no no 9781465468161 My First Touch and Feel Picture Cards: Colors and Shapes by DK

Think of this set as a board book for wiggly kids not interested in sitting still to read. These chunky, textured cards can withstand sticky little hands carrying them everywhere. Ask a toddler to bring you “the duck” or “the door.” As they learn colors and shapes, ask for “something yellow” or “the rectangle.” For extra giggles, hide a card underneath something and then dramatically produce it. Have kiddos give cards to different people in the room or to various toys or stuffed animals. As a bonus, each card has a list of prompts for caregivers on the back to encourage conversation and language-building. Also, check out companion sets featuring first words, numbers and counting, farm words, animals, and transportation words.

9780593582435 The World of Eric Carle First Words Flashcards by Eric Carle

Truly, there’s never enough Eric Carle artwork in the world — or on your bookshelf. These adorable flashcards with pictures feature his classic illustrations (iconic caterpillar included) and words in clear, lowercase letters. The variety of cards gives this set long-lasting appeal. You might hide a few cards around the playroom and challenge kiddos to find each one. Or, play “guess my card” by giving clues. The reverse side of each card features just the word, so when kids start to learn about blending letter sounds to read words, pull out the simplest consonant-vowel-consonant cards, like “red,” “sun,” and “bus,” and show them how to read them with no picture clues.

9780744039412 My First Dinosaur Flash Cards by DK

This set is a must-own for any preschool or kindergarten child fascinated by dinosaurs. The front of each oversized card shows a realistic illustration of a prehistoric creature — including new-to-you species — with labels highlighting its notable features. The reverse of each card contains bulleted information and compelling questions to consider. Enjoy mulling over a few cards instead of a bedtime book on rushed nights (because, come on, some of those nonfiction dinosaur titles are LONG!) or while waiting in the doctor’s office. As kids learn to read, they can enjoy these cards independently; they’re invaluable for practicing reading multisyllabic words.

9780593581933 Breathe Like a Bear Mindfulness Cards by Kira Willey, illustrated by Anni Betts

These sturdy cards blur the line between flashcards for kids and activity cards. Still, no matter what you call them, they are excellent for teaching children how to use mindful breathing for different purposes. The front of each sturdy card has a charming illustration for breathing exercises, from “Owl Breath” to “Scrunch and Let Go.” The back of each card has directions to read aloud. The cards are even color-coded at the top with categories like “Calm,” “Focus,” and “Energy.” A must-buy for home or early childhood classroom.

9780525577034 Professor Astro Cat’s Outer Space Flash Cards by Dr. Dominic Walliman, illustrated by Ben Newman

Kids can test and add to their background knowledge about space with multiple choice and open-ended “Question” and “True or False?” cards. The answers are straightforward enough for kids to understand without talking down to budding scientists. Bring these along on road trips, or pull them out to switch up the conversation at the family dinner table.

9780744073812 Spanish for Everyone Junior First Words Flash Cards by DK

Flash cards with pictures are an inexpensive and useful language-learning tool for children. Share this set with kids to teach and practice saying and reading common Spanish words. Once children become familiar with the vocabulary, re-use the cards for guessing games, sorting into related categories, or combining cards to inspire silly sentences. The box also includes extra cards with additional activity suggestions. Also, check out similar sets with French, German, and Italian words.

9780744056174 English for Everyone Junior Sight Words Flash Cards by DK

All kids learn to read and spell common words as they build literacy skills, but understanding the meaning and correct usage of those words is also important. This set of flashcards for kids goes a step further than traditional sight word flashcards, with an isolated word on one side of each card and the word in an illustrated sentence on the other. Bonus cards include usage ideas.

9780744062588 Our World In Pictures Animals of the World Flash Cards by DK

When your growing reader is ready for more information, these fact-packed flashcards offer many opportunities. Kids can quiz themselves or others on animals’ Latin names, sizes, key features, and more. The cards also lend themselves to sorting animals by class, native habitat, or endangered status. Children with other interests should look at sets about rocks & minerals, the elements, trees, the human body, and dinosaurs from the same series.

9780593578544 Sibley Backyard Birding Flashcards, Revised and Updated by David Allen Sibley

Who says flashcards are just for kids? My bird-loving grandmother would have adored referring to this artful set. Designed with bird images and key visual details on the front and species names and information on the back, these are equally fun for quiz games or traditional browsing. Reading and talking about the physical and song descriptions and habitat information will be excellent for boosting kids’ academic vocabulary, and they can practice using maps to determine each bird’s home territory. The box also includes a checklist for keeping track of birds you’ve spotted. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy similar sets featuring trees, wildflowers, herbs, and mushrooms.

You might also like:

• The Best Reading Apps for 4- to 8-Year-Olds
• Books to Help Kids With Sight Words
• The 50 Best Books for 5- and 6-Year-Olds
• 4 Reasons We Still Love Mad Libs

The post Unique Children’s Flashcards To Help Boost Learning appeared first on Brightly.

Stocking your shelves with entertaining and informative construction-themed books can help satisfy young builders’ interests and “build” their vocabulary and background knowledge. To help you choose, I’ve rounded up a list of construction books for kids with a variety of great options.

no no 9781649070869 Good Night Building Site by Adam Gamble and Mark Jasper, illustrated by Harvey Stevenson

Invite tiny building enthusiasts to spend a day at a construction site! As the sun rises, a diverse group of construction workers don their safety gear. Experts in various roles do their parts, from architects, welders, and framers to plumbers, equipment operators, and electricians. This is the perfect title to introduce construction job and task vocabulary that can become part of kids’ play scenarios — and spark dreams about what they might do when they grow up!

9781984896704 Hello, World! Construction Site by Jill McDonald

Board books from the Hello World! series are top-notch informational books for toddlers because they can be enjoyed on multiple levels. For wiggly one-year-olds, read the fun noises and verbs — “Clank! Vroom! Boom!” “Push!” “Scoop!” — and notice the colorful construction vehicles in the illustrations. Older children will enjoy the full text and engaging facts to expand their knowledge about what happens on a building site and how construction equipment operates.

9780241514849 Construction Site: A Push-and-Pull Adventure by Ladybird, illustrated by Samantha Meredith

There’s so much physical science involved in construction, and this book makes conversations about force and motion accessible to your tiny learners. Invite little hands to help you push, pull, and turn the features of this book to show how equipment moves on a building site. Besides being fun to read over and over, children will pick up language they can use when playing with toy construction vehicles.

9781984851529 Richard Scarry’s Busy Busy Construction Site by Richard Scarry

It’s the words every small construction lover has been waiting for: “Welcome to the busy, busy construction site! Put on your hard hat, and let’s take a look around.” This adorable book is excellent for children eager to learn construction vehicle names. (Also, a confession: As a child, I imagined that the Busytown team built my house with its perfectly snaked electrical wires — and maybe I still do.)

9780763679750 Construction by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock

With fun onomatopoeia on every page, readers witness the construction of a large structure. As more phases are completed, it becomes clear that it’s a new library meant to welcome everyone. I’ve had a special place in my heart for this title since my hometown library posted a giant image of it outside while their new building was under construction. The entire Construction Crew series is a favorite for kids and is worthy of any toddler’s bookshelf.

9780593709573 On the Job (PAW Patrol: Rubble & Crew) by Elle Stephens, illustrated by Dave Aikins

Many parents know PAW Patrol’s pups have a deep and loyal following among the toddler set. And now, Rubble and Crew are starring in spinoff content for kids who love construction. This title lets readers meet the whole team at Builder Cove and see how they work together. Exciting illustrations show the pups hard at work, and the simple text is perfect for reading aloud to toddlers or kids starting to read independently.

