Turn storytime into playtime! These preschool book activities pair classic picture books with simple, hands-on learning ideas in science, math, art, and sensory play.
Why Pair Books With Hands-On Activities?
Reading aloud sparks imagination, but combining books with play helps kids make lasting connections. Book-based activities let children explore literacy alongside science, math, art, and sensory play.
How to Get Started
- Ask open-ended questions: “What do you think will happen?”
- Choose a classic picture book.
- Connect the theme (animals, numbers, seasons, colors) to an activity.
- Use simple materials you already have.
25 Book Activities For Preschoolers
Whether you love sensory bins, sensory bottles, sensory dough, or even slime, book activities paired with sensory play are just fun! I am an Amazon Affiliate.
We love to read books daily, and these activities accompanying the story have become a much-anticipated part of our day. What a fantastic way to think and talk about the story you have just read.
Here are 20+ preschool books paired with 20+ hands-on activities covering science, math, engineering, art, and literacy. Use the ideas listed or use the ideas as a springboard for your own activities based on the materials you have available.
Preschool Book Activities for Science
Book: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
Activity: Create a Butterfly Life Cycle Craft. Benefit: Teach about a butterfly’s life cycle, introducing biology and sequencing.
Book: “How a Seed Grows” by Helene J. Jordan
Activity: Planting Seeds and Watching Them Grow. Benefit: Introduces the concept of plant life cycles and encourages observation and care.
Book: “I See a Kookaburra!” by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
Activity: Nature Scavenger Hunt. Benefit: Enhances observation skills, fosters animal curiosity, and connects children with nature.
Book: “Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister
Activity: Color Mixing Experiments. Benefit: Introduces color theory and the science behind mixing primary colors to create secondary colors.
Book: “My 5 Senses” by Aliki
Activity: Set up a 5 Senses Discovery Station. Benefit: Teaches kids about the 5 senses, including sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste, and how they interact with the world around us.
Book: “What Makes a Magnet?” by Franklyn M. Branley
Activity: Magnetic Exploration. Benefit: Teaches about the basics of magnetism and engages kids in hands-on experimentation.
Book: “Gravity is a Mystery” by Franklin M Branley
Activity: Play with gravity! Benefit: Teaches about the concept of gravity and the basics of physics.
Preschool Book Activities for Math
Book: “What is Math?” By Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Activity: Make a math mini-book. Benefit: Explore different concepts in math, such as shapes, counting, fractions, and more.
Book: “Ten Black Dots” by Donald Crews
Activity: Counting and Arranging Dot Art. Benefit: Develops counting skills, spatial reasoning, and creative thinking. Also, grab these Black dot themed ten frame sheets!
Book: “Mouse Count” by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Activity: Counting and Sorting with Toy Mice. Benefit: Reinforces counting, introduces basic addition and subtraction concepts, and promotes sorting.
Book: “Shapes, Shapes, Shapes” by Tana Hoban
Activity: Shape painting art. Benefit: Enhances shape recognition, spatial awareness, and fine motor skills.
Book: “How Long?” Wacky Ways to Compare Length by Jessica Gunderson
Activity: Compare the lengths of different objects. Benefit: Develop basic observation and measurement skills.
Preschool Book Activities for Engineering
Book: “Rosie Revere, Engineer” by Andrea Beaty
Activity: Build a hovercraft. Benefit: Encourages creativity, problem-solving, and the exploration of basic principles of flight.
Book: “The Three Little Pigs” by Steve Guarnaccia
Activity: Build a Strong House for the Pigs. Benefit: Introduces the concept of stability and materials in construction, promoting engineering thinking.
Book: “Iggy Peck, Architect” by Andrea Beaty
Activity: Build a Structure with Everyday Items. Benefit: Sparks creativity, promotes experimentation, and introduces architectural concepts. Also, try these building activities.
Book: “If I Built a Car” by Chris Van Dusen
Activity: Build a LEGO balloon car. Benefit: Encourages imaginative thinking, design exploration, and fine motor skills.
Book: “Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis
Activity: Create and Transform a “Not a Box” Structure. Benefit: Stimulates creative thinking, problem-solving, and imaginative play.
BONUS: Pumpkin Books with Activities
Preschool Book Activities for Art
🎨 Grab the free printable project pack for these book activities here.
Book: “Ish” by Peter H. Reynolds
Activity: Create “Ish” Artwork. Read the book “Ish” aloud to the children. Afterward, have a group discussion about what it means to create art that is “ish.” Provide paper and art supplies, and encourage the children to draw their own “ish” versions of their favorite things or objects from the book.
Benefit: Encourages artistic expression, builds self-confidence, and fosters a positive attitude toward creativity. Download this printable project sheet here.
