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Project ideas for every kid!
We Are Teachers; artwithmrsfilmore.com
Keep the fun going all year long with this roundup of creative, simple, and fun 1st grade art projects. Whether you feel like diving into painting, pattern-making, mixed media, or sculpture, there is something for everyone on this list.
We have projects that can be tackled over multiple classes as well as projects that can be completed in under an hour. Students will learn basic art concepts like color mixing while discovering famous artists. Your little artists will be proud to take their masterpieces home!
artwithmrsfilmore.com
1. Hang 3D line sculptures
Simple strips of paper become a striking display in this cool collaborative 1st grade art project. It’s a clever way to use up scraps of construction paper too.
This is a modern twist on the classic crayon resist project. After drawing a web in pencil and tracing it with a white crayon, use a pipette to transfer watercolor paint to the paper. Then use a straw to blow the paint across the paper.
Every kid will love learning to draw their own version of this beloved Australian pup! After they follow along with the video, have them fill in their own background to complete the picture.
grannygoestoschool.blogspot.com
5. Go wild for self-portraits
Start with a simple self-portrait sketch. Then let kids go wild with the hair, adding paper strips in crazy colors and patterns.
This mixed-media idea is so clever! Kids use tissue squares to create a colorful sky background, then glue cotton batting over the top to simulate skywriting from a paper plane.
Lines are an incredibly simple thing to draw, but when you use them right, they can add a real element of excitement to your work. Learn how it’s done with this helpful video.
firstpalette.com
9. Turn paper plates into aquariums
Begin by having your students paint a paper plate blue, then have them create a goldfish using craft foam. Finally, piece it all together and decorate the aquarium with colored pebbles, sand, or anything else of your choosing!
Oversize sculptures like Alexander Calder’s are accessible and fun for kids of any age. Re-create them in paper form with this engaging art project for 1st graders.
Zentangles are a combination of art and mindfulness, and you really can’t do them wrong. Learn the technique in this video, then let kids play around with patterns on their own.
newcityarts.blogspot.com
13. Print and color autumn leaves
Gather large leaves to use for this project. Kids coat them with white paint, then press them on black paper to make prints. Once the paint is dry, they add various hues using colored pencils.
Grab some markers and have your 1st grade art students write the letters of the alphabet randomly all over a piece of paper. Then, use color to fill in enclosed areas. The possibilities are endless!
Pinch pots are an easy clay project that 1st graders will love. They also make a nice gift for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and other special occasions.
This is such a fun spin on a traditional self-portrait. Your students will definitely get a kick out of adding their “bubblegum” to their masterpieces.
This project can be adapted for any age, but for 1st grade art students, use thick, chunky yarn and sticks with a wide “V,” along with blunt plastic darning needles. The “in and out” pattern of the yarn will help improve dexterity and fine motor skills.
Have your students paint the background using watercolor or tempera paint, then get started on the polar bear. Have students draw two ears, a round face, and the body on white paper with black marker, then cut the pieces out. Finally, let your students personalize their bears with their choice of expression or attire.
Make this easy by copying blank turtles for everyone to color. Then, have kids add a variety of textures and patterns to their turtle. Tip: Look at pictures of real turtles for potential pattern ideas.
zilkerelementaryart.blogspot.com
23. Re-create a starry skyscape
Here’s a simple but impressive project to try. Oil pastels are easy to use and make kids feel like real artists. Let them use their own techniques to re-create Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night.
Want to try a different take on the classic painting? These Van Gogh–inspired clay stars are the way to go! (They also make excellent holiday ornaments.)
Here’s one more take on Van Gogh, this time focusing on his sunflowers. Impressionism is known for textures, so this 1st grade art project uses black glue to give dimension to simple sunflowers. Kids draw the sunflowers, then outline them with glue. When the glue is dry, add soft, beautiful watercolors.
Collect plastic forks from your takeout meals, or hit the thrift store and buy a collection of metal spoons you can use again and again. Then, use them to create these simple but charming spring flowers.
preschoolmom.com
27. Chalk a fluttering butterfly
Chalk art pastels produce impressive results at any age. This 1st grade art project has a fun but simple 3D element too.
This may seem too complicated for a 1st grade art project, but you can attack it in several steps. Teach kids to draw the bowl and apples. Then, have them draw the outlines with oil pastel to create a barrier. Paint the apples red and then the background with colorful watercolors, and voilà!
Pair this cute art project with a lesson on giraffes! Read books like Giraffes Can’t Dance or watch some videos on these tall creatures before doing a guided drawing of a general giraffe shape. Once the shape is there, let your students personalize their giraffes in any way they wish.
Show kids how to carefully carve designs into foam blocks using blunt tools like a chopstick. Then, make colorful prints using their pattern blocks.
jamestownelementaryartblog.blogspot.com
31. Hop onto Monet lily pads
Monet’s lily pond paintings are among his most famous. Take a look at some of them, then have kids create their own mixed-media lily pad projects adorned with cute clay frogs!
This simple art project combines a surprising amount of concepts, including color mixing, stamping, and honing fine motor skills. And the results are pretty striking.
This yarn-weaving project produces impressive results, but it’s pretty easy to master. It’s a nice way to combine fine motor skills practice with art.
cassiestephens.blogspot.com
35. Fly some cool koinobori kites
Try an Asian-inspired art project with these colorful fish kites. May 5 is Children’s Day in Japan, and these koinobori are an important part of the celebration. Firsties in any country will love creating their own kites in springtime or anytime.
This is such a fun art project, and the technique can definitely be used for more than just Easter eggs. Use a wax crayon or oil pastel to draw the designs onto the egg, then color some of the spaces with crayon. Finally, use watercolor to paint over the whole egg with a single color. It’s so cool to watch the way the paint avoids the crayon and allows the designs to peek through.
Combine science with art in this project. First, draw snowflakes with glue and sprinkle salt over the top. After it dries, add a few drops of watercolor and watch the salt absorb it and change color like magic!
mrstsfirstgradeclass-jill.blogspot.com
38. Give colorful birds a Dalí twist
Giant birds with super-long and wiggly legs? First graders will love the silliness of this project, but it’s not all just fun and games. These watercolor birds show the differences between warm and cool colors, and the long legs are a tribute to the master of the unexpected, Salvador Dalí.
This is a unique twist on standard clay projects. The owls themselves are easy to create, and mounting them on a wood plaque really makes this 1st grade art activity stand out.
Kandinsky is known for his circles, but his other abstract work is mesmerizing too. Read the book The Noisy Paint Box to learn about the artist’s life. Then use black markers, watercolors, and cotton swabs to help achieve that muted color/haze.
This is the perfect 1st grade art project when you are short on time since it can be completed in an hour or less. Before beginning, read the book Mix It Up! with your students to introduce the concept of color mixing.
Learn about Paul Klee’s cubist paintings, then have kids create their own with oil pastels and watercolors. These vibrant pieces are sure to brighten your classroom walls.
Introduce kids to origami with this really easy folding project. After they make their paper pup, they can add details like facial features, patterns, and colors.
kitchentableclassroom.com
48. Blend colors using coffee filters
There’s a reason this project is so popular: It’s mesmerizing to watch colors bleed together and create a rainbow of new colors and patterns. All you need are color filters, washable markers, a spray bottle of water, and newspaper or paper towels.
This 1st grade art project is part treasure hunt and part art lesson. Pull out your box of scrap paper and have students dig through to find the pieces they need to complete a color wheel daisy. You’ll wind up with a whole garden!
The personal aspect of this mixed-media hot-air balloon collage is what really makes it stand out. (Tip: Trim the student pictures yourself since the detailed cuts may be too much for little fingers.)
There are no major weaving skills required for these wacky baskets. Simply dip strips of yarn into glue and lay over an upside-down paper cup or bowl. When the glue dries, remove the paper cup, and you’ve got a basket!
Learning color theory at an early age will help kids develop their artistic instincts. Draw simple patterns and fill them with complementary colors to explore this concept.
deepspacesparkle.com
53. Drip like Pollock
Here’s a great use for yarn scraps. Kids dip yarn into tempera paint, then drip or drag it over the paper to create abstract designs reminiscent of Jackson Pollock. (Tip: Read Action Jackson first for inspiration.)
Combine art and science with a lesson about camouflage. Then challenge your students to create a patterned background for a paper lizard to blend into.
Paper weaving is a fun and simple craft that opens up lots of possibilities. Firsties will enjoy making these pretty rainbows; you could even tie it in with a lesson about weather!
Swap out brushes for cotton swabs and try basic pointillism with your firsties. This art technique is very simple, but it can be used to create incredible masterpieces.
artisbasic.com
57. Fill in letter outlines
This is a fun way to have the class work on a group project since each kid can take a different letter that can be used to spell something out on a bulletin board, etc. Print the outline of the letters, then let your students create patterns inside them with crayons or other media.
When the leaves start to change color, try this pretty project using the watercolor-resist method. Students can really let their imaginations run wild with the pattern designs and color choices.
First graders are just starting to move away from stick figures and into more advanced drawing. Hit the link for a step-by-step tutorial that even little ones can follow with oil pastels.
This is a neat way to learn about color blends. Imagine the bottles lined up in a sunny window and use markers, paints, or crayons to fill in the colors you’d see.
Kids will be amazed when they learn to draw this simple bird starting with an arrow. They’ll also love designing birdhouses for their avian friends, which culminates in a fantastic classroom display that’s perfect for spring.
After painting a vivid background of sky and fields, students root through the scrap paper bin to assemble colorful scarecrows for the finishing touch. (Tip: Create templates to make it easier for them to cut out the pants, shirt, and hat.)
Start with a sheet of circles (pre-printed, or have kids trace them from templates). Then have firsties add bold lines to design a variety of faces. This quick and simple activity is lots of fun and really sets their creativity free.
Yup, this is really a 1st grade art project! Kids practice their letters and learn about mixed media, tackling the activities in steps. The plastic spoons with alphabet letters added at the end really make the pieces pop!
Learn about architecture styles and skills, then design paper-bag houses. Encourage students to add plenty of personal details to make the designs their own.
Learn about realism in art, and take a look at Wayne Thiebaud’s colorful paintings of pastries for inspiration. Then make your own patterned cupcakes with torn-paper frosting. Yum!
Note: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links, Schneps Media may earn a commission.
