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50 Fun Summer Books for Kids to Read

June 23, 2020 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Summer reading is a great way to avoid the summer “slide” with your kids.

And there’s no better way to get them into a book than to choose one that’s summer-themed!

Today I’m featuring 50 summer books for kids that feature familiar characters, funny storylines, and gorgeous illustrations.

After all, when a story is engaging, kids are more likely to feel interested in what happens.

Plus, they’re more likely to reread them on their own – which is one of the best ways to build a love of reading.

These children’s books about summer make wonderful choices for an upcoming family road trip, book club, or summer reading program.

Read on to see the full list.

And, don’t miss our printable Summer Reading Challenge Bookmarks too!

50 Summer Books for Kids

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1. To the Beach!

2. Pool

3. Summer Days and Nights

4. Should I Share My Ice Cream?

5. The Night Before Summer Vacation

6. Nate the Great and the Boring Beach Bag

7. Puppy Pool Party! An Underwater Dogs Adventure

8. Summer

9. Curious George and the Ice Cream Surprise

10. Penguin on Vacation

11. Bats at the Beach

12. The Whale in My Swimming Pool

13. I See Summer

14. Ice Cream: The Full Scoop

15. Peppa Pig and the Great Vacation

16. Beach House

17. McElligot’s Pool

18. Let It Shine

19. The Scoop on Ice Cream

20. The Night Before Summer Vacation

21. Daisy Dawson at the Beach

22. Down by the Cool of the Pool

23. Summer is Here

24. Ice Cream Soup

25. Arthur’s Family Vacation: An Arthur Adventure

26. Beach Bungle (Olive & Jay Book 1)

27. The Mystery of the Purple Pool (The Boxcar Children Mysteries #38)

28. A Fabumouse Vacation for Geronimo (Geronimo Stilton)

29. Mouse’s First Summer

30. Froggy Goes to Hawaii

31. Daniel’s Day at the Beach (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood)

32. Pool Party Puzzler (Nancy Drew Clue Book)

33. How to (Almost) Ruin Your Summer

34. Ice Cream Summer

35. Pictures from Our Vacation

36. Corduroy Goes to the Beach

37. Leo Can Swim

38. One Crazy Summer

39. Summer Wonders

40. Last Day Blues (Mrs. Hartwell’s Classroom Adventures)

41. Dancing Dinos at the Beach

42. First Time at the Pool

43. Summer Treasure (Robin Hill School)

44. Wemberly’s Ice Cream Star

45. How I Spent My Summer Vacation

46. Biscuit’s First Beach Day

47. Martha Speaks: Pool Party

48. The Night Before Summer Camp

49. Mama, Is It Summer Yet?

50. The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Vacation

Get ready for more summer fun with these other learning ideas!

Learn about what sharks eat to live in this fun shark food chain file folder game!

These printable summer reading challenge bookmarks are a fun way to keep kids reading during summer!

20 Fun Lighthouse Books for Kids

May 26, 2020 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

I grew up in Southern Georgia near Savannah, so I’ve been to Tybee Island many times in my life.

The Tybee Island Lighthouse always made me wonder about what it’s like to keep a lighthouse.

As a child, I thought it would be boring and lonely. Now that I’m older, I think I’d love the peace and quiet.

Having kids will do that to you.

But lighthouses are still fascinating structures for children to explore and these lighthouse books for kids are a great way to introduce them to young ones!

These children’s lighthouse books feature non-fiction selections, as well as learning activities and mystery stories that kids will love!

Read below to see the full list. And, for more fun beach reading picks, take a look at our list of beach books for kids too!

These books about lighthouses for kids make wonderful read alouds over the summer. Share some with young readers this year!

20 Fun Books about Lighthouses for Kids

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1. The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge

2. The Lighthouse Family: The Storm

3. The Lighthouse Cat

4. North American Lighthouses Coloring Book

5. The Boxcar Children: The Lighthouse Mystery

6. The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch

7. Lighthouse Seeds

8. Lighthouses for Kids: History, Science, and Lore with 21 Activities

9. Safely to Shore: The Story of America’s Lighthouse

10. Abbie Against the Storm: The True Story of a Young Heroine and a Lighthouse

11. Lighthouse Dog to the Rescue

12. The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter

13. One Lighthouse, One Moon

14. Birdie’s Lighthouse

15. The Lighthouse of Souls

16. Hello Lighthouse

17. Lighthouses of North America

18. The Lost Lighthouse

19. One Lighthouse, One Moon

20. The Lighthouse

Get more ideas to explore beaches with your kids below!

$Learn about the science of beaches plus get fun math, language, and geography practice in this printable beach unit study!$

Get more ideas for learning about lighthouses from these educators!

Visiting the Point Arena Lighthouse with Children from Crafty Mama in ME

Lighthouse Printable Number Sequencing Puzzle for Preschool from Schooling a Monkey

Cupcake Liner Lighthouse Craft from Play Dough & Popsicles

Marblehead Lighthouse Marblehead, OH from Something 2 Offer

Lighthouse Word Search from Tales of Education at Home

20 Kid-Friendly Lighthouse Hikes around the World from FrogMom

20 Community Helpers Books for Kids to Read

November 12, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Community helpers are such an important theme in early childhood education.

