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…

A Summer is not complete without some fun in the Ocean! One of our favorite books to read about the ocean is A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle. I love the various sea creatures that it introduces to children. 

Let’s have some fun with these special Ocean Animals from the book!

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. Click here to view our full disclosure. 

A House for Hermit Crab Puppet Movement Activity

Materials Needed

• Water Color
• Paint Brush
• Printables Puppets & Movement Game 
• Popsicle Sticks
• Tape or glue
• Book: A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle

Directions for A House for Hermit Crab Puppet Activity 

Print out The Ocean Creatures from 3 Dinsosaurs.   {You’ll find it under Crab Coloring}

Print the Movement Card Game from The Educators’ Spin On It before we begin!

Let’s start with our watercolors. If your child has never painted with watercolors before allowing them to experiment a little bit before you use the printables. One suggestion is to encourage them to create the ocean for all of the ocean animals to swim in.

Discuss the watercolors and also the types of things that would be at the bottom of the ocean. This story has some great illustration to look at for inspiration.

Have your camper paint each of the images on the page as creatively as they want to. For bigger kids, you can print out separate pages for each.  

For younger children, you can just make them all on one page to keep their attention. I love this activity because it works for so many ages!

Then once they are dry you can cut out the images. If you want to attach them to popsicle sticks to create puppets to retell the story.

Directions for A House for Hermit Crab Movement Game 

Let’s get moving!  Using inspiration from our little sea creatures let’s retell the story on a big scale level with our bodies.  Have your child act out the animals as they are drawn from the pile.

Print your own Movement Cards

Print Your Own Beach Inspired Kids Yoga Poses from Kids Yoga Stories Too!

Build Literacy into this Activity

Have your child match the cards to the puppets! You could also introduce beginning letter sounds or word cards too. 3 Dinosaurs has some great printables to go with this idea!

Make it a Science Lesson

Here’s a quick video of a hermit crab changing shells! Take a visit to your local pet shop for an up closer tour too! Or better yet be on the lookout on your beach trip this summer!

Buy Now: A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle

Follow Up Activities with A House for Hermit Crab 

3 Dinosaurs has created several Printable Packets for a House for Hermit Crab. They consist of a number of varying packets for specific ages, trust me PRINT NOW! I promise you’ll use it this summer with your kids!

Thank you so much Cassie for making these special Coloring Pages just for the Virtual Book Club for Kids Summer Camp!

For more Ocean Themed Activities try these…

• Ocean in a Tub + 37 more Ocean Inspired Activities for Kids
• Tot School at the Beach
• Ocean Animal Busy Bag
• Shark Themed Activities for Kids
• Writing in the Sand
• Shell Water Color Craft
• Ocean Books for Kids

This guarantees that every child’s fish will be unique and makes it theirs.

Open Ended Fish Art and Science Project

Best for ages 4-7.

Science learning objective: Identifies 3 parts of a fish. These may include, body, tail, dorsal fin, pectoral fin, pelvic fin, gills, fins, or lateral line.

What is this open ended fish art and science project best for?

I like to set out open ended projects, meaning, each child’s finished project looks totally different, on the dining room table for after school learning.  These open ended projects also work well in a classroom setting for either a science, literacy or art lesson.

They can be done in either whole group or small learning stations. Tracing, cutting, and painting provide children with opportunities to use small tools, which can assist in strengthening fine motor. Using a variety of materials such as paint sticks encourages creative thinking. Teaching kids about the fish habitat and parts of a fish brings in the science.

Affiliate links to products.

Materials Needed for Open Ended Fish Art and Science Project

Here are the items that you will need:

• Tagboard
• Construction paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Tempera paint and Pastels OR
• Kwik Stix

Before Starting:

Read the book Fish Eyes, a Book You Can Count on by Lois Ehlert. This book is great for young children ages 2-6. It is perfect addition to the early childhood classroom or home environment because

• It’s fun and simple
• Has height colored illustrations
• Includes the numbers and number words in numerical order
• Focuses on the addition concept of plus one.

Directions for Open Ended Fish Art and Science Project

1. First, make a fish pattern for the body and tail.  Make several different templates for children to choose from. Label as pattern or template.
2. Then, have the children select and trace their template.
3. Let the children draw on the dorsal, pectoral, pelvic fin onto the body of their fish.  Encourage them to use a triangle, rectangle or square.
4. Cut the fish out.
5. Last, paint the fish. Make sure to add the lateral line, fish eyes, scales, and patterns.

Option 1: Paint with tempera paint. Let dry. Then draw on the lateral line, scales, and patterns with crayons.

Option 2: Paint lateral line, scales, and patters with Kwik Stix These are a fast drying paint that my kids love.

See our Triangle lesson where we used them here.

What to do with the open ended fish art and science project when you are done?

You can:

• Have kids write a sentence about their fish.
• Send them home with the kids.
• Count all the fish you made. Make up a story about the fish.
• Glue the fish on white pieces of paper. Make a kid-made book to read. Write a sentence on each page. Staple the pages together on the left.
• Collect all the fish. Hang the completed fish from the Open Ended Fish Art + Science Project on a bulletin board. Count how many fish there are.  Make that number and number word with a bright colored construction paper. Add the words: fish you can count on. So if there are 10 fish, your bulletin board would say, 10 Ten fish you can count on.

You may also enjoy these ocean inspired activities for kids…

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Are you ready to dive into reading?

Water Books for Kids

Kids and water are like magnets. They are drawn to it and we know they’ll be drawn to this list of handpicked water books for kids.

There is a wide variety of books to choose from about water to read with your child or classroom. The large selection of water concepts makes it possible to keep reading about the topic of water throughout your school year.

We’ve put together a collection of water books that share about the water cycle, water conversation, swimming, rain, rivers, ponds, lakes, oceans, and more.

As you get started selecting your water book, here are some fun facts about water for kids to learn.