Photo Credit: Craig Dudek
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Information Confirmed By
Russ Joy, XLMedia
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The cool thing about high school science fair projects is that kids are old enough to tackle some pretty amazing concepts. Some science experiments for high school are just advanced versions of simpler projects they did when they were younger, with detailed calculations or fewer instructions. Other projects involve fire, chemicals, or other materials they couldn’t use before.
Note: Some of these projects were written as classroom labs, but can be adapted to become science fair projects too. Just consider variables that you can change up, like materials or other parameters. That changes a classroom activity into a true scientific method experiment!
To make it easier to find the right high school science fair project idea for you, we’ve rated all the projects by difficulty and the materials needed:
Difficulty:
Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
Materials:
Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete
Jump to:
Biology and Life Science High School Science Fair Projects
Explore the living world with these biology science project ideas, learning more about plants, animals, the environment, and much more.
Extract DNA from an onion
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
You don’t need a lot of supplies to perform this experiment, but it’s impressive nonetheless. Turn this into a science fair project by trying it with other fruits and vegetables too.
Re-create Mendel’s pea plant experiment
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments were some of the first to explore inherited traits and genetics. Try your own cross-pollination experiments with fast-growing plants like peas or beans.
Make plants move with light
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
By this age, kids know that many plants move toward sunlight, a process known as phototropism. So high school science fair projects on this topic need to introduce variables into the process, like covering seedling parts with different materials to see the effects.
Test the five-second rule
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
We’d all like to know the answer to this one: Is it really safe to eat food you’ve dropped on the floor? Design and conduct an experiment to find out (although we think we might already know the answer).
Find out if color affects taste
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Just how interlinked are all our senses? Does the sight of food affect how it tastes? Find out with a fun food science fair project like this one!
See the effects of antibiotics on bacteria
Home Science Tools
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
Bacteria can be divided into two groups: gram-positive and gram-negative. In this experiment, students first determine the two groups, then try the effects of various antibiotics on them. You can get a gram stain kit, bacillus cereus and rodospirillum rubrum cultures, and antibiotic discs from Home Science Tools.
Experiment with the effects of light on the carbon cycle. Make this science fair project even more interesting by adding some small aquatic animals like snails or fish into the mix!
Learn more: Carbon Cycle at Science Lessons That Rock
Look for cell mitosis in an onion
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
Cell mitosis (division) is actually easy to see in action when you look at onion root tips under a microscope. Students will be amazed to see science theory become science reality right before their eyes. Adapt this lab into a high school science fair project by applying the process to other organisms too.
Test the effects of disinfectants
Amy Brown Science
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
Grow bacteria in a petri dish along with paper disks soaked in various antiseptics and disinfectants. You’ll be able to see which ones effectively inhibit bacteria growth.
Growing vegetables without soil (hydroponics) is a popular trend, allowing people to garden just about anywhere.
More Life Sciences and Biology Science Fair Projects for High School
Use these questions and ideas to design your own experiment:
Explore ways to prevent soil erosion.
What are the most accurate methods of predicting various weather patterns?
Try out various fertilization methods to find the best and safest way to increase crop yield.
What’s the best way to prevent mold growth on food for long-term storage?
Does exposure to smoke or other air pollutants affect plant growth?
Compare the chemical and/or bacterial content of various water sources (bottled, tap, spring, well water) etc.
Explore ways to clean up after an oil spill on land or water.
Conduct a wildlife field survey in a given area and compare it to results from previous surveys.
Find a new use for plastic bottles or bags to keep them out of landfills.
Devise a way to desalinate sea water and make it safe to drink.
Chemistry High School Science Fair Projects
Bunsen burners, beakers and test tubes, and the possibility of (controlled) explosions? No wonder chemistry is such a popular topic for high school science fair projects!
Break apart covalent bonds
Teaching Without Chairs
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Break the covalent bond of H2O into H and O with this simple experiment. You only need simple supplies for this one. Turn it into a science fair project by changing up the variables—does the temperature of the water matter? What happens if you try this with other liquids?
Are the calorie counts on your favorite snacks accurate? Build your own calorimeter and find out! This kit from Home Science Tools has all the supplies you’ll need.
Detect latent fingerprints
Hub Pages
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Forensic science is engrossing and can lead to important career opportunities too. Explore the chemistry needed to detect latent (invisible) fingerprints, just like they do for crime scenes!
Tweak this basic concept to create a variety of high school chemistry science fair projects. Change the temperature, surface area, pressure, and more to see how reaction rates change.
Determine whether sports drinks provide more electrolytes than OJ
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
Are those pricey sports drinks really worth it? Try this experiment to find out. You’ll need some special equipment for this one; buy a complete kit at Home Science Tools.
Turn flames into a rainbow
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
You’ll need to get your hands on a few different chemicals for this experiment, but the wow factor will make it worth the effort! Make it a science project by seeing if different materials, air temperature, or other factors change the results.
Discover the size of a mole
Amy Brown Science
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
The mole is a key concept in chemistry, so it’s important to ensure students really understand it. This experiment uses simple materials like salt and chalk to make an abstract concept more concrete. Make it a project by applying the same procedure to a variety of substances, or determining whether outside variables have an effect on the results.
Cook up candy to learn mole and molecule calculations
Dunigan Science on TpT
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
This edible experiment lets students make their own peppermint hard candy while they calculate mass, moles, molecules, and formula weights. Tweak the formulas to create different types of candy and make this into a sweet science fair project!
Take a closer look at an everyday item: soap! Use oils and other ingredients to make your own soap, learning about esters and saponification. Tinker with the formula to find one that fits a particular set of parameters.
Learn more: Saponification at Chemistry Solutions on TpT
Uncover the secrets of evaporation
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Explore the factors that affect evaporation, then come up with ways to slow them down or speed them up for a simple science fair project.
More Chemistry Science Fair Projects for High School
These questions and ideas can spark ideas for a unique experiment:
Compare the properties of sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Explore the impact of temperature, concentration, and seeding on crystal growth.
Test various antacids on the market to find the most effective product.
What is the optimum temperature for yeast production when baking bread from scratch?
Compare the vitamin C content of various fruits and vegetables.
How does temperature affect enzyme-catalyzed reactions?
Investigate the effects of pH on an acid-base chemical reaction.
Devise a new natural way to test pH levels (such as cabbage leaves).
What’s the best way to slow down metal oxidation (the form of rust)?
How do changes in ingredients and method affect the results of a baking recipe?
Physics High School Science Fair Projects
When you think of physics science projects for high school, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the classic build-a-bridge. But there are plenty of other ways for teens to get hands-on with physics concepts. Here are some to try.
Remove the air in a DIY vacuum chamber
Instructables
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
You can use a vacuum chamber to do lots of cool high school science fair projects, but a ready-made one can be expensive. Try this project to make your own with basic supplies.
Looking for a simple but showy high school science fair project? Build your own mini Tesla coil and wow the crowd!
Boil water in a paper cup
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Logic tells us we shouldn’t set a paper cup over a heat source, right? Yet it’s actually possible to boil water in a paper cup without burning the cup up! Learn about heat transfer and thermal conductivity with this experiment. Go deeper by trying other liquids like honey to see what happens.
Build a better lightbulb
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Emulate Edison and build your own simple light bulb! You can turn this into a science fair project by experimenting with different types of materials for filaments.
Measure the speed of light—with your microwave
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Grab an egg and head to your microwave for this surprisingly simple experiment! By measuring the distance between cooked portions of egg whites, you’ll be able to calculate the wavelength of the microwaves in your oven, and in turn, the speed of light.
Generate a Lichtenberg figure
Science Notes
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
See electricity in action when you generate and capture a Lichtenberg figure with polyethylene sheets, wood, or even acrylic and toner. Change the electrical intensity and materials to see what types of patterns you can create.
Explore the power of friction with sticky note pads
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic
Ever try to pull a piece of paper out of the middle of a big stack? It’s harder than you think it would be! That’s due to the power of friction. In this experiment, students interleave the sheets of two sticky note pads, then measure how much weight it takes to pull them apart. The results are astonishing!
Build a cloud chamber to prove background radiation
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
Ready to dip your toe into particle physics? Learn about background radiation and build a cloud chamber to prove the existence of muons.
Measure the effect of temperature on resistance
Science Project
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
This is a popular and classic science fair experiment in physics. You’ll need a few specialized supplies, but they’re pretty easy to find.
A basic bottle rocket is pretty easy to build, but it opens the door to lots of different science fair projects. Design a powerful launcher, alter the rocket so it flies higher or farther, or use only recycled materials for your flyer.
More Physics Science Fair Projects for High School
Design your own experiment in response to these questions and prompts.
Determine the most efficient solar panel design and placement.
What’s the best way to eliminate friction between two objects?
Explore the best methods of insulating an object against heat loss.
What effect does temperature have on batteries when stored for long periods of time?
Test the effects of magnets or electromagnetic fields on plants or other living organisms.
Determine the best angle and speed of a bat swing in baseball.
What’s the best way to soundproof an area or reduce noise produced by an item?
Explore methods for reducing air resistance in automotive design.
Use the concepts of torque and rotation to perfect a golf swing.
Compare the strength and durability of various building materials.
Engineering High School STEM Fair Projects
Many schools are changing up their science fairs to STEM fairs, to encourage students with an interest in engineering to participate. Many great engineering science fair projects start with a STEM challenge, like those shown here. Use these ideas to spark a full-blown project to build something new and amazing!
Solve a current environmental issue
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
A science fair project can also be an entry to the Slingshot Challenge. Produce a 1-minute video by February 1, 2024, with a solution to a current environmental problem (think: uniting creative waste reducers on social media or rehabilitating forests affected by fire) for the chance to receive up to $10,000 in funding.
Construct a model maglev train
Supermagnete
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Maglev trains may just be the future of mass transportation. Build a model at home, and explore ways to implement the technology on a wider basis.
Wind energy is renewable, making it a good solution for the fossil fuel problem. For a smart science fair project, experiment to find the most efficient wind turbine design for a given situation.
Re-create Da Vinci’s flying machine
Student Savvy
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Da Vinci sketched several models of “flying machines” and hoped to soar through the sky. Do some research into his models and try to reconstruct one of your own.
Smartwatches are ubiquitous these days, so pretty much anyone can wear a heart-rate monitor on their wrist. But do they work any better than one you can build yourself? Get the specialized items you need like the Arduino LilyPad Board on Amazon.
Race 3D printed cars
Instructables
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
3D printers are a marvel of the modern era, and budding engineers should definitely learn to use them. Use Tinkercad or a similar program to design and print race cars that can support a defined weight, then see which can roll the fastest! (No 3D printer in your STEM lab? Check the local library. Many of them have 3D printers available for patrons to use.)
