Animals, Fall, Uncategorized

Owl Headband Craft

This owl headband craft is a perfect way to have some crafting fun together and get in the autumn spirit. I love how cute these headbands turn out! This fun activity is great for preschoolers, kindergarten, and early elementary aged children. The free craft template includes the adorable owl and two bands for making the headband.

OWL HEADBAND CRAFT

Supplies Needed:

How To:

Print out the free owl headband template and color the owl. We colored the bands too!

Cut out all of your pieces.

Glue or tape the bands to the sides of the owl. If using glue, let your project dry. Then wrap the bands around your child’s head and then glue or tape the bands together at the back of your child’s head (forming a circle).

Now you have an adorable owl headband to wear! Check out my list of owl stories, Owl Spot the Differences worksheet, and take a look at this fun pompom owl craft that you can make together 🙂

Free Owl Headband Template:

Fall

Fall Leaf Song for Preschoolers

Sing and dance along to “If You’re Happy and You Know It” Fall edition! Get ready to catch leaves, crunch leaves, and sweep up leaves in this fun fall leaf song. There are four verses to the song that will get your preschooler into the fall / autumn spirit!

Verse 1:

If You're Happy and You Know It Fall Leaf Song Lyrics
Fall Leaf Song

If you’re happy and you know it, catch the leaves. (clap hands)

If you’re happy and you know it, catch the leaves. (clap hands)

If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it. (point to smile)

If you’re happy and you know it, catch the leaves. (clap hands)

Verse 2:

If you’re happy and you know it, crunch the leaves. (stomp feet)

If you’re happy and you know it, crunch the leaves. (stomp feet)

If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it. (point to smile)

If you’re happy and you know it, crunch the leaves. (stomp feet)

Verse 3:

If you’re happy and you know it, sweep the leaves. (make sweeping motion)

If you’re happy and you know it, sweep the leaves. (make sweeping motion)

If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it. (point to smile)

If you’re happy and you know it, sweep the leaves. (make sweeping motion)

Verse 4:

If you’re happy and you know it, do all 3. (clap, stomp, sweep)

If you’re happy and you know it, do all 3. (clap, stomp, sweep)

If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it. (point to smile)

If you’re happy and you know it, do all 3. (clap, stomp, sweep)

More Fall Fun!

Fall I Spy Challenge — count how many of each fall picture you spy.

5 Little Leaves Poem

Five Little Leaves Rhyme — Autumn inspired finger rhyme for preschoolers.

Coffee Filter Leaves Craft — make gorgeous fall leaves with coffee filters, markers, and a spray bottle!

Handprint Pumpkin â€” memorialize your little one’s handprint with this cute handprint pumpkin.

Leaf Stick Puppet — a simple, nature inspired fall craft. Go on a a leaf hunt and bring home your favorites to turn into stick puppets!

Animals

Owl Stories

owl stories

Owls are one of my favorite animals! I always enjoy the owl week at storytime because I get to share some of my favorite owl stories and crafts with the library’s storytime children. The children love making owl hoots throughout the books 🙂

10 Owl Stories:

Little Owl's Snow

1. Little Owl’s Snow by Divya Srinivasan–

Little Owl is so cute! In this Little Owl story, the forest animals are preparing for winter. Some gather and store food, some hibernate, and some stay awake to play in the snow. Soon winter arrives and leaves a blanket of snow in Little Owl’s forest home. Even though Little Owl misses his hibernating friend, hedgehog, he enjoys the snow with his other friends. Preschoolers will love this bold, bright pictures and gentle story.

Little Owl's Colors

2. Little Owl’s Colors by Divya Srinivasan —

We love all of the Little Owl stories! The stories are always cute and the we really like the bright, bold pictures. In this book, Little Owl explores the world around it, find all sorts of beautiful colors. Each color is just the right hue to be easily identified. The colors are given several examples. At the end of the story is a beautiful rainbow and Little Owl asks what colors you can name. Be sure to check out Little Owl’s Night and Little Owl’s Day too!

Bear's New Friend

3. Bear’s New Friend by Karma Wilson–

Bear heads out to enjoy the day and hears a sound. Is it his friend mouse? Nope, not mouse. One by one, Bear and his friends end up in a guessing game trying to figure out who this new creature is. They keep asking “Who?” Turns out to be a shy owl. Will owl want to be friends too? Read this one and find out!

