The Ultimate List of Book Activities for Kids

The ultimate collection of activities to use with popular children’s books! These picture book activities for Kindergarten and Preschool are fun and easy to do!

Grab your favorite children’s book and let’s READ!

At The Educators’ Spin On It, we’ve been sharing with you fun and easy Book Activities with our Virtual Book Club Weekly Plans for many years! These have made quite a collection of popular children’s books and book extensions to do with them.

They are now all available in one spot in this ultimate list of book activities for kids.

These books and activities are perfect to use for these popular book events:

• World Read Aloud Day (first Wednesday of February)
• Read Across America (March 2)
• World Book Day (March 7)
• International Children’s Book Day (April 2)
• Multicultural Children’s Book Day (January 26)
• Children’s Book Week (August -AUS, Nov and May- UK)

You’ll find a variety of popular children’s books and many of your favorite children’s authors including Eric Carle, Lois Ehlert, Julia Donaldson, Laura Numeroff, Mo Willems, Mem Fox, and more.

100+ Picture Book Activities for Kids

This collection of popular picture books for children shares our top picks for books and book activities to go along with them. Individually this guide shares with you 100+ books as well as several themed book lists for you to explore and read with your child.

We’re not alone in our love for these children’s books, you can find many of them on lists like 100 Children’s Books to Read in a Lifetime from Amazon Editors or 100 Favorite Books For Young Readers from NPR.

These featured books were my children’s favorite in our home with my 3 children as well as in my Kindergarten classroom year after year. We put together fun book activities to go along with these popular books for tons of un and learning inspired by BOOKS!

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

Alphabet Mystery by Audrey Wood

• Alphabetical Order Pencil Craft
• Pencil Craft and Game

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall

• Apple Tree Craft with Marble Painting
• DIY Apple Marble Game
• Apple Pie Recipe for Kids

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson

• Bear Counting Activity and Printable

Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson

• Magnetic Thankful Tree Craft

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr

• Sidewalk Chalk Coconut Game with Printables
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Activities
• Letter Stamp Fun with Coconut Tree Craft

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type  by Doreen Cronin

• Shape Activity

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

• Name Activities

Corduroy by Don Freeman 

• Teddy Bear Shaped Rice Krispie Snack
• Button STEM Challenge for Kids

The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond

• Heart Shaped Pancakes

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

• Sensory Bottle Math Game with Crayons
• Sink or Float Science with Crayons

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds 

• Kid-Made Dot Art Frame

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

• Alphabet Bus Game and Craft
• Learning to Draw with Mo Willems
• Storybook Pigeon Themed Pumpkin

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

• Dragon Themed Positional Words Game and Dragon Craft

The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems

• Duckling Headband Craft

The Easter Egg by Jan Brett

• Paper Easter Egg Wreath Craft
• Easter Egg STEM Activities
• Decorating Ukrainian Easter Eggs with Kids
• Easter Egg Shaped Snack Idea

Five Little Pumpkins  by Dan Yaccarino

• Pumpkin STEM Activity with Straws
• Pumpkin Sensory Play with Water

Fish Eyes by Lois Ehlert

• Open Ended Fish Art Project

Freight Train by Donald Crews

• Fingerprint Train Ornament
• Name Train Craft
• Train Shaped Snack Idea
• Paper Train Craft for Kids
• Train Math Games for Kids
• Exploring Science with Trains
• Learn to Read with Trains

Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley

• Monster Themed Necklace with Recycled Cardboad Tubes
• Monster Activities

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

• Dinosaur Shapes with Playdough 

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker

• Magnetic Construction Theme Sensory Bin

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Brown Wise

• Storytelling Necklace

Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

• Zoo Animal Counting Activity

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

• Painted Ladybug Craft with Printables
• Ladybug Science Activities
• Ladybug Activities

The Gruffalo by Julie Donaldson

• Mouse Headband
• Gruffalo Apron
• Gruffalo Themed Finger Puppets
• 20+ Gruffalo Themed Activities  

A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle

• Hermit Crab Puppet and Printable Movement Activity

Hopper by Marcus Pfister

• Bunny Themed Snack Idea

How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers

• DIY Star Shaped Stamp
• Roll at Star Literacy Game

How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow  by Monica Sweeney

• Rainbow Activities
• Rainbow Seashells Science

If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff

• Orange Strawberry Jam Muffin Recipe for Kids
• Salted Caramel Muffin Recipe for Kids
• Kid Friendly Raspberry Coconut Muffins

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

• Sidewalk Chalk Alphabet Cookie Game with Printable

If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff

• Pancake Math Activity
• Shape Pancakes

It’s Mine by Leo Lionni

• Frog Activities
• Frog Fine Moter Game

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems

• Sidewalk Chalk Bunny Alphbat Game with Printable
• Knuffle Bunny Headband Craft
• DIY Bunny Math Games

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert 

• Number Leaf Scavenger Hunt
• STEM Leaf Challenge for Kids

Leaves, Leaves, Leaves  by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

• Chalk Numbers Leaf Activity
• Fall Leaf Craft with Washi Tape

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

• Little Blue Truck Craft and Story Retelling
• Little Blue Truck Dot Marker Printables
• Magnetic Farm STEM activity

Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

• Handprint Owl Craft
• Owl Headband Craft
• Owl Shaped Pizza Recipe

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

• Alphabet Quilt Activity
• Sensory Playdough Pattern Quilt

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

• Flower Math Game with Paper Flowers Craft

Maggie’s Chopsticks by Alan Woo

• Chinese New Year Sensory Bins
• Chinese New Year Activities

The Mitten by Jan Brett

• Mitten Sight Word Game

Mouse Count by Ellen Stohl Walsh 

• Mouse Lacing Craft
• Mouse Counting Activity with Lids
• Mouse Count Game with Printable
• Mouse Headband Tutorial