Hydroponics is the gardening wave of the future, making it easy to grow plants anywhere with minimal soil required. For a science fair STEM engineering challenge, design and construct your own hydroponic garden capable of growing vegetables to feed a family. This model is just one possible option.
Delve into robotics with this engineering project! This kit includes all the materials you need, with complete video instructions. Once you’ve built the basic structure, tinker around with the design to improve its strength, accuracy, or other traits.
Return to the good old days and build a radio from scratch! This makes a cool science fair project if you experiment with different types of materials for the antenna. It takes some specialized equipment, but fortunately, Home Science Tools has an all-in-one kit for this project.
The challenge? Set up a system to alert you when someone has broken into your house or classroom. This can take any form students can dream up, and you can customize this STEM high school science experiment for multiple skill levels. Keep it simple with an alarm that makes a sound that can be heard from a specified distance. Or kick it up a notch and require the alarm system to send a notification to a cell phone, like the project at the link.
Balsa wood bridges are OK, but this plastic bottle bridge is really impressive! In fact, students can build all sorts of structures using the concept detailed at the link. It’s the ultimate upcycled STEM challenge!
Cultivating friendships is a huge part of going to school. It’s always a good time for class chats about making friends, helping and appreciating friends, and tackling friendship challenges. A solid collection of children’s books about friendship is an essential tool. We’ve pulled together this list of recent favorite children’s books about friendship you’ll want to add to your shelves. (Pssst: We love sharing picture books with all ages, so check these out even if you teach big kids!)
1. Friends Beyond Measure: A Story Told With Infographics by Lalena Fisher
Amazon
We love unique children’s books about friendship to get students looking at the topic in new ways. Friends Ana and Harwin describe their joyful relationship in diagrams, charts, timelines, and graphs. All the data points to fun, until they find out Harwin’s family must move overseas. The two mourn the news, and then get to work drawing up new ways to represent their friendship. This title is especially perfect to share when you’re learning about representing data in math and science.
This clever look at “making” a friend shows a child on a dramatic adventure to build a robot—who ends up falling in with the wrong robotic crowd and meets its demise in an unfortunate explosion. The real friendship advice sprinkled throughout the story invites classroom conversation. It ends on a positive note when the child meets a peer who’s also interested in robots.
Riley’s cousins are always so bossy, telling Riley the “right” way to play with toys. The ways Riley enjoys playing, like lining up toys or tearing up piles of paper, aren’t the same. The kids find common ground and learn that there are many ways to play that are fun. This is a sweet and helpful story about appreciating how friends like to play and finding ways to play together harmoniously.
What starts as two children arguing over the same book at the library turns into a lesson about the magical power of perspective-taking. Readers can infer, as the story unfolds, that one child loves the book because it’s a comfort during time spent at the hospital with an ill parent. The other child loves the book because it’s a refuge in their chaotic home. As the children learn about and connect with each other, an empathetic friendship develops.
Art and his dad head to the farmers market on the hunt for ingredients to make juice to fight a cold. They run into some challenges along the way, and plenty of friends are eager to help. It’s nice to share children’s books about friendship that aren’t solely focused on childhood friendships. After all, we need friends at all ages!
This poignant book acknowledges that making friends in new situations can be hard, and offers an encouraging example of how sharing more about yourself can help foster connection. Sora loves collecting shells at the beach with her grandmother during her summer visit. Then, while she’s already struggling to make friends in her new kindergarten class, her grandmother passes away. The sadness is too much to bear. But taking a risk to open herself to new friendships helps.
7. Feathers Together by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso
Amazon
Two storks, Malena and Klepetan, miss each other terribly when an injured wing means Malena can’t migrate with the flock as usual. They exchange feathers and promise to hold each other in their hearts. A human friend cares for Malena during winter while she can’t fly, and the pair joyfully reunite the next spring. This is a nice friendship-themed story for identifying story elements and practicing retelling and summarizing. Check out all the titles in the Feeling Friends series, all inspired by real-life animal friendships.
Elsie and her mom, Valentine, run a guest house. When a tiger comes looking for a place to stay, they choose to welcome and accommodate him, building a new friendship in the process. This entertaining look at themes of inclusion and community can get kids talking about how to create a friendly, welcoming classroom and school.
We’re always down for children’s books about friendship that spell out for kids how they can be a good friend—and this one does it so sweetly! A child helps all her animal friends by giving them just the kind of support they need. This is a fantastic conversation starter for younger kids about relevant human friendship situations.
Raise your hand if your childhood neighbors were your first example friendship! This group of animal street-mates hasn’t really connected yet; they all feel like they don’t have much in common. When one neighbor has a problem, though—the internet stops working!—it turns out another neighbor can easily lend a hand. This starts a chain of helping and connecting. Get kids talking about ways to form friendships in their own communities.
11. The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali
Amazon
This sequel to the bestselling book The Proudest Blue, written by the first American woman in hijab to compete for the United States in the Olympic Games, spotlights the deep connections we can form with friends and siblings by helping others.
Walter and Xavier are best friends … until they aren’t. This touching story explores the idea that friendships don’t have to last forever, and how to deal with the roller coaster of emotions from sad to lonely to hopeful that can happen during friendship transitions.
Best friends Dandan and Yueyue meet one last time for their favorite activity—making paper snowflakes—before she moves to America. Will she ever find a friend in her new country like she did at home? Important insights about the challenges of being an immigrant are woven into a sweet and relatable story about making new friends while holding on to old ones.
Marjorie loves baking, knitting, and gardening so she goes undercover to find friends with similar interests at the local senior center. This heartwarming and upbeat book shows that friendship can come in many forms and highlights the importance of being true to yourself.
15. The Little Book of Friendship by Zack Bush and Laurie Friedman
Amazon
This is the perfect instruction manual for how to be a friend. Filled with activities, practical ideas, and short vignettes, this nonfiction book is a great addition to any classroom library and can be easily incorporated into social-emotional learning lesson plans.
The perfect story for anyone who feels like they don’t quite fit in. Shy Sophie feels most comfortable in her wolf suit, but when she wears it to school, her classmates make fun of her. Through this emotion-filled story, Sophie goes on a magical journey that teaches her (and her classmates) that good friends let you be you.
Full of beautiful illustrations that show a young girl enjoying solo activities, this tender book celebrates what we can gain from being alone and what we can gain from being with a friend. This is a particularly good book for more introspective and introverted students.
Henry really wants a friend, but when things often feel too loud and too close, this seems like an impossible task. This heartwarming book provides an important perspective about friendships from a child on the autism spectrum.
Brian feels invisible until a new friend joins the classroom and Brian helps welcome him. The timeless message about the power of kindness to help kids feel seen, heard, and valued makes this a perennial favorite for readers of all ages.
20. Don’t Hug Doug (He Doesn’t Like It) by Carrie Finison
Amazon
Doug likes a lot of things—including his rock collection, harmonica bands, and his many friends—but he thinks hugs are just way “too squashy.” When you need children’s books about respecting personal boundaries and different ways to show you care about a friend, definitely reach for this one!
Sam resists Agu’s attempts to join his game of pirates at first because he’s unfamiliar, but Agu wins him over with his real-life experience sailing the high seas. Gorgeous and thought-provoking, this book will help kids talk about how new friends can lead to new learning and new fun.
22. We Laugh Alike / Juntos nos reímos by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
Amazon
If you or your students speak Spanish, you’ll definitely want to add this unique children’s book about friendship across language barriers to your shelves. (And if you don’t, it’s still a great one to enjoy with kids, using the glossary to help.) Using a mix of English, Spanish, gestures, and open-mindedness, two groups of friends find common ground—and laughs—at the park.
23. A Thousand White Butterflies by Jessica Betancourt-Perez and Karen Lynn Williams
Amazon
Isabella is so excited for her first day of school—her “make-new-friends day”—after moving to the United States from Colombia. But then a snowstorm cancels school! A chance encounter shows her there are lots of ways to make new friends and have fun playing together. This touching personal narrative is one of our favorite new children’s books about friendship.
Jitterbug the chipmunk is hesitant about accepting a newcomer to her woods until her friends help her see the positives of welcoming “someone new.” Sign of a great book: Students of any age can appreciate this story and connect its themes to their lives.
We just keep coming back to this gorgeous book for all the literacy mini-lessons. Daniela and Evelyn are the best of friends, but Evelyn’s impending move is hard to swallow. Their poignant conversations show how friendship can transcend circumstance—and can help real-life friends facing a similar situation.
Making amends when you’ve made a mistake is a key part of friendship. This book manages to be both fun and serious as it teaches readers exactly what the title promises.
Sicily is a STEM wizard, constantly making creations from parts she finds in her apartment complex. Making friends, though? That’s harder. Throughout Sicily’s attempts, a parallel story of a neighbor boy unfolds in the illustrations—a fun example of how friendship can occur in unexpected places, and a reminder for kids that a big part of friendship is considering others’ experiences.
Simple, counting text describes a diverse group of children who come together at the playground. The illustrations will give your class lots to talk about and can help open a brainstorming session about inclusive ways to welcome others to play.
32. All About Friends by Felicity Brooks and Mar Ferrero
Amazon
Approaching friendship discussions through stories works for lots of kids, but for some, a more explicit primer can be helpful. This is one of the most comprehensive nonfiction children’s books about friendship we’ve seen. It uses straightforward language and plenty of charming pictures to teach key skills like how to use friendly body language, how to initiate conversations with friends, and strategies to use when friends argue.
Meesha never feels like she gets it quite right unless she’s making “friends” with craft supplies. When Josh quietly reaches out, though, she learns that doing something she loves alongside a friend can feel twice as nice. Share this story to honor the experiences of kids who find it challenging to connect with others.
Llewellyn and his friend Evelyn collect their favorite memories in jars. When Evelyn moves away, it’s devastating—until they find a way to use their special memories to stay connected. We love this hushed, beautiful children’s book about friendship for the range of ideas and conversations it inspires.
35. The Shadow Elephant by Nadine Robert and Valerio Vidali
Amazon
Friendship is often lots of fun, but sometimes being a friend means helping during hard times. When Elephant feels down, Mouse instinctively knows he needs time to let the feelings pass with a quiet friend resting by his side.