I'm Not Scared

4. I’m Not Scared by Jonathan Allen–

Baby Owl explains to the other forest creatures why owls are perfectly designed to be in the forest at night. For one, owls are nocturnal so they are awake at night. And two, owls can see great in the dark. Thirdly, Baby Owl says being in the woods at night is what owls do! Read this one to find out who else is awake at night.

Good-Night Owl!

5. Good-Night, Owl! by Pat Hutchins–

Owl, who sleeps during the day and is awake at night, is trying to go to bed. Unfortunately for owl, it picked a very noisy tree. So many animals call this tree home and each one makes its own special sound. Preschoolers will enjoy making all of the different animals sounds and will laugh at the ending!

Owl Babies

6. Owl Babies by Martin Waddell–

This is one of my favorite books! It is about three young owls who try and be brave in the night while their mother is out hunting. Preschoolers can relate to the owls’ fear of the dark and the anxiety that comes when a parent is away. But not to worry, because mother owl returns to happy flaps and boasts of bravery from her little owls.

Good Night Owl

7. Good Night Owl by Gregg Pizzoli–

This is a funny story about owl who wants to go to sleep, but a noise keeps him up. What can be making the noise? Preschoolers will love spotting the culprit before owl does! Get ready for giggles as owl looks all over the place, trying to figure out the source of the noise while your child tells owl over and over again that there is a mouse!

I'm Not Sleepy!

8. I’m Not Sleepy by Jane Chapman–

In this story, a young owl named Mo is not sleepy. His grandma flies up and down tree, getting snacks, water, and trying to satisfy other bedtime demands. Still Mo is not sleepy. Since it is bedtime, grandma decides that she will go to bed and Mo can stay up late. Now grandma has a list of bedtime needs and Mo leaps into action. After flying up and down so many times to get grandma everything she needs, little Mo is finally sleepy!

Owl Sees Owl

9. Owl Sees Owl by Laura Godwin–

This book is so innovative! It chronicles baby owl’s first adventure into the forest. Written with just a few words per page, the words reverse in the middle when the baby owl is sees its reflection in the water. My son was amazed when I showed him that the its the same words as the first half of the story just in reverse order!

Don't Blink

10. Don’t Blink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal–

This is a cute, interactive bedtime book for preschoolers. Here’s the deal, if you can keep from getting to the end of this book, then you don’t have to go to bed. But, if you blink, then you have to turn a page. The little owl in the book offers lots of ideas on how to keep from blinking for preschoolers to try. This book does bring on the giggles, but its continuous sleep suggestions do in fact sink in. By the end, your child should be ready to go to bed.

DISCLAIMER

Thank you for checking out my list of owl stories for preschoolers! I hope you enjoy these books! I joined Amazon’s Affiliate program to try and help cover the costs of this site. If you buy something through one of my links on Amazon, then I may get a small percentage of the sale (no extra cost to you). Thank you for your support! Happy reading 🙂

More Owl Fun!

-Make a cute pompom owl craft!

Owl You Need is Love — an adorable owl made with cupcake wrappers!

Spot the Differences between these two owl pictures.

Owl headband Craft–make an adorable owl headband to wear!

Animals, Fall

Fox Stories

Fox Stories

I’ve gathered 20 great books featuring foxes! Preschoolers will love hearing these fantastic fox stories. These stories are perfect to read all year round. While foxes are often paired with fall decorations, I’ve also included stories about foxes in winter, as well as plenty of books that can be read anytime of year.

20 Fox Stories:

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves

1. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson —

In this beautifully illustrated book, we meet a young fox named Fletcher who is unaware that some trees lose their leaves in the fall. Fletcher is determined to save the leaves from falling off of his favorite tree. Unfortunately each one of his ideas fail to keep the leaves on the tree. After the last leaf falls off the tree, Fletcher carries the little leaf home to his den. He puts it into a nice cozy bed for the night. When he returns to his tree in the early morning, a beautiful sight is waiting for him. His tree is covered in sparkling icicles! His tree reassures him that all is fine and that Fletcher is free to enjoy the beauty in front of him without worry for his tree. Love Fletcher? Then check out his winter and his spring stories too!

Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss

2. Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss–

Warning, this silly, rhyming book will result in tongue-twisting giggles! The funny rhymes and bright pictures will keep preschoolers engaged throughout the story. This book is on the long side, but the silliness should keep preschoolers entertained as you rhyme your way through this one.

Fox the Tiger

3. Fox the Tiger by Corey R. Tabor–

We love this series! Fox is hilarious and very imaginative. In this story, Fox wants to be a tiger, so he adds some stripes to his fur and sets out to show his friends, Rabbit and Turtle. Rabbit and Turtle want to pretend to be something else too. Everyone puts their imaginations to work and has lots of fun playing pretend. In the end, however, they are happiest being themselves. Be sure to check out Fox’s other stories, especially Fox Versus Winter!

Six Silly Foxes

4. Six Silly Foxes by Alex Moran —

This is a great book for exploring emotions. Look at each scene and think about their expressions and what they are doing to figure out each emotion. Also, each fox wears a different color, so preschoolers can practice their color identification. The story is short and packed with rhyming silliness to keep your child entertained.

Lawrence in the Fall

5. Lawrence in the Fall by Matthew Farina–

In this sweet story, Lawrence and his dad head out into the woods to collect leaves for Lawrence’s show-and-tell project at school. Dad shares the names of the trees with Lawrence as the young fox collects leaves of various shapes, sizes, and colors. The beauty of nature is expertly captured in this story, as father and son take in the quiet wonder of the trees around them.

I'll Always be Your Friend

6. I’ll Always Be Your Friend by Sam McBratney–

I love this this book about a mother fox who reassures who her little one that she will always be his friend. Like human children, little fox finds it hard to stop playing when his mother tells him to. He gets mad and says, “I’m not your friend anymore!” Who hasn’t heard this from their frustrated child before! Little fox has to test boundaries (and patience) before realizing that he wants to be “friends” with mommy again.

Fox Makes Friends

7. Fox Makes Friends by Adam Relf–

Lonely little fox decides to make a friend, but not in the way you might expect! The fox builds one out of sticks, rocks, and fruit. Unfortunately the new friend falls short of fox’s expectations as it does not move or talk. But soon, curious animals come to check out fox’s creation and help him make friends in the process.

One Fox: a counting book thriller

8. One Fox: a counting book thriller by Kate Read–

This book had my son’s full attention! A sneaky fox is making its way to the hen house. The story starts with 1 sly fox, then shows 2 eyes, followed by 3 plump hens. My son was practically on the edge of his seat as the fox enters the hen house. The story makes it up to 10 before the fox is chased away. Phew, the hens are safe! The book ends with a disclaimer that no foxes or hens were harmed in the making of this book 🙂 This story is masterfully told with sparse, but strategic words and great pictures.

Winter Dance

9. Winter Dance by Marion Dane Bauer —

This is one of my favorite fox stories. It is a sweet story that teaches kids about how animals spend the winter. As the first snowflake falls on the fox’s nose, fox wonders what he is supposed to do in winter. The other forest animals tell him how they prepare for winter. Some fly south, others store food, and some hibernate. Unfortunately none of these ideas will work for fox. Finally, another fox comes along and shares what foxes do in winter — they dance in the falling snow! With such beautiful illustrations, kids will love looking over the pictures and seeing the two foxes twirling about in the snow.


I Love You Because You're You

10. I Love You Because You’re You by Liza Baker–

My son loves books about parent-child relationships! In this heartwarming story, mother fox tells her young fox everything that she loves about him. Short, rhyming text with bright pictures will keep preschoolers interested. Mother fox continuously reassures her little fox that no matter the behavior or emotions her young one exhibits, mommy loves him!

Denny and Penny: a fun rhyming picture book

11. Denny and Penny: a fun rhyming picture book by Silas Wood–

Denny and Penny, two foxes, have complete opposite tastes in food. One day, Denny runs out of his favorite sweet treats and asks Penny if she has any. But Penny likes to eat fish and vegetables, not sweets. Will Denny be brave and try something new? At the time of writing this, the eBook version is free on Amazon.