Fun Facts About Water for Kids

• 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water.
• About 60% of the human body is made up of water.
• The average person drinks about 8 glasses of water per day.
• Water can be found in three states: solid (ice), liquid, and gas (vapor).
• Water is essential for life.
• Water is used for drinking, bathing, cooking, and cleaning.
• Water is also used for irrigation, transportation, and energy production.
• Water is a renewable resource, but it is important to conserve it.

Learning Objective about Water for Kids:

Water is found on Earth in three main states: liquid, solid, and gas.

• Liquid water is found in oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, glaciers, and underground aquifers.
• Solid water is found in glaciers, ice caps, and snow.
• Gaseous water is found in the atmosphere as water vapor.

Water is also found in living things, such as plants and animals.

As you look through our water books list, we’ve included some fun water facts in each section to help you explain more about various ways we see water in our world with your child.

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

All About Water Books

Water is all around us, but does your child know this? Start with this selection of books that tells us all about water on our planet. Fun ways to observe it and find it in all parts of life.

Plus you can explore the importance of water play for kids.

• Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis
• Water by Frank Asch
• Water! Water! Water! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
• I Am Water (Scholastic Reader, Level 1) by Jean Marzollo
• Blue Planet: Life In Our Oceans and Rivers by Moira Butterfield
• All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon

• One Well: The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss
• Water: A Deep Dive of Discovery by Christy Mihaly
• Water Can Be by Laura Purdie Salas
• Hello, Puddle! by Anita Sanchez
• Water Dance by Thomas Locker
• Be Thankful for Water: How water sustains our planet by Harriet Ziefert
• The Ultimate Book of Water by Anne-Sophie Baumann
• Water Land: Land and Water Forms Around the World by Christy Hale

ACTIVITY: Explore this collection of 25+ Water Activities for Kids. Our favorite with young children are these water table themes and activities.

Water Cycle Books for Kids

One key concept about water that your child should explore and understand is the water cycle. It’s something they will learn throughout their years in science at school. This a topic I wish we spent more time on to learn more about protecting our waterways and groundwater.

There are three different forms of water: liquid, solid, and gas.

• Liquid water is the most common form of water and is what we drink and use for everyday activities.
• Solid water is known as ice and forms when liquid water cools below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Gaseous water is known as water vapor and forms when liquid water evaporates.

Water can also exist in other forms, such as water vapor in the atmosphere and water ice in glaciers and snow.

• Drop: An Adventure through the Water Cycle by Emily Kate Moon
• The Great Big Water Cycle Adventure by Kay Barnham
• The Water Cycle (Learn About: Water) by Sonia Black
• The Flow of Water: Water Circulation by Da-jeong Yu
• The Water Cycle at Work by Rebecca Jean Olien
• Water: Up, Down, and All Around by Natalie Myra Rosinsky
• Water Cycles (DK Life Cycles) by DK

• A Drop Of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder by Walter Wick
• Let’s Investigate with Nate #1: The Water Cycle by Nate Ball
• Rosa Explores the Water Cycle by Jessica Spanyol
• A Drop Around the World by Barbara Shaw McKinney
• Water Is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paul
• The Magic School Bus Wet All Over by Pat Relf
• Fresh Air, Clean Water Our Right to a Healthy Environment by Megan Clendenan
• Water: Exploring the Elements by Simone Akasha Nofel
• The Water Cycle (One Planet) by Annabel Griffin
• Agent H2O Rides the Water Cycle by Rita Goldner
• How Does Water Move Around?: A Book About the Water Cycle by Madeline J. Hayes

Swimming Books for Kids

Swimming with your child can be so much fun! It also can be something that makes parents nervous as we work to keep our children safe. Water safety is a key lesson for our kids to learn about.

Reading books about swimming can be a helpful key to this. Plus for those little ones who are nervous about learning to swim, books can be a helpful comfort to be brave.

Have you signed your child up for swimming lessons?

• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• Bubbles . . . UP! by Jacqueline Davies
• Cannonball by Sacha Cotter
• Leo Can Swim by Anna McQuinn
• Pool Party by Amy Duchêne
• Llama Llama Learns to Swim by Anna Dewdney

• Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves by Lauren H. Kerstein
• 1, 2, 3, Jump! by Lisl H. Detlefsen
• Curious George Goes Swimming by H. A. Rey
• Summer Vacation, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg
• I See Summer by Charles Ghigna
• Dino-Swimming by Lisa Wheeler
• Together We Swim by Valerie Bolling
• Daniel Learns to Swim (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) by Alexandra Cassel Schwartz
• Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London
• Maisy Learns to Swim by Lucy Cousins
• Peppa Goes Swimming by Scholastic
• Saturday Is Swimming Day by Hyewon Yum

ACTIVITY: Play the Drip Drip Drop Game by the pool or try one of our 20+ Pool Noodle Games!

Rain Books for Kids

Children and let’s be honest adults are fascinated by rain. There’s something special about watching it fall and wash over the earth. Watched it fall from our rooftops and into the gutters screaming to our little ones, come play in the water! I hope you get a few chances to head outside to play in the rain.

Here are some fun facts about rain for kids…

• Rain is water that falls from clouds.
• Clouds are made up of tiny water droplets or ice crystals.
• The water droplets or ice crystals in clouds stick together and grow bigger until they can no longer float in the air.
• When the water droplets or ice crystals are too heavy, they fall to the ground as rain.
• Rain is important for plants and animals.
• Plants need rain to grow.
• Animals need rain to drink and to water their food.
• Rain also helps to clean the air and the environment.
• Rain is a natural resource that we should all appreciate.

One thing I’d encourage you to consider at your home is installing a rain barrel or building a rain garden as we teach our kids more about water conservation.

