Here are some books about germs and washing hands for preschool. Reading these books to pre-k children will help encourage safe health and hygiene.

Whether it’s back to school time or cold/flu/covid season, these books will teach preschoolers how to stay healthy. If you have children asking why they get sick, you need the best preschool books to provide them with knowledge about harmful germs and how viruses work.
Many books on this list help children learn the importance of hand washing as well as the proper way to wash hands.

Here’s a FREE Hand Washing poster for your class!
This poster shows each step for washing hands. Post it by your sink as a visual reminder for children.
from prekinders.com
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Books About Germs and Washing Hands for Preschool
These books will help teach pre-k children about germs, good hygiene, and how to wash their hands.

Wash Your Hands, Mr Panda
by Steve Anthony
Wash Your Hands, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony is a funny story that teaches children when and why it’s important to wash their hands. Mr. Panda reminds his friends to keep their hands clean and practice healthy hygiene habits.

Sick Simon
by Dan Krall
Sick Simon by Dan Krall is a funny story about a boy who goes to school even though he is sick and spreads his germs everywhere he goes. The book helps children understand how germs spread and why healthy habits like covering coughs, washing hands, and staying home when sick are important.

Germs vs. Soap: A Silly Hygiene Book about Washing Hands!
by Didi Dragon
Germs vs. Soap by Didi Dragon is a fun, kid-friendly story that shows what happens when germs meet their biggest enemy—soap! It helps children understand how washing their hands with soap gets rid of germs and helps keep them healthy.

Pig in Jeans Fights Germs
by Brenda Li
Pig in Jeans Fights Germs is a fun story that teaches children simple ways to protect themselves from germs and stay healthy. Through Pig in Jeans, children learn healthy habits such as washing their hands and preventing germs from spreading.

Germs Are Not for Sharing
by Elizabeth Verdick
Germs Are Not for Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick teaches young children simple ways to keep germs from spreading. Children learn healthy habits such as washing their hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and keeping germs to themselves.

Wash Your Hands!: Keeping Clean in a Messy World
by Noreen R. Hussain
Wash Your Hands!: Keeping Clean in a Messy World teaches children why handwashing is important and how it helps keep germs away. The book explains when children should wash their hands and encourages good hygiene habits.

Cutie Sue Fights the Germs
by Kate Melton
Cutie Sue Fights the Germs by Kate Melton is a rhyming story that teaches children simple ways to avoid spreading germs and stay healthy. Cutie Sue learns about washing her hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and other healthy habits that help fight germs.

A Germ’s Journey
by Thomas Rooke M.D.
A Germ’s Journey follows a germ as it travels from person to person, showing children how easily germs can spread. The story helps children understand why handwashing and other healthy habits are important for preventing the spread of germs.

Germs Make Me Sick!
by Melvin Berger
Germs Make Me Sick! by Melvin Berger explains what germs are, how they spread, and how they can make us sick. This kid-friendly nonfiction book also teaches children simple ways to help prevent illness and stay healthy.

Do Not Lick This Book
by Idan Ben-Barak
Do Not Lick This Book by Idan Ben-Barak takes children on a fun, interactive journey into the microscopic world of germs and microbes. With real microscope images and playful illustrations, it shows children that tiny microbes are all around us—even though we can’t see them.

Pete the Kitty: Wash Your Hands
by James Dean
Pete the Kitty: Wash Your Hands by James Dean teaches young children about washing their hands and keeping germs away. Pete shows children when to wash their hands and how this simple healthy habit can help keep everyone well.

Curious George Discovers Germs
by H. A. Rey
Curious George Discovers Germs follows George as he learns what germs are, how they spread, and how they can make people sick. Through his curiosity and discoveries, children learn about handwashing and other healthy habits that help prevent the spread of germs.

Noses Are Not for Picking
by Elizabeth Verdick
Noses Are Not for Picking by Elizabeth Verdick gently teaches young children why picking their noses is not a healthy habit. It offers simple, age-appropriate ways to care for their noses, use tissues, and help keep germs from spreading.

Scrubba Dub, Carlos
by Stuart J. Murphy
Scrubba Dub, Carlos by Stuart J. Murphy follows Carlos as he learns about washing up and keeping clean as part of his daily routine. The story introduces young children to good hygiene habits in a fun and easy-to-understand way.

Benjamin Monkey Wash Your Hands
by Spencer Noodle
Benjamin Monkey Wash Your Hands follows Benjamin as he learns why washing his hands is an important part of staying clean and healthy. The story teaches young children about germs and encourages good handwashing habits in a fun, age-appropriate way.

