Farm Life

Grandpa Cacao : a Tale of Chocolate, from Farm to Family written and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon.

As a little girl and her father work together to make her birthday cake, he tells the story of her Grandpa Cacao, a farmer from the Ivory Coast. Includes author’s note and a cake recipe.

Thunderstorm by Arthur Geisert

Presents an illustrated account of a storm that moves through a Midwestern farming region over the course of several hours that is documented by a timeline and images of atmospheric changes and human response.

Summer Supper by Rubin Pfeffer

Follow the creation of a family meal from the farm to the picnic table on a warm sunny day. Told entirely in words beginning with S, this lively book will help children appreciate where their food comes from.

Sleep Tight Farm: A Farm Prepares for Winter by Eugenie Doyle

It is December, and there are many things for the family to do around the farm to get it ready for winter.

The Farm Life by Elizabeth Spurr

From its opening lines, “Red barn, red barn, what are you keeping? One rumbling tractor ready for reaping,” this innovative concept book is off at a trot, teaching basic colors and numbers from 1 to 10 while exploring a traditional family-run farm.

I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs

An interactive introduction to farm animals invites youngsters to make animal noises and practice color and letter recognition while peeping through a spy hole on every page and observing clues to guess which animal will be revealed next in the story.

Farm by Elisha Cooper

Describes the activities on a busy family farm from the spring when preparations for planting begin to the autumn when the cats grow winter coats and the cold rains begin to fall.

Big bug by Henry Cole

Beginning with a bug, various objects are revealed as being big and small in comparison with other objects on a farm under the big, big sky.

Nonfiction

Life on the farm by Teddy Borth

This title introduces little readers to the daily life of a farmer. Complete with a More Facts section and bolded glossary terms. Readers will gather basic information about farm life through easy-to-read, simple text alongside beautiful full-bleed photographs.

Farm animal printable coloring sheets: https://www.messylittlemonster.com/2018/01/farm-animal-printable-colouring-pages.html#more

Farm science activities with corn: https://perpetualpreschool.com/farm-science/

Making butter in baby food jars and playing egg detective: https://www.theclassroom.com/science-activities-relating-farm-animals-preschoolers-47275.html

Rocks and Stones

A Rock Can Be by  Laura Purdie Salas

Rocks may seem like boring, static objects–until you discover that a rock can spark a fire, glow in the dark, and provide shelters of all shapes and sizes.

Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour

Lubna’s best friend is a pebble. Pebble always listens to her stories. Pebble always smiles when she feels scared. But when a lost little boy arrives in the World of Tents, Lubna realizes that he needs Pebble even more than she does.

Petra written and illustrated by Marianna Coppo

A little rock who believes she is a mountain has her perspective changed by a series of movements, including a dog playing fetch, a bird’s nest, a pond, and a little girl.

A Stone Sat Still written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

Told in rhyming verse, a stone is considered from a variety of environmental and emotional perspectives, as it sits where it is, surrounded by grass, dirt, and water, an unchanging certainty in the world.

The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors by Drew Daywalt

You’ve played the game. Now read the legend of how it all began…Long ago, in an ancient and distant realm called the Kingdom of Backyard, there lived a warrior named ROCK. Meanwhile in the Empire of Mom’s Home Office, a second great warrior sought the glory of battle. And his name was PAPER. At the same time, in the Kitchen Realm, in the tiny village of Junk Drawer, lived a third warrior. They called her SCISSORS. These three were the strongest, smartest, and fastest in all the land.

Additional activities: https://www.harpercollins.com/childrens/rockpaperscissor/

Charlotte and the Rock by Stephen W. Martin

When Charlotte receives a pet rock for her birthday, she doesn’t expect it to become her best friend, and she really doesn’t expect what happens next.

Ricky, the Rock that couldn’t Roll by Jason I. Miletsky

She thought, as she watched her friends play on the hill, that there’s always a way if there’s also a will.

