Read together as your child shares in those first day jitters and excitement to help them be prepared for their teacher, school and new classmates.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for easy shopping on Amazon. CLICK ON the images of each book to learn more and BUY.

First Day of School Books for Kids

Grab this back to school book list and get ready for your child’s first day of school.

Here’s our favorite books…

• ABC Ready for School: An Alphabet of Social Skills
• Butterflies on the First Day of School
• David Goes To School
• If You Take a Mouse to School
• Mae’s First Day of School
• Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten
• Monsters Love School
• On the First Day of Kindergarten
• Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes
• The Day You Begin
• The Night Before Kindergarten
• The Kissing Hand
• The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
• The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School
• This School Year Will Be the BEST!
• We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
• School’s First Day of School

Some of these back to school stories I’ve read with my Kindergarten students for the past 20+ years. However many are new authors and new characters that your kids will grow to love time and time again. This is such a special time in your child’s life and this list highlights the best First Day of School books to prepare for a memorable school year.

Looking for more themed book lists? Visit our Virtual Book Club for Kids

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

It’s the first day of kindergarten and Miss Bindergarten is hard at work getting the classroom ready for her twenty-six new students. Each has a special name and animal that represents the alphabet letters with a colorful and rhyming storybook for all Kindergarten children.

This School Year Will Be the BEST! by Kay Winters

In this story, classmates are asked to share what they would most like to happen in the upcoming year. Some kids’ hopes are familiar while others are off-the-wall. Whether it’s looking good on picture day or skateboarding at school, everyone’s wishes are shown in adorably exaggerated illustrations. As the first day arrives, there can be no doubt—this school year will definitely be the best!

Best Books About Starting School

You can help your child get ready for school by reading a few of these adorable books about the First Day of School. They open up conversations for discussing the classroom, the school, their new routine, the teacher and even their classmates.

On the First Day of Kindergarten by Trish Rabe

There’s so much to do on the first day of kindergarten. From making new friends to jumping rope in gym to riding the bus to school. The stories explore a lot of firsts with your child including saying good-bye to Mom and Dad when the school bus pulls up. Perfect for nervous and excited kids about to go to kindergarten. It’s a pretty cool place to be!

The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wig

It’s the first day of school! Join the kids as they prepare for kindergarten, packing school supplies, posing for pictures, and the hardest part of all—saying good-bye to Mom and Dad. Perfect for parents to read as you’re getting ready to start for your special school year off.

David Goes To School by David Shannon

David keeps his teacher busy with her hands full! From running in the halls to chewing gum in class, David’s days at school may have a little bit of trouble in them but they are sure to bring a smile to readers. A great book to take about the rules at school with.

ABC Ready for School: An Alphabet of Social Skills by Celeste Delaney

C is for cooperate. G is for grow. P is for play! This friendly alphabet book helps young children explore a variety of skills related to school readiness. Kids preparing for school will learn social skills from A to Z. The adorable illustrations bring the skills to life with encouraging scenes of fun and learning in the classroom, on the playground, and more.

Books to Ease First Day of School Jitters

At the beginning of school many children and parents experiences some jitters and fears that everything will be ok. The following books are perfect for just this situation and help your child through these anxieties and help easy the first day of school jitters.

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

The award winning lyrical text and colorful art carries the story that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. There are many reasons to feel different through this heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone.

Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro

Meet Rosie, a brand-new student who has butterflies in her stomach. She can’t wait to start kindergarten. She’s had her pencils sharpened and her backpack ready for weeks. However on the night before the big day, her tummy hurts. Rosie’s mom reassures her that it’s just butterflies in her belly, and she’ll feel better soon. Much to her surprise, when Rosie says hello to a new friend on the bus, a butterfly flies out of her mouth! As the day goes on, Rosie frees all her butterflies, and even helps another shy student let go of hers, too.

Mae’s First Day of School by Kate Berube

As Mae’s first day of school get closer she decides she is not going! She’s feels that school is scary! She worries about the other kids don’t like her and writing her name. And even what if she misses her mom? Mae’s anxiety only gets worse as she walks to school. But then she meets Rosie and Ms. Pearl as readers see just how powerful friendships can be.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

As school is starting Chester Raccoon does not want to go. Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. This story is especially helpful for children experiencing times of separation and the worries that come along with it.

Back to School Books with Adorable Characters We Love

Head to school with some of your favorite characters in back to school books! From a special If You Give a Mouse to Pete the Cat and even the beloved Pigeon, each will be a special story to read together as you get ready for your first day of school.

If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff

Head to school with this award winning series as you explore the various elements of going to school for the very first time. If you take a mouse to school, he’ll ask you for your lunch box. When you give him your lunch box, he’ll want a sandwich to go in it. Then he’ll need a notebook and some pencils. He’ll probably want to share your backpack, too.

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by James Dean

Pete the Cat discovers the library, the lunch room, the playground, and lots of other cool places at school in his school shoes. No matter where he goes, Pete never stops moving and grooving and singing his classic song…because it’s all good.

Monsters Love School by Mike Austin

Summer is over, and now it’s time for the biggest adventure of all…Monster School! These colorful monsters head to school for the first time as they explorer reading, writing and learning your monster history.

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

It’s the first day of school and Penelope Rex can’t wait to meet her classmates. However, it’s hard to make human friends when they’re so darn delicious! That is, until she gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all.

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems

Why does the Pigeon have to go to school? He already knows everything! And what if he doesn’t like it? What if the teacher doesn’t like him? What if he learns TOO MUCH!?! Mo Willems brings to life this beloved character for a special back to school book for kids.

The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School by Deborah Diesen

Mr. Fish is nervously awaiting his first day of school, and he worries about writing his name, drawing shapes, and how to do math. In the story he’s —reassured that school is the perfect place to learn about this new skills.

Here’s a few more First Day of School Book suggestions from our favorite online book Friends:

For more book lists be sure to visit our Virtual Book Club for Kids

DID WE MISS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES? What are your favorite first day of school books? We’d love to hear about them in the comments.

Here are a few more book suggestions as you begin school….

Additional First Day of School Ideas for Kids

• Magic Dust for the First Day of School with (Printable Poem)
• DIY First Day of School Sign
• First Day of School Interview (Printable)
• 9 Tips for First Day of School Success
• Back to School Resources for Parents
• Back to School STEM Activities

Helping children with feelings of anxiety is a part of parenthood and childhood. We hug them in the dark and when they hear scary noises. We hold their hand as we go to new places and while meeting new people. We talk with them about their fears and worries and even show our children there are no monsters in the closet from time to time.

