A Companion Guide to Busy Toddler's Playing Preschool Curriculum
This post contains affiliate links for which I receive a small commission. Proceeds go to support this blog and my mission of inspiring moms of babies and toddlers to find quiet moments in the chaos to read with their children.
For moms and caregivers teaching homeschool preschool with Busy Toddler's Playing Preschool curriculum, I recommend book substitutions related to the theme of each unit.
Suggested Books
*Books with an asterisk are my Top 5 Picks to Add to Your Home Library for this unit. Because this unit has two themes, I couldn't help but pick my Top 5 for each theme.
Little Kids First Big Book of Animals - Hughes, Catherine D. (National Geographic Kids)
Daytime Nighttime, All Through the Year* - Lang, Diane
Birds - Henkes, Kevin
The Umbrella - Brett, Jan
Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef - Berkes, Marianne
Over in the Arctic: Where the Cold Wind Blows - Berkes, Marianne
Additional Book List
Books in bold are also suggested books in another unit
Classifying Animals
Listen to Our World - Martin, Bill Jr. and Sampson, Michel
The Big Book of the Blue - Zommer, Yuval
The Big Book of Beasts - Zommer, Yuval
The Big Book of Birds - Zommer, Yuval
Commotion in the Ocean*- Andreae, Giles
In the Sea - Elliot, David --> A collection of poems about different sea creatures
Hello, World! Ocean Life - McDonald, Jill
Hooray for Birds!* - Cousins, Lucy
Hello, World! Birds - McDonald, Jill
Hooray for Fish! - Cousins, Lucy
Hello, World! Reptiles - McDonald, Jill
Shady Streams, Slippery Salamanders - Love, Jason Patrick --> STEM book
Jazzy in the Jungle - Cousins, Lucy
Rumble in the Jungle* - Andreae, Giles
Hello, World! Rainforest Animals - McDonald, Jill
Hello, World! Arctic Animals - McDonald, Jill
The Night Flower - Hawthorne, Lara --> Depicts daytime/nighttime creatures
If Animals Kissed Good Night* - Paul, Ann Whitford
If Animals Said I Love You - Paul, Ann Whitford
The Pout-Pout Fish - Diesen, Deborah
Gator! Gator! Gator! - Bernstrom, Daniel
Nugget and Fang - Sauer, Tammi --> A favorite in our house
Giraffes Can’t Dance - Andreae, Giles
Three Snow Bears - Brett, Jan (diverse characters)
In the Beginning: The Story of Creation - Elliot, Rachel (religious)
Habitats
Walk This Wild World: Lift the Flap* - Brewster, Sam
Nature's Patchwork Quilt: Understanding Habitats - Miche, Mary
Over in the Grasslands: On an African Savanna - Berkes, Marianne
Over in the Forest: Come and Take a Peek - Berkes, Marianne
Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme - Berkes, Marianne
Over in the Desert: Somewhere in the World - Berkes, Marianne
Over on a Mountain: Somewhere in the World - Berkes, Marianne
Over in a River: Flowing Out to the Sea - Berkes, Marianne
Over in Australia: Amazing Animals Down Under - Berkes, Marianne
The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reef - Messner, Kate
Over and Under in the Pond* - Messner, Kate
Over and Under in the Snow* - Messner, Kate
Over and Under the Rainforest* - Messner, Kate
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt - Messner, Kate
On Kiki's Reef* - Malnor, Carol
In the Small, Small Pond - Fleming, Denise
In the Tall, Tall Grass - Fleming, Denise
Additional Resources
What was your favorite part of this unit? What other books did you read? What other activities did you do? Please share your photos and feedback in the Playing Preschool with Busy Toddler Curriculum Facebook Group in "Units" → Year 2: Unit 2 - Animals
Until next time, may your coffee be warm and your toddler be busy.
Up Next: Playing Preschool: Year 2: Unit 3 - Alphabet