• The Rhythm of the Rain by Grahame Baker-Smith
• Singing in the Rain by Tim Hopgood
• Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse
• Hello, Rain! by Kyo Maclear
• Little Raindrop by Igloo Books
• Ethan The Raindrop by Sean Patrick Guidera
• Rain Dances by Daniel Clavio
• Rain by Cynthia Rylant
• Who Likes Rain? by Wong Herbert Yee
• I Am the Rain by John Paterson

• The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates
• Rain by Sam Usher
• Tap Tap Boom Boom by Elizabeth Bluemle
• Look, It’s Raining by Mathieu Pierloot and Maria Dek
• The Pink Umbrella by Amelie Callot and Genevieve Godbout
• Rain Boy by Dylan Glynn
• I Like the Rain by Sarah Nelson
• Watersong by Tim McCanna
• Splish! Splash!: A Book About Rain by Josepha Sherman
• After the Rain by Rebecca Koehn
• This Raindrop: Has a Billion Stories to Tell by Linda Ragsdale

ACTIVITY: For some fun with art and rain, try this Rain Painting Craft! Sneak in a little letter fun with this Cloud Themed Spelling Game.

Water Conservation Books for Kids

One really important topic about water to talk about with your child is water conversation. Here are some tips for talking to kids about Water Conversation.

• Make it fun and interactive. Kids are more likely to remember information that they find interesting and engaging. Try using games, activities, and stories to teach them about water conservation.
• Be age-appropriate. For younger children, focus on simple concepts like turning off the faucet when they brush their teeth. For older children, you can discuss more complex issues like water pollution and the effects of climate change on water resources.
• Be positive and encouraging. Water conservation can seem like a daunting task, but it’s important to focus on the positive aspects of saving water. Talk about how water conservation can help the environment and save money.

• We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
• The Water Princess by Susan Verde
• Water: How We Can Protect Our Freshwater by Catherine Barr
• Why Should I Save Water? by Jen Green
• The Mess That We Made by Michelle Lord
• What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet by Jess French
• The Story of Conservation by Catherine Barr and Steve Williams
• Rocket Says Clean Up! by Nathan Bryon
• Why Water’s Worth It by Water Environment Federation

• Watch Over Our Water by Lisa Bullard
• Something Happened to Our Planet: Kids Tackle the Climate Crisis by Marianne Celano PhD and Marietta Collins PhD
• Sadiq and the Clean Water Crew by Siman Nuurali
• You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Clean Water! by Roger Canavan
• Cleaning Water (Water In Our World) by Rebecca Jean Olien
• Ice Boy by David Ezra Stein
• Ice: Chilling Stories from a Disappearing World by DK
• Glacier on the Move by Elizabeth Rusch
• The Lonely Polar Bear by Khoa Le

River Books for Kids

Moving water is something pretty magical as a kid. Humans are drawn to the sound of running water for many reasons. Rivers are important because they provide water for people and animals, and they help to create jobs and industries.

Explore these fun facts about Rivers…

• The longest river in the world is the Nile River, which is 4,132 miles long.
• The Amazon River is the largest river in the world by volume of water.
• The Mississippi River is the longest river in the United States.
• Rivers are important sources of water for drinking, irrigation, and transportation.
• Rivers are home to many different kinds of plants and animals.
• Rivers can be dangerous, so it is important to be careful when swimming or playing near them.
• Rivers are beautiful and can be a lot of fun to explore.

Here are a few of our favorite river books for kids.

• Great Rivers of the World by Volker Mehnert
• A River by Marc Martin
• Song of the River by Joy Cowley & Kimberly Andrews
• What Is A River? by Monika Vaicenavičiene
• Amazing Rivers: 100+ Waterways That Will Boggle Your Mind by Julie Vosburgh Agnone
• A is for Aquifer by Ann English
• The River: An Epic Journey to the Sea by Patricia Hegarty
• The River That Flows Beside Me by Charlotte Guillain
• They Call Me River by Maciek Albrecht
• Martin and the River by Jon-Erik Lappano

Pond Books for Kids

The main difference between a pond and a lake is their size. A pond is a small body of water, while a lake is a larger body of water. Ponds are also typically shallower than lakes, with an average depth of less than 10 feet. Lakes, on the other hand, can be much deeper, with an average depth of over 100 feet. All the water in a pond is shallow enough to allow sunlight to reach the bottom. This causes plants to grow at the bottom of ponds as well as on their surface.

• Ponds are often home to small fish, frogs, and turtles, while lakes can support larger fish, such as bass and trout.
• Ponds are usually formed by natural processes, such as when a stream or river is dammed up.
• Ponds are often used for recreation, such as fishing, swimming, and boating. Lakes are also used for recreation, but they are also used for drinking water, irrigation, and transportation.

Here are a few stories bout ponds to read with your child.

• Llama Llama Let’s Clean Up the Pond! by Anna Dewdney
• One Quiet Pond by Nicole M. Gray
• Pond Walk by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
• In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming
• A Different Pond by Bao Phi
• Of Walden Pond: Henry David Thoreau, Frederic Tudor, and the Pond Between by Lesa Cline-Ransome
• Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner
• The Water Hole by Graeme Base

ACTIVITY: Have some fun in the pond with these LEGO Pond Animal Reading Activity or create your Fly Frog Toss Game.

Lake Books for Kids

Lakes can be formed by natural processes, such as when a glacier melts, or by human activity, such as when a dam is built. Lakes are much deeper than ponds, with an average depth of over 30 feet.

Lakes are formed in a variety of ways, including:

• Volcanic activity: When a volcano erupts, it can create a crater that fills with water to form a lake.
• Glaciers: As glaciers move, they can carve out depressions in the land that can later fill with water to form lakes.
• Erosion: Over time, water can erode the land, creating valleys and depressions that can fill with water to form lakes.
• Tectonic activity: When the Earth’s tectonic plates move, they can create faults and fractures in the land that can fill with water to form lakes.
• Drainage: When a river is blocked, it can create a lake behind the blockage.

Lakes are important ecosystems that provide habitat for a variety of plants and animals. They also play a role in the water cycle, helping to regulate the Earth’s climate.

Here are a few of our favorite lake books for kids.

