Book Lists Archives

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!

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!

Plus, you can receive exclusive learning printables and teaching tips in our email newsletter! Sign up using the widget below.

50 Gorgeous Fall Books for Kids to Treasure

August 22, 2016 by Selena Robinson 6 Comments

Can you smell it? That’s the smell of fall in the air!

Fall is my absolute favorite season of all. The air gets cooler, the leaves start to turn colors, and you just feel like baking delicious food and snuggling up with family. It’s beautiful.

So what better time is there to read gorgeous picture books with the kids? Get your kids ready for the autumn with these 50 beautiful fall books for kids! They’re packed with lovely illustrations and heartwarming stories children will love!

There are a TON of ways to make fall into a learning experience with children. Check out this list of 50 free fall printables for kids and pick up a set of our free Leaf Identification Flashcards or our Fall Printable Reading Journal for Kids!

BONUS! Want to keep track of all the fall books for kids you read this autumn? Grab the printable fall booklist for kids further down in this post!

50 Gorgeous Fall Books for Kids to Treasure

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Raising readers is an important part of our homeschooling journey. We want our kids to be able to read, not just for school, but for life.

Since fall is such a cozy season for families, I thought these beautiful fall books for kids would be awesome to share with you all. I hope you love them as much as we do!

1. I See Fall Leaves: First Step Nonfiction – Observing Fall by Mari Schuh
2. Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley
3. Little Critter: The Fall Festival by Mercer Mayer
4. Jump Into Fall! by Gareth Llewhellin
5. Fall Walk by Virginia Brimhall Snow
6. The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner
7. Poppleton in Fall by Cynthia Rylant
8. I Watch Fall Harvests: First Step Nonfiction – Observing Fall by Mary Lindeen

9. I See Fall! by Charles Ghigna
10. Hello Kitty, Hello Fall! by Sanrio
11. Fall Leaves by Don L. Curry
12. Fall is For Friends by Suzy Spafford
13. It’s Fall! (The Four Seasons) by Celeste Bishop
14. Animals in Fall (Preparing for Winter) by Martha E.H. Rustad
15. How Do You Know It’s Fall? (Rookie Read-About Science) by Lisa M. Herrington
16. Peppa’s Windy Fall Day (Peppa Pig) by Scholastic

17. Fall Leaves (My First Hello Reader) by Mary Packard
18. Leaves Fall Down: Learning about Fall Leaves by Lisa Bullard
19. Counting on Fall (Math in Nature) by Lizann Flatt
20. I Love Fall! (A Touch and Feel Board Book) by Allison Inches
21. It’s Fall (Celebrate the Seasons) by Linda Glaser
22. Fall Mixed Up by Bob Raczka
23. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
24. Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
25. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro

See more gorgeous fall books for kids and score your free printable fall booklist on page 2!

Pages: 1 2

25 Kids’ Books about Camping

August 19, 2016 by Selena Robinson 5 Comments

Are you planning a camping trip this year? Get your kids excited for the trip with these fun kids books about camping!

Honestly, I’ve never been camping. My parents weren’t really outdoor-sy and, frankly, the thought of sleeping outdoors doesn’t thrill me either.

But my kids have said that they want to try it, so the hubs and I agreed to rent a cabin in the woods as a first step in that direction. Our trip is next week, so these books are right on time!

One of the things I’m looking forward to the most is just spending some quiet time with the family without outside distractions.

No hectic schedules, no other commitments, no working – just chill family time. If you’re a camping expert, please share your tried-and-true tips for making it an awesome outing!

And if you’re looking for more beautiful kids’ books for your family, don’t miss this list of beach books kids will love!

