Children should read everyday. It doesn’t matter if it is the same book over and over again or a different book everyday. Unabashed Kids has created a list of 31 picture books to read in the month of October. The books on this list can be read by children of all ages but may do a better job keeping the interest of children ages 3 to 8.
Unabashed Kids is an affiliate for Amazon and other online retailers. That means that if you use the links found on Unabashed Kids blog to make a purchase, we receive a small percentage of the purchase price. It never changes the price you pay and we select every item mentioned on the site!
Anansi the Spider is a popular character in African and West Indian folklore, known for his trickery and wit. In this article, we present the ultimate list of Anansi the Spider books, featuring tales that have been passed down through generations. Our list includes books for all ages, from picture books to novels, and celebrates African and West Indian cultures while showcasing the wisdom of this beloved character. Whether you’re a fan of Anansi or looking to explore new tales, our ultimate list of Anansi the Spider books is a great resource to discover and enjoy.
Who is Anansi the Spider?
The main character Anansi has captivated the imaginations of people for generations. Also known as Ananse, Nancy, Anancy, Hapanzi, and Nanzi, Anansi is a personified spider who is the protagonist of whimsical tales. Not just any spider, Anansi is a spider with a unique personality that is insightful, intelligent, and full of wisdom. In some stories, Anansi can change from his spider form to a human form, which makes him even more fascinating.
Throughout Anansi stories, he is also portrayed as a trickster. Anansi is known for his cleverness and wit, which he uses to teach morals, ethics, politics, and social values to his listeners. He does this by leading them to the truth through examples, puzzles, and twists of fate. Anansi’s cleverness can be seen in the way he outsmarts his opponents and solves complex problems. However, Anansi stories are not only entertaining but also provide valuable lessons that can be applied to real-life situations.
Where did Anansi stories originate? What regions continue to tell them?
The Akan people, an ethnic group that lives in the Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire regions, are the originators of the Anansi stories. In addition to the Akan people, the Ashanti people are also known to tell Anansi stories. These tales have spread throughout the West African region and the Caribbean, where they continue to be told to this day.
The reasons why Anansi stories continue to be told in regions of Africa and the Caribbean are multifaceted. First and foremost, these stories are an essential part of the cultural heritage of these regions. They represent a rich and vibrant history, connecting people to their ancestors and cultural roots. The tales of Anansi are also a means of passing down cultural values, morals, and wisdom from one generation to another. These stories are often used as teaching tools, providing valuable lessons on topics such as resourcefulness, perseverance, and courage.
Furthermore, the tales of Anansi, the trickster spider, are entertaining and engaging. The character of Anansi is beloved for his cunning, wit, and ability to outsmart others. These stories are often accompanied by music, dance, and other forms of performance. This is a popular form of oral storytelling that continues to captivate audiences of all ages.
Overall, Anansi stories continue to be an integral part of the cultural identity of regions of Africa and the Caribbean. They serve as a link to the past, a source of wisdom and entertainment, and a means of passing down cultural traditions and values to future generations
Stories about black lives are worthy of being told, thought about, discussed, and even celebrated. Check out this unabashed list of children’s books with black protagonists written by black authors.
The classic bug theme in primary school or preschool. I can recall when my second grade class kept caterpillars in our classroom and released them on the playground when they turned to butterflies. There are so many ways to teach children about bugs and insects, but a great book should always be the start. Below is a list of 10 bug and insect books from elementary and preschool children.
Eric Carle is an extraordinary children’s author. See our list of the best Eric Carle Books. Books like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “The Very Busy Spider” by Eric Carle make the list.
“Red, Blue, and Green! What colors are on my plate?” is a food-themed book for young readers.
Children look through over 20 brightly colored “real images” of foods and name the color of each food. Fruits, vegetables, carbs, meats, and cheeses make up a beautiful rainbow-colored plate. A perfect book to introduce picky eaters to new foods. Come along for the journey and discover new delicious foods.
E-Book Available for $0 on Amazon with Kindle Unlimited.