Book: “Beautiful Oops!” by Barney Saltzberg
Activity: Turn Mistakes into Art!
Idea #1: Rip and Repair Art: Give each child a piece of paper and encourage them to rip or cut a hole in the paper. Provide adhesive tape or glue and colorful pieces of paper. Have the children cover the ripped areas with bright paper, turning the “oops” into a beautiful repair.
Idea #2: Mistake Transformations: Distribute sheets of paper with smudges, spills, or accidental marks. Invite the children to turn these mistakes into intentional drawings or designs. Show them how a simple fall can be transformed into an animal’s body or a cloud’s shape.
Benefit: Promotes resilience, creative problem-solving, and embracing imperfections.
Book: “Mix It Up!” by Hervé Tullet
Activity: Interactive Color Mixing Art. Provide a sensory-rich experience using homemade finger paints, or try ice cube art!
Benefit: Teaches color theory through hands-on exploration and encourages artistic experimentation.
Book: “Press Here” by Hervé Tullet
Activity: Create mixed media dot art. Set up a large piece of paper or a canvas. Provide circular stickers, round sponges, circular objects such as jar lids, paper towel rolls, and plates of paint. Invite the kids to press the stickers onto the paper or canvas and use the circular objects or sponges dipped in paint to do some printmaking.
Benefit: Inspires storytelling and sequencing and encourages tactile and visual exploration.
Book: “Harold and the Purple Crayon” by Crockett Johnson
Activity: Draw Your Own Adventure with a Purple Crayon! Provide kids with a purple crayon and sheets of paper. Encourage them to use their purple crayons to draw their own imaginative adventures, just like Harold. Let them share their stories and drawings with the group afterward.
Benefit: Sparks imaginative storytelling, fine motor skills, and creative thinking.
Step By Step Guide to Pairing Books with Activities
STEP 1: Choose a Book with Multidisciplinary Themes: Select a book encompassing multiple themes and concepts related to science, math, engineering, art, and literacy. Look for stories that offer opportunities to explore these subjects in an integrated manner.
STEP 2: Read and Discuss: Read the selected book aloud to the preschoolers. Engage them in discussions about the characters, plot, and themes. Ask open-ended questions that encourage critical thinking and creativity.
STEP 3: Identify Key Concepts: Identify key concepts from the book that can be tied to each subject:
- Science: Identify natural phenomena, animals, plants, or environmental concepts.
- Math: Focus on counting, shapes, patterns, and measurements.
- Engineering: Explore building, problem-solving, and creating structures.
- Art: Discuss colors, textures, shapes, and creative expressions.
- Literacy: Emphasize vocabulary, storytelling, and communication skills.
STEP 4: Design Hands-On Activities: Create hands-on activities that integrate science, math, engineering, art, and literacy based on the book’s themes:
- Science: Set up simple experiments or observations related to the book’s science concepts. For instance, create a weather observation station if the book is about the weather.
- Math: Count and sort objects from the book, create shape collages, or measure items related to the story.
- Engineering: Provide building materials (blocks, cardboard, etc.) and encourage children to construct structures inspired by the book.
- Art: Create art projects that relate to the book’s themes, allowing children to explore different materials and techniques.
- Literacy: Extend the story by encouraging children to write or dictate their own versions, create storyboards, or act out scenes from the book.
STEP 5: Integrate Activities: Incorporate the hands-on activities into the lesson by connecting them to the book’s concepts. For example, you could read a story about insects and then engage in activities such as making bug sculptures, counting legs on insects, and discussing different types of bugs.
STEP 6: Foster Exploration and Curiosity: Encourage children to explore, ask questions, and experiment during the activities. Provide them with opportunities to collaborate, problem-solve, and express their creativity.
STEP 7: Reflect and Extend Learning: Discuss what the children learned and discovered after each activity. Encourage them to make connections between different subjects. What other activities can you add to extend the learning?
STEP 8: Document and Display: Document children’s work through photos, drawings, and written descriptions. Create a display! Find thrift store picture frames and repaint or use spray paint to create a unique wall gallery.
More Awesome Preschool Activities
- The Best Sensory Bin Ideas
- Best Board Games For Preschoolers
- Preschool Puzzle Games
- Fun Playdough Activities
- Dinosaur Activities
- Weather Activities
- Plant Activities
- Preschool Science Experiments
- Preschool Art Projects
Printable Preschool Bundle Theme Pack
Get ready to explore this year with our Preschool STEM Bundle!
There are 22+ fun preschool themes to get you started. This is an ” I can explore” series! Each unit contains approximately 15 activities, with instructions and templates as needed. Hands-on activities are provided to keep it fun and exciting. This includes sensory bins, experiments, games, and more! Easy supplies keep it low cost and book suggestions add the learning time.