9780593706848 Cats in Construction Hats by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by Leeza Hernandez

What’s cuter than colorful cats in colorful hats driving colorful construction equipment to build a house? This rhyming book makes for an enjoyable and interactive read-aloud. With plenty of feline antics and small details to notice in the illustrations, this book is appealing enough to enjoy on repeat.

9780823447145 Bear Builds a House by Maxwell Eaton III

It’s time for Bear to build a new house, and she has a thoughtful plan to make it happen. After all, “It’s better to plan now since she can’t just move her house later on.” She assesses and measures the location, creates plans and elevations, and assembles a capable team of workers. (Beavers are involved, obviously.) She even adds solar panels! Kids and adults who appreciate background information about a task will identify with Bear’s exceptionally detail-oriented style.

9781536220087 Building a Home by Polly Faber, illustrated by Klas Fahlén

Step by step, a construction team transforms a crumbling old factory into a beautiful new apartment building. This book does a lovely job highlighting the variety of expertise required for a big building project and the collaboration, communication, and hard work it takes to accomplish a job.

9781684373611 Construction People by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Ellen Shi

This collection of poems celebrates everyone from architects to elevator installers. It’s a unique ode to the myriad individual roles in a construction project and is an enjoyable introduction to poetry for kids. Read just one poem at a time, or the entire set, and marvel over the many different hands at work on a building site.

9780593885857 Construction Site Preschool Activity Book illustrated by Liv Wan, contributions by Brightly

With over 80 activities, this book will keep little builders busy! They’ll learn new vocabulary and concepts related to construction, practice counting and identifying letters of the alphabet, and build fine motor skills. The sweet and colorful illustrations make every page feel like a fun treat.

Remember, block play is ideal for kids who are interested in construction. For more ideas about construction books for kids, check out our list Stack, Wreck, and Rebuild: Exciting Books to Get Kids Building. Plus, don’t miss our lists of books about vehicles, trains, and airplanes!

The post If You Build It … Awesome Construction Books for Little Builders appeared first on Brightly.

no no 9780823454846 The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra’s Needle by Dan Gutman

Dan Gutman is a go-to author when I recommend books to other families, and my sons consistently call him a favorite. In his fun new title, a savvy mom spins a history lesson about a Central Park statue into a time-hopping tale following Cleopatra’s Needle as it traveled from ancient Egypt to New York City. It’s a great example of how focusing on history’s “story” potential can take you on a journey. The easier formatting, reading level, and fast pacing make this book ideal for reluctant readers and those finding independence with chapter books.

9781426338106 Explorer Academy Series by Trudi Trueit

Coronado Cruz gets recruited to attend the exclusive Explorers Academy, a futuristic school that trains kids to complete risky global missions. But he quickly discovers the school and his family have hidden secrets. This series is action-packed and full of cliffhangers. While the plot details are fictional, the places Coronado travels for missions are real. Each book finishes with a “Truth Behind the Fiction” section highlighting the work of actual scientists related to the story. The varied text formatting, including notes, puzzles, illustrations, and color, will appeal to kids who complain that traditional chapter books are boring.

9780142424247 Stranded Series by Christopher Tebbetts and Jeff Probst

A newly blended family takes a vacation for everyone to “get to know each other better.” However, their travel goals change when a freak storm shipwrecks the four kids on a remote island in the South Pacific. Now they must figure out how to make it home alive — and getting voted off the island isn’t an option. These books are quick-moving reads for kids to enjoy independently or as read-alouds. The story unfolds across the original trilogy, and then a second trilogy features the same characters on a different harrowing vacation escapade.

9781536230178 The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

Twelve-year-old Sai jumps at the chance to escape her flawed family and joins an expedition to the South Seas as an assistant to a famous mapmaker. Once aboard, she quickly realizes the expedition is more complex than she expected, and she must decide how brave she’s willing to be. While the South Pacific locations in this story are fictional, it draws inspiration from Thai mythology and transports readers to another place.

9781368023566 Rick Riordan Presents: Aru Shah and the End of Time – A Pandava Novel Book 1 by Roshani Chokshi

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah’s peers brag about their globe-trotting adventures, and she feels compelled to make up outlandish stories about traveling over summer break. When some classmates call her bluff, she lights a storied lamp from her mom’s museum, which releases an ancient demon and freezes time. This turn of events sends her on a journey wilder than any she could make up. Inspired by a Hindu legend, this is the first title in a popular series presented by middle grade mega-author Rick Riordan. If kids are hesitant to try this series, draw them in with the graphic novel version!

9781645952213 National Archive Hunters 1: Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis

In this series starter, twins Iris and Carter try to get ahead of a string of art robberies after a mystery girl steals a portrait of George Washington during an event at their mom’s Washington, D.C. museum. They travel up and down the U.S. East Coast, racing to research clues and figure out where the art thieves will strike next. Fun fact: This author is an energetic middle school social studies teacher. In 2025, he will take a break from the classroom to travel the country in an RV with his family, spreading his non-boring take on American history to kids everywhere.

9780593643846 The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Brett Helquist

Kids might not think of the nonfiction section when looking for their next gripping adventure story, but this title defies expectations. The author takes readers back in time to Paris, to the art heist that made the Mona Lisa famous, and then back further to Florence, Italy, entering the life of painter Leonardo da Vinci. Its take on historical events is both thrilling and funny, setting a new bar for globe-trotting informational text.

9781645951612 Clara Poole and the Long Way Round by Taylor Tyng

This entertaining thriller features an unusual globe-trotting mode: a hot air balloon! After a school project results in a flying lawn chair stunt, Clara Poole gets invited to join an around-the-world balloon race. She forges her dad’s signature on the permission slip and goes for it — with no idea what she’s gotten herself into. The lead aeronaut is a mean old lady who prefers the company of her three pet monkeys. Clara must survive ten legs of the race, including wild adventures in far-flung locations. Plus, someone’s trying to sabotage the competition. Kids will love the satisfying ending. Clara’s zany exploits continue in Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up.

9781524720032 Samantha Spinner Series by Russell Ginns

With only a worn old umbrella left behind as a clue, Samantha Spinner and her brother set off to rescue their missing uncle. Using a map concealed in the umbrella, the pair find themselves traveling to France, Italy, and Egypt — all the while being pursued by a band of super stinky ninjas. A lighthearted and imaginative adventure tale filled with action, humor, and puzzles, Spinner is definitely a winner!

The post 9 Globe-Trotting Adventure Books for Middle Grade Readers appeared first on Brightly.

no no 9781645952213 National Archive Hunters 1: Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis

Matthew Landis, a middle school social studies teacher, claims to “slay boredom wherever it lurks,” so he knows what will pique kids’ interests. In this series opener, twins Carter and Iris find themselves in the middle of an art heist at a Washington, DC museum. Soon, they’re racing to get ahead of — and take down — an entire crime ring while trying to convince the FBI Art Crimes team that they aren’t the culprits! Kids will tear through this story quickly. Good news: This author has several other engaging titles to check out while readers wait for the next installment.