Little Fox in the Forest

12. Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin —

This wordless picture book provides a great opportunity for children to interpret the story. In this book we see a little girl take her stuffed animals fox to school with her. On her way, a real fox takes off with her toy! She and a friend from school chase after the fox, but lose sight of it in the forest. The children stumble upon an archway that leads them into a fantastical village filled with miniature houses for the forest animals. You’ll never guess where they discover fox and the stuffed animal!

You Make Me Happy book

13. You Make Me Happy By Smriti Prasadam-Halls–

Get ready for cuteness overload! In this sweet story friends, Porcupine and Fox, explore the world around them, enjoying each other’s company. Everything from playing to enjoying a picnic is better when the person (or animal) who makes you happy is by your side. Sing-songy rhymes are accompanied by adorable pictures. This story is sure to make you say “awww, how sweet!”

Baby Fox: finger puppet book

14. Baby Fox: Finger Puppet Book by Chronicle Books —

My preschooler loves these finger puppet board books. Not only is the fox puppet cute, but it helps bring the book to life. The text is short, but contains great facts about foxes such as they live in a burrow and come out at night to play.

Jasper and Ollie Build a Fort

15. Jasper and Ollie Build a Fort â€‹by Alex Willan —

Best friends, Jasper and Ollie, set out to see who can build the best fort. Jasper, the fox, builds really quickly and soon his fort is complete. Children will laugh at Jasper zooming around and all of the pizzazz that goes into his fort. Meanwhile, Ollie, the sloth, slowly constructs his fort. It is missing all of the flashiness of Jasper’s fort, but offers a cozy spot where the friends can hangout together. The story is sweet tale of friendship as this odd-couple come together to enjoy each other’s company.

Little Fox and the Missing Moon

16. Little Fox and the Missing Moon by Ekaterina Trukhan–

My son has become interested in detective stories and mysteries, so this was perfect for him. In this book, Fox looks out his window at bedtime and discovers the moon is missing! He jumps out of bed to investigate this strange disappearance. Turns out his friends are looking for the moon too; everyone except rabbit. They head over to rabbit’s house to find that rabbit has the moon. Read this one to find out why rabbit took the moon!

A Fox Found a Box

17. A Fox Found a Box by Ged Adamson–

Fox discovers a radio abandoned in the forest. After some trial and error, fox and his friends get the radio to work and the forest is filled with music. The author takes the reader through a moving journey about how the power of music effects our feelings. What happens when the batteries run out and the forest is quiet again? Fox and friends begin to appreciate the sounds of nature and realize that there has always been music all around them.

Little Fox and the Wild Imagination

18. Little Fox and the Wild Imagination  by Jorma Taccone —

When I learned that Dan Santat illustrated this story, I had to check it out. I love Dan Santat’s artistic style and the humor he captures so well in his illustrations. I was so happy to find that this story is about a father and son who use their imaginations to have an epic adventure filled with a car race, a robot squid, and lots of books! This story is funny and full of heart 🙂

The Fox Wish

19. The Fox Wish​ by Kimiko Aman–

Siblings realized mid-snack that they forgot their jump rope at the park. They rush back to get it, but find that foxes have discovered it and are having a great time playing with it. One of the foxes explains how she made a wish for a new game to play and then the foxes stumbled upon the jump rope! Not wanting to spoil the fox’s delight in a wish come true, the little girl lets the foxes keep the jump rope after getting a promise that everyone will play together again soon. Beautiful pictures and a thoughtful tale of sharing and kindness will make this book a great choice for bedtime stories.

Fox and the Box

20. Fox and the Box  by Yvonne Ivinson–

The artwork on the cover of Fox and the Box had me intrigued! The story is told mainly through the pictures, with just a couple key words per page. A fox at the beach, watching all of the ships in the water, wants to turn his crate into a ship and join in the fun. Fox’s determination and wild sea adventure will delight young readers. Everyone will love the happy ending!

Please check your public library for these fox stories. If you choose to purchase them, please note that I joined Amazon’s Affiliate program to try and help cover the costs of my website. So if you buy something through one of my links, then I get a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! Happy reading 🙂

Paper Plate Fox Craft!