25 Kids’ Books about Camping

This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.1. Maisy Goes Camping: A Maisy First Experience Book

2. The Kids’ Outdoor Adventure Book: 448 Great Things to Do in Nature Before You Grow Up

3. Flat Stanley Goes Camping

4. S is for S’mores: A Camping Alphabet

5. Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters

6. Curious George Goes Camping

7. Camping Catastrophe! (Ready, Freddy #14)

8. Camp Daze Mad Libs

9.Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems

10. Camping Fun Sticker Activity Book

11. When We Go Camping

12. Peppa Pig and the Camping Trip

13. The Berenstain Bears Blaze a Trail

14. Claire’s Cursed Camping Trip

15. Humphrey’s Creepy-Crawly Camping Adventure

16. The Kids’ Campfire Book: Official Book of Campfire Fun

17. Camp Out!: The Ultimate Kids’ Guide

18. Fred and Ted Go Camping

19. Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping

20. A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee

21. Llama Llama Loves Camping

22. Good Night, Campsite

23. A Campfire Tail

24. Froggy Goes to Camp

25. 1, 2, 3 – Make a S’more With Me

Don’t miss these other book lists for kids!

This post is part of the Camping Kids Unit Study roundup! Click over to read more camping themed posts!

Camping Writing Worksheets – My Joy-Filled Life
Camping Hacks for Kids – FrogMom
Homemade Firestarters – Schooling a Monkey

Books about Dolphins for Kids

July 28, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

We’ve been learning about dolphins lately and I wanted to add a few more great books about dolphins for the kids to enjoy.

So – here are several books about dolphins for kids that are filled with fascinating facts, beautiful pictures, and learning ideas to help your children get to know these marine mammals!

If you want to try more ocean-themed learning resources for your kids, check out our list of 25 beach crafts and our roundup of summer books for kids!

Books about Dolphins for Kids

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1. Dolphins – Step Into Reading!

2. How to Speak Dolphin in Three Easy Lessons

3. Everything Dolphin: What Kids Really Want to Know about Dolphins

4. In My Ocean

5. Amazing Dolphins (I Can Read Level 2)

6. Dolphins: Amazing Pictures & Fun Facts on Animals in Nature

7. Hope for Winter: The True Story of a Remarkable Dolphin Friendship

8. How to Speak Dolphin

9. Dolphin Baby!

10. Dolphins at Daybreak (Magic Tree House #9)

11. Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again

12. National Geographic Kids: Everything Dolphins

13. I Can Read: Dolphin

14. National Geographic Readers: Dive, Dolphin!

15. Smithsonian: Dolphins

16. Sharks and Dolphins: A Compare and Contrast Book

17. DK Readers Level 1: Diving Dolphin

18. Do Dolphins Really Smile? (Penguin Young Readers, Level 3)

19. Amazing Animals: Dolphins

20. Wild Sea Creatures: Sharks, Whales, and Dolphins! (Wild Kratts)

Learn even more about dolphins with our Dolphins Unit Study!

Don’t miss these other kids’ book lists!

And be sure to follow our Reading for Kids board on Pinterest for more great book lists!

Picture Books about Hawaii

July 18, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

My three-year-old has really gotten into reading lately. Which is a wonderful thing!

She loves looking at pictures and tracing her fingers under the words. Of course, she’s making up her own story or reciting some from memory, but that’s okay. She’s pre-reading and I’m thrilled!

We’ve been studying about the beach a lot lately, so I thought we’d take a look at a gorgeous book we received from my brother: Pulelehua and Mamaki. Since the story takes place on Hawai’i, I thought I’d round up some other beautiful picture books about Hawaii that are fun for kids to explore!

Picture Books about Hawaii

Pulelehua and Mamaki is the story of a Mamaki tree that serves as the home to a Kamehameha butterfly named Pulelehua. A butterfly mother laid her egg on one of the tree’s leaves and that caterpillar grew up to become Pulelehua.

Later, when Pulelehua lays an egg, she chooses the same Mamaki tree to watch over her baby. And when her egg hatches, grows into a caterpillar, and transforms into a full-grown Kamehameha butterfly, Mamaki the tree promises to watch over it too.

It’s a truly lovely story filled with native Hawaiian terms and absolutely beautiful illustrations.

As part of the Read Around the World Summer Series, I’m sharing my book summary below!

Be sure to check out the wonderful multicultural kids’ books that have been reviewed this summer!