9780375869020 Wonder by R. J. Palacio

If your kids (or you) haven’t read this book yet, pick it up immediately. It stars Auggie Pullman, a fifth-grader who has been homeschooled until this year due to his facial difference, mandibulofacial dysostosis. Navigating a new school setting might be the biggest challenge Auggie has ever faced, but he does it with courage and heart. This widely appealing title is a quick read since it jumps between different characters’ perspectives. It’s also a classroom and family read-aloud favorite and was made into a hit movie. (I usually vote for reading first and streaming after, but you could make the case for sparking a slumping reader’s interest with a movie-first approach.) Auggie enthusiasts will also be interested in the spin-off titles Auggie & Me and White Bird.

9780440414803 Holes by Louis Sachar

Kids immediately relate to the characters in this slightly bizarre story about unlucky Stanley Yelnats, whose misfortunate lands him at a juvenile detention center. While it’s not as quick-starting or straightforward as some of the other choices on this list, kids are quickly drawn into figuring out what the heck is going on at Camp Green Lake. What’s the camp warden looking for as he forces kids to dig holes five feet wide and five feet deep? Stanley aims to be the one to figure it out. Pro-tip: To avoid re-slumping, make sure you have the sequel, Small Steps, on hand for when kids finish this title.

9780593897232 The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

This series opener is one of my favorite quiet successes. Kids from all types of families enjoy reading about the funny chaos, squabbling, and scheming in a large household. The adventures of four sisters on summer vacation (and later in the series, at home) have a throwback feel without being too old-fashioned. Plus, one of the supporting characters is their friend, Jeffrey, adding balance to the gender representation. The wide age range of kid characters makes this series an excellent choice for a family read-aloud or audiobook.

9780440419396 Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

Roy just moved to town, to a house near a construction site for a new diner, where construction gets stalled by unexplained vandalism. In the thick of being bullied on the bus, Roy notices a mysterious kid running through town without shoes. As the story unfolds, the scenarios become poignantly connected. (Plus, the plight of some baby owls takes center stage — how can kids not want to keep reading?) This title tugs at kids’ universal desires to belong, have friends, and for the world to be fair. Once kids get hooked on this slump-busting title, the author has many more books with similar vibes to enjoy.

9781645950356 The Great Peach Experiment 1: When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie by Erin Soderberg Downing

In this series opener, a family who recently lost their mom comes into some unexpected cash. They use it to buy a food truck and spend the summer traveling the Midwest serving pie. As my son says, “The story starts really fast, so kids won’t get bored.” (The food truck shows up in their driveway on page 3.) Kids will easily get swept up in the family’s entrepreneurial spirit — and cringe at the unexpected challenges they face. Each subsequent book in this growing series brings back the characters for a new dose of fun, including parlaying their food truck experience into opening an eclectic bed and breakfast, traveling to a Scandinavian ice hotel, and more.

9781536243574 The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon

When Dally’s grandfather dies, he leaves her a secret envelope. At first, she hopes it will provide a break from her mom’s overbearing demands. However, the letter launches Dally onto a time-twisting journey through a library of family secrets throughout history. This “feels-like-it-could-be-real fantasy” novel keeps kids reading by constantly surprising them — an ideal slump-busting quality. While it’s a standalone story, Kekla Magoon continuously churns out amazing books. Next, point younger readers toward Chester Keene Cracks the Code and older readers to the modern classic The Season of Styx Malone.

9780593533239 The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln, illustrated by Claire Powell

Names are of utmost importance in the Swift family; they’re recorded in the family dictionary on the day each Swift is born, along with a (supposedly) prophetic personality definition. As a family reunion approaches, Shenanigan Swift aims to disprove her trouble-making reputation in a twisting plot that includes a treasure hunt and a murder investigation. Hand this to kids who enjoy getting wrapped up in the adventures of quirky characters, riddles and wordplay, and light-hearted mysteries. Then, queue up the sequel to keep kids reading!

9780593429655 Forever Twelve by Stacy McAnulty

Do your kids feel like they’ve been waiting forever for their next birthday? In this compelling book series, “The Evers” actually have. They are a group of kids bound by a curse that keeps them permanently twelve years old. (This detail takes the boarding school interpersonal drama trope up a notch.) Is new student Ivy destined for the same eternal fate? This title has a sequel, Never Thirteen, plus this author has many other excellent middle grade titles perfect for kids’ TBR (to-be-read) stacks.

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Here’s what my teacher-self tells my parent-self to quiet those nerves: First, kids enter kindergarten in various developmental places, and it’s a teacher’s job to meet them where they are. More importantly, “ready” for kindergarten doesn’t mean knowing everything on a kindergarten skills checklist. It means being ready to learn them when they are taught — along with all the other wonderful things that can’t be distilled into bullet points. If families focus on creating a solid foundation for teachers to build on, we set our kids up for the joyful transition they deserve.

Here are four doable, productive ways to channel that getting-ready-for-kindergarten energy if you’ve got it — and four things you can give yourself permission not to worry about.

1. Instead of worrying about school behaviors, focus on building independence and social skills.

Your child doesn’t need to learn to raise their hand or walk in a line at home because they’ll learn that stuff alongside their classmates when they get to school. But, it’s wise to teach them a few things that will help them function in a group without as much adult availability. For instance, you could help your kiddo practice:

• Using the bathroom from start to finish without help (If you do nothing else, just do this!)
• Introducing themselves with first and last name
• Following directions about getting and putting away their things (Bonus points for finding their nametag on a hook or bin)
• Opening lunch and snack items or politely asking and waiting for help
• Etiquette for sharing communal supplies, like asking for a turn without grabbing and noticing when someone else is waiting

2. Instead of worrying about how high your child can count or whether they know any math facts, focus on having informal math “conversations.”

Today’s math standards ask kids to talk about their math thinking; this is more than just memorizing counting sequences or facts. If you build up kids’ “math talking muscles,” teachers can expand on these habits at school. For instance:

• Read and talk about the pictures in counting books
• Play dice or card games and talk about ways to recognize amounts, like “Look, five on this die is four corners of a square plus one in the middle.”
• Talk about “more than” and “less than” in household situations and how you know which are which

3. Instead of “quizzing” kids on letters and high-frequency words, focus on enjoyable exposure (even if you’re the one doing the work).

Pre-kindergarten is a fantastic time to give kids a peek at the incredible world of reading and writing — it gets kids eager to join the literacy club and primes them to soak up formal school instruction. Resist the urge to “test” your kids or ask them to show off their letter and word knowledge as a prep method. Instead, aim for low-key modeling. For instance:

• Read alphabet books and point out uppercase and lowercase letters, sounds they make, and words that start with those sounds
• Talk about “concepts about print” — how books work — as you read aloud by pointing out the title and author of a book, moving your finger left to right as you read, or pointing out a particular word or letter on the page
• Write down meaningful things in front of your child — like a sticky note reminder to “Buy more ice cream!” or a note to another caregiver, “Please don’t move this LEGO project!”

4. Instead of worrying about teaching specific facts, build kids’ knowledge about the world in ways that interest them.

Background knowledge and the language acquisition that comes with it are crucial for school success. It helps with reading comprehension, science and social studies content learning, and even kids’ capacity to empathize with others. The more kids know about the world, the more connection points they have available for school learning. Easy ways to build kids’ background knowledge include:

• Orchestrate experiences like projects, trips, outings, walks, or pretend play  (These experiences have even more power when you talk about them afterward.)
• Practicing oral storytelling — like calling Grandma to tell her everything that happened on your family hike — is the best preparation for writing with lots of detail
• Read and talk about nonfiction books or stories about a variety of topics
• Ask open-ended questions at meals or on car rides like, “What’s your favorite season, and why?” Have kids practice answering and listening to others’ responses

Getting ready for kindergarten doesn’t have to be about checking skills off a list. Reframing our thinking to focus on foundation-building is less stressful for adults and kids alike.