After all, it’s important for children to learn how their local community works and who provides the services we all rely on each day.

So when you’re ready to teach a community helper theme in class, make sure to use some of these community helpers books for kids as part of your read aloud time!

These community helpers picture books are excellent sections!

They’re all beautifully illustrated and they feature simple explanations of each helper’s role in town.

Read on to check out the selections below! And, for more ways to study community helpers, check our our Spanish community helpers printable lesson!

20 Community Helpers Books for Kids to Read

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If you decide to read any of these with your students, I’d love to hear which ones were your favorite!

1. Helpers in My Community by Bobbie Kalman

2. Whose Hands Are These? by Miranda Paul

3. Whose Hat Is This? by Sharon Katz Cooper

4. Look for the Helpers (adapted) by Alexandra Cassel

5. Career Day by Anne Rockwell

6. Jobs Around Town by Stan and Jan Berenstain

7. Let’s Meet a Police Officer by Gina Bellisario

8. Let’s Meet a Doctor by Bridget Heos

9. Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook

10. When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic

11. Whose Tools Are These? by Sharon Katz Cooper

12. Delivering Your Mail by Ann Owen

13. Night Night, Sleepytown by Amy Parker

14. Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip with Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

15. Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry

16. Busy People: Construction Worker by Lucy M. George

17. My Visit to the Dentist by David Lee

18. Teachers in My Community by Bridget Heos

19. Let’s Meet a Firefighter by Gina Bellisario

20. When I Grow Up by Mercer Mayer

Did you love these community helpers books for kids? Take a look at these other booklists for young readers!

See more great books for children on my Must Read Books for Kids Pinterest board!

25 Awesome Books about the Solar System

June 17, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

We just posted a fun solar system unit study a couple of weeks back, so while there are a few weeks of summer left, I thought I’d share some wonderful books about the solar system for kids of all ages!

I love videos and technology, but there is just nothing like turning the pages of a book with your child. It’s indescribable. 🙂

So, when it comes to learning, I will always come back to books, which is why I love these solar system books for kids.

These solar system stories are filled with gorgeous illustrations, fun facts, and awesome activities that kids will love! They’d make a wonderful addition to a space or solar system unit.

Read on to get the full list. And for more ways to learn about outer space, take a look at All About the Solar System – a printable science unit for elementary grades!

25 Awesome Books about the Solar System for Kids

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1. National Geographic Kids: First Big Book of Space

2. There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System (The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library)

3. Space Encyclopedia: A Tour of Our Solar System and Beyond (National Geographic Kids)

4. Hello, World!: Solar System

5. Smithsonian: The Planets (DK Books)

6. Solar System Scratch and Sketch: An Activity Book for Inquisitive Artists and Astronauts of All Ages

7. Chasing Space: Young Readers’ Edition

8. Let’s Explore the Solar System (Planets)

9. The Planets in Our Solar System (Let’s Read and Find Out Science)

10. What’s Out There?: A Book about Space

11. The Magic School Bus 3-D: A Journey Through the Solar System

12. The Everything Kids’ Astronomy Book: Blast Into Outer Space with Stellar Facts

13. Astronomy: The Solar System (Super Smart Science)

14. A Journey Through Space

15. Exploring the Solar System: A History with 22 Activities

16. 13 Planets: The Latest View of the Solar System (National Geographic Kids)

17. Scholastic Reader Level 2: Solar System

18. Our Solar System: Revised Edition

19. Smart Kids Space: For Kids Who Really Love Space!

20. Let’s Explore the Solar System (Planets)

21. Astronomy for Kids: How to Explore Outer Space with Binoculars, a Telescope, or Just Your Eyes!

22. A Trip Into Space: An Adventure to the International Space Station

23. Basher Basics: Space Exploration

24. First Space Encyclopedia: A Reference Guide to Our Galaxy and Beyond

25. Space Kids: An Introduction for Young Explorers

After sharing these amazing books about the solar system with your family, don’t miss these other planetary posts!

Want more great book lists for kids? Check out my Reading for Kids board on Pinterest!

20 Fun Books about Ice Cream for Kids

May 8, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

We’ve been featuring a lot of summer fun lately – and what says “Summer” better than ice cream?

Nothing.

Nothing says “Summer” better than ice cream.

It’s true that ice cream is a favorite with kids everywhere, but it’s also an opportunity to learn! It’s just a super fun subject to learn about.

To make your summer reading a blast, check out our list of books about ice cream for kids to find some great ice cream-themed stories to read with your children!

These are so fun for summer reading!

Turn ice cream into an educational opportunity with our printable ice cream shape sorting activity!

And for more ways to make this summer an awesome one with the kids, try this list of 50 summer crafts you can make!

