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.
Preschool Books we Recommend that Support Construction and Engineering
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
This list is a wonderful resource. Is there a version I can print? Thanks.
Hey Suzy! We’ve added a downloadable PDF that you can easily print for future reference. Hope this helps!
“How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World” by Faith McNulty
Thank you so much for this great addition, Sophie. Definitely going on the 2017 list! Our team here at Kodo would love to hear about any other recommendations you and your colleagues might have. Thanks again, I loved this book, especially for the K-2 setting.
– Diane Spahn