The post 4 Ways To Stress Less About Kindergarten Readiness appeared first on Brightly.

no no 9780525582274 A Little Book About Spring (Leo Lionni’s Friends) by Leo Lionni, illustrated by Leo Lionni and Julie Hamilton

“Hello, Spring. I’m so glad to see you.” This delightful board book about spring will be on constant rotation if you have a toddler learning about the delights of this season. Leo Lionni’s iconic mice discover nature’s signs of spring, from chirping baby birds to squelching mud.

9780593384725 The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Spring by Eric Carle

Tiny readers will love this ode to springtime featuring Eric Carle’s classic illustrations. Everyone’s favorite caterpillar crawls through a quintessential spring day, noticing new plants and baby animals, dodging a quick rainstorm, working in the garden, and playing under the welcome sun.

9781623369415 Mrs. Peanuckle’s Flower Alphabet by Mrs. Peanuckle, illustrated by Jessie Ford

Noticing flowers is a perfect activity for little ones in spring. There’s much to discuss, from colors to sizes, shapes, and textures! This informative board book introduces young botanists to the names of popular flowers they might see in spring or across the seasons.

9780553507799 A Book of Babies by Il Sung Na

When the flowers begin to bloom
and the world starts turning green,
animals everywhere are born . . .

Follow a little duck on his journey to see all the other new babies born in the spring. Il Sung Na’s vibrant illustrations are a joyous celebration of all that the season brings.

9780241400395 A Spring Surprise: A Peter Rabbit Tale by Beatrix Potter

A sign on the old oak tree invites Peter Rabbit and his siblings to an Easter picnic. Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail know what to bring, but Peter isn’t sure. He wanders through the spring woods, looking for an idea, and finds something small, yellow, quacking, and just right. This brief and satisfying story is ideal for introducing classic Beatrix Potter characters to little ones.

9780823439959 Hello Spring! by Shelley Rotner

Shelley Rotner’s Hello Seasons! series features gorgeous photographs that celebrate both the natural wonders of each season and the human fun to be had. This title encourages young children to notice the weather changing and new things growing and to get outdoors and enjoy spring. It’s ideal for introducing spring-themed vocabulary to little learners.

9781368060912 Spring Stinks — A Little Bruce Book by Ryan T. Higgins

Everyone’s happy about spring except Bruce. Ruth Rabbit takes it upon herself to brighten his mood by sharing the smells of spring, from fresh grass and sweet daisies to wet moose! As always, young readers will find Bruce’s grouchiness and exaggerated antics hilarious.

9780448487403 Worm Weather by Jean Taft, illustrated by Matt Hunt

Yes, “worm weather” is absolutely a meteorological term. This rhyming romp takes readers through the sights and sounds of a rainy — then sunny! — spring day. After you read it, hop into boots and go outside to splash in puddles and look for wiggling worms.

9780593652336 Grumpy Monkey Spring Fever by Suzanne Lang, illustrated by Max Lang

Uh-oh. Grumpy Monkey has spring fever! He worries about this diagnosis until Gorilla lets him in on a secret: Spring fever is fun! It means having the energy to do spring things like playing, planting, climbing, and splashing. Young readers will want to catch a “spring fever” of their own. Easter references and themed stickers make this a fun title for tucking into a spring Easter basket.

9781912497997 The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes

Planting a garden is a rite of spring passage for many kids. But once you plant, it’s hard to wait for everything to grow! In the meantime, share this imaginative and hopeful story about a hardworking little gardener.

9781580897983 Snowman – Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Micha Archer

This creative look at nature’s transition from winter to spring is fun to share with children learning about earth science and math symbols. From early spring, “warmth + light = alarm clock” to animal wonders like “nest + robin = jewelry box,” this clever and poetic take on the season invites kids and adults to look at spring in new ways.

You might also like:

• What’s the Buzz? 10 Bee Books To Share With Your Hive
• Delightful Butterfly Books for Young Nature Lovers
• How Nature “Cooking” Pretend Play Builds Kids’ Literacy Skills
• Garden-Filled Picture Books for Spring
• The Best Bird Books for Kids

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2024 and updated in 2025.

The post 11 Books About Spring for Little Ones appeared first on Brightly.

no no 9781368066969 I’m On It! – Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! by Andrea Tsurumi

Two unlikely friends demonstrate early concept words like above, inside, on, around, and under. Their hilarious antics and silly conversations will remind kids of their other favorite friend duo. And having Elephant and Piggie introduce the book is the icing on an already fantastic cake.

9780593094648 A Pig, a Fox, and a Box by Jonathan Fenske

Like Mo Willems, Jonathan Fenske succeeds in conveying plenty of comic nuance with broad pen strokes and minimalist speech bubbles in A Pig, a Fox, and a Box. Fox is constantly trying to play tricks on his patient friend Pig, but they always seem to backfire in hilarious ways. These three simple stories will keep young readers giggling until the final page.

9780593350102 Archie & Reddie: I Really Dig Pizza by Candy James

This early graphic novel series is about the oftentimes hilarious friendship between two adorable foxes. In this first book, Archie finds a deliciously cheesy pizza in the woods and buries it for safe-keeping. However, when Reddie later stumbles upon a suspicious pile of dirt, she’s determined to find out how it got there. Can Archie keep her from discovering his secret pizza stash, or will he fess up and share it with his friend?

9781662665486 Open Me…I’m a Dog by Art Spiegelman

This book breaks the fourth wall and invites the reader to get involved in the story. Kids who have always wanted a dog will giggle over this book that might be a dog in disguise. Simple text and interactive humor make it an excellent choice for growing readers who want more books like Elephant & Piggie.

9780593113851 Jack Blasts Off by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli

This early reader series — starring an ornery rabbit named Jack and his canine friend, Rex — is packed with humor and heart. Wacky storylines will entertain fans of Elephant & Piggie, like in Jack Blasts Off, when the Lady “in charge” of Jack and Rex gets so tired of their shenanigans that she sends them to space! (Spoiler alert: They get into trouble there, too.) A fun how-to in the back teaches readers how to draw the simple-line characters to create their own Jack and Rex stories.

9781368024570 I Lost My Tooth! – An Unlimited Squirrels Book by Mo Willems

Kids who love Elephant & Piggie will also enjoy this title from the same author. Zoom the squirrel loses a tooth, and his friends try to help him look for it. With Mo Willems’s signature humor, puns, and illustrations, kids will feel right at home while reading this story.

9781662640186 One Cool Duck #1 by Mike Petrik

This graphic novel chapter book series is designed for growing readers who love books like Elephant & Piggie and are ready for the next step. Young readers will giggle over this story about a cool (but mean) cat who gets stuck up a tree and needs Duck and his friends to rescue him.

9780593222911 Ducks Run Amok! by J.E. Morris

A large flock of noisy ducks takes over a turtle’s peaceful pond. To make matters worse, the ducks think the turtle is a green duck! Will the green duck — er, turtle! — ever have quiet again? A delightfully silly and fun story told in hilarious rhymes and expressive comic-like panels.