The New Year is upon us, bringing a mix of wonder, hope, and new beginnings. New Year’s Eve is all about the big celebration, while New Year’s Day typically brings feelings of reflection. It is the designated time to make resolutions to improve our lives. However, it is important to remember we can make positive changes any day of the year, not just on January 1. Personally, I set reasonable goals all year long, whenever I feel the need. It’s never too late to improve your life! Check out these books celebrating New Year’s (and the time around it) to build excitement about all the great things in store for the second half of the school year and beyond. Cheers and happy New Year!
Picture Books About New Year’s
1. Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution by Pat Miller
Amazon
The new year has arrived, and squirrel is having a hard time coming up with her own resolutions. As she visits her fellow forest friends, she unintentionally helps them work on their New Year’s resolutions. In the end, she discovers the perfect resolution for her was right under her nose!
Books about New Year’s Eve help set the stage for the festive night. Fans of Wing’s Night Before books will love this fun, rhyming story full of holiday cheer.
This newly published book about New Year’s Eve is full of different activity ideas to celebrate at school and home. Find a new tradition to adapt as you read along!
4. Just in Time for New Year’s! A Harry & Emily Adventure by Karen Gray Ruelle
Amazon
Two kittens, Harry and Emily, finally have permission to stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve. See how they come up with creative ways to stay awake so late.
5. The Lucky Grapes: A New Year’s Eve Story by Tracey Kyle
Amazon
Rafa and his family are in Spain celebrating in this book about New Year’s Eve. He is introduced to the tradition of eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight for good luck, along with wearing yellow underwear for the same reason.
6. Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriella! by Alexandra Alessandri
Amazon
Ava Gabriella and her parents are in Colombia visiting extended family for their New Year’s Eve festivities. She is so shy around everyone that she cannot speak up and be her usual self. But as the clock strikes midnight, she finds her voice at last!
Ryland reminds readers that even when things change or times get tough, the feeling won’t last forever. Great things are always waiting around the corner, so hang in there, in good times and bad.
8. Shanté Keys and the New Year’s Peas by Gail Piernes-Davenport
Amazon
Shante’s Southern grandmother is busy preparing their traditional New Year’s meal but forgot the black-eyed peas needed for good luck. While trying to find some to borrow from different neighbors, she simultaneously receives a lesson in other cultures’ New Year’s festivities.
This book about New Year’s Eve focuses on Haitian culture, including the traditional Freedom Soup eaten on January 1. Belle and her grandmother spend a special day together making the soup and discussing family history. Don’t forget to check out the special recipe at the end.
10. The New Year’s Eve Sleepover From the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler
Amazon
In this book about New Year’s Eve, Hubie is invited to his first sleepover at his friend Eric’s to celebrate. Hubie’s worries about the big event snowball as his imagination runs wild. Will he survive a night away from home in a strange place?
Join Lucy, Bradley, Brian, and Nate in this mysterious series finale set on New Year’s Eve. Follow the clues throughout the book to help solve the problem.
Someone has stolen the ice sculptures from the annual Ice Carnival that takes place at the end of December. Twelve-year-old detective duo Alex and Yasmeen should be on the case like usual, but their friendship is falling apart because of the new girl in town. See if they can patch things up in time to solve the mystery.
Mallory McDonald is counting the days until her camp friends arrive in town to celebrate in this book about New Year’s Eve. At the last minute, Mallory ends up in the hospital with appendicitis. She thinks this is the start of the worst year ever, until she learns a valuable lesson in the end.
14. Every Month Is a New Year: Celebrations Around the World by Marilyn Singer
Amazon
If you are looking for books about New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world, this one’s for you. Take your students on a virtual field trip to different countries, right from your classroom.
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated sometime in September, depending on where it falls on the Hebrew calendar. Learn about the blowing of the shofar, dipping apples in honey for a sweet new year, and other timeless traditions.
Diwali takes place sometime in October or November, depending on where it falls on the Hindu calendar. Find out about the Hindu New Year, also known as the Festival of Lights, through the eyes of young Binny.
Inspirational Books for Goal Setting and Making Resolutions
18. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Amazon
This beautifully written and illustrated story reminds us that our differences make the world a more exciting place. When we are brave and proud of who we are, great things are bound to happen!
In this classic story, Peter only has one wish: to learn how to whistle for his beloved dog, Willie. Practice and hard work indeed pays off in the end.
For years this book has been one of the top gifts to give high school and college graduates, and for good reason. Dr. Seuss’ classic is the perfect springboard for goal-setting activities. His whimsical rhymes and illustrations still ring true today, sending a powerful message.
Sometimes it takes imagination and creativity to come up with a great New Year’s resolution. The girl in this story will inspire students to make them.
There’s nothing better in preschool than cozying up on the rug to share books together. Preschoolers represent a range of ages, developmental levels, and interests. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a mega-list of mostly recent preschool books to stock your classroom library. Check them out to support your thematic units or just make any story time better!
Learning to be a kind friend is at the heart of preschool! These books give kids the language and examples they need.
1. Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang
Amazon
There are lots of kids in the childcare room while their adults attend English as a Second Language classes, but none of them speak to each other. That is until Luli makes a plan to bring them together to share tea and cookies. This is an adorable, heartwarming story about connecting with others that could definitely inspire many preschool tea parties!
There’s so much to talk about in the pictures of this sweet counting book. At the park, more circles (a ball, bike wheels, Hula-Hoops) mean more chances to play with friends!
Kindness is a universal theme in preschool, and this title brims with optimism and age-appropriate examples. Share it with kids and then celebrate their own kind ideas and actions.
This is one of our new favorite preschool books for building empathy around differences and disabilities. Joe just wants to play pirates at the playground, but the other kids can’t contain their questions about why he has only one leg. It’s a great #OwnVoices story for opening discussions about balancing curiosity with respect for privacy.
A young girl finds an injured bird while on a walk with her abuela. They nurse it back to health and release it—and receive a surprise visitor the following spring. If you’re looking to add to your collection of gentle preschool books for reading aloud again and again, this is a good choice. It’s also available in Spanish.
The sweetest winter friendship story. Charles dreams of finding a “wish tree” and sets off into the woods with his trusty sled, Boggan, to find one. Along the way he selflessly helps many animals carry food and supplies they need for winter.
This is a go-to for helping younger preschoolers understand how to be a friend to someone feeling grumpy. A group of animal friends share a silly hat gift to cheer each other up. Lots of fun to read aloud again and again (and again!) Check out the other Hooray For! books too.
When a dropped love note makes its way around a group of forest friends, everyone has different reactions and ideas about who may have sent it. For all of them, though, the idea of the note makes them feel loved. Preschool listeners love having the inside scoop on the story as the animals try to figure out the mystery.
Valentine and her daughter Elsie run a friendly guest house. When Emmet the tiger arrives in search of a room, the other guests get nervous. Valentine and Elsie’s calm, welcoming reaction to an unexpected guest turns into a lesson for the whole community about acceptance.
10. Something’s Wrong! A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear by Jory John
Amazon
Bear has an uneasy feeling that something’s wrong, but he can’t figure out what. Cue the endless preschool giggles as he parades around the forest in his underwear. Hare is an exemplary friend and helps it all turn out OK.
11. Nothing’s Wrong! A Hare, a Bear, and Some Pie To Share by Jory John
Amazon
Hare plans to surprise his friend Bear with a pie for their picnic, but it ends up being ruined. Hare is completely bummed, but when he finally opens up to Bear, the two friends work together to make a backup plan. Add this to your preschool books about how friends can problem-solve together!
Read these books to help kids talk about (and love!) themselves and appreciate the beautiful diversity of those around them.
12. My Hair Is Like the Sun by St. Clair Derick-Jules
Amazon
This gorgeous board book joyfully compares Black hair to the ocean, a cloud, a river, and more. We love it for helping all kids describe and celebrate their hair.
This title belongs in every single classroom collection of preschool books. It’s hands-down the most positive and inclusive book we’ve ever seen about physical appearance. No matter your shape, size, hair, skin color and markings, and features, bodies are amazingly cool.
A young boy wants to play outside and his parents tell him, “Go ahead. You’re a big kid now.” A relatable story about how feeling both big and small can feel good.
Add this to your preschool books for kids who like to do things their own way. Fia loves her tangled hair and refuses to brush it, despite her mother’s pleas—and the fact that its home to an actual bird’s nest! A relatable story about how good it feels to be your own special self.
This happy title celebrates skin from babyhood to toddlerhood and beyond. We appreciate developmentally appropriate preschool books that invite kids to talk about skin color.
Inviting preschool kids to make self-portraits or family portraits with loose parts is on our list of must-do projects every year. Get them thinking about how to celebrate and creatively represent all their features with this fun collage book.
Lily and her aunt go on a shopping expedition, but none of the available dresses feel right. Lily is determined to find one with pockets! Preschoolers who have strong ideas about what clothing they like will easily connect to Lily’s experiences.
Social-emotional learning is a crucial part of the preschool years. These books can help kids understand and talk about all their big feelings.
20. Bea by the Sea by Jo Byatt
Amazon
Bea hates the sand at the beach, but she loves lions. An imaginary lion helps her overcome her fears and feelings of discomfort so she can enjoy a beach day with her mom. Any child who has a setting or sensation they avoid because of how it makes them feel will appreciate this story!
Add this to your preschool books about feelings related to sharing! Sharing is hard, especially when you have a friend over for a playdate. Sally takes her sharing woes to an extreme, shoving anything and everything she may have to share into the closet. It seems like a good plan, until everything in the closet is having way more fun than Sally.
We can’t have enough preschool books about feelings. This one explores emotions through the best context: ice cream! Kids can easily imagine how it would feel to be waiting in line for ice cream, eating ice cream, even dropping ice cream. Lots of fun follow-up project possibilities too!
23. First Feelings Series by Child’s Play and Paula Bowles
Amazon
These oversize board books are perfect for sharing with a small group of young preschoolers as they build their emotional vocabulary. The simple text talks about when you might feel angry (or surprised, loved, sad, scared, etc.). The illustrations show furry and cute monsters in situations that will be easy for kids to recognize and talk about.
24. Ups and Downs: A Book of Emotions by Mike Wohnoutka
Amazon
One feeling word per page shows how a child’s emotions can change so many times over the course of a regular day. With words like “delighted,” “disgusted,” and “relaxed,” this is a great title for kids who are ready to learn more feelings-related vocabulary words beyond the usual “happy,” “sad, and “mad.”
It can be so frustrating to have a little sister who has big meltdowns. Her big brother helps her learn to use words to talk about her big feelings. This is a sweet opener for discussions about using words for feelings in pre-K.