Starting school can bring up some worries in our children. Some worries are about if they will make friends, will they get lost, will the teacher be nice and like them or even will it be too difficult.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes is a great book to read to children to help them with their feelings of anxiety about the world around them and starting school. In the story Wemberly worries about big things and little things and her parents are concerned she worries too much. 

I love how it addresses some common worries of children so that they can relate to her and know that they are not alone in their worries. One of her biggest worries is about starting school. 

In the end, she finds that she’s not the only one who worries through a special friend who somehow makes things a little less worrisome.

Activities for Back to School Worries

Identify your child’s worries with them. Are they big worries or little worries?

OR

We used a board to write down and discuss our worries. You could easily use a sheet of paper too. As we wrote down our worries we put them under Big Worries or Little Worries. Sometimes it helps them to be able to sort out what we should really worry about because it’s dangerous or something that just might happen but it’s not a big deal. 

As you talk about your child’s concerns about School or anything for that matter encourage them to categorize these concerns with you. 

It’s a difficult thing for smaller children to do, just think of how intensely you may have felt when you thought a shadow was a “real monster”. But the more you talk about when it’s not really happening the more they will begin to understand. Have them relocate those worries if they’ve placed them in the incorrect category.  

Some terms to use as you discuss these worries are the likelihood of them happening.

Ask them to sort their worries into groups of just might happen or not likely.

Once you’ve identified some true concerns that just might happen it’s time to talk about them and come up with strategies for them.

Here are some Examples and Strategies

Worry: I will forget my lunch

Truthfully it just might happen…. so make a plan.  Having them come with you to give the food service money might assure them that there is money there waiting for them just in case they leave their lunchbox at home.

Worry: I won’t have any friends

We hope that this never happens to any child but know that it is a big concern and rightly so. Come up with strategies for your child to make new friends. I encouraged my daughter to just remember only 3 names on the first day of school. It can be overwhelming to meet so many people at once. The next day I asked her to remember who she sat by at lunch or who she stood by in the line. Encouraging them to make those connections will help with forming friendships.

Worry: I won’t know the answers

I think it’s human nature to want to know things all the time but encouraging your child to ask questions and know that they are there to learn new things will help with this one. Also encouraging them to speak up and raise their hands when they don’t understand. A teacher is there to help you learn and understand is a great phrase to teach your child.

Worry: I’m going to miss my Mommy & Daddy

This is one of those things that you just never know how your child will react to until they are there at school. You can guess from experience in the past with child care providers but I know as a Mom of a crying child on the first day of Kindergarten I never saw that coming since he had done so well at preschool the year before.

Literally, the teacher had to pry my son off of me so that I could go to teach my classroom for my first day of school too.

Here are some Suggestions for Helping with Back to School Worries

• Create a heart for them to carry in their pocket or backpack. Curly Birds has a great tutorial on how to create them.
• Create First Day of Magic School Dust, we have a printable just for you with ideas.
• Read lots of books about school.  Here’s our list of favorite Back to School Books.
• Read Kevin Henkes collection of Mouse books they address so many social issues that children go through in school.
• Create your own Back to School Book.

We’ve created a printable for you. You can sit with your child and personalize their own book about school to talk about some concerns they may have and to also discuss the rules and procedures at school.

• Visit 6 Ways to a Less Worried Child from Awesomely Awake
• Visit Loving ways to Ease School Separation Anxiety by Imagination Soup
• Read Llama Llama Misses Mama on We Give Books, it’s even online!

• Create your own Wemberly Worried inspired by Mrs. T’s First Grade, she’s included tons of printable activity ideas too!
• Follow our School Pinterest Board for more Resources for Back to School.
• Role Play with Finger Puppets some of the worries your child may have and some of the words that can use in those situations.
• Preparing for School Brings Big Emotions for Kids and Parents too
• Download Kevin Henkes Wemberly Activity Guide. Includes a Maze, Dot to Dot, Coloring Page, Finger Puppets, Word Search, Songs and MORE!

Downloadable Wemberly Activity Guide from Kevin Henkes

If you haven’t read the story here is an online version.

We wish you the best of luck as your child begins school. Even if it’s their second or third year of school don’t forget sometimes their worries might even get more intense as they have memories of years prior. Communicate with your child and communicate with your child’s teacher to create the best environment for your child. I think we all have a little Wemberly in all of us! 

Who knows they just might want to make Wemberly’s Ice Cream Star next!

Here are some additional Back to School Resources to make your school year kick off with success!

In honor of school starting and our recent Bus Tours this summer we wanted to feature Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Has your child discovered the character Pigeon by Mo Willems yet?

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon Books.

We’re excited to welcome you to the Virtual Book Club for Kids featuring Mo Willems!

Each Virtual Book Club for Kids Co-Host will be sharing their own Mo Willems inspired post today!  That’s 16+ Activities to go with his books!

Water Color with Pigeon and the Bus

To start our Mo Willems fun we first drew the bus inspired by Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems. Then we printed out coloring pages provided for free on the Mo’s website. Then it was time to paint!  

Using crayons or markers would work too but sometimes it’s that little extra element that makes a project seem special to a child. Once it was dry it make the perfect backdrop for our ABC Game!

Pigeon and Bus Activities inspired by Mo Willems: Letter Activity

Finding a match is a fun way to being to learn letters and letter sounds with a child. Use some images to discover which letter starts with that letter. We gather a few sets of letters as most usually have just one of each letters.

You could also very easily print out on paper or on your computer different types and colors of letters to add variety to the sorting game for kids.

Ask your child What Letter can get on this Bus?

Pigeon and Bus Activities inspired by Mo Willems: Create Your Own Name Bus 

We used some special letters to practice forming the letters in my daughter’s name, spouse, siblings. Another way we will use it soon it to from Word Families. Words that rhyme like -at -an -op -it will be a fun place to start to learn to read and rhyme. You could make word cards to for your child to copy onto the bus.

Ask your child What letters belong in your name?

Pigeon and Bus Activities inspired by Mo Willems: Create Your Own Family Bus

Who’s in your family? Create a special bus for Pigeon to drive with your family inside of it! My 3-year-old had fun using watercolors to paint our hand-drawn bus and including our family members inside too!

Pigeon and Bus Activities inspired by Mo Willems: Mo Willems Printables

We printed out a Pigeon from one of Mo Willem’s Websites Pigeon Presents! There are a bunch of resources on the Grown Up’s Section. While you’re there check out the Bus Facts Page. We hand-drew the bus to use for this project.

Here are a few more fun ways to learn to draw with Mo Willems.  

Here’s a quick video of “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus”

Check out this Knuffle Bunny Costume Idea for Kids

Pigeon and Bus Activities inspired by Mo Willems: Printables, Activities and Crafts!