• The Vanishing Lake by Paddy Donnelly
• Back to the Lake by Tommy Rockhurst
• Lake Life with You by Cindy Jin
• The Big Blue Lake by Robert W Armstrong
• Tallulah: Mermaid of the Great Lakes by Denise Brennan-Nelson
• A Day at the Lake by Stephanie Wallingford and Dawn Rynders
• Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root
• The Great Lakes: Our Freshwater Treasure by Barb Rosenstock
• Hattie and Hudson by Chris Van Dusen
• W is for Waterfall: An Alphabet of the Finger Lakes Region of NY by Aileen Easterbrook
• Waterfalls (Our Exciting Earth!) by Tanner Billings

ACTIVITY: Make your own fish with this Open Ended Fish Art Project.

Ocean Books for Kids

It’s crazy to think how much water can be found in the Ocean. Did you know that it holds about 97 percent of the Earth’s water? If you’re teaching kids about water, then the ocean is one big topic to include.

Here are some additional ocean fun facts for kids.

• The ocean covers 71% of the Earth’s surface.
• The deepest part of the ocean is the Mariana Trench, which is 11,034 meters deep.
• The ocean is home to over 1 million different species of animals.
• The ocean produces half of the oxygen we breathe.
• The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps to regulate the Earth’s climate.
• The ocean is a major source of food for people around the world.
• The ocean is a place of wonder and exploration.

Here are a few of our favorite ocean books. You can see our complete list of the Best Ocean Books for Kids for more book suggestions.

• Over and Under the Waves by Kate Messner
• Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
• Ocean! Waves for All by Stacy McAnulty
• Earth’s Incredible Oceans by Jess French
• The Big Book of the Blue by Yuval Zommer
• Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean by Arthur Dorros
• A Dive into the Deep by Tessa Pfeifer
• By the Sea: Life Along the Coast by Judith Homoki

ACTIVITY: Pick a few of these 30+ Ocean Activities for Kids to extend your ocean learning.

You can download our Water Book List! Just add your info here to download and print today!

How to Teach Kids About Water

Your child needs to learn about water for many reasons. Water is essential for life, and it is important for children to understand how to stay safe around water. They also need to learn about the importance of conserving water and how to protect our water resources.

Here are some specific reasons why children need to learn about water:

• Water is essential for life. Our bodies are made up of mostly water, and we need to drink water to stay hydrated. We also need water to cook, clean, and do many other activities.
• Water can be dangerous. Children need to learn how to stay safe around water, such as not to go near water without an adult, and to learn how to swim.
• Water is a precious resource. We need to conserve water so that we have enough for everyone. Children can learn how to conserve water by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when they brush their teeth, and fixing any leaks in their homes.
• Water can be found in many forms.
• Water is an important part of our environment. Children need to learn about the importance of protecting our water resources. They can learn about things like pollution and how to reduce their impact on the environment.

There are many ways to teach children about water. You can take them to the beach or the pool, read books about water, or do experiments with water.

You can also talk to them about the importance of water and how to stay safe around it.

Have a toddler or preschooler at home? Grab this water lesson plan for preschool!

For more book recommendations, try these popular book lists.

We’re having so much fun in BUG WEEK as part of our Virtual Book Club Summer Camp!

Today is Eric Carle’s Birthday so in honor of him and one very hungry caterpillar it’s time for some Caterpillar fun!

We created a fun and simple math game using lids!

It’s works perfect for siblings too.  You can adjust the level of difficulty with the little ones you can work on one to one correspondence and number recognition and your older ones you can work on their math facts!

Caterpillar Math Game with Lids

1. Gather your lids
2. Create a caterpillar mat
3. Print out these caterpillar number cards {PRINT HERE}
4. Play!

Here’s some Letter Bugs Activity and ABC Printable that are tons of fun to do with these same lids!

Toddler Approved has some Fizzy Caterpillars that we will be creating today that she’s sharing on the Virtual Book Club Summer Camp Planner. Click on the image to get the directions on how to create them.

PSST….

Don’t forget to grab this fun butterfly alphabet matching game for your butterfly adventures!

Explore these additional Caterpillar Activities for your child…

• Caterpillar Sight Words
• Letter Bugs Busy Bag
• Lacing Caterpillar Letters
• Caterpillar to Butterfly Balloon STEM activity
• LEGO Caterpillar Reading Activity
• 100 Eric Carle Activities

Let’s explore flowers for kids! 

Our featured book for this Virtual Book Club for Kids Flower Theme for preschoolers is Lola Plants a Garden.  Have you joined our Virtual Book Club? 

Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn

In this adorable storybook, Lola wants to plant her own garden of beautiful flowers, so she and Mommy go to the library to check out books about gardening. They choose their flowers and buy their seeds. They dig and plant. And then they wait. She finds it hard to wait for her flowers to grow, but spends the time creating her own flower book. Soon Lola has a garden full of sunflowers and invites all of her friends for cakes and punch and a story in her flower garden.

Listen to the Story

Flower Activities for Preschoolers

Flowers are quite magical to kids. They are all different colors and scents. Their shapes and textures are different in so many ways too.  Our senses explode as we observe flowers. It’s one of my most favorite parts of Kids Gardening. Which flower is your favorite?

In this article, we’ll show you are variety of flower topics from how to make paper flowers for kids to even which flowers grow with preschoolers.

Here’s a quick guide to all of our featured Flower Activities:

• 10 Flowers to Grow with Kids 
• Spiral Paper Flowers Craft Tutorial 
• Garden Art with Flowers 
• DIY Flower Bouquet with Paper Art 
• Hanging Flower Window Art Craft
• Simple Flower Activities for Kids 
• Painted Cinderblock Flower Planter
• LEGO Garden Art 
• Sunflower Art Gallery Prints 
• Florist Playdate Idea 
• Playdough Number Flower Game 
• Flowers for Butterfly Garden 
• The Tiny Seed Activity
• Flower Rangoli Design for Kids 
• Dragon Vase Flower Painting with Kids 
• Flower Scavenger Hunt for Spring 

Flower Activities from the Garden 

Do you have flowers starting to bloom in the garden? Use these featured flower activities to gets hands-on with your child this spring with flowers.  A sensory explosion of flowers!