Sometimes sad feelings need to just be. Rabbit goes to great lengths to fix Bear’s sadness, but it turns out what Bear really needs is a chance to sit together quietly with a good friend. Great for opening conversations about ways to help sad friends at school.
This remarkable sequel to In a Jar shares how Llewellyn doesn’t like to experience his feelings so he puts them in jars. But what happens when it becomes too much to keep them closed up tight? Perfect for opening discussions with pre-K kids about naming and honoring different emotions.
28. Invisible Things by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller
Amazon
Get ready for mind-blowing preschool conversations. This title is like climbing into a kid’s head and giving them words for all the sensations, feelings, and experiences that make up their days. It’s an awesome way to connect conversations about the five senses with emotional vocabulary.
Celebrate all kinds of families with these affirming, diverse preschool books.
29. Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour
Amazon
Family stories are staple preschool books. When Mommy goes away for the week, a little girl and her Mama make their own fun. Then they are happy to be reunited when Mommy returns.
Most preschool classrooms engage in some kind of study of families, and this book is a must-have to encourage an inclusive view on the topic. Illustrations are colorful and engaging and sweetly portray many different variations on family structure.
This feel-good story tells of a little girl who plays dress-up with her mother’s headscarves. We love sharing it when talking about families or when conversations about head coverings arise among students.
32. I Really Want To See You, Grandma by Taro Gomi
Amazon
This story is for every kid who fiercely misses a special relative. Yumi desperately wants to see her grandma, so she sets out for her house. What she doesn’t know is that Grandma has also decided to make a visit, causing some frantic back-and-forth.
33. Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan
Amazon
The dad in this touching story works night-shift security at a construction site. Its hushed descriptions of his rounds—complete with repeated sightings of a small, gray kitten—mesmerizes kids. The text is richly detailed without being too much for preschoolers, and we love the nod to families in which parents work varying schedules.
34. Alphonse, There’s Mud on the Ceiling! by Daisy Hirst
Amazon
Monster sibs Natalie and Alphonse love playing outdoors but are frustrated to live in a tall apartment building. Creativity wins, though, and the story is full of their imaginative adventures both indoors and out. We like sharing a story about playing outside that also acknowledges the diversity of kids’ homes.
35. Hurry Kate, or You’ll Be Late! by Janice N. Harrington
Amazon
Kate and her dad have a special bond, as shown through all the sweet moments of their commute to preschool. None of them are the reason she’s late though; that’s due to the extra-long hug they share at the end! Perfect for opening conversations about what students and their caregivers love to see and do together.
36. I’ll Always Come Back to You by Carmen Tafolla
Amazon
Navigating separation emotions is a critical part of preschool. This mom’s over-the-top reassurance will make preschoolers smile and feel confident that their own special adults will always come back.
Raisin likes things just the way they are. When a new sibling comes along, it’s hard to adjust. We love this story for honoring the feelings of preschoolers who also may be adjusting to a new sibling. Raisin’s habit of making lists always seems to spark a flurry of prewriting activity among kids too!
Preschool is a time to build kids’ background knowledge and awareness of the world around them. These preschool books about weather and the environment can keep your class noticing, wondering, and learning across all seasons.
38. Berry Song by Michaela Goade
Amazon
A young girl and her grandmother gather berries together and thank the earth, celebrating Tlingit traditions and the seasons. Definitely add this lovely, relatable book to your preschool books that represent indigenous cultures.
A girl finds a leaf and imagines all the different things it could be. Gorgeous illustrations are so fun to pore over with kids. Add this to your preschool books for inspiring fall projects!
Here’s one for every kid who’s every worried over an upcoming change—even those that are supposed to be exciting. When the squirrels really talk up the fall changes to come, the little leaves get uneasy, especially Maple. This would be such fun to act out with puppets or flannel board pieces!
A witch heats up her cauldron for making a delicious soup with plenty of wholesome ingredients—and topped off with frogs. But she can’t keep the frog from jumping off the spoon! This is a hilarious read-aloud with fun pretend-play connections.
A nightingale with a broken wing can’t fly south for the winter. Luckily, the kind winter forest animals help it adjust to the unfamiliar cold and snowy weather. This is one of our new favorite preschool books for talking about both seasonal changes and kindness toward others.
April Pulley Sayre’s photos are unparalleled for encouraging kiddos to study nature and observe like scientists. We love all her titles, but this one is particularly helpful for classrooms that study frog life cycles.
This delightful journey through the colors of the seasons is particularly nice to share if you have a child in your class who’s expecting a sibling. The mother in the book subtly grows with each change in season, and by year’s end, the family celebrates a new arrival.
Since we love every single one of Shelley Rotner’s gorgeous photo essays, it was hard to choose one to feature, but this title is particularly interactive for classrooms having conversations about the weather.
The Whose Is THAT? series is ideal for preschool naturalists. The predictable question-and-answer format is so read-aloud-friendly, and the amount of information is just right. We love how this title builds kids’ descriptive vocabulary too.
This board book is a must-have if it snows in your climate. Join in with a family’s snowy nature walk adventure to notice and describe all the tracks animals have left. Then head outside to spot tracks for real!
If you study winter animal adaptations, you’ll love sharing this book. Zander the goose decides he doesn’t want to fly south for winter this year. He explores different ways animals stay warm in wintry climates until he finds one that works for him!
49. How To Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside by Kari Percival
Amazon
This delightful how-to book invites kids to get up close and personal with all the delights of nature, including, of course, wiggling worms! Perfect for sharing to prepare for a nature walk or outdoor learning time.
It’s a preschool classic conundrum: You want to build something and your materials aren’t quite right. In this case, it’s slushy, wet snow that just won’t turn into a snowman. This is the perfect title for working on sequencing. Plus, talk all about ways to manage frustration.
Preschool Books About Numbers, Letters, and Colors
Developing kids’ early learning concepts is a key piece of preschool, and fun books make the job easier! These preschool counting books, alphabet books, and color books are some of our recent faves to add to your collection.
51. & 52. Baby Bear Counts One and Baby Bear Sees Blue by Ashley Wolff
AmazonAmazon
There are plenty of sweet bear stories, but it’s the gorgeous linocut illustrations that really make these concept books stand out. They build children’s vocabulary and content knowledge about a bear’s habitat too.
53. Mrs. Peanuckle’s Alphabet Series by Mrs. Peanuckle
Amazon
Everything about this series is downright adorable. Each book marches through a nature-themed version of the ABCs with engaging facts about bugs, birds, veggies, fruits, trees, flowers, and more—all while using cheerful mixed-media art.
54. Bear Is Awake! An Alphabet Story by Hannah E. Harrison
Amazon
We love preschool books that combine the alphabet with a great picture story. Hearing kids’ reactions as the narrative about a hungry bear unfolds is a treat. A is for “awake” …
The original title in this series, LMNO Peas, is a longtime preschool book favorite because it combines two preschool loves: the alphabet and exploration of occupations. (Plus, could those little peas be any cuter?) We love having the latest installment, LMNO Pea-Quel, on hand for our pre-K kiddos as they start to tune in to lowercase letters, which are highlighted in this book.
Elegant in its simplicity, this title features a single-color word matched to a soup veggie on each page. We love pairing it with a paint-color exploration, painting full sheets of paper, and chopping them up into “soup” pieces.
57. Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party by Kimberly and James Dean
Amazon
Obviously, Pete the Cat is a preschool classroom’s best friend. We love this new fave—next to our all-time #1 Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, of course—for talking all things pizza and all things starting with the letter P. Preschoolers giggle endlessly over Pete’s pals’ silly topping choices.
58. What About X? An Alphabet Adventure by Anne Marie Houppert
Amazon
As the letters prepare for a camping trip, X can’t figure out what to bring. Everyone else has something fun that starts with their letter. Preschoolers will love the creative problem-solving in this book. Also add this to your preschool books for when you set up your pretend play area with a camping theme!
59. Again, Essie? (Storytelling Math) by Jenny Lacika
Amazon
Big brother Rafael wants to protect his toys from his toddler sister, Essie. He fits together boxes and other found materials to make a wall. Will it work? Explore vocabulary like “tall,” “skinny,” “wide,” and more. We think every preschool classroom should have a full set of the Storytelling Math series books because they are so good. Many are also available in Spanish, and each one includes “Exploring the Math” activity ideas.
60. A Beautiful House for Birds (Storytelling Math) by Grace Lin
Amazon
The Storytelling Math board books are ideal for setting out at your preschool math centers. We love them all, but this one about painting pattern and—oops!—making a mistake and coming up with a new plan will especially resonate with preschool students.
61. Five Hiding Ostriches by Barbara Barbieri McGrath
Amazon
Five little ostriches wonder what to do when they spot a lion. This adorable spin on “Five Little Pumpkins” is such fun to read aloud and act out as a class.
Explore shapes, colors, and prepositions with this most inventive of preschool books that’ll really get your class talking. It starts out simple but ramps up as the book goes on, making it a great multi-age concept book. Extension ideas abound, from offering it with loose parts for kids to explore or creating your own class version with cut and glued shapes.
63. How To Count to 1 (and Don’t Even THINK About Bigger Numbers!) by Caspar Salmon
Amazon
This clever counting book will tickle preschool funny bones as they catch all the jokes in the illustrations. Perfect for kids starting to be interested in “bigger numbers”!
64. Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter
Amazon
Preschool books with fun sounds make great read-alouds. Late at night, a series of noises wakes up everyone in an apartment building one by one. What will lull them back to sleep? Illustrations by one of our favorites, Oge Mora, make this book sing.
We love preschool books that encourage mindfulness and wonder, and this does both. A girl practices listening to the myriad small sounds around her, naturally encouraging preschool students to do the same.
66. & 67. Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing and Alphabreaths Too: More ABCs of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard and Daniel Rechtschaffen
AmazonAmazon
These invaluable titles are circle-time staples. Learn a different breath for every letter of the alphabet—and then learn another! Preschool kids think these are so fun, and they can call upon them when they’re upset or need to calm down.
68. & 69. Good Morning Yoga and Good Night Yoga by Mariam Gates
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Yoga story time is one of our favorite ways to incorporate yoga in the preschool classroom, and these are two of our go-tos for energizing or winding down our littlest yogis.
Natsumi has tons of energy, just like many preschoolers we know. Her grandfather helps her channel it into the perfect pastime: drumming! We like to pair this book with … you guessed it: plenty of percussion invitations.