20 Fun Books about Ice Cream for Kids

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1.Ice Cream: The Full Scoop by Gail Gibbons

2.Ice Cream Summer by Peter Sis

3.Splat the Cat: I Scream for Ice Cream by Rob Scotton

4.Should I Share My Ice Cream? (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems

5.Stick Dog Dreams of Ice Cream by Tom Watson

6.Curious George and the Ice Cream Surprise by H.A. Rey

7.The Ice Cream King by Steve Metzger

8.Ice Cream for Breakfast (Richard Scarry’s Great Big Schoolhouse) by Erica Farber and Huck Scarry

9.Wemberly’s Ice Cream Star by Kevin Henkes

10.Curious About Ice Cream by Smithsonian

11. Isaac’s Ice Cream Tree by Angela Henderson

12. Wemberly’s Ice Cream Star by Kevin Henkes

13. Milk to Ice Cream (Rookie Read-About Science) by Lisa M. Herrington

14. The Scoop About Ice Cream (History of Fun Stuff) by Bonnie Williams

15. The Ice Cream Shop: A Steve and Wessley Reader by Jennifer E. Morris

16. Ice Cream Cones for Sale by Elaine Greenstein

17. The Ice Cream Mystery (The Boxcar Children Mysteries) by Gertrude Chandler Warner

18. Gorilla Loves Vanilla! by Chae Strathie

19. Is It Warm Enough for Ice Cream? by DK Publishing/a>

20. Dragons Love Ice Cream by Brett Fowler

Did you love these fun books about ice cream for kids? Don’t miss these other ice cream activities!

For more tips to make your kids into readers, check out my Reading for Kids board on Pinterest!

This post is part of The Massive Guide to Homeschool Reading Lists by iHomeschool Network! Click over to read tons of awesome booklists shared by my fellow homeschooling bloggers!

20 Adorable Counting Books for Kids

February 11, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Learning to count is one of the most important skills for early learners. After all, until you learn to count, you won’t be able to tell that your sibling got more cookies than you.

Which, if you ask any three-year-old, is one of the world’s greatest injustices.

We loved using manipulatives and printables to help our kids learn to count. But another wonderful resource for teaching counting is storybooks. And that’s why I wanted to share this list of adorable counting books for kids!

This list is full of cute kids’ books about counting that help children learn to count by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s – all the way to 100! They’re perfect for building literacy skills and math fluency at the same time.

Read on to see which counting books made the list! And for more practice with counting, check out our free printable Toy Counting to 100 flashcards!

20 Adorable Counting Books for Kids

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1. Anno’s Counting Book – by Mitsumasa Anno

2. Counting with Tiny Cat – by Viviane Schwarz

3. So Many Bunnies: A Bedtime ABC and Counting Book – by Rick Walton

4. Counting with a Ladybug – by DK Publishing

5. One Gorilla: A Counting Book – by Anthony Browne

6. Sheep Won’t Sleep: Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s – by Judy Cox

7. Each Orange Had 8 Slices – by Paul Giganti, Jr.

8. 100 Bugs!: A Counting Book – by Kate Narita

9. Counting Our Way to Maine – by Maggie Smith

10. What Can You Spot?: Counting – by Max and Sid

See even more counting books for kids below!

11. On the Launchpad: A Counting Book about Rockets – by Michael Dahl

12. Push, Dig, Scoop!: A Construction Counting Rhyme – by Rhonda Gowler Greene

13. Ten Apples Up On Top! – by Dr. Seuss

14. How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? – by Jane Yolen

15. Counting with Frida: A Bilingual Counting Book – by Patty Rodriguez

16. Curious George Learns to Count from 1 to 100 – by H.A. Rey

17. Butterfly Colors and Counting – by Jerry Pallotta

18. Counting Kisses: A Kiss and Read Book – by Karen Katz

19. 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo: A Counting Book – by Eric Carle

20. 12 Ways to Get to 11 – by Eve Merriam

Did you love this list of super cute counting books for kids? Don’t miss these other early math learning activities!

$These printable ladybug math activities are perfect for sharing with the kids this spring!$

$Sidewalk Chalk Outdoor Math Game$

Get even more ideas for teaching early math on my Math Mania Pinterest board!

20 Fascinating Books about Black Inventors and Scientists

January 24, 2019 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

My youngest son is obsessed with making things. He’s built a working fishing pole, a wobble racer, and even a 3-D paper basketball playset, complete with players who actually shoot the ball into the hoop.

We’ve always encouraged our kids to learn about their history, so I thought it would be cool for him to read some books about black inventors and scientists. That way, he learns about history and he finds out that other people like him have had big ideas that they turned into real things that helped society.

Talk about a self-esteem boost!

I wanted to share these storybooks with all of you because we’ve enjoyed reading them. (Some are even in our home library.) But they’d also make excellent choices for a STEM unit or a Black History Month lesson. In our family, we like to read about them all year.

Read on to see these inspiring black inventor books for kids. And for more black history lessons, don’t miss our We Got Jazz unit study! It’s packed with over 120 pages of black history for elementary grades!

20 Fascinating Books about Black Inventors and Scientists

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1. Garrett Morgan: Historically by Maria Mas

2. What Color Is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

3. Katharine Johnson (You Should Meet) by Thea Feldman

4. Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton

5. What Are You Figuring Now? A Story about Benjamin Banneker by Jeri Ferris

6. Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed

7. National Geographic Readers: George Washington Carver by Kitson Jazynka

8. Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker by Kathyrn Lasky

9. What If There Were No Black Folks? A Story About African-American Inventors and Pioneers by Toni Abasi Hill

10. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

11. The Man Who Invented the Lawn Mower: And Other Inspirational Black American Inventors and Their Inventions by Christopher Davis, Jr

12. All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine by Monica Kulling

13. The Doctor With an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath by Julia Finley Mosca

14. Lewis Latimer: Black Americans of Achievement by Winifred Latimer Norman

15. Great Black Heroes: Five Brilliant Scientists by Lynda Jones

16. The Woman Who Invented Weaving by Christopher Davis, Jr

17. Gary and the Great Inventors: It’s Laundry Day! by Akura Marshall

18. Black Pioneers of Science and Invention by Louis Haber

19. Look What Brown Can Do! by T. Marie Harris

20. Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? by Patrice McLaurin

Did you like this list of books about black inventors and scientists? Check out these other history learning ideas!