Fox Paper Plate Craft: turn a paper plate into a fox with some orange tissue paper, googly eyes, and a black pompom for a nose.

paper plate fox craft


Animals, Fall

Hedgehog Picture Books-

Hedgehog Picture Books
Hedgehog Picture Books

Hedgehogs are one my favorite animals, so I was excited to read hedgehog picture books with my son 🙂 Here is a list of 6 of our favorites. Some are older titles and others are more current, but we were able to find them all at our public library. Check your library for these and other great hedgehog picture books.

Picture Books–

Hedgie's Surprise
Hedgie’s Surprise

1. Hedgie’s Surprise by Jan Brett–

Jan Brett is a fantastic storyteller and illustrator! This is a funny hedgehog book featuring Hedgie, a reoccurring character in several of Jan Brett’s books. In this story, Hedgie’s friend Henny keeps getting her eggs stolen by a child. The child returns every morning to steal an egg and Henny needs help protecting her eggs. Hedgie replaces the eggs with other things to eat, such as a strawberry, a mushroom, and even a potato. Still the child keeps coming back! Finally Hedgie comes up with a great way to stop the egg thief — Hedgie hides in the chicken’s nest and gives the child a handful of prickles!

"Hedgehugs" by Steve Wilson--an adorable hedgehog picture book
Hedgehugs

2. Hedgehugs by Steve Wilson–

Are you ready to meet Horace and Hattie, two of the cutest hedgehogs ever!?! These two hedgehogs are best friends and love to do things together. In fact, they pretty much do everything together except hug. How are two spiky hedgehogs supposed to be able to hug each other? The two friends try all sorts of different ways (cue preschooler giggles), but nothing is working. Then, they stumble upon some laundry drying in the sun and get the best idea! Brace yourself for a super cute hug 🙂 Horace and Hattie have more adorable adventures, so be sure to check your library for the others in this series.

3. Ouch by Ragnhild Scamell (republished as Apple Trouble)

In this story, an adorable hedgehog gets an apple stuck its back. Now hedgehog can’t fit into its den and winter is coming. The hedgehog’s animal friends try to help and get the apple off, but each attempt ends up with more things stuck to the poor hedgehog. After squeezing, and swimming, and rolling around, hedgehog and friends are running out of ideas. Fortunately, along comes a goat with a big appetite and eats all of the things that are stuck on hedgehog!

Hedgehog and Rabbit: the scary wind

4. Hedgehog and Rabbit: the scary wind by Pablo Albo —

This book is perfect for fall! Friends, Hedgehog and Rabbit are enjoying the day when the wind comes through, sending leaves twirling in the air. Rabbit thinks he sees a monster! He yells and runs for safety in a hollow log. Hedgehog didn’t see anything scary, but hearing Rabbit yell, Hedgehog runs to the log too. Mistaken identities and silliness ensues as Rabbit and Hedgehog each try to scare away the monster! Despite being afraid, both Rabbit and Hedgehog muster up enough courage to help each other in acts of true friendship.

The Snowy Nap

5. The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett–

It’s time for hedgehog to hibernate, but hedgehog wants to stay awake and experience the beauty that winter brings. All of the other animals tell hedgehog about icicles and glistening snow and fun winter activities that happen while hedgehog is asleep. Determined not to miss out this year, hedgehog tries his best to stay awake with the help of a nice girl. Fortunately a snow storm comes and turns everything into a winter wonderland just before hedgehog falls asleep.

Prickly Hedgehogs

6. Prickly Hedgehogs! by Jane McGuiness–

I love that this story is filled with factual information about hedgehogs! We learned that hedgehogs are nocturnal, like to eat bugs, and what they do to prepare for winter. The story itself, isn’t very long, but it is a fun read-aloud. Filled with cute pictures and lovely background colors, you and your child will definitely enjoy this book together.

hedgehog illustration

Please check your public library for these books. If you choose to purchase them, please note that I joined Amazon’s Affiliate program to try and help cover the costs of my website. So if you buy something through one of my links, then I get a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! Happy reading 🙂

For more fall animal stories, check out my SQUIRREL BOOKS post.

Paper Plate Hedgehog Craft —

hedgehog paper plate craft
paper plate hedgehog craft

Make this cute hedgehog and let your little one and practice scissor skills!

Supplies needed are:

1 paper plate

water color paints

scissors

googly eyes

To Make:

-Cut a plate in half. Trim one of the halves to look like it has a hedgehog profile. 