Teach your younger preschoolers about animals and interesting verbs with a ready-made movement session. Invite kids to try out pouncing, hopping, dashing, and lots more. Photographs of both animals and kids moving bring the concepts to life.
72. Can You Dance Like a Peacock? by Rekha S. Rajan
Amazon
Fun and engaging nonfiction facts about animals who “dance” build kids’ background knowledge. Use the “Dance Break!” sections to get your class moving.
Get ready for the catchiest book ever. Little Worm has a song stuck in his head that he can’t quite place. As he tries to figure it out, it turns out his friends have their own ear worms too! Such fun to read aloud.
Just because they don’t fit into a category doesn’t mean they aren’t shelf-worthy! These recent favorites are perfect for reading aloud, browsing, and making connections to curriculum topics.
74. House: First Words Board Books by Michael Slack
Amazon
We’ve used this collection of little label books—each features contents of a room in a home—in so many ways. Share them to get kids talking about their own homes or as examples to inspire kids’ own label books. The little books fit into the box like a puzzle, so they make for a great item for independent exploration during quiet time too.
Sally Sutton earned a special place in our construction book-loving hearts with Roadwork. This more recent title has a guessing-game structure, which makes it perfect for reading aloud to kids who love vehicles.
76. Penguin Bedtime Classics illustrated by Carly Gledhill
Amazon
These are not your typical fairy tales! This board book collection distills classic tales down to a few basic—but still engaging—short sentences and fills in the gaps with diverse, fresh-feeling illustrations.
This wordless retelling of a classic fairy tale is perfect for sharing with kids once they are familiar with the story. They can use the fun illustrations to tell it themselves. We hope this creator will make more wordless fairy tale books!
78. The Princess and the (Greedy ) Pea by Leigh Hodgkinson
Amazon
This rhyming riff combines the fun of a classic fairy tale with the “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” song. A green pea swallows a full menu of dinner items. This is such fun to share alongside a traditional version of the fairy tale and exposes kids to fabulous vocabulary.
Maya has big dreams of building a perfect fort—too big, in fact, to accomplish alone. Luckily her forest friends help out and it’s more amazing than she could have imagined. This is sure to inspire kids’ own fort-building ideas.
80. & 81. What Color Is Night? and What Sound Is Morning? by Grant Snider
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These poetic titles celebrate the nuanced colors of night and the sounds of the very beginning of the day. Bedtime and early mornings are preschooler prime times, of course, so these are highly relevant preschool books. They’re great springboards for activities about looking and listening carefully and describing colors and sounds in your school environment too.
This realistic narrative about a family who makes pizza from scratch—think growing veggies and making homemade sauce—gives kiddos lots to talk about! After reading, it’s definitely time for some pizza-making of your own.
Kids just love this book! Part story about a bumbling bear, part seek-and-find challenge, it’s perfect for sharing with a small group. Fergus wants to hide, but he needs a lot of guidance, which of course, young hide-and-seek experts find hilarious. We love preschool books that encourage pre-writers too—this one’s good for inspiring some list-making!
This is our newest favorite spirited STEAM tale. First of all, the amazing made-up words: Boxitect. Blanketeer. Spaghetti-tect. Kids want to be all of them. There is a nice underlying message about the value of teamwork, and tons of cardboard-box creation inspiration too.
85. A Story for Small Bear by Alice McGinty and Richard Jones
Amazon
Small Bear is eager for her story time before settling in for winter’s sleep, but Mama tells her there’s preparation to be done first. Will they finish getting ready in time? This is hands-down one of the sweetest preschool books we’ve read recently and weaves in so many preschool curriculum topics—family relationships, seasons, forest animals—and, of course, the power of stories.
When preschoolers discover stick swords, our impulse can be to squash them in the name of safety. Imaginative Ruby shows us another path, though—one of ants rescued, apples procured, and fictional dragons challenged by a fearless knight, along with a satisfying, friendship-filled ending. Bookmark this for sharing each year when talking about using sticks in safe but fun ways.
Penguin had our hearts back with Penguin and Pinecone, one of our favorite tales about the power of friendship that evokes amazing reflections from kids. In each subsequent story, Penguin sensitively grapples with a new social-emotional challenge, and we—and our penguin-loving preschoolers—are here for all of them.
88. & 89. Daniel Finds a Poem and Daniel’s Good Day by Micha Archer
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If you think poetry isn’t for preschoolers, think again. They dictate the most perfect poetic lines, and this pair of titles is the best springboard. Daniel is an honest, observant, caring delight of a character.
Brave firefighter Flo and her crew must hurry to save a dog caught in the blaze. Prepare to read this energetic gem aloud over and over again. It’s full of all the classic firefighting details and has fun sounds that little listeners can chime in to add too.
91. Lift, Mix, Fling! Machines Can Do Anything by Lola M. Schaefer
Amazon
Add this to your preschool books to inspire kiddos who love all things mechanical. From axles to inclined planes and many more, this awesome rhyming introduction to simple and complex machines can lead into so many hands-on STEM explorations.
This quirky, creative rhyming story just gets better each time you read it and notice a new detail. Animals visit Gus’s Garage with unusual vehicle problems, and he’s always able to use his “bits and bobs” to craft a solution. This is the perfect STEM tale for inspiring creations made with recycled materials.
When a trio of siblings visits Grandpa, they’re so disappointed when it rains. Grandpa knows how to make it fun, though. He sends them out to the garden to pick veggies for his famous rainbow stew! This classic story includes so many key preschool themes, from managing disappointment to teamwork to plants.
94. Have You Seen My Invisible Dinosaur? by Helen Yoon
Amazon
A child is looking for their pet dinosaur, who disappears after a bath. The trouble is, the dinosaur is invisible. When he’s clean, no one can see him! This is an imaginative read-aloud to get kids noticing the pictures and talking about the story.
Add this to your preschool books with delightful vocabulary, perfect for sharing with eager listeners. The author asks kids to be very quiet, since she just put a “very rascally dragon” to bed. The interactive elements work well for a group, and this story could even be used as kids settle into their own rest time.
Once in a while, we like to stretch preschoolers’ thinking and vocabulary by sharing classic fables. This gorgeous retelling about joy vs. anger is perfect for repeated reading aloud and acting out with kid performers, puppets, or a flannel board.
97. All Through the Night: Important Jobs That Get Done at Night by Polly Faber
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As a family finishes up dinner, the mom heads to work. This informational text shares tons of examples of people who work at night, from store clerks to cleaners, musicians, newscasters, and many more. Add this to your preschool books about community helpers to help represent the diversity of careers and work schedules required in a community.
Aurora learned English when she moved to the United States, but her dog didn’t. This concrete explanation of what it means to speak one language and not another is perfect for helping preschoolers appreciate and empathize with those who speak languages different than theirs.
Determined to avoid sleep, the babies head out on a grand adventure. Can they manage to keep their eyes open? Preschoolers will love their funny antics.
Badger’s supposed to be getting ready for winter, but when he finds a discarded “twist-a-roo”—actually a kaleidoscope—he can only think of looking at the beautiful patterns it makes. This is a fun “twist” on a winter animal story, with sweet friendship themes too. Be sure to have an actual kaleidoscope on hand for kids to try.
Bibliophiles are a pretty straightforward group—we love to read. That includes plenty of teachers. But finding a great gift that’s not another bestseller can be daunting. Use this list of 51 gift ideas (OK, a few are books) to find the perfect gifts for all the book lovers on your list.
1. Embroidered felt bookmark
Etsy
These personalized felt embroidered bookmarks are a beautiful way to save a page. Order sets of one letter as gifts for the book lovers who always have multiple books going at once.
We love this ornament, which would look great on a Christmas tree or as a hanging decoration all year round. There are also lots of options for shapes so you can personalize this ornament to its recipient.
This is a great gift for someone who likes books, and a challenge, and a challenge about books. Each time they complete a classic title, they scratch off that picture until they’ve read all 100.
A reading light that can be taken on the road for reading in the car or that can be used for bedtime reading. (This could be a great gift for the person in your life whose reading keeps you up at night.)
If you’re buying a gift for a book lover who loves to drink but hates rings on tables, a set of coasters is a practical gift. Plus, a set of coasters with a gorgeous design like these is a great addition to any side table.
Also in the bookmark department, match a favorite genre with the perfect bookmark. In this case, horror or true crime with fake-blood-spattered bookmarks.
Make sure everyone knows which books belong in their library. Book stamps are fantastic gifts for book lovers. Choose a stamp design that fits with the person you’re gifting it to.
A collection of 100 postcards each with a different penguin book jacket is a perfect gift for a reader who likes to send notes, or who could use postcards in a creative way.
These specialty dust jackets are for readers who like to display the books they read. Dust jackets are available for other series as well, including Percy Jackson, Twilight, and Harry Potter.
The Book Lover’s Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature—the title says it all. A great gift for someone who loves to read classic literature.
A book weight is the perfect tool for a reader who wants to read without having to worry about pages flipping. This makes a great small gift or stocking stuffer.
A collection of 25 reading challenges and book-y rewards to inspire bookworms. They’ll find themselves rereading favorite childhood books, reading books that feature indigenous people, or getting book recommendations from a local bookstore.
Whether they incorporate cards, dice, boards, spinners—or even an adorable cardboard monster and an oversized spoon—games have a host of benefits for young children. Games help children develop academic, spatial, and critical-thinking skills. Some games even provide kids with an opportunity for that oh-so important movement break.
When kids play with their classmates, they practice social-emotional skills like cooperating, taking turns, and being a good sport. Not to mention the good old-fashioned fun in playing games and the nostalgia that teachers will feel, as many of these games were plucked right out of the 1980s and 1990s! Many mainstream games are perfect for the preschool classroom. Check out our list of the best board and card games for preschoolers.
1. Color Go Fish!
Amazon
This classic game is a childhood staple, and these cards are easy on little hands and eyes.
Once your students understand the premise of “Go Fish,” treat them to this adorably imaginative version from a favorite illustrator. They’ll love making pairs of “Strawberry Fish,” “Scribble Octopus,” “Lobsterbots,” and more.
We love that this game works on fine motor skills while also encouraging vocabulary recognition. Kids will love the frantic finding required to match all the objects on their cards!
Here’s a year’s worth of math-center activities for you in one cute and tiny box. Sturdy and visually pleasing cards offer tons of possibilities for building number sense. Students can use them to count, match amounts, compare, subitize, and more.