• Handprint Pigeon 
• Paint Chip School Bus 
• Pigeon on a Bus Snack
• Bus Craft 
• Letter B for Bus 
• Pigeon Activity Guide from Mo Willems 
• Pigeon Needs a Bath Activity Ideas and Video
• 50+ Mo Willems Activities  
• Check out Mo’s Interview on the Today Show  and why he feels our kids need to be doodling! 

How to Join the Virtual Book Club for Kids 

We’d love to see the Mo Willems inspired activities that you do with your child or class!   Come share your activity Idea and photos on our VBC Facebook Page or in the Comment Section.

Mo Willems Activities from the Virtual Book Club for Kids Co-Hosts

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Activities 

• Cardboard Box Bus Craft & Number Game for Kids by Toddler Approved
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Activity by Coffee Cups and Crayons 
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: Puppets, Crafts and Storytelling by Playing with Words 365
• Letter B is for Bus Craft by Royal Baloo
• Pigeon Rhyming Race Activity by Growing Book by Book 
• Pigeon Handprint by Mama Miss 

Knuffle Bunny Activities 

• Mo Willems Inspired DIY Bunny Costume Felt Headband by The Educators’ Spin On It 
• Knuffle Bunny Activity Mats by ready-set-read 

The Duckling Gets a Cookie Activities 

• Counting Chocolate Chips – Duckling Get a Cookie by 3 Dinosaurs
• Nut Free Alphabet Cookies by Rainy Day Mum
• Sticky Cookie Craft by The Pleasantest Thing
• The Duckling Gets a Cookie Math Games by Inspiration Laboratories
• The Ducking Gets a Cookie Printable Clothespin Activity by Lalymom 

September Featured Author: Mo Willems

• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
• Knuffle Bunny
• The Duckling Gets a Cookie

You’ll find even more ideas shared for Books and Activities by following along!

Leave a comment below for us if you’re joining the Virtual Book Club for Kids!

You may also enjoy these activities…

Here’s how to play this letter game!

Disclosure: This book contains Amazon Affiliate links.

We’re kicking off this year’s Virtual Book Club for Kids with Alphabet Week! Our featured book this week is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

BUY NOW: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Written by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Illustrated by Lois Ehlert

Finding book activities is one of my favorite things to do with young children. This book is so inviting and colorful and draws in a child’s focus every time you read it. Bonus is they are learning the letters of the alphabet while they read it.

Our book activity to go with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom adds some fun with movement and letter recognition and gets your child outdoors.

Plus a printable coconut alphabet for extra playable fun indoors too.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Alphabet Game with Sidewalk Chalk

Materials

• sidewalk chalk
• white paper
• printer
• Coconut Alphabet printable
• small rock
• scissors
• pretend coconut or plastic container

Directions

Print the coconut letters and cut out each letters for game. Place letters into a plastic container to store and be able to sort through.

Before you head outside, ask your child to sort through the letters and place them into alphabetical order with you as you identify the letter sounds and letters one by one.

Now it’s time to head outdoors to make your very own coconut tree with sidewalk chalk. You’re going to want to make it a large coconut tree, the kids will be jumping onto it.

So grab your green for the palm frawns and brown or orange for the trunk of the palm tree. This is a super simple outline to draw.

Once your coconut tree is complete, it’s time to write the letters of the alphabet on the tree, just like in the story. You can have your child use the coconut letter cards for reference for how to write with the colorful chalk correctly.

As your child is writing the letters, talk about their letter sounds too.

Want more sidewalk chalk games? {CLICK HERE}

To play the game have your child draw letters from the plastic basket or if you really want to it play up use a pretend Coconut Shell Cup with Lid, like this on Amazon.

PRINT THE COCONUT ALPHABET HERE

Now that you have select a letter the challenge is to find it as quickly as you can on the coconut tree.

Continue to do this until your child races the clock to find all the letters on the coconut tree. When they find the letter have them jump onto it and shout out the letter name or make it more challenging and have them shout out the letter sound. Add extra fun with this adorable palm tree hat!

NEED MORE IDEAS?

For the second activity have your child jump from each letter Coconut to Coconut in alphabetical order. A fun movement activity as your child learns the order of the alphabet. When they land on the letter, have them shout out the letter sound or a word that starts with that letter.

The last idea is for beginning readers! Grab a small rock for tossing and have them toss the “coconut” rock onto a letter and have them shout what the name.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Printable Alphabet

Looking for more letter activities to go with the book? You might enjoy this post that features Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Letter Activities.

What age is the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Book good For?

This book is perfect for children learning the letters of the alphabet and letter sounds. Preschoolers and Toddlers find this book quite funny. It’s also good for learning alphabetical order and handwriting, which means even Kindergarten and First Graders will find this book enjoyable.

You can even turn it into a STEM activity with all ages as you challenge them to balance letters on a tree. Or use these natural coconut shell cups to create a sorting activity.

What is the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Song?

There is an adorable Chicka Chicka Boom Boom song that you’ll want to listen to and sign along with with your child as you explore this adorable book.

I’m going to warn you it’s a bit catchy and you’ll be singing this one all day!

Want more Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Activities? Check out this week’s alphabet lesson plan at The Virtual Book Club for Kids.

Here are some additional alphabet themed activities you may also enjoy…

Share your Activity Ideas and Photos as you doing this activity with your child in our Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids Facebook Group!

Are you ready to get started?

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

One of my favorite alphabet books is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. The playful text and colorful illustrations introduce your child to the letters of the alphabet both upper case and lower case.

Here’s a collection of activities for hours of fun with the alphabet!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Activities

There are so many fun ideas to use this this story. In this article you will find some of my very favorite ways to have fun with this book. From alphabet crafts, coconut tree science to even some delicious snack ideas all inspired by the story Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

First start by printing these Coconut Alphabet Letters to get your learning station set up for hours of fun.

Head outside for this adorable Sidewalk Chalk Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Alphabet Game!

Create an adorable sticky coconut tree for this book for allow your child to stick the letters all over the tree just like in the book. You can even use recycled play dough lids, like this alphabet tree, for a more colorful option.

Have some fun with math for your older kids with this multiplication coconut tree. For younger kids just change to number recognition or addition and subtraction.

This resources includes Chicka Chicka Boom Boom printable activities and centers to introduce or review basic concepts, alphabet and math skills in an early childhood classroom.

Chicka Chick Boom Boom Alphabet Sensory Bins

Play dough can be used to set up a sensory experience with just a few items like these featured with letter beads, felt leaves and a few pieces of wood.