9781682637463 This Rock Is Mine! by Kaye Umansky, illustrated by Alice McKinley

Two frog friends find themselves at odds when they both want to claim the same spot on a rock. Using simple vocabulary and hilarious reasoning, the two argue until events take a surprising turn — and they happily decide to share the rock. Friendship, compromise, and expressive illustrations give off distinct Elephant & Piggie vibes.

9781524787080 Friends Forever by Derek Anderson

Croc tends to be grumpy and particular, while Ally favors sunny optimism, but they do agree on one thing: Friends are important. In Friends Forever, three simple but enjoyable stories help early readers get to know these new characters. Also check out Croc and Ally: Fun, Fun, Fun!

9780593525500 Bear in a Bathrobe by Maddie Frost

Bear is snuggled up in his den for the winter and has no plans of going outside until spring. His friends show up and convince him to explore the wintry world outside, and he reluctantly goes along. Told through comics-style illustrations, simple text, and speech bubbles, this giggle-worthy picture book is an excellent next-read for Elephant & Piggie fans!

9780763699536 Fergus and Zeke by Kate Messner, illustrated by Heather Ross

This series debut centers around a likable pair of friends. It’s a perfect option for when developing readers are ready for more text. Four illustrated chapters introduce Fergus, the pet mouse in Miss Maxwell’s class, and describe his fortuitous meeting of a “buddy,” Zeke, on a school field trip to the museum. When the two new friends get carried away exploring, will Fergus be able to make it back to the bus in time to return to class?

9781368005647 The Itchy Book! – Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! by LeUyen Pham

Elephant and Piggie introduce this early reader book by the illustrator of bestselling books like The Princess in Black series and Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn. A dinosaur sees a sign that says “Dinosaurs Do Not Scratch” and starts policing every itchy dino they see. Before long, the pages fill with itchy dinosaurs, doing their best not to scratch. This humorous book will have your kid laughing (and scratching) through each page!

9781101918265 Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #1) by Ben Clanton

If you haven’t met the lovable sea creatures in this early graphic novel series yet, you’re in for a treat. When Narwhal and Jelly first encounter each other, they both wonder if their imaginations are playing tricks on them. Their new friendship is good enough to be true, though. The pair share easy conversation as they swap seaworthy facts, plan parties, and celebrate a shared love of waffles.

9780425288467 Warren & Dragon Series by Ariel Bernstein, illustrated by Mike Malbrough

The appeal of themes around friendship, humor, and navigation of childhood predicaments endure as children transition to early chapter books. This series stars twins Ellie and Warren Nesbitt, along with Warren’s marshmallow-loving pet, Dragon. In 100 Friends, Warren learns an important childhood lesson: Quality matters more than quantity.

9781984852083 I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt

Frog does not want to be a frog anymore — he can’t help but imagine all the fun he’d have if he were another animal instead. Fortunately, little Frog’s father (as well as a hungry wolf who eats everything but frogs) is there to remind him that being a frog has its own perks too. The conversation between Frog and his dad will have kids howling with laughter while also thinking about why it’s so important to accept and appreciate yourself, no matter what.

9781101997314 NOPE by Drew Sheneman

Lots of things can feel scary when you’re a little kid — even though Mama Bird thinks Baby Bird is ready to leave the nest, the little bird isn’t quite convinced that flying is a good idea (“Nope!”) and that it could, in fact, end very badly. This picture book from the creator of Don’t Eat That has just a few words, but the giggle-inducing illustrations and relatable themes will pack a big punch for young readers who are trying something new.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2025.

The post 17 Delightful Books for Kids Who Love Elephant & Piggie appeared first on Brightly.

Besides offering a funny window into my elementary school-aged mind — and spelling! — the recent reintroduction of Mad Libs into our family reminded me how much there is to love about them as both a parent and a teacher. Decade after decade, here are four reasons we still love Mad Libs.

Mad Libs provide versatile entertainment — and a good laugh.
Mad Libs books are perfectly sized for tucking in a bag for appointments, travel, or restaurants. They can be enjoyed in a group, duo, or solo. They can be labored over to fill a long wait time or completed speedily before bedtime or to fill a few classroom minutes. Most importantly, Mad Libs tickle readers’ imaginations by inviting them to play with words in unexpected ways. Nonsensical commands like, “Go comb your mustard!” and “Stop picking your kangaroo!” are guaranteed to elicit a smile.

You can adapt Mad Libs to fit kids’ needs.
Besides their obvious power to make learning about parts of speech engaging, it’s easy to weave in customized prompts for kids while they fill in Mad Libs blanks. For instance, if kids’ capitalization habits need work, insist that all their nouns be proper. If they’re working on mastering the r-controlled vowels “ir,” “er,” and “ur,” brainstorm or provide a list of words with these spelling patterns, and have kids choose one that fits the direction for each blank. This embeds practice reading and spelling target words in a fun activity.

Choosing just the right words for Mad Libs blanks builds vocabulary.
As a child, I favored standard adjectives like “cool” and “gross” on repeat. As a parent and teacher, I challenge kids not to use the same word twice in a Mad Libs story. You can also nudge kids towards precise words for their basic choices: Do they mean “gross” like “noxious” or “rancid?” Or is it “revolting” or “nauseating?” This encourages kids to build their mental networks of how words connect to each other. You could also reinforce prior vocabulary learning using Mad Libs by challenging kids to pick from a list of words they’ve recently learned, like those from a book or related to a specific topic.

Reading completed Mad Libs stories can build fluency and comprehension.
My daughter reminded me how ideal Mad Libs are for developing readers when she insisted on re-reading her completed story to every family member. Multiple readings of a short text are ideal for building fluency. As I silently cheered for the bonus decoding practice, my daughter’s renditions of her story became progressively more automatic, animated, and expressive.

Talking about what makes completed stories funny can build kids’ background knowledge. Reading Mad Libs stories asks kids to imagine and describe the zany situations their filled-in blanks suggest. They also offer quick and engaging practice in visualizing, a key comprehension habit. (For example, what would it look like if British troops arrived by Honda or penguin?)

Just like filling in the blanks, the possibilities for enjoying Mad Libs with kids are endless. For more ideas for using Mad Libs as a teaching tool, check out this handy Educator’s Guide to Mad Libs. Plus, don’t miss these free Mad Libs printables and activities.

You might also like:

• Best Learning Workbooks for Pre-K and Elementary Students
• Mad Libs Printables & Activities
• Fun Ways to Build Kids’ Writing and Grammar Skills + Free Printables

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2025.

The post 4 Reasons We Still Love Mad Libs appeared first on Brightly.

no no 9781101996683 Girl Running: Bobbi Gibb and the Boston Marathon by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Micha Archer

This story really speaks to kids who are working on understanding the complexities of fairness. (It also gives readers some insight into the intensity of marathon training!) Rules don’t stop Bobbi Gibb and her itch to run the Boston Marathon. She trains hard, wears boys running shoes — since no one makes women’s ones — and jumps into the race disguised as a man. Eventually, other runners convince her to shed her hooded sweatshirt and show the world what she can do. Even though the 1966 race officials wouldn’t recognize her as a participant, young readers definitely see her as a winner.

9780593430484 We Are Big Time by Hena Khan, illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui

Young readers who love Roller Girl will want to read this basketball-centered graphic novel. When a Muslim girl named Aliya moves to Wisconsin and joins the basketball team, she loves everything about it — except how badly the team stinks. The story follows Aliya and her teammates as they learn to work together, embrace themselves, and have an unforgettable season.

