There are few better books to teach children about the importance of teamwork, resilience, and discipline than the true-life stories of legendary Olympians. Whether you’re gearing up for two weeks of cheering on your country or basking in the inspiration afterwards, we curated a list of picture books celebrating unforgettable Olympic moments and exploring the history of the Games. Learn about athletes who broke racial barriers, shattered records, and went on to extraordinary lives of service post-retirement. These inspiring picture books will have your little ones dreaming big!
Bonus:
For story lovers, podcasts are a treasure trove of high quality, original, and often free narrative audio entertainment—and there are many shows that will delight even the youngest listeners. Kids’ story podcasts (the most popular category of podcasts among children, according to a recent survey) are a fantastic opportunity for toddlers and preschoolers to discover stories. Plus, they also offer a valuable chance to hone early reading skills along the way.
If you explore kids’ story podcasts, you’ll notice there’s a lot of choice, which is where this hand-picked list comes in! Browse our suggestions for a place to start, and be sure to let us know if you find other great options. Once you find shows you and your little one like, check out their websites, too—many of them offer bonus materials and activities to enrich children’s listening experiences.
Before you get started, though, a few tips: Many kids’ story podcasts cater to quite broad age ranges, so it pays to be selective about which episodes to play for toddlers and preschoolers. It’s worth listening beforehand and making a playlist of episodes you think might work for your child, in terms of length, age suitability, content, format, and presentation style. Playlists also come in handy if your child enjoys revisiting episodes, or if they want to be able to play episodes for themselves.
For young kids new to podcasts, you could also begin with episodes that cover stories they already know—retellings of classic tales or adaptations of picture books they can follow along with. When possible, choose settings that allow for minimal interruptions from advertising messages or discussion by the hosts, which can be distracting.
Created by parents of young kids, this free podcast is international in outlook, putting on lesser-known folktales from around the world. Featuring music, sound effects, and often well-known narrators, each weekly 15- to 25-minute episode explores a theme such as kindness or gratitude, and ends with a suggestion for an activity based around the message. Narration is on the quick side, so older preschoolers will probably find it easier to follow than toddlers.
The talented team at this free podcast take “stories written by kids and turn them into sketch comedy and songs” for listeners “aged 3 to 103.” The lively 30- to 40-minute shows often feature famous contributors, and each episode includes two stories, interviews with the authors, plus story prompts for children to make up their own tales. (Related: Read about how making up stories builds joy, connection, and literacy.) Little listeners might not follow everything, but are still likely to enjoy the silliness and enthusiasm, requesting their favorite episodes and songs on repeat.
Traditional tales meet classical music in this monthly podcast sharing free kids’ audio stories. This is a great option for toddlers or kids just starting out with audio. Each episode is short, usually under 10 minutes, the pace of the narration is measured, and many of the stories—like The Tortoise and the Hare and The Gingerbread Man—may already be familiar to even very young listeners.
With both classic stories and original creations for children of all ages, this free weekly podcast features serialized as well as stand-alone tales. There’s no music, but the narration is dramatic and engaging, so these strike a good balance between being easy to follow and fun. Most episodes come in under 20 minutes, with occasional bumper shows that are great for road trips.
This podcast shares children’s books, introduced by a boy named Benny and his dog Buddy, and always with some connection to them or what they’re doing—for example, they introduce Ezra Jack Keats’ classic Whistle for Willie as they practice playing fetch. Each of the eight episodes is under 10 minutes, making this a good option for toddlers, especially if they have a hard copy of the picture book on hand to help them follow along. We’ve primarily featured free podcasts for kids, but this show is featured on the paid audio-streaming service Pinna, which also features children’s audiobooks.
Yoga teacher and educator Chanel Tsang shares relaxation stories on this free podcast. Each episode starts with a short meditation, and kids are invited to interact with the story through actions and visualization. Running at around 20 minutes each, to soothing background music, these are a nice option for quiet time or pre-bedtime listening.
With original free kids’ audio stories for children aged 2 to 12, each episode in this biweekly podcast by Bedtime FM is under 20 minutes long, making it a great choice for toddlers and preschoolers. Perfect for winding down, the shows keep music to a minimum in favor of clear narration.
Though aimed largely at children aged 7 to 11, this extremely long-running and free story podcast also puts on lots of nursery rhymes and simpler stories that preschoolers and even toddlers will enjoy. Relatively pared back in terms of music and sound effects, the emphasis is on clear, measured narration by actors. Each episode varies in length from around 5 to 20 minutes.