We’ve created a list of 12 colorful children’s books that teach color theory in an entertaining way. These books will help children identify colors and mix colors. All books are chosen by Unabashed Kid’s Editors and are affiliate linked to amazon.com. To purchase books from this list just click on the book cover or title, to shop directly on Amazon.
In this story Dog starts off the day with one black spot on his ear. But it seems that wherever he goes, he runs, rolls, and trots right into more colors. As he wanders around town, Dog collects spots made of red jam, blue paint, pink ice cream, and more.
All of the animals have colors of their own except for the chameleon. He is yellow like a lemon, even black and orange striped like a tiger! Then one day a chameleon has an idea to remain one color forever by staying on the greenest leaf he can find. But in the autumn, the leaf changes from green to yellow to red . . . and so does the chameleon.
This book is perfect for teaching children to identify all of the colors around us. As a bonus the book also teaches a great lesson about friendship, as the chameleon meets another chameleon to travel with him.
Duncan’s crayons go on strike. They write letters to express their grievances. What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best? Coloring.
A fun activity for 1st to 3rd graders is to have them write their own letter’s from Duncan or the crayons perspective. This is a great letter writing exercise.
Every kid has probably lost a crayon or entire box of crayons at school or on a road trip. In this story Duncan finds out what happens to lost crayons.
Board book to help dinosaur loving toddlers learn their colors. Jane Yolen’s Dinosaur series is super fun and creative. Children find answers to some of the most creative questions.
Little Blue and Little Yellow are best friends, kept separate. When they finally find each other, they give each other such a big hug that they turn green!
This is an amazing picture book for children as it shows them color mixing instead of telling them. The book has very few words, but tells a wonderful story through images.
Did you know that monsters love to scribble, mix, dance, and wiggle?! Why? Because monsters love to make new colors! Children will have a blast reading this story.
The girl in red, the girl in yellow, the girl in blue, and the boy in black and white are all set to stir up the rainbow. This super creative story will aid in teaching color mixing.
As the title suggest, the readers will learn to mix colors. Very simple writing with color splattered mixtures. This book gets to the point and is a great reference for learning about color mixing.
This playful introduction to colors will appeal to any curious preschooler. One day three white mice discover three jars of paint–red, blue, and yellow. But what happens when they splash in the colors, mixing the red and blue?
The companion book to “1 2 3! What can I eat?” and “ABC Name My Food!”, “Red, Blue, and Green! What colors are on my plate?” is a food-themed book for young readers.
Children look through over 20 brightly colored “real images” of foods and name the color of each food. Fruits, vegetables, carbs, meats, and cheeses make up a beautiful rainbow-colored plate. A perfect book to introduce picky eaters to new foods. Come along for the journey and discover new delicious foods.
Is your little one nervous about going to school for the first time? OR Are you a teacher looking for a book to help introduce a positive classroom dynamic? Starting fresh in a new environment, meeting a teacher and new classmates can seem overwhelming to children. This list of books will help students feel more comfortable about the new school year. Scroll down and choose a book to help start the school year off right.
List of books to read on the first day of school (Elementary / Primary School)
It is the night before the first grade! Penny is excited to start the year with her best friend right beside her in the same classroom. This humorous take on Clement C. Moore’s classic tale will help children through their back-to-school jitters.
This heartwarming picture book helps teachers welcome their students on the first day of school. Through a letter written from the teacher’s point of view, students are given the message that their new teacher is someone they will get to form a special bond with.
“Family isn’t always your relatives. It’s the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.”
Teachers build a sense of community within their classrooms, creating a home away from home where they make their students feel safe. Reading “Our class is a family” on the first day of school, sets the ton for the inclusiveness that will be carried out throughout the school year.
Students returning to school in fall 2021, will experience a school year different than any precious years. These students will wear mask, social distance, and be taught plenty of hygiene methods to prevent virus spreading in schools.
“If you take a mouse to school, he’ll ask you for your lunch box. When you give him your lunch box, he’ll want a sandwich to go in it. Then he’ll need a notebook and some pencils. He’ll probably want to share your backpack, too.”
