Welcome to the Barnyard Bookshelf! Here you’ll find the 16 best books for your Farm theme unit. Whether you’re teaching preschoolers or kindergarteners, these books will provide the perfect addition to your lesson plans. With charming illustrations, engaging stories, and lots of fun facts, your students will be captivated by these Books for Farm theme. From tales of tractors to the music of the barnyard, these books offer an exciting way to learn about life on the farm. Read on to discover the top books for your farm unit.
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1) The Enormous Carrot
Written by Vladimir Vagin, The Enormous Carrot is a fun and engaging book that can be used to introduce the concept of teamwork to young students. In the story, a farmer plants a carrot seed and it grows to be so large that he can’t pull it out of the ground on his own. With the help of his family and various animals on the farm, they work together to finally pull out the enormous carrot.
One class activity that could be related to this book is to have the students work in pairs or small groups to create their own vegetable garden. They can draw and label the different types of vegetables they want to plant, and discuss how they can work together to ensure their garden grows successfully. This activity helps students understand the importance of working together and cooperation, which are important life skills.
Overall, The Enormous Carrot is a great addition to any farm books for kids list and can be a fun way to introduce teamwork to your classroom.
Alternative Class activity: Have the students draw pictures of what they think the humungous carrot looks like. Then, have them practice their counting skills by counting how many students drew carrots and how many drew other vegetables. This book is perfect for incorporating farm books for kids into a math lesson.
2) The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Written by Eric Carle, this classic book is a must-have for any farm theme unit. The story follows the journey of a caterpillar who eats his way through various foods until he transforms into a beautiful butterfly. The illustrations are vibrant and engaging for young readers.
Class Activity: After reading the book, have the children create their own caterpillar using different colored construction paper circles and drawing on the caterpillar’s food choices. This activity is not only fun, but also reinforces counting and color recognition skills.
Overall, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is just one of the many farm books for kids that can enhance a preschool or kindergarten classroom’s farm theme unit. Its colorful illustrations and simple text make it an engaging read for young readers while also introducing important concepts such as life cycles and healthy food choices.
3) The Little Red Hen
Author: Paul Galdone
The Little Red Hen is a classic farm book for kids that tells the story of a hardworking hen who wants to make bread. She asks for help from the other animals on the farm, but they all refuse. The Little Red Hen then does all the work herself and enjoys the delicious bread alone.
Activity: The Little Red Hen teaches kids about the importance of hard work and cooperation. In the classroom, you can have the children act out the story by assigning each student a different animal role. The children can also participate in baking their own bread, just like the Little Red Hen did in the story. This activity will not only be a fun experience for the kids, but it will also reinforce the moral lesson of the story.
4) Old Macdonald Had a Farm
Written by Jane Cabrera, this book is a fun and playful twist on the classic song “Old Macdonald Had a Farm”. The book features colorful illustrations and interactive flaps that reveal different animals and sounds. It’s a great book for teaching young children about the different animals you might find on a farm.
Class Activity: After reading the book, create a class sing-along of “Old Macdonald Had a Farm” using props such as toy animals or pictures of animals. Each student can take turns choosing an animal and making the corresponding sound. This activity not only reinforces the learning about farm animals, but also encourages participation and engagement from all students.
5) Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin, this book is a fun and quirky story about a group of cows that demand electric blankets and refuse to produce milk until they get them. When the farmer refuses, the cows team up with the other barn animals and start leaving him notes, all signed “Sincerely, the cows.” This book teaches children about negotiation, teamwork, and the power of communication.
One great activity to go along with this book is to have the children write their own “Sincerely, the [animal]” notes. Encourage them to think of things they might want or need and then work together to negotiate and come to a compromise. This activity helps children develop their writing skills while also teaching important social skills like compromise and problem-solving.
6) Big Red Barn
Written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Felicia Bond, “Big Red Barn” is a classic children’s book that introduces young readers to the various animals that can be found on a farm. From cows and horses to pigs and chickens, this book beautifully depicts the animals in their natural habitat. The simple yet engaging text and illustrations make it a great addition to any farm-themed unit in a kindergarten or preschool classroom.
Class Activity: After reading “Big Red Barn” aloud to the class, have the children create their own “big red barn” using construction paper, scissors, and glue. Then, ask each student to draw and cut out their own animal to place inside the barn. This will help reinforce the names and characteristics of each animal featured in the book.
7) Farmyard Beat
Author: Lindsey Craig
Illustrator: Marc Brown
Farmyard Beat is a lively book that tells the story of the animals on the farm and how they create their own beat and rhythm. The animals use different objects on the farm to create sounds that make up their unique farmyard beat. From a cowbell to a washboard, this book will have children clapping and tapping along to the beat.
Activity: After reading the book, provide the children with various objects that they can use to create their own farmyard beat. Have them explore the different sounds and come up with their own unique rhythm. You can also have the children create their own musical instruments using materials found around the classroom and have them play together to create their own farmyard symphony.
8) The Cow That Laid an Egg
Written by Andy Cutbill and illustrated by Russell Ayto, The Cow That Laid an Egg tells the story of a cow named Marjorie who doesn’t feel special until one day she lays an egg that hatches into a chick. Marjorie then becomes the talk of the farm and finally feels like she belongs. This book teaches children the importance of feeling confident and accepting themselves.