We love how these wooden balls are use for setting up a Storytime playdough for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Take a peek at this playdough sensory play with buttons for the coconuts.

Take advantage of your magnetic letters by creating a can coconut tree, they your child can spend hours and hours attaching their letters Chick Chicka Boom Boom Magnetic Tree.

Use your magnetic door or side of the refrigerator for a larger than life Alphabet Coconut Tree.

Get the printable Coconut Tree with Letters or use this one.

Make this Sensory Activity with Kinetic Sand and this printable We recommend using these magnetic foam letters, plastic letters or wooden letter.

Make a interactive coconut tree with this glass gem coconuts.

Make very own Chicka Chicka Boom Boom DIY sensory bottle. This sensory bottle is super simple and so much fun to make. Perfect for your little Chicka Chicka Boom Boom fan!

Add a little water play to this story by creating an alphabet soup letter bin with your foam or magnetic letters and water.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Snack Ideas

Make this adorable fruit snack inspired by the story with apple palm frawn, banana stem and mandarin oranges for the sandy grown. Plus add the letter crafts to tie in the story.

You might even want to consider making coconut bread. Here’s the recipe.

Create a delicious snack with letters by baking alphabet cheese crackers or even alphabet graham crackers.

Love the letter cereals that are available. You can use them to make this Coconut Tree Snack with apples and a pretzel rod.

Look at how cute adding letters to any plate makes for the perfect snack, even at a playdate or birthday party.

Here’s an easy recipe to make with kids for Alphabet Cookies!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Craft Projects

Create this simple activity with alphabet stamps and by drawing a coconut tree or finding a printable one online. You can make it a matching game too with alphabet cards.

With foam letters stickers you can create so many fun projects for this book. One easy one is a Toilet Paper Role Coconut Tree.

Pull out the paint for a handprint Coconut Tree or a hand painted version. Then you can pull out your alphabet stamps to create your very own Painted Alphabet Tree.

With a few green muffin tin liners and foam letters you can create this adorable Letter Coconut Tree Craft.

Make your own name with this adorable Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Name Craft using foam letters. (I told you they can be used for so many things with this story.)

Grab your empty paper towel role and your leftover dot stickers for this alphabet coconut tree in spired by this story. Or you can grab some paint to create this colorful alphabet tree the foam bowl is a brilliant way to capture the letters.

Learn the letters of your name by making a coconut name recognition tree with clothespins.

A simple activities for even your toddlers is it invite them to this paint the alphabet matching game.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Science Activities

Take this story to a whole other level by exploring coconuts together. Head to the story and purchase a coconut. Make it a science discovery experience by pulling out your magnifying glass.

Explore coconuts with your 5 Senses using these ideas. You could even make your own coconut cloud dough to play with the dried shell.

Add a little more fun to your coconut science by building your very own Coconut Tree STEM Challenge with popsicle sticks and a paper tube.

Or add a little fun to building with block and try this Chicka Chicka Boom Boom STEM Activity.

Make your own Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Board Game a simple–kind of a mix between Candy Land & Trouble.

Get ready for some sensory fun by making your own Alphabet Slime and add a coconut tree confetti to go along with the story.

There are so many ways to create activities to go along with the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. I can’t wait to hear about which one you try first.

Many of the gorgeous photos featured in this post came from Little Miss Kaye, a member of our Virtual Book Club for kids. Thank you so much for allowing us to share on our site. Take a moment and go take a look at her gorgeous instagram account with inspiring ideas with her preschooler.

We invite you to share your Chicka Chicka Boom Boom photos in our Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids Facebook group and join along each week with our themed activities and books. Join Here

Here are some additional activities your child may enjoy…

This summer have fun exploring these ice cream books together for a tasty read! Take a moment to explore our top picks of summer books for kids.

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Ice Cream Books for Kids

There are so many delicious and colorful books about ice cream to enjoy with your child.

Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems

Curious About Ice Cream (Smithsonian) by Bonnie Bader

Ice Cream: The Full Scoop by Gail Gibbons

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

The Little Ice Cream Truck by Margery Cuyler

Ice Cream Summer by Peter Sís

Francesco Tirelli’s Ice Cream Shop by Tamar Meir

The Ice Cream King by Steve Metzger

Vanilla Bean: A Story About Trying New Things by Katie Turner

Ten Scoops on Top! by Sarah R. Joseph

I Like You More Than Ice Cream by Brick Puffington

Is it Warm Enough for Ice Cream? by DK

Saffron Ice Cream by Rashin Kheiriyeh

The Sweetest Scoop: Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Revolution by Lisa Robinson

Wemberly’s Ice-Cream Star by Kevin Henkes

Paletero Man/¡Que Paletero tan Cool!: Bilingual English-Spanish by Lucky Diaz

What Can You Do with a Paleta? by Carmen Tafolla

Melt Like Ice Cream by Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez & Tessa Newell

Gorilla Loves Vanilla by Chae Strathie

Groovy Joe Ice Cream & Dinosaurs by Eric Litwin

Izzy The Ice Cream Fairy by Tim Bugbird

I Scream Ice Cream! A Book of Wordles by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Alphabet Ice Cream by Sue Heap

The Sundae Scoop (MathStart 2) by Stuart J. Murphy

Scoop the Ice Cream Truck by Patricia Keeler

Just One More by Jennifer Hansen Rolli

Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop by H. A. Rey & Margret Rey

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

The Scoop on Ice Cream!: Ready-to-Read Level 3 by Bonnie Williams

Ice Cream Soup (Step into Reading) by Ann Ingalls

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

From Milk to Ice Cream (Who Made My Lunch?) by Bridget Heos

From Milk to Ice Cream (Start to Finish, Second Series) by Stacy Taus-Bolstad

I’m really excited for you and your child to explore all of these books about ice together this summer. Looking for ways to expand this theme? Take this Ice Cream Kindness Challenge, a fun way to encourage sibling kindness.

To go with your adorable Ice Cream Books, we’d recommend making this delicious Gluten Free Ice Cream Sandwiches Recipe.

Or you could taste this easy no churn Blueberry ice cream for an ice cream treat with your books.

You can also create this adorable Ice Cream Sensory Bin! Step into a world of imaginative play and sensory exploration as we combine a plastic bin with plastic ice cream cones, ice cream scoops and fun additions to create an irresistible sensory experience

You may also want to explore more themed books during your summer vacation. Here are my top picks for summer books for kids.

Here are a few Virtual Field Trips for kids about Ice Cream to explore after you’ve read your favorite ice cream books for kids.

What do children learn from making ice cream?

Practice problem-solving, estimation, measurement, and other math skills by making ice cream! Cooking activities are a great way to teach kids about how to use measurement tools and apply their math skills in the kitchen.