This book is perfect for upper primary school students, grades 3 to 5. There will always be a new kid in school, no matter what grade level. This story will help students understand that we are all different, but it is ok to embrace our differences.
“There will be a times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you.”
“There will be many reasons to feel different. Maybe it’s how you look or talk, or where you’re from; maybe it’s what you eat, or something just as random. It’s not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.”
“I woke up this morning, as happy as could be, excited for the day ahead, dressing hurriedly, I raced downstairs and kissed my mom, on my first day of school.”
A celebration of the first day of school. This beautifully illustrated book will get students ready to learn all school year.
Are there any “back to school” books left off this list? Use the comment section to share some of your favorite back to school books for elementary kids.
Piglet: “How do you spell love?” Pooh: “You don’t spell it, you feel it.” – A.A. Milne, Winnie The Pooh
“Promise me you’ll remember, you are BRAVER than you believe, STRONGER than you seem, SMARTER than you think.” –A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh
“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” -Dr. Seuss
“No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted.” Aesop, The Lion and the Mouse
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince
“There’s no place like home”L. Frank Braum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
“‘Why did you do all this for me?’ he asked. ‘I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.’ ‘You have been my friend.’ replied Charlotte. ‘That in itself is a tremendous thing.’”E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web
“Numbing the pain for a while will only make it worse when you finally feel it.” J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
“The moment where you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever being able to do it.” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”Roald Dahl, The Minpins
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and the job’s a game.” P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins
“The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid.” Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
“It’s no use to go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland
“Sometimes” said Pooh; “the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh
“I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.” Robert Munsch, Love You Forever
“If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you.” A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
“Never hurry and never worry” E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web
“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss, I can read with My Eyes Shut!
“She had blue skin, and so did he. He kept it hid, and so did she. They searched for blue. Their whole life through then passed right by and never knew.” Shel Silverstein, Every Thing On It
“The teacher taught me the word in school. I wrote it in my book. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Beautiful! I think it means something that when you have it, your heart is happy.” Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet
“Daddy tells me it is beautiful. That makes me proud. I love that my hair lets me be me!” by Matthew A. Cherry, Hair Love
“There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you… until the day you begin to share your stories. And all at once, in the room where no one else is quite like you, the world opens itself up a little wider to make some space for you.” Jacqueline Woodson, The Day You Begin
“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” Roald Dahl, The Twits
“But then I realized, what do they really know? This is MY idea, I thought. No one knows it like I do. And it’s okay if it’s different, and weird, and maybe a little crazy.” Kobi Yamada – What Do You Do with an Idea?
“How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live ‘em. How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give ‘em.” —Shel Silverstein, A Light in The Attic
“There is nothing sweeter in this sad world than the sound of someone you love calling your name.” —Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux
“The more he gave away, the more delighted he became.” – Marcus Pfister, The Rainbow Fish
“If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.” —Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
“We all can dance,” he said, “if we find the music that we love.”—Giles Andreae, Giraffes Can’t Dance
“It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. My mom says some days are like that. Even in Australia.”– Judith Viorst, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
“I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.” —Watty Piper, The Little Engine That Could
“Have the courage to follow your dreams.” – Bunheads by Misty Copeland
“Live your life in full color, every tint, every hue. Discover! Explore. Have faith but love more.” – When God Made You, by Matthew Paul Turner
Storytime provides a great opportunity to teach new lessons to children. This list of 12 books about plants and flowers is a wonderful addition to a plant life cycle lesson for children. At the bottom of this post you can take a look at our plant themed lesson plans which include with FREE worksheets.
When you purchase any of the 12 books about flower and plant growth, using links on our website, Unabashed Kids may receive a small commission (at no added cost to you). Your support helps us continue to discover and share incredible kids’ books!
