Books and Giggles
children’s books and book extension activities
These 12 books about community helpers are just right for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first graders who are learning about the world around them! The options below cover a wide array of different jobs and roles while highlighting why they are so essential. Plus, many of them will take your students behind the scenes to help…
Our youngest students are learning so much about themselves and others right now, and these All About Me books are a fantastic way to support them in that process! The titles below will help them see what makes them special and also what they have in common with others. They’re perfect for building healthy self-esteem…
Whether it’s the first day of school and you want to set your class up for success or your child has a unique name, you’re in the right place! These are the best children’s books about names, and they’ll help every child understand the power of their own name and why it’s important to call people by…
Inside: this list of picture books about dogs includes selections for kids ages 2-10. How many people learned to read from picture books about dogs? Since so many kids grow up with dogs, they’re naturally drawn to books on this topic. Fortunately, there are so many great titles about dogs to foster a love of…
Inside: Here are some of our favorite space books for kids ages 2-6. Find some out-of-this-world stories and simple nonfiction choices for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners. Today we’re going to blast off into the exciting world of space exploration! These space books are the perfect way to ignite your little kids’ curiosity and take their…
Do you have a penguin lover in your life or are your students learning about penguins? Don’t miss these children’s books about penguins!
Inside: a list of polar bear books for kids with descriptions of each title so that you can choose the best book for your preschool, kindergarten, or early elementary students. Polar bears are such a popular animal for kids! Whether your young reader is obsessed with polar bears or you are preparing for a unit…
Inside: this list of hibernation books for preschoolers includes both picture books and nonfiction choices perfect for teaching and celebrating animals in winter. Kids are fascinated by the changing of the seasons. They naturally wonder what happens to the animals in the cold of winter. Where do they go? How do they stay warm? Where…
Inside: this list of children’s books about seasons includes both picture books and nonfiction choices for ages 3-8. You can use these books any time of year. From preschool through the primary grades, young students typically study the four seasons and learn the little signs to show spring is coming or summer is turning into…
Ready to start a unit on ocean animals? These 14 ocean animal books for kids will make the ocean come alive!
Find the perfect read to celebrate Father’s Day with your little one! In this post, we’ll share our 12 favorite Father’s Day books for preschoolers. Read these at home, school, or even right on dad’s lap! We posted a list of Mother’s Day books a few weeks ago. Of course, that means we also need…
Inside: This list of mother’s day books for preschoolers includes choices for explaining the holiday to little ones, inclusive stories about other mother figures in children’s lives, and storybooks for mother and child to read together. Every second Sunday of May, we celebrate Mother’s Day! This is an exciting time for preschoolers to reflect on…
Inside: this list of farm books for kids from preschool to first grade includes helpful descriptions and a variety of storylines and topics. Books about farms have been a popular children’s book theme for a long time – and for good reason! Have you ever noticed how kids are immediately drawn to stories about farms…
Inside: An annotated list of children’s books about the moon. Includes fiction and nonfiction, with titles for toddlers through elementary. Since many children go to bed early, it can be hard to interact with the moon firsthand. Share the beauty of the moon with the children in your life using some of these stunning books!…
These books about Santa Claus are sure to delight your kids this Christmas season. You’ll find picture books for children of all ages and tastes. I’ve had way too much fun researching and putting together this list for you! (Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate…
Here’s a handy list of educational TV shows that came from picture books. Use it to entice reluctant little ones at storytime. Or, find shows to make screen time more educational. When little kids have had a tablet in hand since babyhood, sometimes it’s hard to get them interested in books. You may want to…
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…
Update: Now this post includes 5 more books for teaching story sequencing and retelling, for a total of 15. 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…
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…