There are only 3-4 essential ingredients needed for making ice cream: milk, cream, sugar, and flavorings. That being said, there are many other ingredients can be used to alter the flavor, texture, and consistency of your ice cream, but these four are the basics. Which makes it perfect to make with kids.

What is the science behind ice cream for kids?

Ice cream is an emulsion—a combination of two liquids that don’t normally mix together. Instead, one of the liquids is dispersed throughout the other. In ice cream, liquid particles of fat—called fat globules—are spread throughout a mixture of water, sugar, and ice, along with air bubbles.

Now that we’ve learn the science, get ready to satisfy your sweet tooth with this awesome Kool-Aid Ice Cream recipe.

Ice Cream Recipe Books for Your Family

Want to make your own ice cream? Try these ice cream recipe books packed full of delicious ideas for flavors of ice cream to make.

• Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer
• Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book by Ben Cohen, Jerry Greenfield, Nancy Stevens
• Salt & Straw Ice Cream Cookbook by Tyler Malek & JJ Goode
• The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz
• The Homemade Ice Cream Recipe Book by Robin Donovan
• The Complete Cuisinart Homemade Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, Gelato, Ice Cream Maker Book by Jessica Peters

There’s nothing quite like homemade vanilla ice cream. Rich, creamy and delicious, it’s an easy dessert and treat that’s worth the time and effort.

Ice Cream Makers

• Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker, Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt Machine, 2-Qt.
• Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine, 1.5 Quart
• Cuisinart ICE-100 1.5-Quart Ice Cream and Gelato Maker
• Hamilton Beach Electric Automatic Ice Cream Maker
• Ice Cream Maker Attachment for Kitchenaid Stand Mixer,2-Quart
• Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker & Candy Crusher, 2 Quarts

Read for summer reading? Download our Summer Reading Challenge…

You may also enjoy these ice cream activities with your child…

• Hosting an Ice Cream Math Playdate
• Ice Cream Totschool Ideas
• Ice Cream Virtual Field Trips for Kids
• Ice Cream Craft for Kids for End of School Year
• Making Ice Cream with Kids

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Shark Books for Kids of All Ages

Sharks are one of the most fascinating creatures in the ocean—and kids can’t get enough of them! Whether it’s their powerful jaws, sleek shapes, or amazing underwater superpowers, sharks capture the imagination of children of all ages.

If you have a shark-loving child at home, dive into this list of exciting shark books for kids! From fun facts to thrilling underwater adventures, these books are perfect for young readers who are curious about life under the sea.

Plus we’ve included Read Alouds of the books for you to explore!

You can use these to go along with our Shark Virtual Field Trips for Kids!

Fiction Books about Sharks

Fiction Books About Sharks are a fun way to spark imagination and encourage a love of reading! These stories often feature friendly, funny, or adventurous sharks that take young readers on exciting underwater journeys.

Whether it’s a silly shark at school, a brave shark hero, or a toothy creature with a big heart, these books blend humor and creativity to entertain while gently easing fears and building ocean curiosity.

You can find more great books in our Ocean Books for Kids Book List!

If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams (Read Aloud)

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating (Read Aloud)

How to Survive as a Shark by Kristen Foote

Oona and the Shark by Kelly DiPucchio (Read Aloud)

Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez (Read Aloud)

Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang (Read Aloud)

Save the Sharks by Bethany Stahl (Read Aloud)

Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale (Read Aloud)

The Spectacular Lives of Sharks by Annabel Griffin

How to Spy on a Shark by Lori Haskins Houran (Read Aloud)

Surprising Sharks: Read and Wonder by Nicola Davies (Read Aloud)

Nugget and Fang: Friends Forever–or Snack Time? by Tammi Sauer (Read Aloud)

My First Book of Sharks: All About the Largest Fish in the Sea for Kids by Buzz Bishop

Hark! A Shark!: All About Sharks (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library) by Bonnie Worth (Read Aloud)

Land Shark by Beth Ferry (Read Aloud)

Shark’s Big Surprise by A.H Benjamin (Read Aloud)

Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don’t Eat Friends by Ame Dyckman (Read Aloud)

Ripples Effect by Shawn Achor and Amy Blankson (Read Aloud)

Smart About Sharks by Owen Davey (Read Aloud)

How to Make a Shark Smile by Shawn Achor and Amy Blankson (Read Aloud)

Shawn Loves Sharks by Curtis Manley (Read Aloud)

Shark Nate-O by Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie (Read Aloud)

Sensational Sharks by Tim Flannery and Emma Flannery

Stella: The Shark Who Loves Treasure by Sarah Cullen and Carmen Ellis (Read Aloud)

What If We Had A Pet Shark? by Deanna Chesley (Read Aloud)

I Am the Shark by Joan Holub (Read Aloud)

A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book by Jonathan Fenske (Read Aloud)

Hammy Hammerhead’s (almost) Big Adventure! by Mike Crowder (Read Aloud)

Chompy the Shark: Short Stories and Jokes for Kids Ages 4-8 by Arnie Lightning

Shark in the Dark by Peter Bently (Read Aloud)

The Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully-Bully Shark by Deborah Diesen (Read Aloud)

Shark in the Dark by Nick Sharratt (Read Aloud)

Shark in the Park! by Nick Sharratt (Read Aloud)

Sharks Have Feelings Too by Stephen Bugbee

Walter the Whale Shark: and His Teeny Tiny Teeth by Katrine Crow (Read Aloud)

Shark Detective! by Jessica Olien (Read Aloud)

There Was an Old Mermaid Who Swallowed a Shark! by Lucille Colandro (Read Aloud)

What If You Could Sniff Like a Shark? by Sandra Markle (Read Aloud)

Sharkblock (An Abrams Block Book) by Christopher Franceschelli (Read Aloud)

The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist (Read Aloud)

Everything Awesome About Sharks and Other Underwater Creatures by Mike Lowery (Read Aloud)

Why We Need Sharks by Logan Rash and Halle Rash

The Dolphin Dentist – No Sharks Allowed by Cheryl DaVeiga (Read Aloud)

Great White Shark by Claire Saxby (Read Aloud)

Sharks! Sharks! Sharks! by Susan Martineau

Clark the Shark: Afraid of the Dark by Bruce Hale (Read Aloud)

Gilbert The Great by Jane Clarke (Read Aloud)

There’s a Shark in the Bath by Sarah McIntyre (Read Aloud)

Sharkabet by Ray Troll

Shark-Mad Stanley Grouth by Andrew Griffin

Bedtime for Baby Shark: Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo by John John Bajet (Read Aloud)

Finny the Shark: School Friends! by Melissa Maxwell (Read Aloud)

Baby Shark: Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo by John John Bajet (Read Aloud)

Baby Shark! by Golden Books (Read Aloud)

My Little Golden Book About Sharks by Bonnie Bader (Read Aloud)

JAWS: Big Shark, Little Boat! A Book of Opposites by Geof Smith (Read Aloud)

Board Books About Sharks

Shark-themed board books are perfect for toddlers who love exploring the ocean world! With bright colors, simple words, and sturdy pages, these books introduce little ones to friendly sharks through fun pictures and easy-to-understand stories.

