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Books for the �Littlest Learners: �KBA Preschool Titles 2026-2027

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PRESENTED BY:�

Juliana Gaddis, Co-Chair, KBA Preschool Committee�Becky B. Nelson, Member, KBA Preschool Committee

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A SEED IN THE UNIVERSE

�By Elyon Liu

Focus: Perspective; Connection���Art Style: Board Book with � Die Cuts���

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Focus: Guilt, Honesty, Forgiveness���Art Style: Graphic pencil on paper - colored digitally���

BROKEN���By X. Fang���

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Focus: The power of courage, rewards of perseverance, and the importance of believing in yourself��Art Style: Vibrant, textured digital art���

Come Catch a Dream��By Brittany J. Thurman ��Illustrated by Islenia Mil�

Louisville Author!!

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Come Catch a Dream Activity Ideas

Tape down a plastic tarp and let the kids “skate” in their sock feet. Make sure you play some fun music!�Maybe partner with your gym teacher on this one?

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Every Monday Mabel

*Caldecott Honor ��By Jashar Awan�

Focus: Be true to yourself and what you love. Who knows? Others may share that love too��Art Style: Digital collage and mixed-media illustration style that blends the appearance of watercolor and cut-paper���

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This guy also comes to your school or library every week!

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Downloadable Activities from Publisher

Other Ideas:�1) Invite a Garbage Truck to �your school/library for �“Touch a Truck”��2) Have Sanitation Worker visit Library/Classroom to discuss their job and their gear��3) Make a game identifying what is trash and what are recyclables

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Focus: Small acts of kindness can change the world��Art Style: Every scene is a miniature, hand-built 3D set. Objects, buildings, �and characters are crafted out of physical materials like paper, cardboard, and fabric and then photographed���

Heartfelt��By Elaine Vickers��Illustrated by Samantha Cotterill�

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Downloadable Activities from Publisher

Other Ideas:�1) Have the kids share what love looks, smells, tastes, feels or sounds like to them.��2) Make hearts of your own to pass out to others and share the love.��3) Establish a kindness week or month and have a love extravaganza.

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Focus: Staying true to oneself���Art Style: Gouache and Colored Pencil���

HEDGEHOGS DON’T WEAR UNDERWEAR��By Marissa Vladex

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Reading and Literacy Activities

  • Design Your Own Undies: Provide blank templates of underpants and let children use markers, glitter, or stickers to design their own wacky underwear, just like Jacques does at the end of the story.
  • Character Role-Play: Discuss what it means to be brave. Have children act out a scene where they share a secret passion or hobby with a friend to practice speaking up for themselves Crafty Moms Share: Hedgehogs Don't Wear Underwear.
  • Word Snorting: "Snort" out words! Write rhyming words (e.g., grub, snub, club) on index cards. Have children draw a card and use their "sniffly hedgehog snouts" to read the word out loud Instagram. [1, 2]

Math and Movement

  • Underwear Toss: Place various laundry baskets around the room and label them with point values. Have children toss rolled-up pairs of clean socks into the "washing machine."
  • Party Freeze Dance: Since the book celebrates individuality and being yourself, throw a dance party! Play upbeat music, and when the music stops, everyone must freeze in a funny, unique pose Drag STEM Story Hour, New York - Mato Events.

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Focus: Compassion, Environment, Dystopia��Art Style: Watercolor; Pen & Ink���

The Last Zookeeper�By Aaron Becker

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Focus: Rhythmic verse describing wild animals visiting a farm from sunrise through sunset. A quiet, meditative poetry book��Art Style: Scratchboard and watercolor technique���

Where the Deer Slip Through��By Katey Howes��Illustrated by Beth Krommes�

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Downloadable Activities from Publisher

Other Ideas:��Nature Walk / Scavenger Hunt��Write short nature poems��Meditation/Relaxation to nature sounds��Identify animal noises��Retell story with farm & animals play center

Animal Track Stamps

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Focus: Prey/Predator;

Comparative Size��Art Style: Pencil sketches with digital line art and digital color��

Who Ate Steve?

By Susannah LLoyd

Illustrated by Kate Hindley

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Focus: Interactive non-fiction picture book where the audience identifies animals from the clues given about the noises they make��Art Style: Cut and torn paper collage��

Who Meows?: �A Book of Animal Sounds��By Robin Page�

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Downloadable Activities from Publisher

SO many activity ideas. What are some you have?.......�

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Current Year Resources

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Questions?

Becky Nelson

beckybarriernelson@gmail.com

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Juliana Gaddis�jgaddis@jesspublib.org