9780593377659 Women in Sports by Rachel Ignotofsky

This board book isn’t just for babies. Older kids (and sports-loving parents) will enjoy reading this to little ones and will learn something, too. The women profiled go beyond the usual sports celebs; the impressive list includes a roller derby champ, dog musher, Ping-Pong player, wheelchair racer, and many more. Plus, the unique doodle-filled artwork is bursting with happy vibes. This is on our list of go-to gifts for new baby girls.

9781623541682 Long-Armed Ludy and the First Women’s Olympics by Jean L. S. Patrick, illustrated by Adam Gustavson

Lucile “Ludy” Godbold’s powerful strength, long, lean limbs, and relentless work ethic helped her become an Olympic shot put champion. The text’s southern twang and catchy rhythm make for a fun read-aloud. Fair warning, though — once they hear Ludy’s story, expect kids to turn anything spherical into a make-shift shot put as they try to follow in her (long) footsteps.

9780593523643 Crushing It by Erin Becker

This debut novel combines soccer, friendship drama, secret poetry, and first crushes. While Mel excels on the soccer field, she feels like her personal life is falling apart. Meanwhile, Mel’s ex-best friend Tori struggles both on the field and off. An anonymous text chain connects the girls and helps heal the rift between them.

9780399169069 Sisters and Champions: The True Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Howard Bryant, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

The Williams sisters’ story resonates with children. When they dreamed of becoming tennis stars, Venus and Serena didn’t let others’ biases about their skin color or their tough Compton neighborhood get them down. Their father never stopped believing that they’d grow up to be champions. They held tight to their sisterly devotion even when they became competitors. This title is essential reading to introduce kids to this pair of iconic female athletes.

9781524773274 How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi, illustrated by Yao Xiao

Regardless of whether kids have ever tried rock climbing, this autobiography of climbing phenom Ashima Shiraishi impresses young readers with her mental and physical toughness. Ashima Shiraishi began climbing at age 6 and rose to international success in her early teens. The unique art and text get kids thinking about perseverance and (literally) getting back up after each fall.

9780593752845 Who Is Katie Ledecky? by James Buckley, Jr. and Who HQ, illustrated by Laurie A. Conley

Introduce your young athlete to one of the greatest swimmers of all time. Katie Ledecky has set records and won over twenty gold medals at the Olympics and world championships. Readers of all ages will love learning more about Katie, how she got into swimming, and what drives her to excellence.

9781632172884 The Heart of the Storm: A Biography of Sue Bird by Sharon Mentyka, illustrated by Ellen Rooney

This picture book biography follows celebrated basketball player Sue Bird from a shy kid to being one of the greatest and most inspirational players in the history of the WNBA. By spotlighting Sue’s struggles to hone her skills as a team player, readers also see how that hard work helped create a leader both on and off the court.

9781524764531 Not Playing by the Rules: 21 Female Athletes Who Changed Sports by Lesa Cline-Ransome

My grandmother, star of her high school basketball and field hockey teams and lifelong advocate for girls’ sports, would have adored reading this book with kids. This collection of mini-bios celebrates women who made a difference in sports from the late 1800s to the present day. It contains many readable and compelling stories, including field hockey, baseball, swimming, running, soccer, and gymnastics. The full-page photos with quotes from each athlete do an excellent job of grabbing kids’ attention, too.

9780593306925 Tryouts by Sarah Sax

When baseball-loving Al tries out for the middle school team, she doesn’t expect a warm welcome. To her surprise, the coach is thrilled, and she makes the team. But playing on a multi-championship-winning team comes with unique challenges. Al must navigate new dynamics, friendships, and the baseball field to help her team take home another trophy.

9780593519691 Who Is Chloe Kim? by Stefanie Loh and Who HQ, illustrated by Manuel Gutierrez

My elementary school kids love the Who HQ Now series for its readability and high-interest topics, and this story of the youngest woman to win a snowboarding Olympic gold medal was a tremendous hit. (Kim was also the first woman to land back-to-back 1080s in a competition, which my second-grader assures me is exceptionally cool.) The teacher in me loves how this book helps kids learn more about nonfiction writing techniques, too. From the stories of Chloe’s parents’ immigration from Korea, how she got started snowboarding, and her rise to fame to explanations of how the sport works, there are many examples of how informational writing should sound.

9780593124529 Trailblazers: Simone Biles by Sally J. Morgan

This series is excellent for seasoned chapter book readers who are ready for more content but want their nonfiction reading delivered in short, high-interest sections. Simone’s inspiring story is sprinkled with plenty of relatable anecdotes and background information — perfect for hooking kids on both reading and gymnastics!

9780593619469 Dancing in the Storm by Amie Darnell Specht and Shannon Hitchcock

Injuries and illness can quickly derail a young athlete’s passion for their sport. When Kate gets diagnosed with a disease that causes her bones to grow in ways they shouldn’t, her world gets turned upside down. With her future in gymnastics uncertain and a strange new reality to cope with, Kate turns to a pen pal for comfort. This heartfelt novel is based on the author’s own experience with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP).

9780525429678 Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Fifth-grader Astrid isn’t a professional athlete, or even a real-life one, but that doesn’t make her any less awesome as a heroine. When Astrid watches a roller derby, the fierce women skaters inspire her to sign up for skate camp. The only problem is, her best friend Nicole doesn’t want to join her. This graphic novel does a fantastic job exploring the interplay between sports, relationships with friends, and developing one’s own identity.

9781984893017 Fast Pitch by Nic Stone

This book got rave reviews from my baseball-obsessed ten-year-old, who read it cover-to-cover in one day. Shenice is the captain of her fast-pitch softball team, and the sport is in her blood; she comes from a long line of ballplayers. When she hears an upsetting story from an elderly relative about her great-grandfather being unfairly kicked out of the Negro League, she struggles to stay focused on the game. This novel strikes the perfect balance between modern-day sports drama and sports history.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2025.

The post Inspiring Children’s Books Starring Female Athletes appeared first on Brightly.

A lovely bonus: Preparing friendly cards is an excellent way for children to practice skills they’ll need to become successful readers and writers. Check out these five tips to work on early literacy concepts while making valentines — and have fun doing it.

Introduce the task with books

A year is a long time in a child’s life, and they may not remember prior Valentine’s Day celebrations. Keep in mind it’s normal for little kids to focus on themselves first; putting time and energy into making something to give away can be challenging. (My current toddler would prefer to keep every card she makes.) Books can help build excitement about exchanging valentines and help kids know what to expect. Introducing vocabulary using books and reinforcing it with a memorable hands-on experience makes that knowledge stick. Check out some great Valentine’s Day book options at the end of this post.

Work those little fingers

Writing requires fine motor strength and skill, and little hands start preparing for the task long before they achieve perfect penmanship. Valentine-making is full of chances for a fine motor workout. If you craft homemade valentines, children will cut, write names and messages, glue, stamp, and press stickers, requiring them to use their small muscles in coordination. Store-bought cards may be folded, stuffed in tiny envelopes, have stickers applied, or be accented with scribbles and names.

If you notice a particular task is challenging for your child — like handling tiny stickers, holding a pencil, or writing in a confined area — don’t stress. Use it as a cue to offer more pre-writing activity options to build their fine motor strength and skills in the coming year.

Make a list

If you’re making cards for several family members or classmates, you need a list of names. Start your list at the top of the page and print names legibly with the first letter capitalized and the rest lowercase, the way children usually see lists written in books.

