Books and Giggles
children’s books and book extension activities
Find some new favorite November Read Alouds from this curated list of seasonal favorites, with an emphasis on fall and the lead-up to Thanksgiving. Soon after the excitement of Halloween fades and the sweet treats and candy wrappers are gone, it’s time to prepare for the excitement and anticipation of November and all that it…
Teachers and parents love a good book list! Whether you’re looking for the best read aloud books to go with a particular teaching unit, or simply want to browse by theme, this list of lists has you covered. Every single book on every single list has at least a short description, and often specific recommendations…
Looking for some fresh new picture books for Summer 2021 and beyond? Here are some of my favorites that have just been published – or are due out soon. Thanks to advanced copies from the publishers and a visit to my local bookstore, I’ve been able to look through each of these completely for you….
Inside: These Earth Day books for kids include picture books, nonfiction, and even board books. You’ll find meaningful choices for teaching and celebrating with children ages 3-12. April 22nd is coming up soon, and it’s time to think about what you’ll do for Earth Day! Whether you’re planning a special “green” activity or an upcycled…
Inside: Find children’s books about butterflies and caterpillars for kids from preschool and kindergarten through early elementary. Learning about caterpillars and their transformation into beautiful butterflies is a wonderful way for children to learn about nature, life cycles, and change. There are so many lovely books about butterflies and caterpillars available for you to share!…
Inside: This list of Gingerbread Man books is organized by grade and listed in pairs or groups of stories that are great to teach side by side. We’re a little gingerbread crazy here. Every year we like to make gingerbread playdough in December. I also love that there are so many Gingerbread Man stories out…
Today I’m excited to explore with you 10 favorite books for teaching story sequencing and story retelling. I’ve focused on titles that are just right for kindergarten. These will also get a lot of love in preschool and first grade. Why Teach Story Sequencing? As you may know, story sequencing is a crucial skill for…
Inside: A hand-picked list of construction books for preschoolers, including both new and classic titles. The Best Construction Books for Preschoolers This book list has grown and grown because I kept finding more wonderful construction books for preschoolers that I wanted to share with you here. I’ve organized the list into 4 sections. If you…
Inside: 10 winter books for preschoolers that they’ll love and you’ll adore reading aloud There are so many lovely children’s books about winter. As I put together this list, I included some of my all-time favorite picture books. I also found you a great selection of newer titles that I think you’ll love. Classic Winter…
Inside: a curated list of fiction weather books for preschool and kindergarten Wind and rain; sun and fog; and snow! We love reading about them all. If you’re looking for picture books to go along with your weather unit, I’ve got you covered here. Or, if you simply want new inspiration for your next library…
Inside: A huge, annotated list of children’s books about the sun, including both fiction and nonfiction titles for preschool through elementary. Whether you’re looking for picture books to go with a preschool summer sun theme, folktales to enthrall elementary students studying the Earth and space, or just-right nonfiction books that will hold your children’s…
Inside: Grab these free printable seasons emergent readers, and learn how to personalize them for each student. A couple of weeks ago my little 4-year-old friend would NOT let go of the emergent reader I’d printed out for him. This sweet boy, my friend’s son, is all about dinosaurs, and I’d given him a dinosaur…
Inside: 30 holiday books for preschoolers, annotated and sorted into categories for you. Whether you’re looking for a new title to read aloud to your class or to your own children at bedtime, I hope this list will help you find exactly what you’re looking for. New Holiday Books for Preschoolers There’s a wonderful new…
Inside: a list of children’s books about colors, complete with descriptions so you can find the perfect story. (Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.) Teaching kids…
Inside: Back to school books for teachers to read aloud at the beginning of the school year. My class grew quiet as I read aloud my new favorite book to them on the first day of school. I’d spent hours (yes, hours!) searching for fresh back to school books to read. I needed to start…
These books about the months of the year can help spark children’s interest in learning about dates, calendars, and the seasons. They’re also just fun to read, especially at New Year’s or back to school time. (Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program…
I love seeing smiles on kids’ faces when they receive a new book. Add a toy that enriches that book, and my heart swells even more. With the holidays fast approaching, I’ve spent hours searching for perfect book-toy pairs so that you can feel that joy of giving too. …Or at least the joy of…
These 10 engaging Halloween books for preschoolers are perfect for October storytime. Count, rhyme, and giggle together as you look forward to the big day! The apples have been picked and the leaves have fallen off the trees. It’s now time to stock up on candy, carve our Jack-O-Lanterns, and get ready for Halloween. We’ve…
Your kids will love to get their hands on these creative playdough activities. Each one is inspired by a favorite children’s book. First, a little note unrelated to playdough — My house flooded in Hurricane Harvey. In the storm’s aftermath, help descended on us in so many amazing ways. First, a group of teachers, complete…
A solar eclipse is one of those rare events you want to make sure your kids remember. Read one of these solar eclipse books for kids to enhance their experience. (Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites…
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TheNewFanFavorites #CollectiveBias My daughter had a burning question. “When’s kickoff, Mommy?” I’d never heard those words from her lips before, and I knew my plan was working. I’m excited that the Big Game will be here in Texas…
Inside: Picture books about friendship for teaching children about how to make friends and be a good friend. Update – July 2020: I just added ten new books and a pretty new cover to this list for you. I’ve noted a few which will work well for children during social distancing. Some I added…
Sometimes science picture books are the perfect tool for sparking kids’ interest. I spent a lot of time researching a list that loosely matches early elementary curriculum standards. The list leans toward new books as much as I could, but also includes classics. There are still some holes, but I think you’re bound to find something you love. We…
When you have one child who likes reading aloud, and another who likes reading in complete silence, you need a solution. In this post I’m sharing a picture book and a tool that can help – a paper towel roll turned silent reading tube that amplifies little reader’s whispers as they read to themselves. (Books and…