Parts of a Plant: Lesson Plan and Worksheets for Kids This article will provide a FREE lesson plan for teachers along with worksheets for kids who are learning the parts…
Summer learning should be a fun addition to your child’s daily summer break routine. Did you know that children can lose up to three months of crucial reading skills over the summer?
Summer is a wonderful time for children to explore the world around them, and what better way to do so than through the pages of a great book? Whether your child is a budding reader or just beginning to discover the joy of books, we have compiled a list of ten fantastic summer reading books that are perfect for kindergarteners. From silly stories to fascinating facts, these books are sure to spark your child’s imagination and keep them entertained all summer long. So grab a book, find a shady spot, and let the reading adventures begin!
10 Books to Explore with Your Kids This Summer
Summer reading is a great way to keep your children learning and ready to progress academically. Below is a summer reading list for kindergarteners that features fun stories for beginning readers.
Have fun exploring these 10 books and more during the summer. To make reading exciting, have fun and interactive story-times. Ask questions and let children talk about what they have read. Include dramatic play activities like recreating scenes from the book or dressing up like a character.
When you purchase books using links on our website, Unabashed Kids may receive a small commission (at no added cost to you). Your support helps us continue to discover and share incredible kids’ books!
Stay Updated with Unabashed Kids
If your child likes art, take a look at our craft ideas that go along with books.
“Of 3,200 children’s books published in 2013, just 93 were about black people, according to a study by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin” Author Christopher Myers writes in his 2014 New York Times op-ed, titled the Apartheid of Children’s Literature. Sadly, there are more children’s books written about animals than there are about children of color. “This apartheid of literature – in which characters of color are limited to the townships of occasional historical books that concern themselves with the legacies of civil rights and slavery but are never given a pass card to traverse the lands of adventure, curiosity, the imagination of personal growth…” may lead young children to think that stories of happy black children do not exist in real life or books.
Are there books about talking animals?… And superpowers? And the olden days when people dressed funny? And all the combinations of those things? Like talking animals with superpowers in magical futures… but no me?
In the most recent years, there has been a significant increase in black children’s book authors and stories with black protagonists. Data shows a 10% increase, from 2% of children’s books published in the year 2013 being about black people to 12% in the year 2020. Stories about black lives are worthy of being told, thought about, discussed, and even celebrated. Many of the newly published books with black protagonists are about self-love, these stories affirm the readers’ own identity.
Below is an unabashed list of 100 children’s books with black protagonists written by black authors. The list is meant to celebrate stories about black youth. The list is broken up into 3 categories: 15 board books for baby to age 2, 60 picture books for children 3 to 7, and 25 children’s books for ages 8 to 12. Reading about different cultures, ethnic groups, and races is beneficial to all children. The list is not just for black children or black parents; please consider diversifying your bookshelf, no matter the skin color of the child who will read the book.
15 Board Books for Baby to Age 2: featuring Black Characters
I like to go walking and talking with my mom. First we zigzag walk down the street; it looks strange to the people we meet. Then we take big giant steps, … and talk in loud giant voices…
25. Nola The Nurse Series by Dr. Scharmaine Lawson Baker, illustrated by Marvin Alonso
Sleeping on Tar Beach was magical. Laying on the roof in the night, with stars and skyscraper buildings all around me, made me feel rich, like I owned all that I could see.
I am a canvas being painted on by the words of my friends, family, and community. Sometimes the words are painted with blacks and grays, that leave me feeling confused. Other times the palette is filled with blues that make me want to scream and holler in a bluesy kind of way “I am not feeling it today!”
2. Firebirdby Misty Copeland illustrated by Christopher Myers
3. Bunheads by Misty Copeland illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey
4. Freedom Soup by Tami Charles illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara
5. Salt in His Shoes by Daloris & Roslyn Jordan illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Today is Laundry day! My name is Gary and I love to learn about Great Inventors. Please join me as I learn about Thomas Jennings, the first African American to receive a patent for his invention in the United States.
One day a man came to the VanDerZee home with a huge contraption called a camera. It was the only camera in Lenox. Click! Boom! The man took the family’s picture and left.