Working from a list models “concepts about print” for children — those basic ideas about how written language works. Show them how to start at the top left corner of the page, read names from left to right, and work from top to bottom. Notice how many letters are in a name. For instance, “Wow, Benjamin’s name is long! How many letters does it have?”

Inviting children to help plan their work and keep track of what they’ve done on a list also supports their growing executive functioning skills. These are cognitive processes like focusing one’s attention, planning decisions, and working in an organized way to help them move efficiently through tasks.

Build letter knowledge by noticing names

Names are usually some of the first words children learn to recognize — especially their own! Making valentines is the ideal context for celebrating names and noticing their letters. Talk to your child about the letters in their name. Study the letters in classmates’ names on a list. For example, “This name starts with S. ‘S’ spells /sss/ like ‘snake.’ Whose name could it be?” If your child is stuck, offer a choice: “Could it be Sam or Lucy?” For children already learning about letters and sounds, point out unexpected ways that letters spell familiar names, like “Shayla starts with ‘s’ but it isn’t /sss/. S and h together spell /sh/.”

If children are ready to write names on cards, cue them to use the correct pencil strokes. Letters start at the top, and we form them the same way every time. If your child’s school uses a handwriting curriculum, ask their teacher for a letter formation chart. With it, you can give children the same prompts they hear at school, like “D starts with a big line down. Jump back to the top, then make a big curve.”

Set realistic expectations

One mistake that can derail valentine-making fun is having unrealistic expectations. For instance, it may be better to work on a few cards per day for a week than to have a marathon session crammed into one day. Rather than overwhelming kids with a giant, multi-step task, we can choose specific steps a child can comfortably manage — like adding a sticker to a particular spot or writing only the first letter of their name — and support the rest.

Mailing labels are my top secret for keeping kids involved with card-making while not overtaxing them. It’s cheap and easy to print a sheet of labels with a child’s name or the names of their card recipients sized to fit your cards. Toddlers can add “to” and “from” labels to spots you point out. Older kids might sign their own name but use labels for their friends’ names, especially if they have a large class or need to read names to deliver them to classroom mailboxes.

Appreciate however your child shows up for making valentines each year. (I like to take an “at work” photo and a photo of their finished cards each year.) Their skills will change from one February to the next, and it’s fun to track their progress.

yes yes Valentine’s Day Books to Get in the Card-Making Spirit: 9780593810002 Getting Ready for Valentine’s Day 9780593432600 Llama Llama Be My Valentine 9780448447025 Valentines Are for Saying I Love You 9780593181331 Rocket’s Secret Valentine

The post 5 Low-Stress Ways To Build Literacy Skills While Making Valentines appeared first on Brightly.

no no 9781524793258 The Night Before Groundhog Day by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Amy Wummer

Books in Natasha Wing’s The Night Before series are reliable winners for helping kids anticipate an event. In this cheerful rhyming title, children go all out to prepare for the big day. They enjoy classroom learning and crafts, bake adorable groundhog cupcakes, and dream of furry brown friends. When they finally attend the community celebration the following day, the story ends without letting on the groundhog’s forecast, leaving space for readers’ predictions.

9780823453870 Phil’s Big Day by Liza Woodruff

This adorable new addition to the Groundhog Day book canon brings young readers an opportunity to empathize with Phil’s anxiety as he anticipates his big moment in the spotlight. Unable to sleep, Phil models coping strategies from finding a calming activity (making his signature pancakes) to asking for help from someone he trusts (his little sister, Marla, who has no qualms about on-the-spot weather predictions). You’ll return to this book each year to celebrate the mid-winter season and spark helpful conversations about social and emotional skills that apply equally to stout brown critters and humans.

9780142408964 Groundhog Gets a Say by Pamela Curtis Swallow, illustrated by Denise Brunkus

Why should we only celebrate groundhogs for a day? One proud groundhog lobbies for more recognition (Groundhog Appreciation Month, perhaps?) by sharing interesting facts about what makes him and his fellow whistle pigs extraordinary. From groundhog digging skills and handy adaptations to hibernation habits, this book delivers equal doses of knowledge and humor. Kids will especially love the snarky side comments from the other animals.

9781580897341 Groundhog’s Runaway Shadow by David Biedrzycki

Groundhog Phil’s enthusiastic shadow is a bit unusual…and annoying. When Phil explodes with, “I wish you would just go away!” his shadow complies, heading around the world on a grand adventure. Of course, Phil soon has a change of heart and searches the globe to reunite with his shadow. Readers will appreciate the friendship themes in this story and how it gets kids excited about exploring shadows.

9780593326152 Groundhog Gets It Wrong by Jessica Townes, illustrated by Nicole Miles

Groundhog takes his first shot at predicting spring’s arrival and…gets it wrong. The very next day, it snows. He hilariously tries to make the snow disappear by shoveling, defrosting it with a hair dryer, and melting it away with a fire hose (which creates a slippery skating rink). Discouraged, he wonders if he should change professions. Then, he finds a stash of meteorology charts and books and launches into self-study, determined to prove himself worthy next year. This is a fun title to introduce kids to meteorology and weather predictions.

9780823450909 Groundhog Day! (New & Updated) by Gail Gibbons

Gail Gibbons is a pro at explaining any topic to kids, and this book does an excellent job laying out the historical roots of today’s Groundhog Day traditions, which span thousands of years. She uses maps and diagrams to share groundhogs’ physical attributes and behaviors, and introduces kids to other notable groundhogs besides Punxsutawney Phil. This is an ideal resource for kids ready to dig deeper into Groundhog Day.

9781580896009 Groundhog’s Dilemma by Kristen Remenar, illustrated by Matt Faulkner

No matter what Groundhog predicts about winter and spring, someone is disappointed. (This is likely true for the children in your life, too!) After Hare brings Groundhog a treat to thank him for a favorable forecast, the other animals try to sway his thinking for next year. When the big day comes, Groundhog realizes he must tell the truth about how he can’t change the weather — even if it makes some of his friends mad. This is the perfect tale for discussing honesty, disappointment, and how to make the best things we can’t control.

9780142301968 Gregory’s Shadow by Don Freeman

From the creator of Corduroy comes an adorable picture book about a shy groundhog who befriends his shadow. When Gregory the groundhog accidently loses his friend Shadow the day before Groundhog Day, when all the farmers wait for his prediction about the arrival of spring weather, he must face his fears to go searching for him. How Gregory and his shadow find each other and what they do to keep the farmers happy on their special day makes for a cute ending to a simple story.

The post Is Spring Around the Corner? <br>8 Books To Celebrate Groundhog Day With Kids appeared first on Brightly.

no no 9780142500057 Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/286600/miss-bindergarten-celebrates-the-100th-day-of-kindergarten-by-joseph-slate-illustrated-by-ashley-wolff/9780142500057/ by Joseph Slate, illustrated by Ashley Wolff

No one does kindergarten like Miss Bindergarten, and she pulls out all the stops for the 100th day in this rhyming classic. As the big day nears, students eagerly prepare collections of 100 items, while Miss Bindergarten shops for supplies, decorates the classroom, and plans special 100-themed activities. Children will be drawn to all the details in the illustrations, and they will likely want to try out some of Miss Bindergarten’s fun activities themselves.

9780593708590 Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Pete Oswald

Follow Harry through the first hundred days of first grade! Made up of one hundred short chapters, readers will see Harry as he overcomes the first-day-of-school jitters, takes care of the class pet (an adorable guinea pig), makes new friends, and so much more. Your own first grader will love seeing the similarities to their own time in school.