While I’m sharing my appreciation for Pulelehua and Mamaki, I thought I’d mention a few other picture books about Hawaii that are gorgeous for children to read!

Want to spend more time learning about the beach with kids? Try these learning ideas!

Get more ideas for making reading fun with my Reading for Kids board on Pinterest!

Ice Cream Recipes for Kids

July 1, 2016 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

One of the things on my never-ending Mom bucket list is to make homemade ice cream with my kids. In fact, now that I think about it – I don’t think I’ve EVER had homemade ice cream before. Yikes. That must be rectified ASAP. 🙂

So, I looked around for some fun cookbooks that feature ice cream recipes for kids. I’ve listed several below that I’m definitely going to try!

In this post, I’m joining up with several other bloggers to share resources for a free ice cream unit study. Be sure to check out all of the links to build a fun ice cream unit for your kids this summer!

Ice Cream Recipes for Kids

Don’t miss these other fun ice cream activities for kids!

Plus, get more ideas for summer on my Summer Activities for Kids board on Pinterest!

This post is part of the free Ice Cream Unit Study hop! Get more ideas for learning about ice cream from these great bloggers!

Kids in the Kitchen: Mini Ice Cream Cakes from Crafty Mama in ME

Ice Cream Recipes for Kids from Look! We’re Learning!

Ice Cream Books for Kids from The Jenny Evolution

Ice Cream Color Match from Schooling A Monkey

Ice Cream Trails Around The World from FrogMom

Ice Cream Word Families from Homeschool Preschool

Ice Cream Art from CraftCreateCalm

Books about Turtles for Kids

June 28, 2016 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

A couple of weeks ago, we shared a Turtles Unit Study. So I thought I’d keep the fun going with a list of fun books about turtles for kids that you and your little ones will love reading together!

Naturally, any booklist about turtles has to include little Franklin. 🙂 But there are also a few contemporary classics and some non-fiction selections in the list too! If I missed any of your favorites, let me know in the comments!

Books about Turtles for Kids

Learn more about turtles for kids with our Turtles Unit Study!

Plus, get our Tiny Turtles Prewriting Pack – free!

Want more books for children? Follow my Reading for Kids board on Pinterest!

25 of The Best Beach Books for Kids

June 10, 2016 by Selena Robinson 5 Comments

Summer’s here and we’re getting into a “beachy” frame of mind around here.

I’m from Florida and I absolutely adore the beach, so for this book roundup, I decided to feature the best beach books for kids!

There are 25 books about the beach for toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary-aged kids to look at, read, and enjoy.

What I love about these books is that they focus on the beach itself, not just stories that take place there.

So, if you’re doing a beach unit soon, these are excellent reading choices!

Read on to see the full list. And, keep reading to pick up a fun beach themed counting resource too!

If these are a hit, check out some other summer reads, including some cool ice cream books for kids!

Share some of these lovely beach books for kids this summer!

25 of the Best Beach Books for Kids

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Whether you live near the shore or not, the beach is a wonderful theme for early learners.

There are so many animals that live near the beach to learn about.

Plus, we get to find out about incredible scientific principles such as buoyancy, erosion, and evaporation.

There are also plenty of beach crafts for kids and beach-y treats to make. Take a look at some of our favorite beach crafts for some inspiration!

25 of The Best Beach Books for Kids

Share some of these lovely and fun beach books for kids during read aloud time this summer!

At the Beach by Anne Rockwell

Beach by Elisha Cooper

Hello Ocean by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Beach Day by Karen Roosa

Curious George Goes to the Beach by Margret & H.A. Rey

Hide and Seek Harry at the Beach by Kenny Harrison

Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach by James Dean

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don't! by Elise Parsley

Llama Llama Sand and Sun by Anna Dewdley

A Day at the Seashore by Kathryn Jackson

Fancy Nancy: Sand Castles and Sand Palaces by Jane O'Connor

How Will We Get to the Beach? by Brigitte Luciani

Duck & Goose Go to the Beach by Tad Hills

Beach Baby by Laurie Elmquist

On My Beach by Sara Gillingham

Beach Bugs: A Sunny Pop-up Book by David A. Carter

Ladybug Girl at the Beach by David Soman

Daniel's Day at the Beach (Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood) by Becky Friedman