The international team behind this free weekly podcast puts on a hugely fun and immersive listening experience—featuring stories from around the world, each one presented as a mini radio play by a full cast of children. With lively sound effects and most episodes coming in at under 15 minutes, this is a popular choice for toddlers and up.
Story Village is a charming podcast hosted by Aunti Oni Lasana, who is known for her vibrant storytelling. This family-friendly podcast combines musical and cultural tales, retelling both classic and original stories from around the world. The tales are ideal listens for children, families, and educators, as they provide engaging and educational content that can be enjoyed at home, on car trips, or in the classroom.
Did you grow up loving Reading Rainbow? Then you will want to check out Sound Detectives. Hosted by the beloved LeVar Burton, each episode takes young listeners on an auditory adventure to explore the fascinating world of sounds. It invites listeners along to solve mysteries about “the case of the missing sounds” and build sound awareness along the way. With engaging storylines, delightful characters, and interactive elements, this podcast not only entertains but also educates, helping children develop critical listening skills and a keen sense of observation. An excellent option for curious minds, this podcast offers a unique blend of fun and learning.
Rather than a traditional story podcast, this delightful show hosted by award-winning author and illustrator Grace Lin engages children in the idea of story creation. It invites young listeners into the magical world of storytelling. Each episode features Lin and her guest authors answering imaginative questions from kids, offering a unique peek into the creative process of writing and illustrating books. With its captivating and educational content, Kids Ask Authors is a fantastic way to nurture your child’s love for stories and spark their creativity at the same time.
In this heartwarming podcast, a mother reads her children’s favorite books aloud. Featuring a range of stories from classics to modern favorites, it’s an ideal choice to foster a love of stories and books in preschooler listeners. With new story adventures that will nurture children’s imagination and listening skills, Storytime with Ry and Roan is a great way for parents to incorporate storytelling into kids’ daily routines, whether at home or on the go.
I scream, you scream, we all scream, “Ice cream!” And, if you’re like me, you might also be screaming for a break from the summer heat. However, I still want to make indoor play fun, creative, and, if possible, educational. Enter scoop sentences!
When kids are learning to read, they can begin to identify sentences by capitalization and punctuation. Yet, when they begin to write and construct their own sentences, it can be difficult to know what a sentence needs. This super fun reading activity helps children learn how to build a sentence (or words for younger kids) by incorporating one of summer’s greatest joys—ice cream!
Just follow the simple instructions below.
Materials
- Several different types of colorful or patterned paper or cardstock
- Paper bag or cardboard
- Scissors
- Markers
- An awesome book about ice cream (optional)
- Cup (optional)
Cost: $10 for paper or cardstock
Start with Story Time: Introduce your ice-cream-themed reading activity by coming inside from the heat and enjoying a picture book about ice cream with your child. Great choices include Ice Cream Summer by Peter Sis, Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems, What Can You Do With a Paleta? by Carmen Tafolla, and Shave Ice in Hawaii illustrated by Mariko Merritt. (There are also a plethora of cookbooks you can use to learn how to make your own ice cream.) As you read, point out a few of the sentences.
Step 1: Draw the shapes of two ice cream cones onto the paper bag or cardboard, then cut them out. (It’s good to make two so that you can play along with your child.)
Step 2: Draw scoops of ice cream on various colors of paper, as in the picture below, then cut them out. You should make about 20, so your sentences will have some variety.
Tip: If drawing isn’t your strongest skill, you can also just trace a cup to make circles and use those as your scoops.
Step 3: On each scoop, write a single word. Choose a variety of nouns (e.g., dragon, cake, alien, ocean), verbs (e.g., sings, flies, slithers), conjunctions (e.g., and, but, so), prepositions (e.g., to, on, behind), articles (the, a), adjectives (e.g., red, slimy, fuzzy) and adverbs (e.g., quickly, slowly, loudly). Let your child help you come up with the words and write them down.
Optional: If you like, you can put different types of words on different types of paper. For example, put all your verbs on pink paper, all your nouns on patterned papers, etc.
Step 4: Mix up the scoops and place them in front of your child. Let them create a sentence with the word scoops they like best. Here is a great opportunity to guide them on what makes a sentence and what doesn’t. Gently help them add words until they have a full sentence. Once they have made a sentence, read it, pretend to eat it, and start again!
Now you have a delicious and super fun reading activity that you can play with over and over! Extend the activity by setting up different challenges: What’s the longest sentence they can make? The silliest? The shortest? There are so many combinations to make.
Adaptation for younger children: If you have a younger child, write individual letters on the scoops and try to build an ice-cream word instead!
We highly recommend rewarding yourself with some ice cream at the end too. And I wouldn’t be mad if you saved me a scoop of mint chocolate chip.