If Rocks Could Sing : a discovered alphabet by Leslie McGuirk

Displays photographs of rocks that resemble the letters of the alphabet and objects represented by each letter.

Bring Me a Rock! Written and illustrated by Daniel Miyares

A tiny insect king demands a rock with which to build his throne.

A Stone for Sascha Written and illustrated by Aaron Becker

A young girl, still reeling from her dog’s death, finds solace while picking up stones on the beach during her family’s vacation.

The Bell in the Bridge by Ted Kooser

When Charlie visits his hardworking grandparents in the summer, he often is left to himself, and he is lonely. So he goes out to play by the stream, with a tin can for tadpoles, a special weed-whacking stick, and stones to drop from the iron bridge. One day he notices that when he strikes the bridge with a big stone, it rings with a bong like a church bell and echoes into the valley.

Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry

Stick and Stone are both lonely until Pinecone’s teasing causes one to stick up for the other, and a solid friendship is formed.

Stones for Grandpa by Renee Londner

After a year of missing his grandfather and remembering things they did together, a young boy and his family unveil Grandpa’s tombstone, place stones on it, and share stories, knowing the memories will never be lost.

Nonfiction books

If You Find a Rock by Peggy Christian

Celebrates the variety of rocks that can be found, including skipping rocks, chalk rocks, and splashing rocks.

Rocks and Soil by Peter D. Riley

Rocks and soil, they’re always underfoot. They’re also in space, inside Earth, and in volcanoes. In this book, readers will discover how rocks, soil, and minerals are formed, and what they’re made of. Activities and questions expand on topics introduced in the text, and stimulate readers to think critically about rocks and soil.

The Rock Cycle by Pam Watts

Learn how sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks form, break apart, and change over time.

Make a rock band craft: https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/make-your-own-rock-band.html

Not So Scary Scarecrows

Otis and the Scarecrow written and illustrated by Loren Long

When the farmer places a scarecrow in the cornfield, Otis the tractor and the farm animals try to make friends, but the scarecrow remains silent with a sour look on his face throughout the summer and fall.

Samurai Scarecrow : a Very Ninja Halloween written and illustrated by Rubin Pingk

Yukio gets tired of his little sister, Kashi, questioning and copying him, but on Halloween, when Samurai Scarecrow frightens him and demands candy, Yukio refuses to give up Kashi’s.

The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry

All the animals know not to mess with old Scarecrow. But when a small, scared crow falls from midair, Scarecrow does the strangest thing. He saves the tiny baby crow. Soon a loving bond grows between the two unlikely friends. But is it strong enough to weather the changing of the seasons?

Scarecrow Magic by Ed Masessa

When night falls and the moon appears, magic is in the air and Scarecrow comes alive and plays with all his ghoulish and ghostly friends.

The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown

Early one morning, a little scarecrow whose father warns him that he is not fierce enough to frighten a crow, goes out into the cornfield alone.

The Lonely Scarecrow by Tim Preston

A lonely scarecrow with a scary face has trouble making friends with the animals who surround him, until a heavy snowfall transforms him into a jolly snowman.

The Scarecrow and his Servant by Pullman, Philip

A scarecrow and his boy servant, Jack, set off on a dangerous adventure as they try to outwit the crooked Buffaloni family and stake their claim to valuable Spring Valley.

The Scarecrow’s Hat by Ken Brown

Chicken thinks Scarecrow’s hat will make a nice nest, but first she must swap with Badger, Crow, Sheep, Owl, and Donkey.

Waltz of the Scarecrows by Constance W. McGeorge

While staying with her grandparents on their farm, Sarah discovers the secret behind the local tradition of dressing the scarecrows in formal gowns and fancy coats.

Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant

Although made of straw and borrowed clothes, a scarecrow appreciates his peaceful, gentle life and the privilege of watching nature at work.

Nothing at All by Denys Cazet

As the farm slowly comes to life, each animal stirs and speaks in his own distinctive voice, but the scarecrow says nothing until he discovers a mouse in his pants.