Biscuit's First Beach Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Clam-I-Am!: All About the Beach by Tish Rabe

Daisy Dawson at the Beach by Steve Voake

Beach House by Deana Caswell

A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams

Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach by Melanie Watt

Hum and Swish by Matt Myers

Printable Beach Ball Counting Cards

Add even more beach learning fun to your beach theme with these printable beach ball counting to ten cards!

Printable Beach Ball Counting Flashcards

These feature beach balls in groups of one to ten with number words underneath.

There are also a set of cards with blank spaces for attaching number word labels.

Perfect for early math centers!

To get your set of these beach ball counting cards free, just click the image or the link below to have them sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our newsletter this Sunday!

>>> Beach Ball Counting Cards <<<

Did you enjoy these beach books for kids? Don’t miss these other beach ideas to share!

Try some of these easy and fun prek beach crafts with early learners this summer!

Make this simple DIY play beach sand recipe to share a summer sensory activity with the kids!

Share a fun and easy summer craft with the kids when you make this easy coffee filter crab craft! Perfect for summer afternoon crafting!

This post is part of the Beach Unit Study blog hop! Check out more awesome beach posts below!

Beach Letter Find Printables from 3 Boys and a Dog

Ocean Books for Kids from The Jenny Evolution

Songs About The Beach from Tales of Education at Home

5 Ways to Learn at the Beach from The Usual Mayhem

Beach Scavenger Hunt Printable from CraftCreateCalm

“At the Beach” Emergent Reader from The Letters of Literacy

Sand Pail and Shovel Alphabet Match from The Kindergarten Connection

Beach Letter Dot Printables from Living Life and Learning.com

Colorful Sand Paintings from Schooling a Monkey

Sand Science Experiment from iGameMom

15 Things to Do at the Beach with Kids from FrogMom

Easy Egg Carton Sea Creatures from Homeschool Preschool

Beach Mystery Bag from Bambini Travel

Printable Beach Bingo Cards from Year Round Homeschooling

Beach Pail 1-20 Number Recognition from Something 2 Offer

Fun Frog Books for Preschool

May 13, 2016 by Selena Robinson 13 Comments

Are you planning a frog homeschool unit study for your kids soon? Be sure to add in reading! And this roundup of fun frog books for preschool is awesome for helping little learners practice reading skills, learn about frogs, and have fun at the same time!

I’m also sharing lots of frog unit study resources from my fellow bloggers that are perfect for rounding out a frog unit! Read on to grab them!

Fun Frog Books for Preschool

Want more froggy fun? Check out the other frog-themed unit study resources from my fellow bloggers!

Find the Letter F is for Frogs from 3 Boys and a Dog

Frog Life Cycle Free Printables from Natural Beach Living

Frog Books for Preschool from Look! We’re Learning!

Frog Anatomy Worksheets from Living Life and Learning

Frog Hop Activity from CraftCreateCalm

Make a Fun Handprint and Footprint Tissue Paper Frog from Crafty Mama in ME

Free Resources for Frog Life Cycle from Something 2 Offer

5 Easy Frog Exercise Moves for Kids from FrogMom

Children’s Books Featuring Frogs from The Jenny Evolution

Frogs of the Rainforest from Tales of Education at Home

Frog Theme Color Words Book {free printable} from Books and Giggles

Recycled K Cup Frog Craft and Skip Counting Activity from Artsy Momma

Frog Life Cycle for Kids {Printable Set} from The Natural Homeschool

Lots of Learning and Fun with Frogs Sensory Bin from Living Montessori Now

Frog Race Graphing Game from Simple Fun for Kids

Poison Frog activity from Schooling a Monkey

Non-fiction Frog Emergent Readers from Royal Baloo

Interactive Frog Life Cycle App for Kids from iGameMom

Frog Writing Prompts from The Usual Mayhem

Get more unit study study ideas from my Unit Studies board on Pinterest!