Ever wonder which flowers grow the quickest and easiest for kids?  Here’s our top picks of 10 Flowers to Grow with Kids! Explore these fast growing flowers for your classroom or home garden.

Create this colorful flower tray that featured Simple Flower Activities for Kids  for learning about Flowers and learning with flowers.  Includes a Flower Printable and keepsake craft.

Dip those flowers into paint and get ready to make your own Garden Art: Painting with Flowers. This is the perfect art project for Flower Week.

Take a moment to go visit our Tips for Gardening with Flowers  and why we let our kids pick them.

Do you love Butterflies? Here’s our tips for inviting them to your garden and how to get the kids involved in planting Flowers for Butterfly Garden .

Try out this Butterfly and Flower Craft Project too with recycled items.

Add some global art to your flower week by creating a traditional Indian art but with a twist.  Head to the garden to pick a few flowers for your very own Flower Rangoli Design for Kids. 

Sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest pop of color! Try out these Painted Cinderblock Flower Container for Kids Art.

Your child may also enjoy making these gorgeous flowers painted on rocks.

One of easiest ways to identify that spring is here is when the flowers start to bloom on the trees.  Take time to head outdoors for this Flower Scavenger Hunt for Spring . Which trees blossom in your area?

So many creative ways to use real flowers to teach your preschooler about flowers.  Which one will you try first with your child?

Paper Flower Crafts for Kids

Create your very own flowers with these adorable spiral flowers, they are easier than they look! Here’s the Spiral Flower Tutorial and GAME!

You can also try this fun pipe cleaner flower craft that is simple and cute!

Looking for a way to make your own crafty flowers with kids? With a few plastic lids and a little bit of paint you can bring to life colorful flowers to make a DIY Flower Bouquet .

Plus add some extra fun with these 40+ ideas for Acts of Kindness with Flowers.

Cherry Blossoms are iconic with Asian Art. Add some global learning to your flower week with this Dragon Vase Flower Painting with Kids .

Invite spring into your home with this hand painted Hanging Flower Window Art Craft. The best part is that it’s reusing plastic too.

Learning Activities with Flowers

It wouldn’t be flower week without a few learning activities with flowers. From this printable alphabet garden hunt to a few math activities.

Turn your LEGOS into a math activity with this LEGO Garden Art . Plus we’ve a printable option to create your own Flower Math Book.

Who knew you could make flowers with LEGOS?

Grab a rock and some sticks for this playful Math Activities with flowers.  Here’s how to play this Playdough Flowers Math Game.

Inspired by The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle, focus on sorting and counting flower seeds with your preschool with this Printable Seed Activity.

Looking for more learning ideas for your preschooler with flowers. Check out this Spring Flower Week Plan from our Virtual Book Club for Kids.

Flower Books for Preschoolers

Lola Plants a Garden is the featured book of the week but I know you’re going to fall in love with the rest of this Flower Books for Preschoolers. I’m sharing with you some of my very favorites that are full of colorful and sneak in some science too for learning about flowers for preschoolers.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon for your convenience. 

• Zinnia’s Flower Garden 
• Planting a Rainbow
• Mouse’s First Spring (Classic Board Books)
• The Tiny Seed
• Flowers
• I Can Grow a Flower
• The Honeybee
• We Are the Gardeners
• Flowers Are Calling
• Van Gogh and the Sunflowers (Anholt’s Artists Books For Children)
• Katie and the Sunflowers
• Chrysanthemum 

Have fun with all of these flower craft ideas for your preschoolers. Whether you’re making a flower project for school or making flowers at home having fun with flowers for kids.

Spring is one of the most special times of the year with so many FLOWERS!

SHARE! Which flower activity will you do this spring?

Here’s a collection of our favorite rainbow activities.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. 

Rainbow Themed Week

Our Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids has some fun weekly themes and I must admit rainbow week is one of my favorites to do with preschoolers and toddlers. There’s something quite magical about a rainbow to kids and adults alike!  Grab a prism (like this one on Amazon) and explore how you can make your very own rainbow with sunlight.

In the story How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow  the Sun and the Clouds are best friends. Together they keep the world warm, the gardens growing, and the sky full of beautiful rainbows. However one day they get into a fight and refuse to be in the sky together. Which you can only guess means there are no longer any rainbows.

In the story, you discover that without rainbows, the colors start disappearing until Earth was left with no color … except for one little forgotten box of crayons in one little school desk. You’ll have to read with your preschooler to see how they solve this problem.

How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow teaches the importance of teamwork and perseverance through the eyes of some very colorful crayons.

After reading the story you’ll want to do some rainbow activities with your child and I’ve gathered some of my favorites just for you! Here’s a few more rainbow books to read too!

Rainbow Activities for Preschoolers

• Drip Painting Rainbow Name Activity 
• Rainbow Sea Shells 
• Rainbow Activities for Spring
• Rainbow Themed Language Book 
• Rainbow Snack Ideas 
• Rainbow Acorn Math Activity
• Making Rainbow Clothespins Plus Game Ideas 
• Rainbow Color Word Game with Lids 
• Rainbow Name Activity Inspired by the Book Mouse Paint 
• Rainbow Ice Sculptures 
• Rainbow Stew Felt Food Activity 
• Rainbow Busy Bag Ideas
• Rainbow Ice Painting with Watercolors 
• Rainbow Density Experiment
• Make a Rainbow with Technology 
• Crayon Sensory Bottle and Math Activity 

Preschool Learning with Rainbows

Rainbow activities provide a fun and hands-on way for preschoolers to learn several key concepts, including:

• Color Recognition: By exploring the colors of the rainbow, children improve their ability to identify and name different colors. This is an important skill in early childhood development.
• Fine Motor Skills: Many rainbow activities involve cutting, drawing, or arranging colorful objects, which helps develop fine motor skills as children practice hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
• Creativity and Imagination: Working with bright colors and a variety of materials encourages creativity. Preschoolers can experiment with different ways to create their own rainbow art and crafts, fostering imaginative thinking.
• Science Concepts: Rainbow activities provide opportunities to explore basic science concepts like light, rain, and the color spectrum. For example, children can learn how rainbows form through simple experiments or discussions about weather.
• Math Skills: Sorting, counting, and organizing rainbow-colored objects can help with early math skills like pattern recognition, sequencing, and understanding more or less.
• Language Development: As preschoolers talk about the colors, shapes, and patterns they see in their rainbow activities, they build their vocabulary and improve their communication skills.
• Sensory Development: Rainbow activities often involve sensory play with various textures, such as soft fabric, shiny paper, or smooth paint, providing opportunities for sensory exploration.

