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Toddler Fun: Discovering Animals

Toddler fun - discovering animals

Eric Carle is this month’s author for the Virtual Book Club for Kids, and his frequently animal-themed books have led Anna and I to do a lot of fun toddler activities about discovering animals! We adore Eric Carle’s classics (affiliate links) – Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Anna received the very sweet Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? as a baby present, and I am personally partial to Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?

Eric Carle makes some fun coloring pages and games that go along with his books. I’ll probably do those with the older kids later this month, but so far Anna and I have been using the books as a jumping off point to talk about animals.

learning about animals with books and stickers

I recently discovered that Melissa and Doug’s reusable sticker sets are actually vinyl play sets! The “stickers” aren’t actually sticky at all; rather they are vinyl clings that will stick to any smooth surface – temporarily. Since they aren’t sticky, you don’t have to worry about peeling them off of furniture, windows, or anything else. I bought the animal habitats set for my kids, and it has been the perfect complement to reading Eric Carle’s animal books! The animals don’t match up with the books, but that didn’t matter since we were using the books as a jumping-off point to talk about animals. Anna is particularly fond of the ducks (or “gucks”, as she calls them). We clearly need to get a copy of Eric Carle’s 10 Little Rubber Ducks.

I also need to print out a copy of my ducks coloring page, which would also go nicely with that book!

Using books pictures and stickers to learn about animals

I was a little surprised when Anna went from the vinyl duck clings to finding the duck card from our Baby Einstein Language Discovery Cards, which I like because they translate all of the words into seven languages. They are marketed as a baby product, but eight-year-old Emma is the one who usually uses these cards! Eric Carle makes his own flash cards that go along with the books, but we haven’t invested in those.

You don’t need cards or vinyl clings to talk about these books – it’s just the approach we took because they are the things Anna is particularly interested in right now. You can sign the different animals (Anna does enjoy that as well), use stuffed or plastic animals, make them out of play dough… the possibilities are endless!

Do you have a favorite Eric Carle book? How about a favorite activity?

VirtualBookClub

The virtual book club is cohosted by Toddler ApprovedThe Educators’ Spin On ItRainy Day Mum3 DinosaursLearn~Play~ImagineCrafty Moms ShareReading ConfettiInspiration LaboratoriesMom to 2 Posh Lil DivasKids Yoga StoriesEnchanted Homeschooling MomReady-Set-ReadBoy Mama Teacher MamaPlayDrMomFantastic Fun and LearningGrowing Book by BookRoyal Baloo – The Outlaw Mom® Blog – Kitchen Counter ChroniclesTeach PreschoolMama SmilesCoffe Cups and CrayonsJuggling With KidsHere Come the Girls. Click through the links below for more posts about Eric Carle’s books!

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

22 thoughts on “Toddler Fun: Discovering Animals”

  1. jeannine: waddleeahchaa

    I finally got around to posting the FREE printable book that goes along with 10 Little Rubber Ducks. The post even includes a picture of the sweet teachers from Cambodia. Can’t wait to see them again when I return to Cambodia this summer!

  2. We’ve read a ton of Eric Carle books, but I suppose Brown Bear is my favorite since it was the first of his we read. Others I like are Hungry Caterpillar and Pancake, Pancake.

    1. I loved playing with them as a kid, too, but didn’t know what they were called. I was so excited to find these, and my kids are really enjoying them!

  3. jeannine: waddleeahchaa

    Oh goodness, I can’t believe how she has grown! Who doesn’t love Eric Carle? His books are definitely kid friendly in every way. I have a FREE printable book that goes along with 10 Little Rubber Ducks. I created it when for the teachers in Cambodia a few years ago. Rubber duck and math are a universal language.

  4. That is the cutest video of Anna! My kids have always love learning about animals and Eric Carle books are great for little ones. I’ll have to see if I have something to link up :)

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