Books and Giggles
Inside: Preschoolers can celebrate the harvest with this story-based cornmeal writing tray activity and free printable letter formation cards. Add this to your Little Red Hen unit! This week, I stumbled on a fun, multicultural companion story to read aloud after your kids hear The Little Red Hen. Then, I created a hand-on early literacy…
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…
Inside: free printable Polar Express alphabet worksheets and tips on how to use them with preschoolers or young kindergartners. Polar Express Alphabet Worksheets It’s that magical time of year! If you’re planning to read or watch Polar Express, then your kids will love practicing the letters B, C, E, H, and T with these free…
Help your students make the most adorable gingerbread houses this year without baking a single cookie! These printable color your own gingerbread house templates are so much easier than decorating cookies and are a wonderful holiday activity for pre-K and primary students! Your kids will absolutely love this gingerbread activity! It feels more like playing…
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: A hibernation craft and writing activity to go with the book The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett. Use the free printable template to make it super easy! This hedgehog hibernation craft and writing activity goes with Jan Brett’s lovely book The Snowy Nap (ad). The story follows Hedgie the hedgehog as he tries to…
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…
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 social-emotional activities for preschoolers can be used all in one lesson or pulled into your own SEL lesson. Today’s post comes from guest writer Audra Jensen. Audra is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, Special Education teacher, and published author on the subject of autism. She has an adult son with autism and has dedicated…
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: This chicken craft for preschool makes fun scissors practice and goes along with the much-loved book Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton. Barnyard Dance! by Sandra Boynton is a charming board book that you won’t mind reading over and over. (And you will read it over and over because toddlers and preschoolers LOVE it!) You…
Inside: The Mitten activities to go with the picture book by Jan Brett. Includes crafts, printable resources, games and more for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary students. Raise your hand if you love Jan Brett! Her now-classic version of The Mitten is a favorite classroom read aloud every winter. This cozy picture book is perfect for…
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. Pair your…
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: 10 Back to School bulletin boards based on picture books, perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and primary grades. If you’re reading this in the middle of getting your classroom ready, and meet-the-teacher is two days away, and you’re already SO stressed out — stop and take a deep breath. I’ve got 10 different back to…
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: Free printable letter recognition worksheets to go with two different picture books about ducks: Make Way for Ducklings and 10 Little Rubber Ducks (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…
Inside: a paper Christmas tree craft inspired by the story North Pole Ninjas. (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.) I lay half awake Saturday morning, listening…
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…
Today I’m sharing another fun Christmas tree craft with you. Just like the cupcake liner Christmas tree craft for kids that I shared recently, this craft is simple enough for preschoolers, but older kids can enjoy it too by adding more detailed decorations. Bump Up the Learning You can also make this Christmas tree craft educational:…
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…
Inside: A birds nest craft preschool book activity for The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman. This craft also can be made independently by older kids. (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…
Here’s an engaging Llama Llama activity for you that’s just right for preschoolers and early kindergartners. It goes with a brand-new Llama Llama book inspired by the late Anna Dewdney. I was super excited to be invited to join the blog tour for Llama Llama Loves to Read, and doubly thrilled to get the generously…