Thank you so much for your purchase of Playing Preschool Year 1. I am delighted to have you here and can’t wait to for the upcoming year of learning to unfold for your family.
A Reminder About Books
While the books in Playing Preschool have been carefully selected and vetted for developmental appropriateness and adherence to the unit’s theme, they are suggestions only.
Only a few times in Playing Preschool does an activity align exactly with a book. The vast majority of book titles can be exchanged for any book that aligns with the topic. For example, any children’s book on apples can be used. I have merely offered a few recommendations.
Thoughts on Collecting Books
Do not feel any pressure to buy every book used in the program. Check out books from the library, look online, borrow from neighbors, ask friends on Facebook – see what your community has to offer.
After finishing a unit, if a book became a treasured favorite, that’s a better reason to buy a book now that the relationship with the text has been established.


Download the Year 2 Book List
Print this PDF book list for Playing Preschool Year 2. Use it as a quick reference for books in your current unit and to find future recommendations.
Busy Toddler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
I am also a Bookshop affiliate and earn from qualifying purchases through Bookshop. Bookshop also supports your local book store.
Looking for the Year 1 book list too? Here is the link to Year 1.
1: All About Me

I Like Myself!
by Karen Beaumont

Chrysanthemum
by Kevin Henkes

I’m Like You, You’re Like Me
by Cindy Gainer

Big Feelings
by Alexandra Penfold

I am Human
by Susan Verde

Why Do We Cry?
by Fran Pintadera
2: Animals

I Like Myself!
by Karen Beaumont

I Like Myself!
by Karen Beaumont

I Like Myself!
by Karen Beaumont

I Like Myself!
by Jan Brett

I Like Myself!
by Marianne Berkes

Over in the Arctic: Where the Cold Winds Blow
by Marianne Berkes
3: Alphabet

Q is for Duck
by Mary Elting

Oops Pounce Quick Run
by Mike Twohy

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
by Bill Martin Jr

Alphabet Adventure
by Audrey Wood

Z is for Moose
by Kelly Bingham

AlphaOops!: The Day Z Went First
by Alethea Kontis
4: Blocks

When I Build with Blocks
by Niki Alling

Block City
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Be a Maker
by Katey Howes

Dreaming Up
by Christy Hale

Rex Wrecks It!
by Ben Clanton

Blocks: Let’s Share
by Irene Dickson
5: Environment

The Earth Book
by Todd Parr

10 Things I Can Do to Help My World
by Melanie Walsh

We Planted a Tree
by Diane Muldrow

Why Should I Recycle?
by Jen Green

We are Extremely Very Good Recyclers
by Lauren Child

Don’t Throw That Away
by Lara Bergen
6: Numbers

I Know Numbers
by Taro Gomi

Deep Deep Puddle
by Mary Jessie Parker

1-2-3 Peas
by Keith Baker

Anno’s Counting Book
by Mitsumasa Anno

Quack and Count
Keith Baker

The Icky Bug Counting Book
by Jerry Pallotta
7: Systems

Simple Machines
by D.J. Ward

Stick and Stone
by Beth Ferry

Simple Machines
by David A. Adler

How Do You Lift a Lion?
by Robert E. Wells

Simple Machines
by Allan Fowler

Pull, Lift, and Lower
by Michael Dahl
8: Shapes

The Shape of Things
by Dayle Ann Dodds

Mouse Shapes
by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Shapes, Shapes, Shapes
by Tana Hobanl

Round is a Mooncake
by Roseanne Thong

When a Line Bends a Shape Begins
by Rhonda Gowler Greene

City Shapes
by Diana Murray
9: Solids and Liquids

What is the World Made of?
by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

Solids, Liquids, and Gases
by Ginger Garrett

Water
by David Palatnik

Many Kinds of Matter: A Look at Solids, Liquids, and Gases
by Jennifer Boothroyd

Change It!: Solids, Liquids, Gases and You
by Adrienne Mason

What is a Liquid?
by Jennifer Boothroyd
10: Maps & Directions

Me on the Map
by Joan Sweeney

Mapping Sam
by Joyce Hesselberth

My Map Book
by Sara Fanelli

What is a Liquid?
by Jennifer Boothroyd

Mapping Penny’s World
by Loreen Leedy

Rosie’s Walk
by Pat Hutchins
11: Balls

The Ball Book
by Joshua David Stein

Duck and Goose
by Tad Hills

A Ball for Daisy
by Chris Raschka

The Field
by Baptiste Paul

Ball
by Mary Sullivan

A Big Guy Took My Ball
by Mo Willems
12: Size

Measurement
by Penny Dowdy

Actual Size
by Steve Jenkins

Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is?
by Robert E. Wells

The Best Bug Parade
by Stuart J. Murphy

Who Sank the Boat?
by Pamela Allen

Just a Little Bit
by Ann Tompert
13: Patterns

A-B-A-B-A A Book of Pattern Play
by Brian P. Cleary

Pattern
by Henry Pluckrose

Teddy Bear Patterns
by Barbara Barbieri McGrath

My First Book of Patterns
by Bobby and June George

Pitter Pattern
by Joyce Hesselberth

Bees, Snails, & Peacock Tails: Patterns & Shapes…Naturally
by Betsy Franco
14: Magnets

A Look at Magnets
by Barbara Alpert

Magnets: Pulling Together, Pushing Away
by Natalie M. Rosinsky

Magnet Push and Magnets Pull
by David A. Adler

What Makes a Magnet?
by Dr. Franklyn M. Branley

What Can Magnets Do
by Allan Fowler
15: Texture

Sort it by Texture
by Nicholas O’Hara

Spiky, Slimy, Smooth
by Jane Brocket

I Feel a Foot!
by Maranke Rinck

Textures
by Katie Wilson

See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book
by Roger Priddy

What is Touch?
by Jennifer Boothroyd
16: Science Experiments

What is Science?
by Rebecca Kai Dotlich

What is a Scientist?
by Barbara Lehn

I Use Science Tools
by Kelli Hicks

What Sinks? What Floats?
by Rozanne Williams

Scientist, Scientist, Who do You See?
by Chris Ferrie

11 Experiments that Failed
by Jenny Offill
17: Health

Me and My Amazing Body
by Joan Sweeney

Why I Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup, Yawn
by Melvin Berger

X-Ray Me!: Look Inside Your Body
by Felicitas Horstschafer

Germs Are Not For Sharing
by Elizabeth Verdick

The Busy Body Book
by Lizzy Rockwell

The Tooth Book: A Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums
by Edward Miller
18: Rhyming Words

A Frog in the Bog
by Karma Wilson

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
by Jan Thomas

The Gruffalo
by Julia Donaldson

Sheep in a Jeep
by Nancy E. Shaw

Dog on a Frog?
by Kes & Claire Gray

Nothing Rhymes with Orange
by Adam Rex
19: Rocks

Rocks: Hard, Soft, Smooth, Rough
by Natalie M. Rosinsky

If You Find A Rock
by Peggy Christian

Scribble Stones
by Diane Alber

A Rock Can Be
by Laura Purdie Salas

Let’s Go Rock Collecting
by Roma Gans

A Rock is Lively
by Dianna Hutts Aston







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