10 Books about Monster Trucks

May 3, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Do you have a child who LOVES big trucks? My boys are huge fans of monster trucks right now, which is why I decided to use big trucks to teach them about measuring last week.

But if you want to encourage them to read, why not check out some fun and educational kids’ books about monster trucks? There are plenty available, but these are super for finding out how trucks work and getting your little ones excited about reading! Trust me. We have a few of these in our home library. 🙂

10 Books about Monster Trucks

For more monster truck learning fun, check out our free Monster Truck Measurement math pack for kids!

And be sure to follow my Reading for Kids board on Pinterest to find more awesome children’s book roundups!

10 Kids’ Picture Books about Bugs

April 19, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Bugs are super popular with kids, especially during the warm months when we start to see more ants, bees, and other creepy critters around more often. Personally, I’m not a fan. But my boys (in particular) think they’re super cool!

So, I’ve worked up the nerve to start putting together a bug unit study. And part of that unit is reading some great picture books about bugs!

Here are ten kids’ books about bugs that are awesome for showing kids different kinds of insects and helping them learn about how they live and co-exist along with us.

10 Kids’ Picture Books about Bugs

If you try one of these, let me know which one is your favorite! And if I missed a great bug book, tell me your pick in the comments!

For more buggy fun, check out these posts!

And get more ideas for science learning from my It’s Science board on Pinterest!

50 Beautiful Spring Books for Kids to Read

April 7, 2016 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

I absolutely adore spring…mostly because I detest winter. (Cold weather turns me into an actual bum.)

But once the days start to get longer and the weather starts to get warmer, I come alive! And it’s a wonderful time to explore changing seasons with our students.

This year, I want to put a greater focus on spring reading, so I put together a list of 50 spring books for kids!

These spring books for kids are great for talking about the change of seasons. They’re also a nice introduction to weather, spring animals, and plants!

Want to share more spring learning with your students? Don’t miss our All About Flowers printable unit study!

Share this list of 50 spring books for kids with early readers!

50 Engaging Spring Books for Kids

This list of books about spring includes both board books and picture books. So there are appropriate selections for preschoolers and early elementary students.

Some of the non-fiction books may even be good for upper elementary students, depending on their reading level.

How to Use Books about Spring with Early Learners

When you’re ready to share one of these spring books for kids with your students, try opening by asking the class what they already know about the topic.

For example, if you’re reading the book “How Do We Know It’s Spring”, start by asking questions like:

How can you tell springtime is here?
What does the weather look like?
What do the trees look like?
Are there any animals you see around us?

50 Engaging Spring Books for Kids to Read

As your students answer, help them remember what’s been said and then compare what they already know with what they learn from the book later.

If you are working on a spring-themed unit, share a book together and then complete a craft. Here are a few spring crafts that may work well with these:

50 Beautiful Spring Books for Kids to Read

This list of beautiful spring books for kids features picture books young readers will love! Both fiction and non-fiction selections are included.

Note: This list includes affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

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Flip, Flap, Fly!: A Book for Babies Everywhere

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A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman

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Cherry Blossoms Say Spring (National Geographic Kids)

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Storm Is Coming! by Heather Tekavec

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The Very Busy Spider (Step into Reading)

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Curious George Plants a Seed (CGTV Reader)

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Kitten's Spring (Kitten: Seasons)

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Scholastic Reader Level 3: Poppleton in Spring

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Spring Is Here, Corduroy!