See even more activities on my Living History for Kids Pinterest board!

31 Beautiful African American Story Books for Kids

January 29, 2018 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

As a mom to four African American children, I’ve been hard pressed to find great kids’ books that feature black characters (at least in our local library). They’re there, but it’s hard to find them, unless you have a few author names to start with.

I strongly feel it’s important for my kids to “see” themselves in what they read, especially when it comes to reading about history or receiving positive messages about themselves.

So – without further ado – here are 31 African American story books for you and your kids to explore this school year! The books are geared toward kids aged 3 to 12 and include fiction, historical fiction, and nonfiction selections.

If you enjoy these stories, check out our list of must-read black history books for kids!

31 African American Story Books for Kids

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1. The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill

2. The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

3. Tommy Traveler in the World of Black History by Eloise Greenfield

4. Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkney

5. The Colors of Us by Karen Katz

6. Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn

7. I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

8. Julian’s Glorious Summer by Ann Cameron

9. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

10. Miami Jackson Gets It Straight by Patricia McKissack

11. The Buried Bones Mystery by Sharon M. Draper

12. Moja Means One: Swahili Counting Book by Muriel and Tom Feelings

13. STAT: Standing Tall and Talented #1 by Amar’e Stoudemire

14. Donovan’s Word Jar by Monalisa Degross

15. I’m a Pretty Little Black Girl! by Betty K. Bynum

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Cozy Bedtime Books for Toddlers

December 14, 2017 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

We have a very active little one in our family. She’s running around learning everything she possibly can. But, because she’s so excited about what’s she learning to do, getting her to settle down for bed has become a bit of problem. Every time I walk her into her room at night, she says “I want to get up in the morning, Mama.” Every. Single. Time. 🙂

So I thought I’d look for some bedtime books that would help her settle down and get ready for sleep. Today, I’m sharing a roundup of adorable bedtime books for toddlers!

If you and your little one enjoy these stories, be sure to check out my list of the absolute best picture books for three-year-olds!

Bedtime Books for Toddlers

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1. The Going-to-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

2. The Goodnight Train by June Sobel

3. Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest

4. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

5. Time for Bed by Mem Fox

6. A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na

7. Clifford’s Bedtime by Norman Bridewell

8. Bedtime in the Meadow by Stephanie Shaw

9. If Animals Kissed Good Night by Ann Whitford Paul

10. Snuggle Up, Sleepy Ones by Claire Freedman

See even more cozy bedtime stories for toddlers on the next page!

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Children’s Books about Composers

November 28, 2017 by Selena Robinson 16 Comments

We’re getting into our study of classical music in our homeschool lessons, so we’re sharing children’s books about composers! These are perfect for circle time stories or unit study resources, especially if you want your kids to learn more about the music and the lives of these musicians.

While there are classical composers in this list, there are also kids’ books about modern composers, including the great Duke Ellington! If you enjoy these stories, be sure to check out the Duke Ellington unit in our ebook “We Got Jazz”!

Children’s Books about Composers

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One of the most interesting things about many classical composers is that they often began their musical careers while they were still children. Mozart began composing at the age of five. Five! That’s some serious inspiration for kids who are interested in music. 🙂

Some of the activity books include coloring books and unit studies about composers. In fact, Stories of the Great Composers is one of the resources we’re using in our homeschool curriculum this year!

Picture Books about Composers

The Extraordinary Music of Mr. Ives: The True Story of a Famous American Composer – Joanne Stanbridge

George Frederic Handel – Mildred Clary

Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue – Anna Harwell Celenza

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince And His Orchestra – Andrea Davis Pinkney

Secret Lives of Great Composers: What Your Teachers Never Told You about the World’s Musical Masters – Elizabeth Lunday

Sebastian: A Book About Bach – Jeanette Winter

The Other Mozart: The Life of the Famous Chevalier de Saint-George – Hugh Brewster

Becoming Bach – Tom Leonard

The Story of the Orchestra: Listen While You Learn About the Instruments, Music, and the Composers Who Wrote the Music! – Robert Levine

Why Beethoven Threw the Stew (And Lots More Stories About the Lives of Great Composers) – Steven Isserlis

Nonfiction and Activity Books about Composers

Stories of the Great Composers – June Montgomery & Maurice Hinson

Getting to Know the World’s Great Composers: Ludwig Von Beethoven – Mike Venezia

Great Composers Coloring Book – John Green & Paul Negri

Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? – Yona Zeldis McDonough & Carrie Robbins

Duke Ellington: His Life in Jazz – Stephanie Stein Crease

World of Composers: Verdi – Greta Cencetti

Peter Tchaikovsky: Getting to Know the World’s Great Composers – Mike Venezia

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons – Anna Harwell Celenza

18th Century Superstar: Mozart (Time for Kids Nonfiction Series) – Georgia Beth

Johannes Brahms: Getting to Know the World’s Great Composers – Mike Venezia

Do you have any favorite resources for introducing classical composers to kids? Do you have any suggestions for great children’s books about composers? Let us know in the comments!