Class activity: Have students create their own animals that lay unique eggs. They can draw and color their creations, and even write a short story about their animal. This activity encourages creativity and helps students think outside the box.
9) Sheep in a Jeep
“Sheep in a Jeep” by Nancy Shaw is a fun and rhyming book about a group of sheep who decide to take a ride in their jeep. As they travel through the countryside, they encounter many obstacles and silly mishaps. This book is perfect for young readers who are learning about transportation and farm animals. It’s also great for teaching children about problem-solving and teamwork as the sheep work together to get out of tricky situations. The lively illustrations by Margot Apple add to the whimsy and humor of the story. This is a book that is sure to be a hit with young children and will have them laughing and asking for more.
10) The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Author: Paul Galdone
“The Three Billy Goats Gruff” is a classic folktale that tells the story of three goats who want to cross a bridge to get to the other side where the grass is greener. However, a troll lives under the bridge and won’t let them pass without a fight. This book is great for introducing the concept of problem-solving and teamwork to young children.
Class activity: Divide the students into three groups and have each group act out one of the billy goats’ parts while another group acts out the troll. Use a piece of blue fabric to represent the bridge and have the students take turns trying to cross while the troll blocks their way. Encourage the students to work together to find a solution that allows all the goats to safely cross the bridge.
11) Duck for President
Author: Doreen Cronin
In “Duck for President,” a duck becomes fed up with life on the farm and decides to run for president. This book teaches young readers about the electoral process and how voting works. It also highlights the importance of leadership, responsibility, and hard work.
One class activity you can do related to the book is to hold a mock election in your classroom. Have each student choose a character they want to run for president (such as a farm animal or fictional character), create campaign posters and slogans, and hold a vote. This activity not only reinforces the concepts taught in the book, but also encourages critical thinking, decision making, and public speaking skills.
12) Make Way for Ducklings
Make Way for Ducklings, written by Robert McCloskey, tells the story of a family of ducks trying to find a safe place to live in the city. The mother and father ducks search for a good spot to raise their ducklings, and they eventually find a perfect location in the Boston Public Garden.
This book is a great addition to any farm or animal-themed unit, as it teaches young children about the life cycle of ducks and their habitats.
As a class activity, you can take your students on a field trip to a local pond or lake to observe and feed ducks. You can also set up a small pond in the classroom with plastic ducks and have students take turns pretending to be the mother and father ducks from the story, leading their little ducklings to safety. This fun and interactive activity will help your students understand and appreciate the importance of animal habitats in their environment.
13) Mrs. Wishy-Washy’s Farm
Author: Joy Cowley
This delightful story is about Mrs. Wishy-Washy, who is always washing her farm animals until they run away to have fun. The simple language and repetitive text make it perfect for young readers, and the colorful illustrations bring the story to life.
Activity: Have students make their own “wishy-washy” farm animals by cutting out pictures of animals and gluing them to a paper plate. Then, let them paint and decorate their animals with sponges and paint brushes to make them look like they’ve been washed by Mrs. Wishy-Washy. This activity is not only fun, but also helps to reinforce the story’s message about taking care of farm animals.
14) The Story of Ferdinand
“The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf is a classic children’s book that tells the story of a peaceful bull named Ferdinand who prefers to smell flowers instead of fighting in bullfights. This book teaches children to embrace their individuality and not to conform to societal expectations.
One class activity that can be done related to the book is to have children draw and color pictures of their favorite flowers and discuss why they enjoy them. This activity reinforces the message of being true to oneself and appreciating the beauty in nature. Additionally, this can be tied into a lesson on plant life cycles and gardening. Overall, “The Story of Ferdinand” is a heartwarming story that encourages children to celebrate their uniqueness.
15) The Very Busy Spider
Author: Eric Carle
In this classic book by beloved author Eric Carle, a spider diligently works to spin her web, despite the distractions of other farm animals who try to tempt her away from her task. With its signature illustrations and interactive touch-and-feel elements, this book is a perfect addition to any farm theme unit for preschool or kindergarten students.
Class Activity: After reading the book, invite students to create their own spider webs using materials such as yarn or pipe cleaners. They can then try to spin their own webs and see how difficult it can be, just like the spider in the story. This activity encourages fine motor skills and imaginative play.
16) “Farming” by Gail Gibbons
Gail Gibbons’ “Farming” is a non-fiction book that teaches young readers about the ins and outs of farming. With bright, colorful illustrations, this book explores different types of farms and the animals and crops commonly found on them. It’s a great book to read when introducing young students to the concept of farming and the important role it plays in our everyday lives.
One class activity you can do related to “Farming” is to have students create their own farms. You can provide them with various materials such as paper, glue, and stickers to make their own farms complete with animals and crops. This will not only help reinforce the concepts they learned in the book, but it will also encourage creativity and imagination.
Conclusion
Incorporating farm-themed books into your kindergarten or preschool classroom is a great way to teach young children about animals, crops, and rural life. With this list of 16 fantastic books, your little ones will be excited to explore the world of farming and learn important concepts such as hard work, cooperation, and problem-solving. From classics like “The Little Red Hen” and “Old Macdonald Had a Farm” to newer favorites such as “The Cow That Laid an Egg” and “Duck for President,” there’s a book on this list for every child. So stock your bookshelves and get ready to embark on an exciting farm adventure with your students!