-Paint your hedgehog with water colors and let your project dry.

-Kids can practice scissors skills by cutting along the outer edge of the plate to make spikes. After cutting, gently push and pull spikes to separate them.

-Add googly eyes, and then you have a cute little hedgehog.

Fall, Halloween, Math, STEM

Halloween Graphing Preschool STEM

Halloween Graphing Preschool STEM

Add some spooky STEM fun into your preschooler’s learning with this Halloween graphing activity!

Halloween Graphing Activity:

Start by printing this free template. The Halloween graphing template includes the di, colored tiles, and graphing chart. I used regular printer paper; however, if you use cardstock, then your dice will be much sturdier.

Halloween Graphing Di

Begin by cutting out the dice. Gently fold the gray tabs inward. Then begin to fold your squares into a cube shape. Add some glue to the tabs and glue them onto the underside of the squares as you form your cube. The very last tab is hard to glue and might require tape. Once your cube is formed, set it aside to dry.

Cut out all of the colored tiles. You will have 4 of each color–red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Each color corresponds with one of the Halloween pictures. Here’s the color scheme: witch=red, pumpkin=orange, moon=yellow, Frankenstein monster=green, bat=blue, and spiderweb=purple.

Now it is time to begin Halloween graphing. Ask you child to gently roll the di. Which Halloween picture is on top? Is it a purple web? Take a tile of the same color and set it on the graph above the corresponding-colored Halloween picture. Keep rolling the dice and setting tiles in the correct columns until you reach the top of the column. Since you are not gluing the colored tiles to the chart, you can use this activity over and over again. The witch was the first to reach the top for us. Which Halloween picture made it to the top of your graph first?

Why STEM?

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. It is important to introduce these concepts to preschoolers in a fun way so that as they get older, they are excited about STEM subjects. What are preschoolers learning in this activity? Preschoolers are learning their colors (science)! They have to identify the color on the di, find the same color on the chart, and then correctly add the same color tile to the graph. Preschoolers are learning how to graph, an important math concept! Add some extra math into this activity by counting how many of each color tile is on your graph and how many tiles your have altogether. Preschoolers are also learning about engineering as they help build the di!

More STEM Activities

If your child enjoyed this graphing activity, I made a free blank di template so you can customize it with your own pictures. You can add computer images, stickers, or draw whatever you want on the dice and graph for your child to practice more graphing skills.

Check out my STEM activities: https://imaginationsrunningwild.com/stem/

Animals, Fall

Pompom Owl Craft

Pompom Owl Craft

I’m obsessed with owls and crafts, so why not combine them into a cute pompom owl craft! This craft is fun and easy for little kids to make — all they have to do is color and glue. Print off the free owl template and then let your child’s creativity design a cute owl craft.

Supplies Needed:

  • white cardstock (regular printer paper is ok)
  • owl template — free printable PDF
  • pompoms (sizes 1 – 2 cm)
  • white school glue
  • crayons
  • googly eyes (size 25 mm / 2.5 cm)

How To:

First print the free owl template. Color your owl completely as the background will show between the pompoms.

You can draw your own eyes or use googly eyes. Preschoolers tend to love googly eyes (my son does) and look for any excuse to use them! We found these orange-colored googly eyes at Michaels craft store.

Glue your pompoms all over the owl’s body. Mix and match colors and sizes, make patterns, and have fun using your creativity! Depending on how much glue you use, your pompom owl craft might take a while to dry.

More Owls!

Owl Headband Craft: make an adorable owl headband to wear!

I Spy Owls: count how many of each picture you see in this I Spy scene. Write the number in the box next to each picture.

Owl Find the Differences: find 5 differences between these 2 pictures.

“Owl You Need is Love” Craft: print off your free template and create your own owl. Complete you owl by gluing on cupcake wrappers for wings!

Fall, Rhymes and Poems

“Five Little Leaves” Finger Rhyme

Finger rhymes are lots of fun for little kids! They get to be active participants as they move their fingers to act out the rhyme. According to Reading Rockets, rhymes are important for young children because they help develop an ear for our language. Both rhyme and rhythm help kids hear the sounds and syllables in words, which helps kids learn to read! Check out my RHYMES page for more fun action and finger rhymes, as well as other cute poems.