If you enjoy these stories, check out our other ideas for teaching music and art to homeschoolers!

And don’t miss your chance to learn more about introducing kids to jazz with our We Got Jazz unit study ebook! It’s packed with over 120 pages of music history and activities about jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and more!

For more tips to make your kids into readers, check out my Reading for Kids board on Pinterest!

Want to get more ideas for making homeschooling fun? Sign up for our email newsletter to get plenty of homeschool tips and resources in your inbox!

This post is part of The Massive Guide to Homeschool Reading Lists by iHomeschool Network! Click over to read tons of awesome booklists shared by my fellow homeschooling bloggers!

20 Beautiful Owl Books for Kids

October 17, 2017 by Selena Robinson 5 Comments

We’ve had fun studying about nocturnal animals and one of those animals is…the owl! There are owls here in Georgia, but we hardly ever see them because they’re up when we’re asleep. 🙂

Since we’ve been talking about animals that are night “owls” (get it?), I rounded up some beautiful owl books for kids that we can share together. If you’re studying owls this fall, check out these storybooks and nonfiction books for some awesome owl facts!

If you love these, don’t miss our list of bear books for kids as well! And for a fun craft project, see how to make a cute coffee filter owl craft with the kids!

Owl Books for Kids:

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1. Owls by Gail Gibbons

2. Little Owl’s Night by Divya Srinivasan

3. Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

4. National Geographic Readers: Owls by Laura Marsh

5. Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton

6. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

7. Exploring the World of Owls by Tracy Read

8. The Barn Owls by Tony Johnston

9. Owl at Home (I Can Read Level 2) by Arnold Lobel

10. Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor

See the rest of the list on page 2!

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Simple Kindergarten Homeschool Reading List

October 3, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Our kindergartner is off to the reading races! She’s really progressed in her ability to read over the summer and now there’s no stopping her. She reads street signs and menu items and instructions on gas pumps and – basically, any word, anywhere.

Which thrills me. There is no more important skill in life than the ability to read. I firmly believe that a love for reading is the most important part of a good education.

But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be fun, right? So, for this year, I wanted to create a simple kindergarten homeschool reading list that my little one could complete without pressure and have fun while doing it! Take a look at our reading selections for this year and see if you can’t find some new stories for your family!

For more on our kindergarten plans for this year, take a look at how we’re planning a minimalist homeschool kindergarten curriculum!

Images c/o: StockUnlimited

Kindergarten Homeschool Reading List

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1. My Mouth Is a Volcano! by Julia Cook

2. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

3. Pete the Cat: Pete At the Beach by James Dean

4. Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

5. Curious George: The Donut Delivery by H.A. Rey

6. The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak

7. There Is a Bird On Your Head! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems

8. What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada

9. Enemy Pie (Reading Rainbow Book) by Derek Munson

10. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

11. Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

12. They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel

13. The Day The Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt

14. What’s The Difference? Being Different is Amazing! by Doyin Richards

15. The True Story of The Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

16. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

17. This Is How We Do It: One Day In the Lives of Seven Kids from Around the World by Matt Lamothe

18. Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

What books are you reading with your kindergartner this year? Share your kindergarten homeschool reading list in the comments!

Try these other tips for planning your kindergarten homeschool year!

Get more tips for teaching early grades on my Learning for Little Ones Pinterest board!

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15 Beautiful Children’s Books about Harvest

September 25, 2017 by Selena Robinson 5 Comments

We’re getting well into the harvest season and it’s a perfect time to read about this time of year with the kids!

We’ve already featured a harvest unit study, but I wanted to share a few more children’s books about harvest that feature picking apples, pumpkins, corn, and all kinds of fall produce.

There are even books that talk about the harvest moon, which is a great way to talk about lunar cycles.

Once you read a couple of these books, be sure to take the kids pumpkin picking, apple picking, or running through a corn maze. You might even want to make an apple pie with your kids!

By the way, if you can make an apple pie successfully, please explain it to me. I’m terrified of attempting to make a pie from scratch.

If you love these books, don’t miss our roundup of 50 Fall Books for Kids or our list of Children’s Books about Farms!

15 Beautiful Children’s Books about Harvest

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1. Possum’s Harvest Moon – Anne Hunter

2. Strega Nona’s Harvest – Tomie dePaola

3. We Gather Together: Celebrating the Harvest Season – Wendy Pfeffer

4. Pick a Circle, Gather Squares: A Fall Harvest of Shapes – Felicia Sanzari Chernesky

5. Hello, Harvest Moon – Ralph Fletcher

6. Fall Harvests: Bringing In Food – Martha E. H. Rustad

7. It’s Harvest Time! – Jean McElroy

8. Curious George: Apple Harvest – H.A. Rey

9. Apples, Apples Everywhere!: Learning about Apple Harvests – Robin Koontz

10. By the Light of the Harvest Moon – Harriet Ziefert

11. Tractor Mac: Harvest Time by Billy Steers

12. Harvest Time: Celebrate Fall! by Erika L. Shores

13. Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills

14. Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie (Picture the Seasons) by Jill Esbaum

15. Bitsy’s Harvest Party by Melody Carlson

Don’t miss these other book lists for kids!