Overall, rainbow activities offer a rich learning experience that supports cognitive, physical, and emotional development in preschoolers.

Are you ready for some fun with colorful rainbow activities?

Rainbow Crafts for Preschoolers

Kick off your rainbow week with this adorable Rainbow Scavenger Hunt.  Then head to the craft table to make your very own Rainbow Themed Book where you can work on colors words and even more.  We even focused on a new language in our DIY Rainbow Book.

Don’t forget to plan for your Rainbow Snacks with these fun recipes that sneak in some fruits and veggies too!

Then it’s time for a little rainbow craft! Grab your paint and recycled cardboard to explore this Drip Painting Rainbow Name Activity. It makes for a perfect rainbow craft that can hang on the wall for a keepsake.

You can sneak in a little color word fun with your preschooler by making this Rainbow Color Word Game with Lids.

It’s always fun to see how you can reuse items in nature and sneak in a little learning too. This colorful Rainbow Acorn Math Activity kept my preschooler busy for weeks, literally.

Plus you can turn it into a finished craft project when you’re doing with the math games. Test out this Rainbow Blow Painting STEAM challenge with the paint you used.

Get inspired by a popular book with this Rainbow Name Activity Inspired by the Book Mouse Paint. Plus learn how the colors of the rainbow are made through a paint craft. Who’s name will you discover under the mouse prints?

Want another story craft? Try this Rainbow Stew Felt Food Activity that makes for a perfect sibling activity.

One of the best things about Rainbow Crafts is that they can easily become a busy bag too.  Take a look at our 17 Rainbow Busy Bag Ideas to add to your activities.

Start off your rainbow busy bag by learning how to Make Rainbow Clothespins plus explore our clothespin game ideas.

Rainbow Science Activities for Preschoolers

Kick off your rainbow science by making your very own Rainbow Crystal Experiment . Leave it out the whole week while you explore the following rainbow science experiments with your little one for hours of discovery and learning.

Buy these adorable tiny crayons buttons here

Later in the week, you can “eat the rainbow” during science with this Skittles Rainbow Science Investigation.

Have you ever painted with a frozen rainbow? Text your science skills with this Rainbow Ice Painting with Watercolors Experiment.  Plus now that you’ve made rainbow ice you can test your skills at making Rainbow Ice Sculptures.

Growing crystals in your home is a very fun science experiment for kids. Learn how you can grow crystal rainbows with this neat project!

I could easily see tons of fun with this Water Beads on Ice Experiment with rainbow-colored beads too.

It wouldn’t be Rainbow science without a frozen Rainbow snack too.

This one counts for both a rainbow craft and rainbow science.  Make your own Rainbow Sea Shells !!! You’ll never guess what we used to dry our shells!

There’s something very powerful about using water to make a rainbow with your preschooler.  Did you know that with just a few supplies you can set up a Rainbow Walking Water experiment? Or add a little milk and dish soap for a colorful Rainbow Milk Science Experiment.

Liquids make the best fun for Rainbow Science!  This Rainbow Density Experiment adds colorful layers or go even further into the rainbow theme with these Rainbow Glitter Sensory Jars.

One of our favorite collections is this featured Rainbow Activities for Spring, it’s pretty cool to see how much you can do with a few supplies around the house.  Which one will you try first?

You can even sneak in the computer with this activity on how to Make a Rainbow with Technology.

Don’t forget to stop by our Virtual Book Club for Kids Facebook group to share your Rainbow Activity Photos for Rainbow Week!

Rainbow Books for Kids

A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rainbow! by Lucille Colandro

How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow by Monica Sweeney

The Little Raindrop by Joanna Gray

Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls

The World Made a Rainbow by Michelle Robinson

My Color is Rainbow by Agnes Hsu

Over the Rainbow (Book & Audio CD) by Eric Puybaret

Raindrops to Rainbow by John Micklos Jr.

Chasing Rainbows (Dr. Seuss/Cat in the Hat) by Tish Rabe

Curious George Discovers the Rainbow by H. A. Rey

How To Catch A Rainbow by Naomi Jones

Moonbear’s Skyfire by Frank Asch

Hope Is a Rainbow by Hoda Kotb

Raindrops ARE Rainbows by Valerie Bessette

The First Rainbow by Jordon P Frye

The Magic School Bus Makes A Rainbow by George Bloom

With these fun and engaging rainbow activities, preschoolers can explore colors, creativity, and science while having a blast! Whether it’s through hands-on crafts, sensory experiences, or interactive learning games, each activity helps to nurture curiosity and encourage important developmental skills. We hope these rainbow-themed ideas inspire colorful moments in your classroom or at home.

So grab your supplies and let the vibrant learning begin – the world is full of color, and now your little ones are ready to see it all!

You may also enjoy these activities with your child…

With just a few supplies and your hand, you can invite your child into this colorful world that teaches our children to take care of the earth.

Here’s how to make your own handprint truffula trees!

Click here for more DR. SEUSS ACTIVITIES

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.

There is one author that no childhood would ever be the same without. This author would be Dr. Seuss! His creative mind has kept children reading for decades through the 44 books he’s written!

February’s Virtual Book Club Author is Dr. Seuss and we are so excited to bring you more than 30 Ideas to go along with his books!

We’re focusing on one special book called The Lorax by Dr. Seuss with our children. We’ve been working on Acts of Kindness and I think this book ties right into those same goals.

Want more ideas? Explore our ultimate collection of book activities for kids!

