Caterpillars and Butterflies

Make Way for Butterfly written and illustrated by Ross Burach

Butterfly learns from Bee that he too is a pollinator and can help in the important work of pollinating plants.

The Digger and the Butterfly written and illustrated by Joseph Kuefler

Digger and his friends meet a hungry caterpillar who chooses Digger as its safe place to make a cocoon, making Digger cease his work to care for the small creature who surprises him and his friends.

Becoming Charley written by Kelly DiPucchio

Unlike all the other caterpillars Charley sometimes wonders what it would be like to be a fawn or a waterfall, so when the day comes to form her chrysalis, Charley must decide who she will become.

Goodnight, Butterfly written and illustrated by Ross Burach

Butterfly wakes up while Porcupine is having breakfast, and Porcupine tries to explain what it means to be nocturnal and Butterfly considers the advantages of a nighttime life while trying to get back to sleep.

How Beautiful written by Antonella Capetti

When a caterpillar is called “beautiful” one day, he wonders, what could that mean? No one has the same answer. A bear declares that honeycomb is beautiful, the squirrels find dry leaves are beautiful, and a mole loves his beautiful burrow. All the while, the blackbird disagrees with each answer! Will the caterpillar ever find out what beautiful means?

Nonfiction

What’s inside a caterpillar cocoon?: and other questions about moths & butterflies written and illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky

Have you ever wondered what happens inside a caterpillar cocoon? Or how moths and butterflies are related? Or what the difference is between a cocoon and a chrysalis? Wonder no more!

My Book of Butterflies written and illustrated by Geraldo Valério

This stunning exploration of butterflies from around the world is a companion to My Book of Birds. Geraldo Valério grew up in Brazil, watching white butterflies visit the vegetable patch behind his house. As he got older, he learned more about these unique and beautiful insects, which can be found on every continent except Antarctica. In this gorgeous album, Geraldo presents his favorite butterfly species from around the world.

Easy Butterfly and Chrysalis Craft for Kids: https://www.aboutamom.com/easy-butterfly-chrysalis-craft-for-kids/

Pom Pom Caterpillar Craft: https://www.messylittlemonster.com/2020/01/caterpillar-craft.html?m=1

Monarch butterfly facts and printables: https://mother2motherblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Combined-Monarch-Butterfly-Activities.pdf

Fun with Fish!

The Fish of Small Wishes written by Elana K. Arnold

Once, there was a girl named Kiki, who found a fish on the asphalt. The fish was very hot and very dry. But when Kiki put it in the bathtub, it started swimming, and growing, and speaking. “I want to grant you a wish for saving me,” it said. Alas, this fish was only a fish of small wishes, and Kiki’s wish was too big. Unless there was a way for both their dreams to come true.

Fish and Crab written and illustrated by Marianna Coppo

Crab wants to sleep, but Fish is full of “what if” worries, so Crab tells him to list them all.

The Library Fish Learns to Read written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Library Fish, who calls the library her home, decides it is time to learn to do what everyone around her loves doing–read.

This Tank is Mine! Written and illustrated by Jonathan Fenske

Angelo the angel fish lives in an awesome fish tank. He has a cozy cave (his), a terrific treasure chest (also his), and a bubbly bubble man (his again). But then a new fish gets dropped into the tank. And suddenly, Angelo has to share?! 

A Mouthful of Minnows written and illustrated by John Hare

Alphonso the alligator snapping turtle heads out for a breakfast hunt but ends up having second thoughts.

 Big Bear and Little Fish written by Sandra Nickel

Despite their many differences, Big Bear and a Little Fish find similarities between themselves and become friends.

A Spark in the Dark written and illustrated by Pam Fong

A little fish lost in the ocean must find a spark of light to show it the way home.

Nonfiction

Essential Fish written by Alyssa Krekelberg

This book examines Earth’s fish, highlighting a diverse selection of 22 notable species from around the world. A blend of narrative text, authoritative nonfiction content, fact boxes, and vivid photos bring these amazing fish to life. Features include a glossary, online resources, source notes, and an index.

Fish written by Steve Parker

Take a plunge into the depths and encounter speedy swimmers, deep divers, and bottom feeders. From stealthy sharks to curious catfish, find out fantastic fishy facts about how these underwater creatures hunt, hide, drive, and glide.

Make a Fish Swim with Soap: https://frugalfun4boys.com/make-a-fish-swim-with-soap/

Paper Stuffed Fish craft: https://minimatisse.blogspot.com/2019/04/paper-stuffed-fish.html?spref=pi&m=1

How to make fantastic flying fish paper spinners: https://onetimethrough.com/how-to-make-fantastic-flying-fish-paper-spinners/

Sew a Stitch!

Patchwork Prince written by Baptiste Paul

What makes a patchwork prince? A prince must be ready for adventure-ready for the night, ready to pluck the brightest, most beautiful fabrics from the scrap heap, ready to run when danger comes. With the treasures he and his mother collect, she will make him clothes fit for royalty- No flashy jewels, no crown, but a cut and drape that hug his Black shoulders just right. And in his new clothes, with chin held high, he will know he is a prince.

Me and the Boss: a story about mending and love written by Michelle Edwards

Six-year-old Lee will not give up until he can show his big sister Zora, a.k.a. the boss, how good he can sew. Includes instructions on how to make Lee’s smiling moon.