They’re great for early learning, helping build vocabulary and a love of reading while sparking curiosity about these amazing sea creatures.

That’s not my shark by Fiona Watt

Baby Shark – Finger Puppet Board Book by Little Hippo Books

Good Night Sharks by Adam Gamble and Mark Jasper

Hello, World! Kids’ Guides: Exploring Sharks by Jill McDonald

Don’t Tickle the Shark! by Sam Taplin

Pop-Up Peekaboo! Shark by DK

Priddy Explorers: Sharks: & Other Creatures of the Deep by Roger Priddy

How It Works: Shark by Molly Littleboy

Sharks (Usborne Lift-the-Flap Learners) by Phil Clarke

Sharks Teeth to Tail by Smithsonian Kids First Discovery Books

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Shark by Jeffrey Burton

Never Touch the Sharks! by Rosie Greening

Non-Fiction Books About Sharks

Non-fiction shark books are a great way to teach kids about these fascinating ocean predators! Packed with amazing facts, real-life photos, and fun illustrations, these books help children learn all about different shark species, their habitats, what they eat, and how they survive in the ocean.

Whether your child is a curious preschooler or an older reader hungry for shark knowledge, non-fiction shark books are perfect for inspiring a love of science and the natural world.

DK Eyewitness Books: Shark

Sharks by Gail Gibbon (Read Aloud)

The Ultimate Book of Sharks (National Geographic Kids) by Brian Skerry

1,000 Facts About Sharks by Sarah Wassner Flynn

Children’s Encyclopedia of Sharks by Claudia Martin

National Geographic Kids 5-Minute Shark Stories by National Geographic Kids

Sharks: What Do Great Whites, Hammerheads, and Whale Sharks Get Up To All Day?by Carlee Jackson and Neon Squid

Sharks: a Mighty Bite-Y History by Miriam Forster

So Cool! Sharks by Crispin Boyer

All About Sharks by Jim Arnosky (Read Aloud)

Easy Readers About Sharks

Beginner reader shark books are designed to help young kids build confidence as they start reading on their own. These books use simple sentences, clear vocabulary, and engaging shark stories or facts that capture kids’ interest.

Perfect for early elementary children, beginner reader shark books make learning about sharks exciting and accessible while supporting important reading skills.

Fly Guy Presents: Sharks (Scholastic Reader, Level 2)

The Magic School Bus and the Shark Adventure (Scholastic Reader, Level 2)

Sharks! (Penguin Young Readers, Level 3) by Ginjer L. Clarke

Clark the Shark: Too Many Treats (I Can Read Level 1) by Bruce Hale

Big Shark, Little Shark (Step into Reading)

Sharks! 100 FUN Facts About These Fin-tastic Fish by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

Wild Sea Creatures: Sharks, Whales and Dolphins! by Chris Kratt and Martin Kratt

Wild Sharks! (Wild Kratts) (Step into Reading) by Martin Kratt and Chris Kratt

Amazing Sharks! (I Can Read Level 2) by Sarah L. Thomson

Clark the Shark: Tooth Trouble (I Can Read Level 1) by Bruce Hale

National Geographic Readers: Sharks! (Science Reader Level 2)

Hungry, Hungry Sharks (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3) by Joanna Cole

DK Super Readers Level 2 Great White Sharks

Chapter Books About Sharks

The Great Shark Escape (The Magic School Bus Chapter Book, No. 7) by Jennifer Johnston

Shark Wars by EJ Altbacker

Shadow of the Shark (Magic Tree House Merlin Mission) by Mary Pope Osborne

The Shark Report #1 (Benny McGee and the Shark) by Derek Anderson

Deep-Sea Disaster (1) (Shark School) by Davy Ocean

Stink and the Shark Sleepover by Megan McDonald

I Survived: The Shark Attacks of 1916 by Lauren Tarshis

Shark Activity Books for Kids

Shark Facts & Activity Book With Stickers For Kids 5-9

How to Draw Incredible Sharks and Other Ocean Giants: Packed with over 80 Creatures of the Sea

Scratch & Sketch Sharks (Trace Along) by Peter Pauper Press

Shop for Shark Books on Amazon

Ready to dive into the world of sharks?

Explore our carefully curated list of the best shark books for kids—perfect for every age and reading level! From adorable board books for toddlers to exciting chapter books for young readers, this collection has it all.

Discover fun stories, fascinating facts, and colorful illustrations that will spark your child’s curiosity and love for the ocean. Whether for storytime, learning, or gift-giving, these shark books are sure to make a splash! Start building your child’s shark library today—just click to shop the best titles on Amazon!

Learning about sharks is important for kids because it helps them understand the vital role these creatures play in our oceans. Sharks are top predators, which means they help keep the ocean’s ecosystem in balance by controlling the population of other marine animals.

By reading about sharks, children can overcome common fears, develop respect for wildlife, and build a strong foundation for ocean conservation.

Plus, exploring the world of sharks encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for science and nature!

You may also enjoy these activities with your child…

Let the games begin!

Summer Olympics Themed Books

The Summer Olympics unites athletes from around the world every four years in friendly competition across various sports. From the iconic Olympic rings to the torch relay journeying from Olympia to the host city, the Games embody the spirit of unity, athleticism, and international camaraderie.

Summer Olympic Children’s books can be a fun way to introduce the Olympics to your child as you get read to watch the upcoming summer games. Plus you can participate in our Summer Reading Challenge.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Children’s Books About the Summer Olympics

The Summer Olympics unite athletes from around the world in a celebration of athleticism and international friendship. From the ancient games in Greece to today’s modern games, the Olympics continue to inspire and captivate audiences with their diverse sports, iconic symbols, and spirit of unity.

These children’s books explore all about the olympics, especially the Summer Olympics for your child.