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Handprint Truffula Tree Forest

Materials Needed for HandPrint Truffula Tree

• Water Colors
• Paint Brushes
• Plastic container
• White Cardstock Paper
• Recycled lid
• Foam pieces with adhesive

Directions for Handprint Truffula Tree

1. Start by using Water Colors to create the Sky and Ground

2. Handprint Truffula Tree by using yellow and black paint to create the stems of your trees with your finger only, no paint on the palm or thumb.

3. Add the tops using DIY Stamps by attaching a foam sticker to a recycled lid. Just simply cut out the desired shape first then dip in paint and stamp.

4. Draw your Own Lorax using this printable and video to learn how to make your own Lorax.

5. Then attach your Lorax and words to your dry paper full of truffula trees.

We had so much fun making our own Truffula Trees and the Lorax. We decided to print out the quotes from the book too to remind us of the important of making a difference.

We typed out “I am the Lorax. I speak for the Trees.” and “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothing is going to get better, it’s not.” by Dr. Seuss. We talked about ways that we can care for our trees.

Are you ready! We’re sharing different ways to explore The Lorax with Kids Crafts and Activities! We’ve used our teacher and mama eyes to find you the best printables, learning activities, playtime fun, snacks, party Ideas, crafts and videos.

30+ Lorax Crafts and Activities

Lorax Printables for Kids 

• Printable Lorax Color Books and Counting Book
• Lorax Printable Preschool Unit
• Learn how to Draw the Lorax

Lorax Learning Activities

• Lorax Writing Prompt and Craft
• Lorax Earth Day Writing Prompt and Craft
• Truffla Math Trees
• Roll a Lorax Dice Game

Lorax Playtime Ideas for Kids 

• Lorax Themed Sensory Bin
• Lorax Cape Costume
• Life Size Lorax Fun

Lorax Snack time Ideas

• Lorax Tiered Cake
• Lorax Veggie Tray 
• Lorax Nutter Butter Cookies 
• Lorax Cheese Snack with Babybel 
• Truffula Cake Pops 

Lorax Themed Toys and Games for Kids

• Lorax Giant Puzzle Box
• Dr. Seuss The Lorax Finger Puppet Set 
• The Lorax Toy
• Plush
• Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax DVD
• Look for the Lorax (Step into Reading)
• The Lorax Doodle Book
• A Tree for Me! (Stickerific)
• Dr Seuss Inspired Photo Booth Props

Don’t have time to make your own. Get this Lorax Cake topper or cupcake toppers to add to any food item you’re serving. Or just add this Dr. Seuss Hat made for food items!

Lorax Party Ideas

• Lorax Party Ideas

Lorax Crafts for Kids 

• Lorax Water Color Pictures
• Handprint Lorax
• Lorax Pots
• Lorax Trees
• Lorax Necklace

We’ll leave you with a little video clip of Let It Grow with scenes from the movie The Lorax. Look for for ideas for planting with kids coming this spring!

Lorax Videos

• Videos Clips and Songs from the Lorax
• Videos from Dr. Seuss Website
• Learn how to Draw the Lorax Video from Universal Studios

There are so many ways to have fun with The Lorax with your child! Which one will you try first? Dr. Seuss has inspired many more activities, crafts and game for us. Take a peek below for 10 Ways to explore Dr. Seuss.

For more Dr. Seuss Ideas visit
10 Ways to Explore Dr. Seuss

March is a month of transformation—winter melts into spring, nature awakens, and we celebrate themes of growth, renewal, and new beginnings. It’s also a time for fun and learning, with Women’s History Month, St. Patrick’s Day, and the excitement of the changing season.

This month’s book picks for our Virtual Book Club for Kids explore these themes through engaging stories about perseverance, curiosity, and the wonders of the world around us. Whether you’re looking for books about springtime adventures, inspiring historical figures, or the luck of the Irish, there’s something for every young reader to enjoy!

Are you ready to join the fun with our featured books and activities to do with your child this spring?

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.

March Books for Kids

Reading with your child in March is more than just a cozy activity—it’s a powerful way to nurture their curiosity, creativity, and love for learning. This month’s themes of spring, growth, and celebration offer rich opportunities to explore nature, culture, and history together.

Are you ready to see which themes and books we’re featuring?  

Take a moment to search your bookshelf, reserve them at the library or I’ve included links to amazon for easy shopping. We picked some fun themes that work with several popular children’s books.  

Want book extension ideas? Explore our March Activities for Kids!

March Books and Themes for Kids

This month we’re featuring the following themes…

• Spring
• Gardening
• St. Patrick’s Day
• Rainbows
• Weather
• World Book Day
• Dr. Seuss
• Holi
• Easter
• Women’s History Month

Here’s why reading these March books with your child is so beneficial:

Encourages a Love for Nature & Science – Books about spring, gardening, and weather introduce young children to the wonders of the changing seasons, fostering an appreciation for nature and early science concepts.

Boosts Early Literacy Skills – Engaging with books regularly helps develop vocabulary, comprehension, and storytelling abilities, setting the foundation for lifelong learning.

Celebrates Important Holidays & Traditions – Stories about Women’s History Month, Holi, St. Patrick’s Day, and World Book Day teach children about different cultures, historical figures, and the importance of diversity and inclusion.

Inspires Creativity & Play – Many of these books pair beautifully with hands-on activities, such as crafts, sensory play, and nature exploration, making learning fun and interactive.

Supports School Readiness – The themes chosen align with common school topics, making it easy for parents and teachers to reinforce early learning concepts at home or in the classroom.

Strengthens Parent-Child Bonding – Reading together creates special moments of connection, fostering a love for stories and learning that lasts a lifetime.

Spring Books

Reading spring-themed books with kids nurtures curiosity about nature, builds early literacy skills, sparks creativity, and teaches seasonal changes in a fun, engaging way!