I love the Five Little Pumpkins finger rhyme and wanted more finger rhymes to do in the fall so I made up one about leaves. I think it turned out pretty fun 🙂 Get your fingers ready to act out Five Little Leaves with me! I also changed the lyrics of If You’re Happy and You Know and made a fall edition version by adding fall activities–catch falling leaves, stomp on the leaves, and sweep the leaves!

Five Little Leaves Finger Rhyme

FIVE LITTLE LEAVES

Five little leaves falling from a tree. (hold up 5 fingers)

The first one says, “You can’t catch me!” (wiggle thumb)

The second one says, “There’s a chill in the air!” (wiggle pointer finger)

The third one says, “But we don’t care!” (wiggle middle finger)

The fourth one says “Hello” to the ground. (wiggle ring finger)

The fifth one says, “We make a crunching sound!” (wiggle pinky)

Whoosh goes the wind, blowing all around. (wave hand around)

And the five little leaves land safe and sound. (hand open flat, palm facing up)

(c) Imaginations Running Wild

Fall, Halloween

Witch Stories

Witch Stories
Preschool Witch Stories

It’s spooky season and young children want to get in on the fun! Here are eight fantastic witch-themed stories that are not scary, but add a fun, spooky element to reading time. Grab your broom and be prepared to read these over and over again! Be sure to check your public library for these books. My son and I also made lists of our favorite MONSTER stories, SKELETON books, and BAT stories to share too!

Eight Witch Stories:

Room on the Broom

1. Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson–

This is one of my favorite books! My son and I love this rhyming story about a kind witch who keeps losing things as she flies through the night. She repeatedly has to stop and look for her missing things. While searching for her belongings, she also finds new friends. Soon her broom is full as the witch, a cat, a dog, a frog, and a bird soar through the night. Suddenly a hungry dragon appears and captures the witch! It looks like this might be the end for the witch, but her friends come to her rescue and chase the dragon away 🙂

Ghosts in the House

2. Ghosts in the House by Kazuno Kohara —

A girl and her cat move into a haunted house! Turns out this little girl is actually a witch and she knows exactly what to do with ghosts! This is a fairly short book, with not a lot of text per page. The illustrations are done in orange and black and really capture the reader’s attention. Your preschooler will enjoy studying the pictures and seeing the witch’s creative uses for ghosts.

There's a Witch in Your Book

3. There’s a Witch in Your Book by Tom Fletcher–

Tom Fletcher’s “Who’s in Your Book” series is so much fun! Each book is interactive and filled with super cute illustrations. My son really enjoys these stories and we read them over and over again! In this book, the little witch has landed in your book and she is making a huge mess. Stop her! Oh no, now she cast a magic spell! Help defeat the spell by using your finger as a wand. Follow the steps to save your book!

Lulu Goes to Witch School

4. Lulu Goes to Witch School by Jane O’Connor–

Author Jane O’Connor of the Fancy Nancy series introduces you Lulu the witch. Lulu is so excited to start school! Her first day goes great — she loves her teacher (Miss Slime) and her broom flying lesson. She likes all of other witches in her class, except for one. Sandy Witch does everything better than Lulu and Lulu is feeling frustrated. A rivalry ensues until both little witches come down with lizardpox. Lulu and Sandy both return to school covered with spots, afraid their classmates will make fun of them. Sandy and Lulu bond over their spots and become friends afterall.

Humbug Witch

5. Humbug Witch by Lorna Balion–

This is a cute story about an imaginative little girl. While it is an older story, my son still likes it! In the book, this little witch has a problem — she just can’t get her spells to turn out right! She looks the part–she has a black witch hat, and a witch nose, and pointy witch shoes, and a cat–but no magic. Turns out the reason little witch can’t do magic is because she’s really a girl playing dress-up.

10 Busy Brooms

6. 10 Busy Brooms by Carole Gerber–

I love counting books! They are a fun way to incorporate math into preschoolers’ learning. Preschoolers will love the pictures of the witches flying past other “spooky” creatures like skeletons and mummies. The illustrations are bright and cheerful without being scary. Examine each picture closely and try and find the owl and cat hidden in every scene!

