PARENT'S GUIDE TO LITTLE LEARNING
Favorite Books
Check out our monthly "favorite book" for early learners! Here you'll find books for you to read to and with your child, as well as books your child can read to you as they start learning! I love using seasonal texts and authentic learning activities that coincide with what children are learning.
Book #1: January
The Mitten
I love this book for so many reasons! It is a great winter-themed story with beautiful illustrations and a lot of skill practice hidden inside. This text is great for retelling: retelling is an important pre-reading skill. This just means that your child can tell the major parts of the story from memory or by using the pictures as a tool. Read the story together and then work together to tell what happened in order.
There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow
This book is part of a much-loved series for just about every season and holiday! It is another great way for students to practice retelling and sequencing. It is a silly book with a funny surprise at the end that children this age LOVE!
Book #2: February
Book #3: March
How to Catch a Leprechaun
This seasonal book is so much fun for young children! The magic of rainbows, pots of gold and leprechauns is such an amazing part of this age group. I used this book in Kindergarten to practice “How to” step by step writing, but this can also be used to practice oral language skills. There’s also a ton of leprechaun related activities you can do after reading. So much fun!
Book #4: April
Hurray for Spring!
This is a short and sweet rhyming book- perfect for spring! It's a great conversation starter about new seasons and all of the fun things to look forward to in the spring.
Book #5: May
The Most Magnificent Thing
This book is all about perseverance and continuing to try even when things are not going as expected. It's a great talking point and pairs well with a STEM or other building activity where children are encouraged to get creative!
Book #6: June
Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones
This book is such a fun one for children who love dinosaurs! There is a rhythm to the story's lines on each page but it also includes several facts about fossils, dinosaurs, and paleontology. Pair with some fun summer dinosaur activities (check them out on the activities page of our site!)
Book #7: July
The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!
This is such a fun book for summer time! With amusement park visits, vacations, and summer camp in full force, it is the perfect summer read. This book offers a lot of opportunities to talk about character feelings, use of speech bubbles and punctuation, and more. (It's also a kid favorite because the pigeon is always up to something silly).Check out some of the other "pigeon" books as well!
Book #8: August
Outside My Window
This cute book shows different places in the world through the eyes of children looking out their own windows. Each child sees something different based on the place they live, and at the back of the book it shows each place that was talked about in the book. It is a great way to begin learning about places around the world and exploring new countries right from home!
Book #9: September
First Day Jitters
This fun back to school book is all about the "first day jitters": not knowing what to expect, getting nervous about a new class, or new school, new teacher and new classmates. There is also a little surprise at the end when we find out about the main character on the first day of school! Read this book and then check out our blog for tips and tricks to get ready for the first few weeks of school.