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak

And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano

Busy Spring: Nature Wakes Up by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss

Spring Sings by Ellie Holcomb

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

Little Blue Truck’s Springtime by Alice Schertle

Spring Stroll in the City by Cathy Goldberg Fishman

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson

Spring is Here! by Heidi Pross Gray

Little Mole Finds Hope by Glenys Nellist

Spring Book List for Kids

BOOK EXTENSION IDEAS: Go on a Spring Virtual Field Trip or a Spring Scavenger Hunt.

Gardening Books

Reading books about gardening and plants teaches kids about nature, responsibility, and patience while boosting early science skills and fostering a love for the environment!

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner

We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines

In a Garden by Tim McCanna

GROW: How We Get Food from Our Garden by Karl Beckstrand

The Big Book of Blooms by Yuval Zommer

The Bad Seed by Jory John

Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn

Explore our complete list of Gardening Books for Kids.

BOOK EXTENSION IDEAS: Discover 30+ Gardening Activities for Kids.

St. Patrick’s Day Books

These St. Patrick’s Day books teach kids about Irish culture, traditions, and legends while boosting literacy, creativity, and holiday fun.

The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing (Listen to Read Aloud)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the Crayons by Drew Daywalt (Listen to Read Aloud)

The 12 Days of St. Patrick’s Day by Jenna Lettice (Listen to Read Aloud)

How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace (Listen to Read Aloud)

How to Trap a Leprechaun by Sue Fliess (Listen to Read Aloud)

Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase by James Dean (Listen to Read Aloud)

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover! by Lucille Colandro (Listen to Read Aloud)

The Littlest Leprechaun by Brandi Dougherty (Listen to Read Aloud)

The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School by Laura Murray (Listen to Read Aloud)

St. Patrick’s Day Books

BOOK EXTENSION IDEAS: Explore our collection of St. Patrick’s Day Activities.

Rainbows Books

These fun rainbow books will add a splash of fun while teaching colors, weather, and science. Plus, it sparks creativity and a sense of wonder!

A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rainbow! by Lucille Colandro

How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow by Monica Sweeney

The Little Raindrop by Joanna Gray

Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls

The World Made a Rainbow by Michelle Robinson

Rainbow Books for Kids

BOOK EXTENSION IDEAS: Explore our Rainbow Activities for Kids.

Weather Books

Take a moment to read these weather books to help your child understand seasons, storms, and sunshine while building science skills, curiosity, and a love for the world around them.

Worm Weather by Jean Taft

The Wonder Of Thunder by Sharon Purtill

When The Sky Roars by Katie Weaver

Kite Day: A Bear and Mole Story by Will Hillenbrand

Little Cloud by Eric Carle

Let It Rain by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

BOOK EXTENSION IDEAS: Try our Cloud Spelling Game or Rain Writing Activity.

Dr. Seuss Books

Celebrate Dr. Seuss Birthday with his popular books that boost early literacy, rhyming skills, and imagination while teaching life lessons in a fun, engaging way that kids love.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss

Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss Books

BOOK EXTENSION IDEAS: Explore our collection of fun Dr. Seuss Activities.

Holi Books

Explore Indian culture, traditions, and the joy of colors while promoting diversity, inclusion, and festive fun with these Holi books.

Let’s Celebrate Holi! by Ajanta Chakraborty

Festival of Colors by Surishtha and Kabir Sehgal

Celebrate Holi With Me! by Shoumi Sen

Happy Holi!: Celebrating the Festival of Colors by Chitra Soundar

My Holi: Colors of Cheer by Priya Kumari

Simba’s First Holi: A Holiday Book for Kids by H R

Holi Hai! by Chitra Soundar

Holi Books for Kids

BOOK EXTENSION IDEAS: Learn about this adorable songs for Holi.

Ramadan Books

Reading books about Ramadan will help your child understand of its cultural and spiritual significance, fostering empathy, patience, and respect for diverse traditions and celebrations.

The Gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard

Ramadan (Celebrate the World) by Hannah Eliot

Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi

Night of the Moon by Hena Khan

Under the Ramadan Moon by Sylvia Whitman

Rashad’s Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr by Lisa Bullard

Ramadan Books for Kids

BOOK EXTENSION IDEAS: Make these Ramadan Crafts for Kids.

Easter Books

Reading Easter books with kids is a fun way to explore the holiday’s traditions, like renewal and hope, while sparking their creativity and excitement for the season.

The Good Egg by Jory John

The Night Before Easter by Natasha Wing

Happy Easter, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff

The Easter Egg by Jan Brett

How to Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace

Little Blue Truck’s Springtime by Alice Schertle

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

We’re Going on an Egg Hunt by Martha Mumford

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick! by Lucille Colandro

The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story by Mike Berenstain

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems

Easter Books for Kids

BOOK EXTENSION IDEAS: Get tons of Easter Ideas with our 40+ Easter Activities for Kids.

Women’s History Month

These popular Women’s History Month Books will help your child learn about inspiring women and their achievements, promoting gender equality, diversity, and empowerment.

A Is for Awesome!: 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the World by Eva Chen

Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by Vashti Harrison

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World by Ms Kate Pankhurst

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women by Rebel Girls

She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton

Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World by Katherine Halligan

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky

Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World by Rachel Ignotofsky

Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win by Rachel Ignotofsky

As we dive into the exciting world of March books, we hope these themes inspire fun learning adventures with your little ones. Whether it’s exploring the wonders of spring, celebrating important holidays, or discovering new stories, there’s something for every child to enjoy.

JOIN THE WEEKLY VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB FOR KIDS

Be sure to join our Virtual Book Club for Kids to connect with other parents and teachers, share your favorite reads, and keep the book-loving fun going all month long.

Join 9000+ Moms, Dads, Grandparents and Preschool teachers in our Virtual Book Club for Kids Facebook Group. To help connect us and keep us accountable a bit with our book loving friends, we’ve created a facebook community for you to join. The cost is free. Click Here to join us!

By joining our Virtual Book Club for Kids, you’ll have access to themed book lists, engaging activities, and a supportive community of fellow parents and educators—all for free! So grab a book, get cozy, and enjoy the magic of reading with your child this spring!

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