Books and Giggles
children’s books and book extension activities
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 interest,…
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. Update Fall 2023 – I moved the “new” books…
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 off with…
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. UPDATE February 2024: We’re getting another total eclipse in the U.S. this spring, and so I’m updating this post with a couple of brand new…
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 – February 2023: I’m freshening up this list with 5 more titles for you. These new releases will give you even more fabulous choices! (Updating this whole list is a big job, so right now you’re…
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…
When my oldest started school, the thing he was most excited about wasn’t actually school. It was riding the school bus. My girls, on the other hand, were a little nervous about it. Even though they’d waited at the bus stop with me every day for Liam, the big bus intimidated them. We had to…
Reading aloud to your child can be a joy, or it can be torture. It’s all about finding the right book, and beginning a conversation. For me, one of the best “right books” was Nora’s Chicks by Patricia McLaughlin. I’m sure I read it at least fifty times, and enjoyed it every single…
Inside: a list of 12 children’s books about Mars. Learn all about the red planet with our favorite fiction and nonfiction books for preschool through elementary. My daughter is still really interested in space. It’s been fun to watch her curiosity develop. We’ve read a lot of general books about the planets, but now…
If you have a preschooler, you may be starting to think about how to help your child succeed in school. Reading aloud is always a great place to start. You can get a lot of mileage out of well-chosen books.Today I’m sharing five kinds of books you can read aloud to your preschooler. The variety…
We’ve all been there. Your child goes to pick out a book for you to read aloud, and you cringe. Not that one again, you think. You’re sure you’ve already read it 97 times. Why do kids want the same books over and over? Is it meant to drive you crazy? It sure feels like…
It’s almost state testing time in public schools across the U.S. That means lots of kids are feeling some test anxiety. Here are short descriptions of ten kids’ books about tests and anxiety that can help. Parents and teachers can help soothe test anxiety by talking about it, reading stories about it, and teaching kids how to…
Where we live in Texas, it almost never snows. My kids have learned more about wintry weather from Frozen than from being frozen. And they’ve learned more about snow from Frosty the Snowman than from making snowmen. Although… last weekend we went to a local festival. The big draw? A pile of fake snow. My kids…
The first year I tried to teach my kids about Thanksgiving didn’t go very well. We did an activity where they took pictures, with my help, of things they were thankful for. The trouble was (and I didn’t realize this until we were done), all the pictures were of toys. Not exactly what I was…
As a mom of little kids and a former teacher, I get excited when we read a picture book that can teach a big kid reading comprehension skill. (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…
Books about storms can help calm children’s anxieties. Here we’re sharing the ten best books we found about rainstorms, thunderstorms, and hurricanes. Rumble, crash, boom! Thunderstorms can be scary for little kids. If your child is afraid of thunder, being calm and empathetic can help. So can reading books about storms. Storm Season Here in Texas,…