What Are the Summer Olympics? by Gail Herman

G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet by Brad Herzog

Curious George and the Summer Games by H. A. Rey

The Frog Olympics by Brian Moses

She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game by Chelsea Clinton

How Do You Become an Olympian? by Madeleine Kelly

On Your Mark, Get Set, Gold!: An Irreverent Guide to the Sports of the Summer Games by Scott Allen

The Story of the Olympic Games by The Olympic Museum

Olympics by B.G. Hennessy

Olympig by Victoria Jamieson

She’s Got This by Laurie Hernandez

Hour of the Olympics (Magic Tree House) by Mary Pope Osborne

Ancient Greece and the Olympics: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne

Athletics (Amazing Summer Olympics) by Ashley Gish

Summer Olympics Fun Facts for Kids

Here are some fun facts about the Summer Olympics that kids might enjoy:

1. Ancient Roots: The Summer Olympics have a long history, dating back to ancient Greece around 776 BC. The ancient Olympics were held in Olympia, Greece, every four years.
2. Modern Revival: The modern Olympic Games were revived in 1896 in Athens, Greece, by Pierre de Coubertin. Since then, they have been held every four years, except for during World War I and World War II.
3. Olympic Rings: The symbol of the Olympic Games is composed of five interlocking rings, each representing a continent: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. The colors of the rings (blue, yellow, black, green, and red) were chosen because every flag in the world contains at least one of these colors.
4. Torch Relay: The Olympic torch is lit several months before the games begin in Olympia, Greece, using a parabolic mirror and the sun’s rays. It then travels via a torch relay to the host city, where it lights the cauldron during the opening ceremony.
5. Host Cities: The Summer Olympics are held in different cities around the world. Some past host cities include Tokyo, London, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, and Los Angeles.
6. Olympic Sports: There are many different sports in the Summer Olympics, including swimming, track and field, gymnastics, soccer, basketball, and many more. Athletes from all over the world compete in these sports to win gold, silver, and bronze medals.
7. Olympic Mascots: Each Olympics has its own mascot, which is a character chosen to represent the spirit of the games and the host country. These mascots often have names and are featured on merchandise and promotional materials.
8. Olympic Village: During the Olympics, athletes from all over the world stay in the Olympic Village, which is like a small town with housing, dining halls, and recreational facilities. It’s a chance for athletes to meet and interact with each other outside of competition.

These facts should give kids a good overview of the Summer Olympics and maybe even inspire them to watch and learn more about the games!

Olympic Songs for Kids

Celebrate The Olympic Games with this Olympic song for kids by Jack Hartmann.

Summer Olympic Sports List

Here’s a list of all the various sports that compete during the Summer Olympics every four years. For the 2024 Olympics, there will be 32 sports. You can find the entire list of Summer Olympic Sports on Olympics.org.

Here’s the 2024 Summer Olympic Schedule.

Which ones are your favorites to watch?

• Archery
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Baseball Softball
• Basketball
• Boxing
• Breaking
• Canoe
• Cricket
• Cycling
• Diving
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Football
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Handball
• Hockey
• Judo
• Karate
• Lacrosse
• Modern Pentathlon
• Rowing
• Rugby Sevens
• Sailing
• Shooting
• Skateboarding
• Sport Climbing
• Squash
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Taekwondo
• Tennis
• Trampoline
• Triathlon
• Volleyball
• Water Polo
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling

Get started with this adorable free Summer Olympic Easy Reader Book!

We truly enjoyed watching the Olympic Flame as it was lit in Olympic. Watch with your child as this tradition continues from ancient Olympic times.

“On July 20, 1936, a young Greek, Konstantin Kondylis, became the first runner in the history of the modem Olympic Torch Relay. Technically, the Torch Relay does not represent the passing of a torch, but celebrates the passing of the sacred flame from one torch to the next. The Olympic flame symbolizes the light of spirit, knowledge and life. By passing the flame from one person to another in stages, the Torch Relay expresses the handing down of this symbolic fire from generation to generation.” Source: The Washingon Post

The Olympics promote friendship, unity, and peace among nations. The Olympic Games bring people from different countries and cultures together to celebrate athleticism and sportsmanship.

You can find additional Olympic Resources for Kids here on the Olympics.org website.

Summer Olympics Activities for Kids

Here are 10 Fun ways to get creative with your favorite nursery rhyme.

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. 

This week’s theme for the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids in Nursery Rhymes. Do you have a favorite Rhyme? 

This Nursery Rhyme Book Set below is one of my favorites to have around the house. I pull them whenever we have little ones visiting our house too. Nursery Rhymes are something very familiar to small children and help them feel comfortable in new environments. They would be perfect to set out for our Nursery Rhyme Olympic Stations too!

Are you ready to see how I set up the Nursery Rhyme Olympics up for our guests for Tot School? 

Big Book of Nursery Rhymes by Felicity Brooks

Nursery Rhyme Activity Stations for Kids

One of my favorite things to teach preschoolers and Kindergarten students is Nursery Rhymes. Many of them already have memorized them from their childhood but at this age they begin to understand how text is and they now think they can read the whole nursery rhyme all by themselves. It’s quite adorable!  

Plus reading nursery rhymes really does help them learn to read and understand rhyming words.

I’ve put together 9 of our favorite nursery rhymes with coordinating activities to go along with them. You could do them on your own this week or you could invite friends over to rotate around to each station.

Host a Nursery Rhyme Tot School Playdate with friends!

You could even offer to help organize a Nursery Rhyme Olympic Day at school with your child’s teacher. Most of these activities are designed for outdoor play and water play so they’d be perfect for a water day with friends or your class.

Here are some ideas to do your own living room Olympics too!

The Itsy Bitsy Spider Activity

• Spider Web Balancing – Can you build a spider web? Using sidewalk chalk create a spider web on the ground.  To play the game challenge your child to walk around the web on the lines.  A great way to practice balancing, so don’t fall off the web!
• Spider Snack – Create your own lunchtime Spider Snack with your child and friends by making Spider Ball Meatballs!  
• Spider Jars– Make Your Own Spider Sensory Bottle

The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani

Little Miss Muffet Activity

• Spider Crawl!  Can you climb on your hands and legs in the spider crawl position with your tummy up from the Tuffet to Little Miss Muffet?  Children race to see who can get there the fastest.
• Pretend Spider – Surprise your little guests with a Moving Spider like this one that we made or pull out your Halloween decoration, I bet you have a big spider.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jerry Pinkney

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Activity

• Star Toss – Cut our Star Shaped Sponges and have your child pick them up from a bucket filled with water and toss them into a large bucket. A great way to practice those gross motor skills and eye-hand coordination.
• Star Banner – Create a special shiny Star Banner inspired by Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Hickory Dickory Dock Activity

• Mouse Race Put on your Mouse Headband and see how fast you can race around the clock.  Make a clock out of a large box.
• Number Fun – See how fast you can put the numbers in order on the face of a clock!
• Rock Clock – Create a Rock Clock to work on learning how to tell time!
• Clock Race – Build your own Box Clock with boxes and roll a dice to see how many times you need to run around the tall box clock!
• Count Mice – Create your own Number Mice for number fun with this printable.