9780525555445 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Lian Cho

This giggle-inducing read follows 100 dragons, all named Broccoli. Throughout the book, each dragon goes on a silly and wacky adventure that will thrill and delight young readers. As your little one reads along they will also be introduced to counting and math concepts. Who knew learning math could be so fun?!

9780448439235 The Night Before the 100th Day of School https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/296804/the-night-before-the-100th-day-of-school-by-natasha-wing-illustrated-by-mindy-pierce// by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Mindy Pierce

The star of this story is a bit of a procrastinator — he waits until the night before the 100th day of school to begin worrying about what he’ll bring for his collection of 100 items. Finally, an idea strikes: 100 ants! Of course, bringing 100 insects to school is sure to end in a creepy-crawly disaster that kids will love to imagine.

9780525579953 The 100 Hats of the Cat in the Hat by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu

To celebrate the 100th day of school, the Cat in the Hat visits Sally and Dick in their classroom and introduces the students to tools and tips to make counting, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing a breeze! Perfect for the 100th day of school and all year long!

9780448428598 100 Monsters in My School https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/290331/100-monsters-in-my-school-by-bonnie-bader-illustrated-by-bryan-hendrix/ by Bonnie Bader, illustrated by Bryan Hendrix

This early reader stars a girl who has some unusual peers. On the 100th day of school, each vampire, ghost, and werewolf classmate has a unique collection of 100 things to share. From two sets of 50 bats, to ten groups of ten fangs, each character’s collection helps children learn about a different common combination to make 100. But what will the girl choose for her collection? Contributions from her friends at snack time help her out (and offer plenty of ideas for kids’ own 100th Day snack mix recipes).

9781536213003 Fergus and Zeke and the 100th Day of School by Kate Messner, illustrated by Heather Ross

Classroom mice Fergus and Zeke want to do everything the students do. But when the kids start coming up with fun projects to celebrate the 100th day of school, Fergus and Zeke can’t seem to find a way to join in the fun. Will these two ever find a way to celebrate? Find out in this perfect introduction to concepts like brainstorming and problem-solving.

9780385390972 Rocket’s 100th Day of School https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/239403/rockets-100th-day-of-school-step-into-reading-step-1-by-tad-hills/ by Tad Hills

Rocket works hard to collect 100 special things in preparation for the 100th day of school: pinecones, heart-shaped stones, sticks, and more. As the day nears, he adds up his collection and realizes he’s come up short. What happened to the five acorns? Rocket’s solution to his problem is as sweet as he is. Kids ready to explore addition to 100 will love adding up items along with Rocket.

9781536204919 Miss Mingo and the 100th Day of School by Jamie Harper

Miss Mingo the Flamingo loves coming up with new and exciting ways to celebrate the first hundred days of school with her diverse class of animals. Centipede does one hundred jumping jacks, Octopus helps make a sculpture out of one hundred paper cups, and all the animals love making silly faces for one hundred seconds! Throughout, kids will learn fascinating facts about each animal and maybe get inspired for their own celebrations!

9780142416853 Young Cam Jansen and the 100th Day of School Mystery https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/298156/young-cam-jansen-and-the-100th-day-of-school-mystery-by-david-adler-illustrated-by-susanna-natti/ by David A. Adler, illustrated by Susanna Natti

Every class in Cam Jansen’s school is having a “Letter Party” for their 100th day celebration, and she and her friend Eric are in charge of retrieving the pineapple juice and pizza from the cafeteria for their room’s Letter P event. Only, the pizza is missing! Luckily, Cam, with her photographic memory, is on the case. It would be fun to create a 100th day memory challenge inspired by Cam’s uncanny ability to “click!”

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2024.

The post Children’s Books To Celebrate the 100th Day of School appeared first on Brightly.

Asking your child’s teacher specific questions is a great way to get information about your child’s reading growth. Plus, as many schools, districts, and even whole states transition to methods that better reflect the science of reading, asking direct questions can help you keep up with how reading instruction looks in your child’s classroom.

As a literacy specialist and parent of five children in various stages of reading, here are the types of questions I keep in my head during parent-teacher conference season, or anytime I’m wondering about my kids’ reading progress:

1. How does my child seem to feel about reading at school?

Before you try to make sense of your child’s reading skills, it’s helpful to have a sense of their reading emotions and behaviors at school — which could be different than at home! Do they love snuggling up on the classroom beanbag with a great book? Do they zone out when reading independently, but eagerly add to the conversation during a read-aloud? Do they enjoy playing partner games, or being part of a book group, or would they prefer to work alone? How do they react when a reading task is hard?

2. What phonics concepts does my child know and where are they headed next?

Ideally, in elementary school, your child’s reading teacher will teach phonics skills in a specific, planned sequence. Along the way, they’ll assess children to make sure they’re learning the intended concepts. For instance, kindergarten classrooms usually start by teaching consonant sounds and short vowel sounds, moving kids toward reading consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words like “mat.” Later, students learn about consonant blends, like sl, pl, and fl, consonant digraphs like sh, ch, and th, and many vowel patterns, like all the ways to spell the long vowel sounds.

It will help you to know what your child already knows, whether there are any holes to fill, and what they will be learning soon. You’ll also want to know any cues kids have learned to remember phonics principles. Is “ch” simply a “digraph” or is it an “h buddy,” an “h pal,” or something else? Is “silent e” called “magic e?” Whatever the lingo is at school, you’ll want to speak it at home, too.

3. Can you show me a book my child read recently at school? How did they manage it?

If you’re helping pick out books for your child to read at home, you need an accurate understanding of what your child’s school reading material demands of them, and how they handle it. Rather than trying to navigate the iffy world of reading levels, just ask to see a book or two!

Ask if earlier readers read decodable books at school. These are books written specifically for kids to practice the phonics skills and high-frequency words they’ve been taught. For kids reading traditional books, notice how much text is on each page and what kind of vocabulary and ideas it includes.

Ask how fluently your child read a particular sample book; did they need to stop and figure out lots of words, or could they mostly read at a reasonable rate? Did they sound natural when they read or like a robot? How did follow-up conversations or writing tasks about the book content go?

4. Does my child seem to remember and understand what they read?

All kids, whether they hear books read aloud or read themselves, are working on reading comprehension. Ask for examples of questions that teachers ask about books, and how your child usually responds. Do they remember what a book said, but struggle with critical thinking questions? Do they seem to be learning and using the vocabulary words the class talks about? What conversations about books would be most valuable to have at home?

5. What book topics or genres does my child seem to like?

Research tells us that content matters to readers; we’re generally better at reading about topics for which we have some context. If you find out your child loved the recent science unit on birds and read tons of bird books at school, you could offer some more at home. If you find out they’re struggling with a book club book set in Japan, or the Great Depression, or about someone experiencing homelessness, you could give them a boost by reading aloud a related novel or picture book at bedtime to build their background knowledge. If your child loves graphic novels at school, add some to his or her birthday list.

Go ahead and ask teachers to suggest more books based on what kids like. My own kids are much more likely to take a book recommendation from a favorite teacher than from me!

6. Is my child’s progress what you’d expect? If not, what help is available?

Learning to read is a huge task. It’s okay for kids to struggle sometimes. However, if the instruction kids receive in their classrooms isn’t enough, ask what your school’s multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) includes for reading. This model includes “tiers” of support to give kids the boost (or more significant help) that they need.

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