Including books in every day play is beneficial for both the associated literary skills and as a supplemental resource to many important teaching topics. At Kodo, we use books to help reinforce ideas about construction and engineering, wind science, systems thinking, physics, light and shadow play, sand and water sensory play, grinding tools, and studio art! When used in tandem, STEM based books and hands on tools can provide an unmatched learning experience for preschoolers. Ideas presented through different mediums create a deeper understanding for learners of all kinds! This book list was curated by Diane Spahn, Kodo's Early Childhood Education Specialist.

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Preschool Books we Recommend that Support Construction and Engineering

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1.)

Build It Up and Knock It Down

by Tom Hunter    

2.) When I Build With Blocks

by Niki Alling    

3.) Changes, Changes

by Pat Hutchins    

4.) Rosie Revere, Engineer

by Andrea Beaty    

5.) Iggy Peck, Architect

by Andrea Beaty    

6.) What Do You Do With An Idea

by Kobi Yamada    

7.) The Wonderful Towers of Watts

by Patricia Zelver    

8.) Balances

by Adele D. Richardson    

9.) Bridges Are To Cross

by Philemon Sturges    

10.) The Teeter-Totter

by Joy Cowley    

11.) Pop’s Bridge

by Eve Bunting    

12.) Roxaboxen

by Alice McClerran    

13.) Architecture Shapes

by Michael J. Crosbie    

14.) The Little House

by Virginia Lee Burton    

15.) How A House Is Built

by Gail Gibbons    

16.) Building A House

by Byron Barton    

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Preschool Books we Recommend that Support Wind Science

17.) The Wind Blew

by Pat Hutching    

18.) Like A Windy Day

by Frank Asch    

19.) I Face The Wind

by Vicki Cobb    

20.) The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

by William Joyce    

21.) A Frog Thing

by Eric Drachman    

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Preschool Books we Recommend to Support Systems Thinking

22.) Because a Little Bug Went Kachoo

by Rosetta Stone (really Dr. Seuss)    

23.) Going Places

by Peter and Paul Reynolds    

24.) Ruby Goldberg’s Bright Idea

by Anna Humphrey    

25.) What Is A Pulley

by Lloyd G. Douglas    

26.) Henry Ford: Big Wheel in the Auto Industry

by Mike Venezia    

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Preschool Books we Recommend to Support Play with Physics

27.) Move It: Motion, Forces and You

by Adrienne Mason    

28.) Roll, Slope and Slide: A Book About Ramps

by Michael Dahl    

29.) Forces Make Things Move

by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley    

30.) Newton and Me

by Lynne Mayer    

31.) Mama Zooms

by Jane Cowen-Fletcher    

32.) Inclined Planes to the Rescue

by S. Thales    

33.) Rolling Rose

by James Stevenson    

34.) Motion: Push, Pull, Fast And Slow

by Darlene R. Stille    

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Preschool Books we Recommend to Support Light and Shadow Play

35.) All About Light

by Lisa Trumbauer    

36.) Light and Color

by Peter Riley    

37.) Pantone Colors

by Pantone    

38.) What is A Scientist

by Barbara Lehn    

39.) All The Colors Of The Earth

by Sheila Hamanaka    

40.) The Black Book Of Colors

by Menena Cottin    

41.) The Rainbow Goblin

by Ul De Rico    

42.) The White Goblin

by Ul De Rico    

43.) The Rainbow Book

by Kate Ohrt    

44.) Oscar And The Moth

by Geoff Waring    

45.) Light: Shadow, Mirrors, and Rainbows

by Natalie M. Rosinsky    

46.) The Moon Book

by Gail Gibbons    

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Preschool Books we Recommend to Support Sand and Water Sensory Play

47.) A River Ran Wild

by Lynne Cherry    

48.) A Handful Of Dirt

by Raymond    

49.) Jump Into Science: Sand

by Ellen Prager    

50.) First Nature Encyclopedia

by DK Publishing    

51.) Messing Around With Water Pumps and Siphons

by Bernie Zubrowski    

52.) Sail Away

by Donald Crews    

53.) All the Water in the World

by George Ella Lyon    

54.) Water Dance

by Thomas Locker    

55.) The Sandcastle Contest

by Robert Munsch    

56.) Different Kinds of Soil

by Molly Aloian    

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Preschool Books we Recommend to Support Grinding Table Play

57.) Bread, Bread, Bread

by Ann Morris    

58.) Bread Comes To Life: A Garden Of Wheat

by George Levenson    

59.) See Inside How Things Work

by Conrad Mason    

60.) Mr. Santizo’s Tasty Treats

by Alice Flanagan    

61.) Everybody Bakes Bread

by Norah Dooley and Peter Thornton    

62.) Grains To Bread

by Inez Snyder    

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Preschool Books we Recommend to Support Studio Art

63.) Chalk

by Bill Thomson    

64.) Happy

by Mies Van Hout    

65.) A Piece Of Chalk

by Jennifer A. Ericsson    

66.) Andy Warhol’s Colors

by Susan Goldman Rubin