For more tips to make your kids into readers, check out my Reading for Kids board on Pinterest!

This post is part of The Massive Guide to Homeschool Reading Lists by iHomeschool Network! Click over to read tons of awesome booklists shared by my fellow homeschooling bloggers!

Must-Read Black History Books for Kids

January 10, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

In our family, black history is history. We teach it along with every other topic. We’ve covered African history, civil rights, and even jazz history with our children over the years. But we’ve also enjoyed sharing African-American storybooks that help them “see” themselves in stories.

As part of learning about history, we’ve read some wonderful black history books for kids over the years. Today I’m sharing some of the selections that I consider “must-read” books! If I missed any of your favorites, feel free to share your suggestions in the comments!

Image c/o: Brainsil / depositphotos

Must-Read Black History Books for Kids

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1. 100 African-Americans Who Shaped American History by Chrisanne Beckner (If you only get one, make it this one.)

2. Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

3. When the Beat was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip-Hop by Laban Carrick Hill

4. My Name is Truth: The Life of Sojourner Truth by Ann Turner

5. Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America

6. Fly High: The Story of Bessie Coleman by Louise Borden

7. Firebird by Misty Copeland

8. Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan

9. Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

10. A Weed is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver by Aliki

11. Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold

12. Black Cowboys by Ryan P. Randolph

13. Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington by Jabari Asim

14. The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles (Check out our Ruby Bridges unit study!)

15. Alvin Ailey by Andrea Davis Pinkney

16. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell

17. 28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World by Charles R. Smith, Jr.

18. Fort Mose: And the Story of the Man Who Built the First Free Black Settlement in Colonial America by Glennette Tiley Turner

19. Molly, By Golly!: The Legend of Molly Williams, America’s First Female Firefighter

20. Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson (Don’t miss our Nelson Mandela unit!)

21. Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull

22. Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkney

23. Tommy Traveler in the World of Black History by Tom Feelings (This is a tough one to find, but it is so worth it.)

24. The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch by Chris Barton

25. What Color is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

26. Mister and Lady Day: Billie Holiday and the Dog Who Loved Her by Amy Novesky

27. Jump Back, Paul: The Life and Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar by Sally Derby

28. Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz

29. Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound by Andrea Davis Pinkney

30. Stealing Home: The Story of Jackie Robinson by Barry Denenberg

31. When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Munoz Ryan

32. Nothing But Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson by Sue Stauffacher

33. Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins by Carole Boston Weatherford

34. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

Check out these other black history posts!

Plus, grab our ebook “We Got Jazz” for 120 pages of unit studies and activities about jazz greats, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and more!

Follow my Living History for Kids board on Pinterest for more history teaching ideas!

This post is part of the “Must-Read Books” linkup from iHomeschool Network! Stop by to read more awesome book lists from my fellow bloggers!

100 of the Very Best Picture Books for Preschoolers

November 21, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

I’ve been a parent for nearly 13 years and we have four children. So I can tell you that it’s easy to get into the “routine” of parenting – just kind of going from day to day trying to keep your head above the water.

But something happens when your last child begins preschool. Personally, that snapped me out of the routine mindset and into the “treasure every moment” way of thinking. The thought that this is my last child to teach at home was a real jolt.

Piglet started PreK this fall, so we’re officially teaching our very last preschooler. And, since she already has a good grasp on letters, numbers, colors, counting, and shapes, I want to spend a lot of her preschool year exploring wonderful children’s books.

So I thought I’d make an ultimate list of the very best picture books for preschoolers. There are 100 of the best children’s picture books on this list, including modern stories and classic picture books that preschool-aged kids will love to read! But be warned, parents: Expect to read a lot of these over and over again.

If you love these selections, don’t miss our preschool homeschool reading list for this year!

100 Picture Books for Preschoolers

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1. Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

3. The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

5. Waiting is Not Easy! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems

6. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

7. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

8. Press Here by Herve Tullet

9. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin

10. Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

11. Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

12. First 100 Animals by Roger Priddy

13. Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry

14. My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook

15. The Going-to-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

16. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

17. Good, Good Father by Chris Tomlin

18. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr

19. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

20. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

21. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

22. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes! by James Dean

23. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

24. Hands Are Not for Hitting by Martine Agassi, Ph.D.

25. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Pages: 1 2 3 4

50 Winter Books for Kids

October 28, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

It takes a while for cold weather to reach us all the way down here in the South. But once it comes, it tends to stay for the rest of the season. Around the middle of November, we pull out our coats and we typically wear them without a break until April. 🙂

Last year, I shared plenty of free winter printables for kids and this year I wanted to follow up with a fun book list: Winter Books for Kids! I hope you love these stories! There are beautiful board books, cozy stories, and even a few nonfiction books to help kids learn more about this season!