Mrs Blackhat

7. Mrs. Blackhat by Mick Inkpen–

Mrs. Blackhat is a witch who loves the color black so much that everything she has is black. Along comes an orange cat. What is Mrs. Blackhat supposed to do with a cat that isn’t black? She tries to cast a spell (with hilarious words like “toilet trouble”), but nothing works. Find out what happens to the cat by checking out this fun, rhyming story from your library!

How to Catch a Witch

8. How to Catch a Witch by Alice Walstead–

The “How to Catch” series is wildly popular with young children with their rhyming stories and bright illustrations. In this book, a real witch comes to the neighborhood on Halloween night to steal all of the candy. Oh no! The Catch Club kids set all sorts of zany traps to try and catch her before all of the candy is gone. Each trap-gone-wrong will get your child giggling as the witch escapes. I love that the kids use household items like cardboard boxes, so anyone reading this book can get ideas to make their own traps and continue the fun at home!

Disclaimer:

Check your library for these and other witch-themed stories. To help cover the costs of this site, I joined Amazon’s Affiliate program. If you buy a book through one of my links, then I get a small percentage of the sale (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support! Happy Reading 🙂

Fall

Fall Leaves Stories

Fall Leaves Stories for preschoolers
Fall Leaves Stories

Fall is a magical time when the leaves on trees change colors and eventually fall off the branches. Looking at the beautiful colors and collecting leaves are lots of fun! Preschoolers love to explore and naturally curious about the world around. Read these stories about the changing of the leaves and learn why trees lose their leaves in the fall.

7 Fall Leaves Stories:

1. Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert–

This book is a visual treat! The pictures are actual leaves and Lois Ehlert’s signature die-cut pages are fantastic. Leaf Man is beautiful tribute to nature and preschoolers will delight in Leaf Man’s wind-blown adventures.

Leaf Trouble book

2. Leaf Trouble by Jonathan Emmett–

Learn about the changing of seasons with two cute little squirrels in this story. Worried about the falling leaves, a brother and sister squirrel unsuccessfully try to put the leaves back on the tree. Mommy squirrel teaches them all about fall and reassures them that new leaves will grow in the springtime.

"When the Leaf Blew In" book

3. When the Leaf Blew In by Steve Metzger–

This fun picture book is about an autumn leaf blows that into a barn causing a cow to sneeze. The sneeze sets off a series of barnyard events in this silly tale that will have preschoolers asking you to reread it over and over again! Be sure to check your library for this one!

4. We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger —

This rhyming story is a fun, leaf-hunting adventure. Preschoolers love Steve Metzger’s books and the silly sound effects that he skillfully incorporates into the story. This one will become a fall-favorite! Have your own leaf hunt after the story to continue the fun!

There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves

5. There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro–

The silly old lady is back in this fall-themed story. She goes on a stomach-filling journey, gobbling up fall-themed items (a pumpkin, a rope, and some leaves). Preschoolers will laugh away at all of the silliness going on in this book!

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves

6. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson–

In this beautifully illustrated book, we meet a young fox named Fletcher who is unaware that some trees lose their leaves in the fall. Fletcher is determined to save the leaves from falling off of his favorite tree. Unfortunately each one of his ideas fail to keep the leaves on the tree. After the last leaf falls off the tree, Fletcher carries the little leaf home to his den. He puts it into a nice cozy bed for the night. When he returns to his tree in the early morning, a beautiful sight is waiting for him. His tree is covered in sparkling icicles! His tree reassures him that all is fine and that Fletcher is free to enjoy the beauty in front of him without worry for his tree.

"The Leaf Thief"

7. The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming–

Every day Squirrel counts the leaves on his tree. One day, a leaf goes missing and Squirrel sets off to find the missing leaf. Along the way, Bird joins in and the two friends discover who the mysterious leaf thief is! This is a beautifully illustrated story about the natural changes that occur in the fall season.

Disclaimer:

Check your library for these and other fall leaves stories. To help cover the costs of this site, I joined Amazon’s Affiliate program. If you buy a book through one of my links, then I get a small percentage of the sale (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support! Happy Reading 🙂

LEAF STICK PUPPET

Continue the leaf fun by making Leaf Stick Puppets–Go on a leaf hunt and collect leaves to make your stick puppet pals.