Children race to be the first to fill their shopping baskets with the items on their lists. The board is simple and uncluttered, and the picture-and-word shopping lists encourage the development of concepts about print.
Preschoolers will feel empowered once they catch on to the principles of this basic memory game. The enticing Popsicle-shaped cards will get them talking about attributes while they play.
This is one of the best board games for preschoolers because it’s easily adaptable to large-group play. Movement cards ask kids to practice gross motor skills while playing with a fun beanbag banana.
Help kids learn basic game-playing skills like rolling a die and moving along a path in a familiar context: bedtime! Kids love helping make decisions about how Bunny’s bedtime routine will go.
This is the perfect game for the whole class to play at once since there are enough sturdy scavenger hunt cards to go around. The cards encourage literacy development since they have both pictures and words on each card.
Anything with Pete the Cat is an automatic preschool win. To get Pete’s cupcakes back from Grouchy Toad, kids must name objects, sing songs, and act out charades.
The suggested age range is 6 and up, but we feel confident that with a little coaching, older preschoolers will fall in love with this old-school game. It will encourage use of descriptive vocabulary too.
Sliding the card dispenser has a similar appeal to spinning a bingo cage. Zingo supports vocabulary development and print awareness as well as focus—you have to be watching to call out and snag your picture first! Spanish, sight word, number, and word-building versions are also available.
This game challenges kids to match shapes correctly while also challenging them to race against the clock. Kids will get a kick out of the pieces popping up when time runs out.
This game works on both patterning and sequencing while also working on balance and coordination. Bonus: You can even use the game pieces for imaginative play in a toy kitchen!
This classic game might make adults groan, but we still consider it one of the best board games for preschoolers. Why? Kids can take it out, set it up, and play it by themselves. Cooperation and independence for the win! (Pro tip: Provide a playing card tray for easy management of the draw pile and discards.)
Dominoes is a versatile and timeless game for all ages. This set from Melissa and Doug is super-sturdy and gets kids recognizing standard dot formations of numbers 1 through 6.
No list of best board games for preschoolers would be complete without some version of Hungry Hungry Hippos. We love this particular one since dinosaurs tend to be a favorite for any preschooler!
The goal of the game is to have the lowest score when someone calls “Tat-a-tat cat!” This game builds number sense and teaches the concept of zero. If you’d like to encourage conversations about numbers, opt to have students play with their cards turned up and visible.
In this matching game with a twist, the fun comes when you turn over cards that don’t match! When this happens, players must move like the animal body card and make the sound of the animal head card. Stomping like an elephant while clucking like a chicken is hilarious when you’re a preschooler—or a preschool teacher!
This is another perfect game for the older preschoolers in your class. Your students will have to use their critical-thinking skills in order to outsmart their opponent and get four in a row.
Cue the squeals of laughter—kids love the suspense of this game! Remove the bananas one by one to see which one makes the monkey jump. The included puzzle is a nice bonus for friends to make together.
Practice matching basic shapes while helping Frankie the Cat create his food truck meals. The real appeal (and sneaky fine motor strength-building) comes from the Frankie-shaped “squeezer” players use to move the game pieces around.
This oversized game board gives plenty of room for a group of kids to spy items in the pictures and move ahead on the board. The goal is to get to the picnic before the pigs eat all the food, and everyone has to help!
This version of charades is one of the best board games for preschoolers because it’s designed for little kids. Preschoolers need opportunities for movement, and this game provides just that as they have to act out a variety of scenarios. The game also encourages vocabulary development as the cards have both pictures and words.
Every kid should learn to play Uno. It’s marketed for ages 7 and up, but the rules are easily adaptable for younger children. With enough practice, they’ll be unleashing the Draw Four cards like pros.
Players must work together to get the owls back to the nest before sunrise. Color cards, similar to Candy Land, move the owls closer to the goal, but there are a few added twists to make it more interesting.
It’s often the simplest games that are best. Players take turns rolling color dice to see which snails to move in this cooperative game. Which snail will win? Oh, the suspense! Swap out one die with a regular die if you want to speed up the game and encourage number recognition.
There are multiple ways to play this silly game. In the simplest version, players roll a die to determine how many pieces of food to “feed” the Woozle. But wait: Walking across the room balancing the food on the spoon adds an extra challenge. Players cooperate so they can satiate the goofy creature’s appetite.
Players hide a wooden bear under one of six sturdy nesting blocks decorated as rooms in a house and then try to find him. This game capitalizes on toddlers’ love of hiding things and offers a lot of language-building opportunities. This is perfect for a class of 2-year-olds or a multi-age group in which older students can play the adult role.
This game is our go-to for older preschoolers ready for a bit of strategic play. Players cooperate to create a path to reach the treasure before the ogre does.
Kids will have a blast picking pretend fruit from the trees on the preschool game board while they’re practicing math skills such as counting, addition, and subtraction!
This game requires no reading, so it’s great for young kids. It’s also perfect for improving fine motor skills as kids try to place beans in the jar without tipping it over.
Is there a more classic game than bingo? It definitely deserves a spot on any list of the best board games for preschoolers. This updated version can help kids improve letter recognition, letter and object association, and concentration skills. It’s also a great opportunity for social-skills development and cooperative play.
The object of this old favorite is to keep Phillip the Penguin on top of the ice, but as the game goes on, the ice blocks start falling. Kids can work on fine motor skills, problem-solving, and learning to take turns while they have fun!
A forever favorite, Chutes and Ladders is an excellent choice for kids who haven’t yet learned how to read. They’ll have the best time playing this Peppa Pig–themed game while simultaneously improving number recognition.
Social-emotional learning is particularly important in the pandemic world we have been living in. We love the regulation strategies this game teaches children to help manage their overwhelming feelings.
This game is perfect for the preschool-aged crowd since it is fast-paced and stresses cooperation over competition. Children as young as 2 can learn skills like turn taking and counting while having fun at the same time.
In this action-packed board game, players stack their groceries on their carts as they race to the checkout line. Preschoolers will work on their fine motor skills since they will be connecting and stacking the various grocery pieces. They will especially love the end when they get to launch their groceries from their carts!
This is the perfect game for 3- to 7-year-olds to learn their shapes and colors while having fun creating yummy (and yucky) pizzas! It will also teach them valuable skills like taking turns and making choices.
Sight word recognition is so important for preschoolers. This game features 400 commonly found words on different-colored flies that correspond with different ability levels, so you can cater to different literacy levels. And little ones will enjoy swatting the flies!
This game teaches valuable skills like categorizing and sorting while also teaching about the four seasons. We love that it could even spark some debate since some of the cards could go for more than one season.
The preschool-aged crowd loves the show Bluey and the oh-so adorable characters featured in it. This cute board game is based on a popular game from the show Keepy Uppy. The best board games for preschoolers are fast-paced and fun, and this one certainly fits the bill!
Going-out tops, be gone! Fall is here, but I’m making the most out of those final delicious temperate days. Savvy strategic layering starts with my “top” performing transitional piece: the humble white tank top.
If you think a plain white tank is boring, think again. It’s a soothing balm that counters current maximalist trends. It’s endlessly versatile — complimenting your flashier pieces or serving as a minimal base for literally any aesthetic.
Finally, a piece that truly stands the test of time! It’s not tied to any “aesthetic,” it’s not owned by any gender, and it’s not going out of style any time soon.
According to the New York Times, the garment’s history as underwear lends an air of intimacy and brazen sexuality. “Worn in a straightforward, unironic fashion, it can read as either masculine or feminine — easily evoking the hackneyed image of the swaggering brute or a vixen eagerly courting the male gaze. Yet it can also be worn in a way that slyly undermines traditional gender roles, as demonstrated by its popularity among LGBTQ. people.”
But it’s fall, you might argue. And yes, I know. But the benefit of layering season is that you can wear a white tank as your base layer, then artfully assemble cardigans, jackets, and coats over it. And on those last, lingering, warm days, bare your shoulders in delight.
I wore a white tank all summer and felt both comfortable and chic. I’ve amassed quite a few over the years, so, of course, I play favorites. The Hanes white tank is my desert island fashion pick, and it’s on Amazon for less than $11!
No matter what I wear with a white tank, I’m instantly dapper. It’s giving effortlessly cool. It’s disarmingly bold. It’s also super convenient — goodbye to decision fatigue.
Plus, no matter where I travel, I pack a bunch of different white tanks in a small corner of my suitcase for lightweight outfit options. No matter what else I bring, I end up choosing the tank.
Why wouldn’t I? There’s no shortage of ways to style the ubiquitous white tank top.
A classic silhouette is often perfected by an equally classic brand. In the 70s, as the tank top eschewed undergarment status and blasted into the mainstream, Hanes rechristened it the athletic shirt, or the “A-shirt.”
Hanes makes the best white tank because they’ve been doing it forever. And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Instead, ship it straight to your door with Amazon.
Add it to your fall rotation now, and you won’t look back. Get yours from Amazon before winter — when no amount of layering will save you.
Need some styling inspo? Here’s how some of our favorite celebs style this staple piece:
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Marlon Brando
Valerie Steele — director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology — told the NYTs that Marlon Brando is an iconic originator of this look. “It has an allure because of this whole macho, Marlon Brando kind of feeling, and then, also, a very strong butch lesbian feeling to it. So it’s vernacular clothing with a strong sexual charge, and that’s somewhat transgressive.”
Beyonce and Normani
Tank tops were big in early 2000s, but one of the most epochal looks was Beyonce’s white tank and denim shorts with red heels in the Crazy in Love music video. Just the thought of the song conjures up the image of Beyonce strutting in this simple yet unforgettable outfit. This is why Normani borrowed it in her 2019 Motivation music video for her song. Icons recognize icons.
Emma Chamberlain
Speaking of outfit formulas, Emma Chamberlain has professed her love for white tank tops as part of her 3-piece outfit formula. And who are we to argue?
Jonathan Majors
In his recent shoot for Men’s Health ahead of the upcoming Creed 3, Jonathon Majors brings that Marlon Brando sexual energy tenfold. Yet he also seems casual and approachable, showcasing the duality of this wardrobe staple.
Shawn Mendes
Dubbed “Headband Coffee Mug” by Deuxmoi for his signature quarantine accessories, Shawn Mendes should also be known for his frequent white-tank-top-wearage. Tank tops are to Shawn what white tees are to Carmy in Hulu’sThe Bear.
I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time scrolling through Pinterest. TikTok is addictive, BeReal is fun, and Instagram is good ol’ reliable (though it’s kind of dead). But none of them compare to the unbridled joy I get from Pinterest.
