link!
Frequently asked questionsDo children’s books about clothing help teach kids about other cultures?
Absolutely! Reading books about different clothing worn by people worldwide teaches kids about other people and cultures. They help to expand our kids’ worldviews, foster curiosity, and inspire young readers to learn about clothes and garments not traditionally found in their own homes.
Is there a great children’s clothing book to introduce my toddler to different kinds of garments?
Absolutely! I love Touch Words: Clothes, by Rilla Alexander (featured below) for this very purpose. This is a fabulous, tactile book that combines the senses of touch, sight and sound to learn about the clothes in their drawers or closets. It helps children build their vocabulary and explore the garments we wear regularly.
What is your favorite children’s book about clothing?
I will forever love Mary Wears What She Wants, by Keith Negley (featured below). This book is a joy! Inspired by Mary Edwards Walker, a trailblazing doctor who rebelled against the traditional clothing typically worn by women and girls in the 1800s, this fantastic picture book centers around one young girl who decides that girls should be able to wear pants just like boys, and thus rebels against the status quo in her town. A book about voice, courage, and being true to yourself, Mary Wears What She Wants is a forever favorite.
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RELATED: Looking for great books for storytime? We have an excellent list of kindergarten read-alouds for you, so be sure to check them out!
We love these children’s books about clothes!
Touch Words: Clothes
By Rilla Alexander
We simply love tactile books, and this one is both beautiful, elegant, and simple. In this sturdy board book, toddlers are given an introduction to a variety of clothes they may wear on a given day. From underwear to dresses to belts and pants, this book allows kids to run their fingers over raised words and articles of clothing, combining sight, touch, and sound as they build their vocabulary fundamentals. We also love My Day, by the same author.
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Mary Wears What She Wants
By Keith Negley
This fabulous book is inspired by Mary Edwards Walker, a trailblazing doctor who rebelled against the traditional clothing typically worn by women and girls in the 1800s. Why? Because girls were supposed to wear dresses, and only boys could wear pants. But pants were more comfortable – they allowed for more freedom and movement. So what did Mary do? Supported by her dad, she had a novel idea — she would wear whatever she wanted! My family and my students love the way this fabulous story conveys that our single, individual voices have so much power to make positive change, and it is always a classroom favorite! For our full review of Mary Wears What She Wants, click here!
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Very Good Hats
By Emma Straub and Blanca Gomez
Do you even know what a hat is? This fabulous children’s book about clothing explores this very question. Some people think hats are simply purchased from cool stores, hats like baseball caps, berets, and cowboy hats. But those hats are just the beginning. If you look around you, you’ll see that hats are everywhere! Cats become the perfect warm hats for a cold day. Bubbles make the coolest hats in the bath. And books- hardback of course- make perfect hats, especially when you’re looking to improve your posture. This is the perfect story for families who love the classic picture book, Not a Box by Antoinette Portis, encouraging kids to get their thinking caps on as they discover that hats are everywhere. An instant classic!
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Red Shoes
By Karen English and illustrated by Ebony Glenn
Malika receives the perfect pair of shoes as a gift from her Nana, and she wears them during many new experiences throughout the year. But then— oh no!! Malika grows and her shoes become too tight! She is sad to part with them, but when she takes the shoes to a second-hand store, Malika hopes someone else will wear them and love them, too. Then Inna Ziya spies the shoes in the window and gifts them to a little girl who will love them… in Africa! I love the way one pair of shoes connects two children across the world. Letting go of prized possessions is not easy for children, but this joyful story helps kids recognize how letting go can bring so much joy to others!
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That’s MY Sweater!
By Jessika von Innerebner
Every child with a younger sibling will be able to relate to this laugh-out-loud funny book about one little girl with a very favorite sweater. Olivia loves her sweater. Like, loves, loves, LOVES it. So when she begins to outgrow it and the sweater goes to her younger brother, Olivia is less than thrilled. She is determined to get that sweater back, and the sibling rivalry here is not just oh-so-relatable, but it will make both kids and grown-ups alike crack up. But what happens when Olivia realizes that someone else enjoyed this sweater – someone before her?! You will love the twist at the end, and your young readers will beg for another read!
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What Riley Wore
By Elana K. Arnold and Linda Davick
I love books that authentically capture a child’s self-expression and the freedom with which they go about their days and routines. Here, Riley knows just what to wear each day. Whether it’s a superhero cape when Riley needs to be brave at the dentist, construction gear to help Dad at the hardware store, or a fancy ball gown to dine at a fancy restaurant, Riley always wears the clothing that feels exactly right. When another child on the playground questions whether Riley is a girl or a boy, Riley’s answer is simple: Riley is a firefighter, a dancer, a monster hunter, a pilot, and a dinosaur. LOVE this one!
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The Runaway Shirt
By Kathy MacMillan and Julia Castano
Let’s face it. Laundry is a chore. It isn’t fun for anyone – well, unless you’re a child and you climb into the laundry basket. Then all bets are off, and the games begin! In this adorable children’s book about clothing, one mom takes a break from folding clothes to engage with her little one in a game that unlocks the imagination. Who wants to do housework when you can play? We love this sweet story showcasing that even the most tedious chores can become exciting and fun with creativity and imagination.