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It's Spring by Linda Glaser

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Kite Day: A Bear and Mole Story

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And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano

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In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer

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Everything Spring (Picture the Seasons)

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Spring Stinks: A Little Bruce Book (Mother Bruce Series)

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Plants in Spring (All about Spring)

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National Geographic Readers: Seed to Plant

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The Tiny Seed/Ready-to-Read Level 2 (The World of Eric Carle)

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Mouse's First Spring (Classic Board Books)

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Let It Rain by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

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It's Spring! by Samantha Berger

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Weather in Spring (All about Spring)

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When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes

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Little Blue Truck's Springtime by Alice Schertle

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Spring: A Pop-up Book (Seasons Pop-up)

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How Do You Know It's Spring? (Rookie Read-About Science: Seasons)

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Bear Wants More (The Bear Books) by Karma Wilson

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Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Oak

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Worm Weather (Penguin Core Concepts) by Jean Taft

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Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson

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Lola Plants a Garden (Lola Reads) by Anna McQuinn

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Spencer Knows Spring: A Charming Children's Book about Spring by Tiffany Obeng

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A Little Book About Spring (Leo Lionni's Friends)

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Spring in the Forest (Lift-a-flap Surprise)

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Pete the Cat and the Cool Caterpillar (I Can Read Level 1)

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What Can You See in Spring? (Seasons) by Sian Smith

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Spring According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

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Happy Springtime! by Kate McMullan

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Llama Llama Very Busy Springtime by Anna Dewdney

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Spring is Here! by Heidi Pross Gray

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All About Weather: A First Weather Book for Kids

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A Windy Day in Spring (Springtime Weather Wonders)

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Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons

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The Thing About Spring by Daniel Kirk

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Spring Walk (Seasonal Walks) by Virginia Snow

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Finding Spring by Carin Berger

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Curious George: The Perfect Carrot (CGTV Reader)

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Spring is Here: A Bear and Mole Story by Will Hillenbrand

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Did you love this list of spring books for kids?

If you’re looking for more ways to talk about the season with your students, check out some of these spring learning ideas!

Get ready to welcome warmer weather with these fun spring crafts for kids to make!

These spring science ideas are wonderful for teaching science to the kids this year!

10 Amazing Geography Books for Home School

April 5, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Geography was NOT one of my favorite subjects in school. It was boring and dry and I just wanted to run out of class and never return.

So I’m determined to make it one of the best subjects in our homeschool. And that means choosing great geography books for my kids to explore.

Check out some of these amazing geography books for home school! I love these books and we use several of them regularly with our children!

10 Amazing Geography Books for Home School

Of this list, my personal favorite is Hungry Planet. It is a truly eye-opening look at the way world regions, economy, and culture play a role in the food we eat. Plus, it’s an introduction to human geography, not just points on a map. Physical geography is important, but it’s how it affects us as humans that really impacts our society.

Do you have a favorite book for teaching geography in your home school? Share your picks in the comments!

Get even more ideas to make geography fun for kids!

For more geography fun, stop by and follow my Geography for Homeschoolers board on Pinterest!

This post is part of The Massive Homeschool Geography Guide from iHomeschool Network! Click over to read more geography posts from my fellow bloggers!

The Best Picture Books for Three Year Olds

February 1, 2016 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Piglet turned three last winter. And, while she’s always been part of our family storytime, she’s really started to take an interest in storybooks lately. She constantly asks “Can you read this to me?” It melts my heart every time.

Naturally, she loves picture books. So I started looking for the best picture books for three year olds that I could share with her. So far, these are her absolute favorites! And, since many of these were classics when I was a kid, they were my favorites back in the day too.

By the way, these are all books that I’ve actually read. Trust me, they’re pretty great.

Image c/o: vadimphoto1@gmail.com via depositphotos

The Best Picture Books for Three-Year-Olds:

Did I miss any of your favorite picture books for three-year-olds? Share your family’s favorites in the comments!

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

And catch some of our other book lists for kids below!

We got to learn about firefighters with a firefighter unit study a couple of months back, but I wanted to read a few more kids’ books about them. Pooh is reading chapter books now, so we’ve started Flat Stanley and the Firehouse.

But Roo is still in the early reader stage, so I started searching for picture books about firefighters that he’d love. Here are 10 of them that are full of pictures and firefighting fun!

10 Picture Books about Firefighters

If you want to use these books as the basis for a unit, check out our Firefighter Unit Study!

And for more great children’s books, follow 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!