Sure, I relish the opportunity to curate collections of beautiful images without the other pressures of social media…but my favorite thing about Pinterest is that it keeps me ahead of upcoming fashion trends.
I predicted the fall reign of Birkenstocks before they were literally everywhere. I use it to source outfit inspo for 90s and Y2K fashion by checking back on style pics from those eras. And now, I’m using Pinterest to source the best fall fashion trends coming out of Fashion Month.
Fashion Month may be over but its impact has only just begun. All the runway shows gave us insight on spring and summer trends ’23 — like that iconic cerulean scene in The Devil Wears Prada. But it’s the street style that’s a treasure trove of fashion inspo for this fall and winter.
My mood boards and Pinterest collections are loaded with candid shots of all the best models and style stars flaunting their off-duty style. There are classic outfit combos of course — blazers, denim and white tees, a solid fall boot — but a few fresh trends have emerged from the Fashion Month stylescape.
#greenscreen if you watched my “3 tips for building your fall wardrobe” video, you know that creating a moodboard is a very important step in staying focused! here is mine! i have a running folder of all of my fall inspo on my phone but these are some of the newer additions! #fashiontiktok #fyp #stylist #fashiontok #fallfashion #moodboard #inspo #inspooutfit
Big takeaways: neutrals are in, especially brown. Romance-inspired trends are up, from sensual, silky and sheer materials, to full-on bridal core. And texture is a big focus.
Much can be said about my favorite looks from the streets of London, New York, Paris, and Milan this season. Nothing will be said about the Yeezy fashion show. But one thing’s for sure, this was actually an exciting season, and I can’t wait to incorporate my favorite emergent motifs.
Like TikTok’s stylist Allison Bornstein says: shop your own closet! I’ll be buying a few timeless pieces inspired by this season and pairing them with what I already own. To me, that’s the meaning of high-low dressing.
Here are the best pieces I’m scouting for my fall closet based on Fashion Week Trends:
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Double Denim
Denim is far from basic. I’ve always loved a good Canadian tuxedo and this Fashion Month breathed new light into the fan-favorite outfit combo. Denim pieces are becoming more interesting. Pair your trusty Levis with an ultra-distressed oversized denim jacket — the more rips and patches the better. Or experiment with a denim midi skirt and cropped denim top. Your options are endless.
You can go with double Levis — a look I always love. Or you can switch it up with the sustainable, vintage-inspired selection at Re/Done — a favorite of the fashion and street style set. For a classic pairing, try the Denim Chore Jacket from Universal Standard with your favorite jeans.
Long Skirts
Thanks to Miu Miu, the micro-mini skirt reigned last season. It was all over our feeds and it’s still going strong, but long skirts are here to steal its thunder. Denim! Tweed! Nylon! All your favorite fashion girlies are getting weird and mixing up their fits with long skirts. Perfect for fall.
Nude and neutrals reigned this season. That old rule, “don’t wear white after labor day,” is rightfully dead, and winter whites are here. From all-white suiting to bridal-core, it’s all fair game. You can either wear different milky shades together or play with texture to create dimension.
The cowboy boot trend is still going strong. I didn’t think it would last this long, but I still like it. It also inspired us to take more risks with our footwear — hence the platform shoe trend. Yes, we’ve been wearing platform sneakers for years. But platform UGGs are here — see: Bella Hadid, street style expert. Platform loafers. 90s-style platform flip-flops. And ultra-high platform strappy sandals. Watch your step!
Sleek Suiting
Blazers will always be a timelessly chic addition to your look. But this season, suiting got an upgrade. Slinky button-down shirts and tailored pants were everywhere. Seems like creatives are aching for business-casual attire, but not in a “RTO” way. In a cool way.
For every season, there is a trendy cocktail. For every icon, too. James Bond has his Vodka Martini — shaken, not stirred. Carrie Bradshaw has the Cosmo. Don Draper, the Old Fashioned. And now, Emma D’Arcy is the face of the Negroni sbagliato with prosecco.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, where have you been? This viral video, newly minted meme, and catchy TikTok sound crowned the Negroni spagliato the drink of the moment. In it, Emma D’Arcy, who plays the lead on the Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, describes their favorite drink. And the internet took it from there.
The clip was originally from an HBO promo video for House of the Dragon, but the social impact has exploded. Everyone has been trying, ordering, and talking about the Negroni Sbagliato so much that the drink itself is a part of pop culture. It’s even been hailed as the trademark drink of bisexuals.
u201cPour some prosecco out for the bartenders having to make negroni sbagliatos for 1000 bisexuals this weeku201d
It’s not about the drink; it’s about the vibe. It’s about the moment. Anyone who’s plugged in is ordering one these days. Your guests will want them at dinner parties. So be prepared.
But how do you make a Negroni spagliato? Prosecco is in it, clearly. But what next? Don’t worry, here is the best Negroni spagliato recipe to get you through the fall:
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Ingredients for a Negroni spagliato with prosecco in it:
So there you have it. But that’s not all! A new drink is hot on the scene. And it’s a weird one.
Introducing: the Pasta Waster Martini.
If you’re wondering what the hell a pasta water martini is, it’s exactly what you think. The main ingredient is in fact pasta water. You’ve probably heard of saving your pasta water to thicken your pasta sauces. It’s full of salty starch that adds texture and flavor. So I guess it does the same to a martini?
This is a contender for fall’s hottest – and oddest – drink. So here’s how to make one — c’mon, I know you’re curious:
2 ½ teaspoons reserved pasta water (room temperature)
2 ½ teaspoons light-colored olive brine
Mixed olives (with pits), for garnish
How to make a Dirty Pasta Water Martini
Combine gin, pasta water, and olive brine in an ice-filled cocktail shaker.
Shake vigorously until well chilled, about 30 seconds.
Double strain into a chilled glass.
Garnish with a skewer of olives.
With both these cocktails in your arsenal, you’ll be the best bartender at any dinner party. Or host your own party just to show off your skills! Make sure to bring out all the best glassware and top off your bar cart or liquor cabinet with Drizly!
By now, you’ve seen it — the series of photos that broke the internet. You know what I’m talking about. Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez were pictured together at the Academy Museum Gala, and jaws hit the floor across the nation.
Years from now, we’ll still be able to say where we were when we saw the Hailey and Selena photos. This is how they felt when the Cold War ended. This is the Berlin Wall falling. This is man’s first step on the moon. Earth-shattering, unprecedented, and a whole new frontier.
The vibe has shifted. And Justin Bieber must have a new lock screen.
I’ll admit, at first, I thought the picture was fake. I thought it was one of those photoshopped fan images, like those 90s edits of Br*d Pitt, J*hnny Depp, and L*ondardo DiCaprio all haphazardly photoshopped into the same image. I scrolled on, fully expecting the caption to be by some anonymous moderator begging fellow fans to stop the hate or something. Then I realized the image was posted on the verified Vogue Magazine account. It was a re-gram from celebrity photographer Tyrell Hampton, who captioned the instantly-iconic image with the fitting: “plot twist.”
It hasn’t even been 24 hours but I’m still in a state of shock. That being said, I never really bought into the whole Selena vs. Hailey narrative, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t aware of it. So much of fandom culture is built on fabricated feuds. Just look at the Don’t Worry Darling press tour.
But this one has gone on for years. And Hailey recently addressed it in her episode on the Call Her Daddy podcast, saying, “I can say, period, point blank, I was never with him when he was in a relationship with anybody — that’s the end of it.”
Selena has also called for an end to the rumors and Hailey hate. After all, she’s booked and busy! With the success of her Hulu show, Only Murders in the Building, and her upcoming documentary, My Mind & Me, as well as her brand,Rare Beauty, she doesn’t have time to worry about her ex.
But even so, I could have never predicted that photo.
While both stars could have continued to milk the press from this alleged feud — all press is good press, right? — this image shows that they’re more invested in a narrative where women don’t fight over men. We love to see it.
Hopefully, the fans will finally leave both of these women alone. And this photo will make it into history books as the most influential peace summit of all time. Give them a Nobel Prize! Nature is healing!
While I’m still reeling from this photo, Selena and Hailey are probably back to minding their business — literally. Both are beauty entrepreneurs in their own right, and I have been browsing their respective selections since the photo dropped.
I mean, it has to be said: one reason it’s so iconic is simply because of how good they both looked. Skin: clear. Makeup: fall perfection. I want to be them. I want to be Justin Bieber, frankly. And so I’ll be buying Rare Beauty and Rhode Skin dupes in spades in an attempt.
While Rhode is currently all sold out, here are the best Rare Beauty finds to recreate that iconic photo:
All products featured are independently selected by our editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
While I can’t get my hands on Rhode Skin, this primer gives a similar glow when you use it as a base for your makeup. That must be why both girlies were serving skin this weekend.
Brown lipstick is here for the fall. Channel this trend with the perfect soft brown lipstick with a hydrating but matte finish. Then practice your Selena/Hailey smirk for the camera. Smile, besties!
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, October 16, 2018 (Newswire.com)
– RAD Laboratories Inc. of Vancouver, Canada, and its wholly owned subsidiary RAD Laboratories Colombia SAS, announced today that it’s concluding its relationship with NewCanna SAS and NewCanna Hub of Colombia.
Since January 2016, RAD Laboratories has worked closely with NewCanna and the indigenous peoples of Colombia developing the core of its cultivation and extraction business.
Although the concept of the NewCanna Hub is appealing, it does not allow RAD to realize the value of its core competencies in the extraction and formulations of plant-based medicine through its indigenous relations.
Richard Stieler, Founder, RAD Laboratories
Richard Stieler, founder of RAD Laboratories, states that “Although the concept of the NewCanna Hub is appealing, it does not allow RAD to realize the value of its core competencies in the extraction and formulations of plant-based medicine through its indigenous relations.”
RAD entered into a business relationship with NewCanna because of RAD’s humanitarian focus and high expectations of strengthening indigenous relations and to help them better their position in Colombia’s emerging legal cannabis industry.
Richard Stieler has stepped down as the chief operations officer of NewCanna SAS and NewCanna Hub to devote his time and energy to helping the indigenous facilitate the management of foreign trade and other international opportunities within the cannabis industry.
The above departures are not related to any disagreement with NewCanna regarding financial disclosures, accounting or business matters.
Contact:
Richard Stieler Richard@RADLaboratories.com
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words “could,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “projected,” “estimated” and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company’s current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.