Mr. Frank written and illustrated by Irene Luxbacher

On his last day before retirement, Mr. Frank is sewing the most wonderful outfit of his long career. In all his years working as a tailor, Mr. Frank has made all kinds of clothes. From the practical uniforms of the 1940s to the wild and weird designs of the 1960s and 1970s, he has seen (and sewn) just about everything. But todays project is especially close to Mr. Frank’s heart. With its use of textiles and sensitive period detail, Irene Luxbacher’s artwork that is the perfect complement to her understated text. The result is a story that children and grandparents can share with equal delight.

My Forever Dress written by Harriet Ziefert

Grandma sews an environmentally friendly party dress for her granddaughter that can be recycled as she grows up.

Pockets written by Jennifer Armstrong

A stranger arrives at a remote village and becomes the tailor, sewing magical embroidered scenes into the pockets of their plain clothes, which transforms their humdrum lives forever.

The Best Tailor in Pinbauê written and illustrated by Eymard Toledo

Uncle Flores is the best tailor in the town of Pinbauê in Brazil. He used to make colorful costumes for the carnival, but nowadays he only makes grey uniforms for the factory workers. The houses are covered with dust from the factory, the river water is murky, and everything is drab. Edinho, his nephew, comes by every day after school to help cut and iron the cloth and listen to his uncle’s stories. But when the factory tells Uncle Flores they don’t need his uniforms anymore, Edinho comes up with an ingenious idea to get his uncle back to work and make everyone in town happier …

My Grandfather’s Coat written by Jim Aylesworth

A tailor’s very old overcoat is recycled numerous times over the years into a variety of garments and other uses.

Nonfiction

Sewing for kids: 30 fun projects to hand and machine sew written by Alexa Ward

From an adorable Needle House to an awesome Pizza Pencil Case, there are so many awesome things that can be sewn with just a needle and thread. Packed with beginner techniques for hand and machine sewing, Sewing for Kids takes you stitch-by-stitch from threading a needle to making your own Fingerless Gloves.

7 Easy Kid’s Sewing Projects for Preschoolers: https://whimsyroo.com/2018/09/30/7-easy-kids-sewing-projects-for-preschoolers/

Simple sewing for preschoolers: https://www.stirthewonder.com/simple-sewing-preschoolers/

Make Your Own DIY Sewing Cards: https://www.arosetintedworld.co.uk/make-your-own-diy-sewing-cards/

Build Your Dream

A Girl Can Build Anything written by e. E. Charlton-Trujillo

Have you ever dreamed of building something? Maybe something little-like a birdhouse? Or something big-like a skyscraper? If you can envision it, you can build it! A Girl Can Build Anything is a playful celebration of all the different ways girls can make things-from tinkering to tool wielding, from ideas on paper to big, lived-out dreams that require brick and mortar. This fun and empowering ode to self-expression will inspire readers to jump up and immediately start to build.

Building written and illustrated by Henry Cole

A beaver family works hard to rebuild when their dam is threatened by storms in this beautifully illustrated follow-up to Nesting that introduces young children to beginning life science concepts.

Fiona Builds a Fairy House written by Kristen Dickson

When Fiona has the idea to build her very own fairy house, she gets to work right away foraging for supplies, scouting for the perfect location, and recruiting some magical friends. Building a fairy house isn’t as easy as you might think!

Our Shed: a father-daughter building story written by Robert Broder

A father teaches his daughter about woodworking and she contributes imagination and fun as they build a shed together.

Smashy Town written by Andrea Griffing Zimmerman

With a turn of his crane and a swing of his wrecking ball, Mr. Gilly knocks down the old buildings. He smashes through brick and wood. He crashes through stone and glass. Then, with a push from his bulldozer, Mr. Gilly cleans it all up to make room for something brand-new!

Jasper & Ollie Build a Fort written and illustrated by Alex Willan

Best friends Jasper, a quick and feisty fox, and Ollie, a slow and deliberate sloth, decide to build forts in the yard. While Jasper’s enormous fort goes up in minutes (complete with a rock climbing wall, bouncy, castle, and moat), it’s Ollie’s humble fort that has what the pair need most . . . a place that they can share.

House Mouse written and illustrated by Michael Hall

A clever and resourceful mouse, looking for a safe place to settle down, builds different shelters and learns that home is wherever you make it.

Billions of Bricks: [a counting book about building] written by Kurt Cyrus

Grab a hard hat and all your tools, and get ready for a construction adventure in counting! This clever, rhyming picture book leads readers through a day in the life of a construction crew building with bricks. A brick may seem like just a simple block, but in groupings of ten, twenty, and more, it can create many impressive structures, from hotels to schools to skyscrapers.

Nonfiction

How Was That Built? Written by Roma Agrawal

From skyscrapers to bridges, meet the extraordinary people who helped build some of the world’s architectural marvels.

Blocks & Building Activities for Toddlers: https://myboredtoddler.com/blocks-building-activities-for-toddlers-easy/

Fun with kids: building and construction activities: https://www.onelovelylife.com/fun-with-kids-construction/

DIY Cardboard Tube Construction Toy: https://picklebums.com/cardboard-tube-construction/