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh

• Paint Resist Craft

No David by David Shannon 

• Using Toys to Model Appropriate Behaviors

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson

• Owl Themed Alphabet Game with Printable
• Owl Themed Name Game with Printable

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin

• Pete the Cat DIY Costume
• Pete the Cat Movement Game with Sidewalk Chalk
• Pete the Cat Headband Craft
• Button STEM Activity Challenge

A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman

• Drip Painting Rainbow Names
• Rainbow Math Games with Painted Counters

Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon

• Penguin Alphabet Game with Printable
• Penguin Math Counters
• Penguin Craft and ABC Game
• Penguin Activities

Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins by James Dean

• Stacking Pumpkins STEM Challenge

Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann

• Alphabet Sensory Game
• Pinkalicious Themed Storybook Pumpkin

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

• Fall Leaf Movement Activity with Sidewalk Chalk

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

• Witch Themed Alphabet Game with Printable

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt

• Acorn Alphabet Sensory Jar

Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems

• Kid Friendly Ice Cream Recipe

Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar and Charlene Chua

• Diwali Crafts for Kids

Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

• Spoon Themed Activities

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

• Flying Bats STEM Activity
• Bat Themed Sensory Jar Sight Words

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

• Bunny Stamp Art Project
• Name Tracing Bunny Activity
• Bunny Shaped Bread Recipes

Ten Little Rabbits by Virginia Grossman and Sylvia Long

• Weaving Projects for Kids

Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

• Apple STEM Challenge
• Stacking Apple STEM Game
• Magnetic Apple Math Game

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

• Recycled Flower Craft
• Kid Friendly Paper Flower Craft
• Ten Flowers to Grow with Kids

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

• Pretend Snow Recipe and ABC Sensory Bin Activity
• Snowflake Stamping Art
• Snowflake Science Lab
• Snowy Day Science Activities

Time for Bed by Mem Fox

• Watercolor Star Garland Art Project

Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming

• Hide and Seek Bear Number Game and Printable

Touch the Art: Make Van Gogh’s Bed by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo

• Starry Night Apple Star Prints Art Project

Toy Boat by Randall de Seve

• Paint Resist Toy Boat Art

The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

• Fine Motor Spider Sensory Jar
• Spider Activities

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

• LEGO Story Retelling
• Caterpillar to Butterfly Balloon Science
• Lacing Letters with the Hungry Caterpillar
• Butterly Activities

The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle

• Sequencing and Vocabulary Activity with Printables

The Wide-Mouthed Frog (A Pop-Up Book) by Keith Faulkner

• Frog Theme Toss Game for Kids

Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

• Butterfly Art with Recycled Items
• Making a Butterfly Garden with Kids

Weezer Changes the World by David M. McPhail

• Act of Kindness Activity with Printable

Where’s My Teddy? by Jez Alborough

• Teddy Bear Picnic Writing Fun
• Teddy Bear Biscuits
• Teddy Bear Tea Party

 Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

• Where the Wild Things Are Color Game

The Wooden Camel by Wanuri Kahiu

• Camel Race STEAM Activity

Christmas Themed Book Activities

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

• Reindeer Fingerprint Ornament
• Reindeer Gift Wrap Craft
• Handprint Reindeer Craft Frame
• Reindeer Activities

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett

• Fingerprint Gingerbread Ornament
• DIY Stained Glass Gingerbread House Ornament
• Candy-Free Gingerbread House Ideas

The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth 

• Handsewn Gingerbread Ornament
• Gingerbread Man Giftwrap Craft
• Lifesized Gingerbread House
• Giant Gingerbread Writing
• Gingerbread Activities

Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht

• Easy Alphabet Christmas Tree Activities
• Math Games with Christmas Trees
• Playdough Christmas Tree
• Christmas Tree Chromatography
• Christmas Tree Sensory Craft
• Evergreen Science for Kids

Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

• STEM Recycled Train Craft
• Snowflake Number Train Game

Merry Christmas, Mouse!  by Laura Numeroff

• Mouse Thumbprint Ornament

Themed Children’s Book Lists

• Acorn Books
• Alphabet Books
• Apple Books
• Art Books
• Ball Books
• Bee Books
• Bird Books
• Bear Books
• Bedtime Books
• Black History Month Books
• Blueberry Books
• Board Books for Babies
• Butterfly Books
• Carrot Books
• Chinese New Year Books
• Christmas Books
• Diverse Books
• Diwali Books
• Earth Day Books
• Easter Books
• Election Day Books
• Fall Books
• Farm Animal Books
• First Day of School Books
• Flower Books
• Garden Books
• Gingerbread Man Books
• Groundhog Day Books
• Holi Books
• Ladybug Books
• India Books
• Kindness Books
• Martin Luther King Jr. Books
• Muhammad Ali Books
• Name Books
• Navrati Books
• New Baby Books for Siblings
• Nursery Rhyme Books
• Penguin Books
• Polar Bear Books
• Pumpkin Books
• Rainbow Books
• Russia Books
• Read Your World Books
• Shape Books
• Shark Books
• Spring Books
• STEM Books
• Summer Books
• Train Books
• Thanksgiving Books
• Ukraine Books
• Valentine Books for Kids
• Veteran’s Day Books
• Washington D.C. Books
• Water Books
• Winter Books
• Winter Olympics Books
• Witch Books
• Zoo Books

Books by Month

• January Books
• February Books
• March Books
• April Books
• May Books
• June Books
• July Books
• August Books
• September Books
• October Books
• November Books
• December Books

Take these book extension activities to create your preschool lesson plans and picture book activities for kindergarten. Many of these stories we included as part of our after school activities at home.