Great Animal Themed Read Alouds and Activities for Preschoolers

Animal-themed books are a favorite for kids of all ages. My upper elementary-aged kids still enjoy animal stories. But reading animal books to my little ones was always so much fun. With little ones, you can explore the wonder of what animals look like, what sounds they make, and where they live.

These animal themed read alouds will let you explore this interest in animals with your preschoolers. And you can check out the animal activities round up for ideas to go along with your read aloud time.

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Animal Read Alouds

National Geographic Kids Look and Learn: Baby Animals- This is a sweet board book for the littlest readers, and it has all the great photos that are typical of National Geographic.

National Geographic Wild Animal Atlas- In this National Geographic animal book, kids can learn about where animals live in the world and about their characteristics.

The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest—and Most Surprising—Animals on Earth- This one will be fun for elementary-aged kids who want to learn about the "best" animals in different categories.

Actual Size- I love this very visual book that will show kids just how big different animals- or their parts- are.

I See a Kookaburra!: Discovering Animal Habitats Around the World- Kids can meet animals in their natural biomes in this book.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? - This is the Eric Carle classic that uses a predictable rhyme to introduce animals to kids.

Animals Don't, So I Won't- Kids learn about what animals do- and don't do- like people.

Animal Alphabet: Slide and Seek the ABCs- Little ones can get into this interactive board book, looking for the letters of the alphabet

My Big Animal Book- This book features animals of all kinds- farm animals, pets, birds, and more.

Big Red Barn- I always loved reading this classic from Margaret Wise Brown. It's a "gentle" book with soft pictures that will appeal to little readers.

Animal Activities

Make cute animal paper bag puppets with the free printables and instructions here.

Sort animals by their habitat with these free sorting mats from Totschooling.

Match animal halves with this free printable, also from Totschooling.

Do you have pattern blocks? (We loved these when my kids were younger!) Jessica's Pattern Block Templates has lots of free animal templates for pattern blocks.

Life Over C's has some great farm animal masks to print. You could use these for story telling or pretend play.

Find some cute instructions for paper plate animals at the Kids' Activities Blog.

Little ones can practice shapes with this Shape Animal Activity from The Educator's Spin on It.

3 Dinosaurs has a great, free printable zoo pack for preschoolers.

Kids can practice sorting skills with this House Pet or Wild Animal sorting activity from No Time for Flashcards.

Use these cute, printable animal flash cards for all kinds of games and activities.