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I Had a Favorite Dress
By Boni Ashburn and Julia Denos
Change can be tough – especially when it means your favorite clothes no longer fit because you have grown too tall! Throughout a year, one little girl’s favorite dress suddenly becomes even more as she struggles to keep it in her closet – a shirt, a tank top, a scarf and so on – until one day, the dress is simply a memory. We love this story of resilience and craftiness, showing how our favorite items can always become new, and we can make lemonade out of lemons.
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Mommy’s Khimar
By Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and illustrated by Ebony Glenn
This is a quiet beauty about a young Muslim girl who plays dress-up in her mother’s colorful headscarf. It is a gorgeous and oh-so-important mirror book for Muslim children and a wonderful window book for others, especially as it so elegantly challenges Islamaphobic chatter. Mommy’s Khimar exudes warmth, love, and tenderness, and it is one of the most important multicultural picture books to read to kids!
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The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh
By Supriya Kelkar and Alea Marley
Harpreet Singh loves colors, and he wears a different color patka – or turban – to match not only his clothes, but his mood, too. He loves bright yellow and courageous red, and all the colors of the rainbow! But when his mom gets a new job and Harpreet has to move to a new city, all he wants to wear is gray. This is a stunning children’s book about clothing and a lovely friendship story, too. It is perfect for SEL lessons and also as a book of colors to discuss how particular shades connote different emotions.
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Underwear!
By Jenn Harney
Oh my goodness, I laughed so many times reading this book, and my boys thought it was absolutely hilarious. I love books that play around with language, and this zany and hilarious conversation between a dad and his bear cub will you have giggling from start to finish — and learn hom*onyms and conjunctions along the way. If you love the old “Who’s on First” comedy routine, this is one of the funny children’s books sure to become a family favorite.
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Caps for Sale
By Esphyr Slobodkina
This was one of the first books my oldest wanted to read over and over again. It is the funny tale of a peddler, his caps, and a whole slew of naughty monkeys! We love it for its repetition, incorporation of color recognition, and because it is just so much fun to act out. Those darn monkeys make this classic an absolute must! For our full review of Caps for Sale, click here!
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Creepy Pair of Underwear
By Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown
This has been on heavy rotation in our house since the day it came in the mail, so much so that when my son had to dress as a book character for a party at school he chose to go as Jasper Rabbit in his ghoulish, glowing underwear. I mean, take a pair of neon green underpants, smack a creepy, Frankenstein-esque face on them, and mail them to China (only to have them immediately returned with a pair of chopsticks!), and it’s clear you have a winner on your hands. Need I say more?
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Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do
By Kathryn Heling, Deborah Hembrook and Andy Robert Davies
In this guess-and-reveal community helper book, readers will learn about all sorts of careers and the uniforms different professionals wear to work! From the mail carrier to the chef to the astronaut, kids will learn about the gear and tools each of these community helpers use in their jobs each day.
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The Proudest Blue
By Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali and Hatem Aly
At the beginning of a new school year, Faizah knows it’s going to be a special one. After all, the first day of school means its Faizah’s big sister’s first day of hijab. Her sister chooses a hijab of luxurious blue, but Faizah quickly learns that not everyone views the hijab as beautifully as she does. This extraordinary book shows children how to stand strong in the face of bullying, and that family bonds — especially those shared between sisters — are unbreakable. We love this breathtaking story — it is a necessary and important mirror book for some children and a powerful window book for others.
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Green Pants
By Kenneth Kraegel
So many of our children are attached to an object – be it a lovey, a stuffed animal, or a favorite article of clothing. In this sweet story, Jameson is attached to his green pants! But he has a decision to make: if he wants to be in his cousin’s wedding, he must wear black pants instead. Will he find a way to make his family happy while also staying true to himself?
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Under My Hijab
By Hena Khan and Aaliya Jaleel
Not only is this a special book — but it is also a vitally important one to add to your collections. In this tender story, a young girl studies the way six significant women in her life wear their hijabs, how each of these special ladies showcase their personalities through them, and how their uniqueness also shines in the way they wear their hair when the hijab comes off in their homes. From the kitchen to the doctor’s office to the art studio, this gorgeous children’s book about clothing illustrates the hijab as a symbol of pride within Muslim culture, encouraging one little girl to dream of the ways she will wear her own hijab when she is bigger. For our full review of Under My Hijab, click here!
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Those Shoes
By Maribeth Boelts and illustrated by Noah Jones
Jeremy wants nothing more than the same pair of shoes that the other kids at school wear. But, according to his grandma, Jeremy’s “wants” are not nearly as important as his “needs.” This is such a special children’s book about gratitude, one I read to my students every year around Thanksgiving because it masterfully sparks a discussion about wants and needs, as well as the fulfillment that can be found in helping others. It is a lovely story to celebrate kindness and gratitude. For our full review of Those Shoes, CLICK HERE!
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Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse
By Kevin Henkes
Ok, while a purse isn’t technically clothing, it’s close enough and I couldn’t resist including this classic story about poor choices and forgiveness. Lilly loves school, and she really loves her teacher, Mr. Slinger. But when Mr. Slinger takes away Lilly’s purse because Lilly was not behaving respectfully, Lilly seeks revenge and draws a mean picture of her teacher. But then she finds the note he leaves her, and Lilly is full of remorse over her actions. How can Lilly make things right again? Will she have the courage it takes to apologize for her actions? This classic story is authentic and oh-so relatable. Pure perfection!
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Happy reading!
RELATED: We’ve got the best books for 3-year-olds for you on Happily Ever Elephants, so be sure to check them out!
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