50 Winter Books for Kids

1. Bright Baby Touch-and-Feel Winter by Roger Priddy

2. Animals in Winter (Let’s Read and Find Out Science) by Henrietta Bancroft

3. Winter is Coming by Tony Johnston

4. Winter Walk by Virginia Snow

5. The Mitten by Jan Brett

6. The Berenstain Bears’ Winter Wonderland by Jan & Mike Berenstain

7. The Storm Whale in Winter by Benji Davies

8. Winter Woes by Marty Kelley

9. The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming

10. Daniel’s Winter Adventure (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) by Becky Friedman

11. Winter: A Pop-Up Book by David Carter

12. Let It Snow by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

13. The Animals’ Winter Sleep by Lynda Graham-Barber

14. Before Morning by Joyce Sidman

15. A Warm Winter Tail by Carrie A. Pearson

16. Winter Lullaby by Barbara Seuling

17. Mouse’s First Snow by Lauren Thompson

18. It’s Winter! (Celebrate the Seasons!) by Susan Swan

19. Ride the Big Machines in Winter: My Big Machines by Carmen Mok

20. Bugs and Bugsicles: Insects in the Winter by Amy S. Hansen

21. Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen

22. All About Animals in Winter by Martha E. H. Rustad

23. No Two Alike by Keith Baker

24. A Winter’s Tale (Peter Rabbit) by Beatrix Potter

25. Winter by Gerda Muller

26. Winter, Awake! by Linda Kroll

27. Winter Pony by Jean Slaughter Doty

28. One Winter’s Day by M. Christina Butler

29. How Do You Know It’s Winter (Rookie Read-About Science) by Lisa M. Herrington

30. A Bed for the Winter, Level 1 by Karen Wallace

31. Little Critter: Just a Snowman by Mercer Mayer

32. Winter is Here! by Heidi Pross Gray

33. Winter Eyes by Douglas Florian

34. Guess How Much I Love You in the Winter: Deluxe Paper-Cut Edition by Sam McBratney

35. Winter on the Farm (Little House Picture Book) by Laura Ingalls Wilder

36. Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman

37. The Science of Snow: The Story of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino

38. Winter, Winter, Cold and Snow by Sharon Gibson Palermo

39. Lemonade in Winter: A Book about Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins

40. Winter’s Tale by Robert Sabuda

41. Winter Friends by Carl R. Sams II

42. When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan

43. The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Snow by Joanna Cole

44. Waiting for Winter by Sebastian Meschenmoser

45. One Winter’s Night by Claire Freedman

46. Winter Snow by Liesbet Slegers

47. The Winter Visitors by Karel Hayes

48. I See Winter by Charles Ghigna

49. Waiting Through Winter by Jason Farley

50. Baby Loves Winter: A Karen Katz Lift-the-Flap Book

Love these cold weather stories? Grab more of our winter learning resources!

$Paper Snowflake 2nd Grade Math Factors Craft$

Need more winter activity inspiration? Follow my Winter Activities for Kids board on Pinterest!

20 Adorable Bear Books for Kids to Read

October 26, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When I think of fall, I start picturing taking a long, long nap.

Hey, a mother of four can dream, right?

But for some animals, hibernation is a necessary part of life and that includes bears!

At the library recently, our preschooler found several books about bears that were just downright adorable and that got me searching for fun and educational, not to mention cute, bear books for kids.

Here’s a list of the titles we’ve found. By the way, these would be wonderful read aloud selections for a bear unit or even a hibernation unit!

Be sure to check these out when you’re building your homeschool reading list for this year!

For more books, browse our list of fall books for kids and leaf books for kids too!

20 Adorable Bear Books for Kids to Read:

1. National Geographic Readers: Bears by National Geographic Kids

2. The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach

3. Bears: Polar Bears, Black Bears, and Grizzly Bears by Deborah Hodge

4. Bear Snores On (The Bear Books) by Karma Wilson

5. The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland

6. Bears (Wildlife) by Diane Swanson

7. Breaking News: Bear Alert! by David Biedrzycki

8. Our Amazing World: Bears by Kay De Silva

9. Big Smelly Bear by Britta Teckentrup

10. Grizzly Bears by Molly Kolpin

11. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear

12. Sneeze, Big Bear, Sneeze! by Maureen Wright

13. The Grizzly Bear Who Lost His GRRRRR! by Rob Biddulph

14. National Geographic Little Kids Look and Learn: Bears by National Geographic Kids

15. American Black Bears by Molly Kolpin

16. Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom

17. The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh

18. Don’t Feed the Bear by Kathleen Doherty

19. I Have A Little Problem, Said the Bear by Heinz Janisch

20. Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris

Don’t miss these other book lists for kids!

Plus, see more tips for raising readers on my Reading for Kids Pinterest board!

Simple Homeschool Reading List for 6th Grade

October 13, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Since we have a sixth grader this year (our first middle schooler!), I’ve been looking around for great kids’ books for her age range for some time.

If you have a tween, I don’t have to tell you that it actually seems as if you’re parenting two different children: one that acts about 20 and one that acts about 6. My daughter switches between both age levels almost simultaneously.

I really wanted her to progress to reading thought-provoking books this year, but I also want her to indulge her silly side a bit. So I put together this homeschool reading list for 6th grade. There are serious and eye-opening selections, as well as some playful ones – perfect for both sides of the tween mind.