After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat

Humpty Dumpty Activity

• Egg Puzzle – Create your own Egg Puzzle! Make a large paper egg and decorate with crayons, markers, watercolors or stickers and then carefully cut it into to sections to create a puzzle.
• Egg Spoon Race – Host your Own Egg Spoon Race.  

I’m a Little Teapot

I’m a Little Teapot Activity

• Teapot Race!  How fast can you fill up your tea cup?  Create a large scale tea cup using a bucket and host a water relay race with a plastic tea pot racing to fill it up as fast as you can.
• Paint a Teapot. You can create your own paper tea pot with watercolors or you can even paint your own pottery tea pot.
• Nursery Rhyme Tea Party – Perhaps after the Olympics you can host your own Tea Party with friends with these tea party ideas the kids can make.

Hey Diddle Diddle Activity

• Moon Race – Grab a plastic dish and tape a spoon to it and race around the moon. We used this inflatable glow in the dark moon.
• Cow Jump. Create your own cow headband to wear for this activity and lay down a large moon on the ground for a child to jump over!

Nursery Rhymes (Kate Toms Series)

Little Bo Peep Activity

• Find the Sheep.  Create several sheep to make a scavenger hunt for your child.  Hide them around the area and challenge them to find them.  You could add a little bonnet to make the game match Little Bo Peer in the story.
• Cottonball Sheep.  Using cottonballs and a sheep outline have your child make their own sheet to go with the story.

Rain, Rain, Go Away by Caroline Jayne Church

Rain Rain Go Away Activity

• Rain Writing – You can start off with this Let’s Make Rain Pre-Writing Activity.
• Drip, Drip, Drop – Play the Game Drip Drip Drop with your child and friends.
• Rain Drop Art – Using watercolors, paint a few sheets of paper and then cut out raindrop shapes to create a raindrop mobile to hang the nursery rhyme from.

One of my favorite things that I used Teaching in my Kindergarten classroom were these Nursery Rhymes Posters. I’ve now brought them home and they sit on our easel where the kids can look at them and read through. 

Carson Dellosa Nursery Rhymes Posters 

I looked and saw that they are still available on Amazon. So worth the price of $12, you can use again and again and perhaps use as your set up a Tot School with your friends or gift to your child’s preschool.

NURSERY RHYME THEMED ACTIVITIES FROM OUR CO-HOSTS!

Five Little Ducks Counting and Story Retelling Activity – To Be A Kid Again
Hickory Dickory Dock Clock Play- Teach Beside Me
Humpty Dumpty Egg Sensory Bin – My Storytime Corner
Rainstorm Art Project (Rain, Rain Go Away) – Preschool Powol Packets
I’m A Little Teapot Pour Painting- Toddler Approved 
Itsy Bitsy Spider Printable Book -Growing Book by Book
Three Little Pigs Fine Motor Craft – Views From a Step Stool
5 Little Ducks – Mama Smiles
Nursery Rhyme Olympics – The Educators’ Spin On It  { That’s here! }
Little Jack Horner Paper Plate Pie Craft – JDaniel4’s Moms 

You may also enjoy these activities with your child…

Camping Books for Kids

Camping is the perfect way to spark a love for nature, adventure, and family fun—and what better way to get kids excited about the great outdoors than through books! Whether you’re planning a real camping trip or just want to bring the magic of the wilderness indoors, these camping-themed books for kids are packed with stories about tents, s’mores, wildlife, and outdoor exploration.

From picture books for little ones to early reader books for budding readers, this collection is sure to inspire imaginations and encourage a deeper appreciation for nature.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Here’s my top picks of camping books for kids to read.

Llama Llama Loves Camping by Anna Dewdney

The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann

Curious George Goes Camping by H. A. Rey & Margret Rey

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen

S Is for S’mores: A Camping Alphabet by Helen Foster James

Froggy Goes to Camp by Jonathan London

Love You S’more by Melinda Lee Rathjen

Good Night Campsite by Adam Gamble & Mark Jasper

A Campfire Tail by Sarah Glenn Marsh

C Is for Camping by Greg Paprocki

When We Go Camping by Margriet Ruurs

Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping by Melanie Watt

Our Great Big Backyard by Laura Bush and Jenna Bush Hager

Ruby’s Sleepover by Kathryn White

The Three Little Pigs Go Camping by Tony Bradman

Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping by Peggy Parish

Biscuit Goes Camping by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Pete the Cat Goes Camping by James Dean & Kimberly Dean

Camping with the President by Ginger Wadsworth

Hello, World! Let’s Go Camping by Jill McDonald

Nana the Great Goes Camping by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Just Me and My Dad (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer

Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins

Brave Little Camper by Carmen Crowe

You’re Always Enough by Emily Ley

Mrs. Peanuckle’s Hiking Alphabet by Mrs. Peanuckle

The Hike by Alison Farrell

Hike It: An Introduction to Camping, Hiking, and Backpacking through the U.S.A. by Iron Tazz

Camping with Unicorns by Dana Simpson

Camp Time in California (Magic Tree House) by Mary Pope Osborne

Daniel Goes Camping! by May Nakamura and Jason Fruchter

Flat Stanley Goes Camping by Jeff Brown and Lori Haskins Houran

Humphrey’s Creepy-Crawly Camping Adventure by Betty G. Birney

Bailey Goes Camping by Kevin Henkes

Let’s go on a hike! by Katrina Liu

Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell

Explorers of the Wild by Cale Atkinson

P.J. Funnybunny Camps Out By Marilyn Sadler

Ladybug Girl and Bingo by Jacky Davis

Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq

Whether you’re heading into the woods for a family camping trip or creating a cozy campsite right in your living room, these fun camping books for kids are the perfect way to fuel imaginations and spark a love for the outdoors.

From silly campfire tales to stories of nature and friendship, there’s something for every young reader to enjoy. So grab a flashlight, curl up with a good book, and let the camping adventures begin—no bug spray required!

Camping Activities for Book Extensions

Going camping this summer? Add an outdoor escape room game to your outdoor adventure.

This free printable i spy outdoor adventure find and color activity is full of campfires and tents, trees and flowers, and all kinds of outdoor adventures!

Say and count syllables in this self-checking camping theme-muffin tin syllable counting game.

Don’t forget to explore one of our Camping Virtual Field Trips!

You can explore our book list of the best summer books for kids here.

You may also enjoy these activities with your child…