Be sure to see our preschool reading list and our third grade reading list for this year also!

Image c/o: robertsrob / depositphotos

Homeschool Reading List for 6th Grade

1. The View from Saturday – E.L. Konigsburg

2. Miracle’s Boys – Jacqueline Woodson

3. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

4. Drama – Raina Telgemeier

5. Homeless Bird – Gloria Whelan

6. The Skin I’m In – Sharon G. Flake

7. Bud, Not Buddy – Christopher Paul Curtis

8. Dork Diaries #1: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life – Rachel Renee Russell

9. M.C. Higgins, The Great – Virginia Hamilton

10. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life – James Patterson

11. Sounder – William H. Armstrong

12. Out of My Mind – Sharon M. Draper

Don’t miss our other book lists!

Plus, get more tips for raising readers on my Reading for Kids Pinterest board!

Preschool Homeschool Reading List

September 30, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Reading is a huge part of our homeschool. Huge. The kids spent time reading literally every single day. Based on my experiences in life, I think that the most important part of a good education is learning to love reading. Think about it: If you love to read, you can truly learn anything you want, whenever you want!

Naturally, we try to start our kids out with daily reading at a very young age. So, since Piglet is starting preschool this year, we’ve put together her preschool homeschool reading list. Look out for activities to go along with these stories in the coming months!

Image c/o: Andy-pix / depositphotos

Preschool Homeschool Reading List

1. The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

2. Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

3. Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

4. The Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo Willems

5. National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Animals

6. Stone Soup by Marcia Brown

7. The Mitten by Jan Brett

8. The Cloud Book by Tomie dePaola

9. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

10. Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell

11. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

12. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

13. Press Here by Herve Tullet

14. Corduroy by Don Freeman

15. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

16. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

17. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

18. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

19. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle

20. Curious George by H.A. Rey

21. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

22. Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff

23. Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry

24. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

Don’t miss these other book lists for kids!

Get more ideas for raising readers on my Reading for Kids Pinterest board!

Our Third Grade Homeschool Reading List

September 23, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When I was in elementary school many years ago (I have no intention of saying how many years ago), I remember third grade as being a kind of pivot point in my early education. In our first grade reading and second grade reading classes, we read lots of books, but they were mostly easy readers and a few small chapter books.

In third grade, though, our reading levels jumped quite a bit and I started to read books that really stayed with me. I can even remember some of the read-aloud sessions we had in the classroom. (You know the ones where you have to sit cross-legged on the floor around the teacher? Those.)

So I wanted to introduce my third grader to some of those same classic children’s books, while introducing him to some newer works that are just as good. Here’s a look at the third grade homeschool reading list we’re using for this school year!

Image c/o: kwanchaidp / Deposit Photos

Our Third Grade Homeschool Reading List

Our plan is to read one of these each month and do some activities. As we work through the list, we’ll be sharing our ideas with you all!

1. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl – Here are some Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ideas and activities you might enjoy!

3. Ramona Quimby, Age 8

4. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

5. The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling

6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

7. El Deafo by Cece Bell

8. Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

9. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

10. Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

11. Frindle by Andrew Clements

12. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell

Do you have any favorites that you read with your kids in third grade? Share your suggestions in the comments!

Check out these other homeschool reading lists!

Plus, get more ideas for raising readers on my Reading for Kids Pinterest board!

Kids’ Books about Leaves

September 12, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

We’ve been sharing lots of fall fun for kids lately, including apple tree playdough mats, plenty of fall leaf activities and crafts you can make as a family, and kids’ books about camping. But we’ve been missing leaf books! Doh!

I love watching the leaves change during autumn. It’s like the whole world just explodes with color. I remember a Calvin and Hobbes comic strip that referred to fall leaves as nature’s fireworks, and I couldn’t agree more.

So – since reading is a major part of our homeschool, here are some beautiful kids’ books about leaves you can share with your children this fall!

Kids’ Books about Leaves

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1. The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger

2. The Leaves on the Trees by Thom Wiley

3. Look What I Did With a Leaf! (Naturecraft) by Morteza E. Sohi

4. Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber

5. Look Once, Look Again: Plant Leaves (Look Once, Look Again Science) by David M. Schwartz

6. A Leaf Can Be… (Millbrook Picture Books) by Laura Purdie Salas

7. On My Leaf by Sara Gillingham

8. Leaves! Leaves! Leaves! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

9. Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins

10. Fall Leaves (Clavis Toddler: Daily Life) by Liesbet Slegers

11. Leaves by David Ezra Stein

12. When the Leaf Blew In by Steve Metzger

13. Leaves in Fall (Bullfrog Books: What Happens in Fall?) by Mari Schuh

14. Leaves Fall Down: Learning About Autumn Leaves by Lisa Bullard

15. My Leaf Book by Monica Wellington

16. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson

17. Zero is the Leaves on the Tree by Betsy Franco

18. Robin Hill School: Fall Leaf Project (Ready-to-Read) by Margaret McNamara

19. The Magic School Bus: The Wild Leaf Ride (Scholastic Reader, Level 2) by Judith Stamper

20. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro

Use these activities to find more ways to include leaves in your learning!

Get more fall fun ideas from my Fall Activities for Kids board on Pinterest!

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