What sentences was your family able to create? Share your sentence creations with us!
For parents seeking to teach their children about history through the true stories of people who’ve worked to shape it for the better, it’s hard to imagine a more inspiring subject than anti-apartheid activist, South African president, and Nobel prize winner Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. With Mandela’s birthday on July 18, introduce your kids to this towering figure of modern history through these picture books produced by Mandela himself and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela, Abridged by Chris Van Wyk
“Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand history—and then go out and change it.” That’s how President Barack Obama described Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, much of which Mandela wrote in secret while imprisoned.
This picture book adaptation of the book for young readers delivers beautifully engaging illustrations along with accessible text. It’s pitched for middle-elementary readers but is well adapted for reading aloud to somewhat younger children, who will particularly connect with the early parts of the story depicting his childhood and schooling. The book is long, so if you read it with your child, treat it as you would a chapter book, sharing one part of the story at each reading—but the large-scale illustrations on each page and easy language keep it firmly within the grasp of younger readers and listeners.
Just remember: This book deals with the real-life experiences of a freedom fighter and political prisoner. While this book is specially adapted for kids, parents are always wise to pre-screen content and exercise caution with sensitive children, particularly in the second half of the book, where, for example, a (non-gory) illustration of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre shows people lying on the ground surrounding police with guns.
Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book by The Nelson Mandela Foundation and Umlando Wezithombe
This large-format graphic novel features gorgeously detailed illustrations by the Umlando Wezithombe collective of South African artists. It tells the story of Nelson Mandela and South Africa over the course of 193 pages. It’s aimed at middle school readers, and the action-filled drawings and speech-bubble style are sure to draw in even more reluctant readers.
Younger readers will also find the comic-strip illustrations engaging and should be able to connect with the book as well; even younger kids will enjoy seeing the pictures and having segments of the text read aloud to them. Again, parents of younger and sensitive children will want to review the content for themselves: This is written for older kids and doesn’t shy away from history. As above, the beginning of the book, covering Mandela’s childhood, is a good opening to begin sharing this story with younger listeners.
Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales
This volume brings together a collection of 32 classic, and some newer, African folktales selected by Nelson Mandela. Each magical, mystical, and mythical tale is accompanied by a whimsical, colorful illustration. Kids of all ages who enjoy fairytales and folklore (and which don’t?) will be drawn in, hooked from the opening tale, an East African story that celebrates the clear vision of children and casts them as the heros to adults mesmerized and blinded to reality.
The tales are a perfect length to share one or a few for a quick story time or bedtime reading. Or make a cup of tea and snuggle up for a longer cuddle: Once you get to reading and examining the pictures together, your child may not want you to stop! Tip: Don’t shy away from adding plenty of dramatic flair to your reading. These stories were meant to be told aloud. So really listen as you read (put that mental to-do list on hold!) and let yourself get lost in the lyrical magic of the ages. And then let that magic come through in your voice. Your child won’t be able to resist.
Even the brief and beautifully written introduction by Mandela is worth reading aloud. “It is my wish that the voice of the storyteller will never die in Africa, that all the children in the world may experience the wonder of books, and that they will never lose the capacity to enlarge their earthly dwelling place with the magic of stories,” Mandela concludes.
That’s our wish, too.
By Amy Williams and Chrysta Naron
“Won’t my child learn to read in kindergarten?”
That’s the question on many parents’ lips when faced with advice to teach reading skills to their small children. Sure, children will develop their reading ability in kindergarten and throughout the rest of their education, but the truth is that most of the underlying skills they need for full literacy develop way before then. And, sadly, reading instruction in the U.S. fails most kids.
So don’t wait until they go to kindergarten or even preschool to intentionally impart key early literacy skills your children will need to thrive in formal schooling. The great news is that, with the right information, you don’t need lots of time to teach what they need to know—and it can and should be fun! Even some of the simplest things can help your child develop reading skills early on. (For example, see How to Maximize the Benefits of Reading Aloud to Your Kids for some easy tweaks that will make a big difference.)
This is where educational games come in! There are many fun board games that help teach reading skills—without hours of instruction or practice. We’ve narrowed down the list for you to our top five best literacy-building board games for children five and under. So go ahead and get in some laughs and quality time connecting with your little one (or ones), and help them get kindergarten-ready at the same time! Then consider leaving the games available for your child even when you aren’t: More often than not, kids can play with these titles independently or with another child and still benefit from them.
Teach Reading Skills with these Fun Board Games
Tall Tales is a storytelling game recommended for ages three and up. There’s no reading required in this game, but it helps kids build early literacy skills by fostering imagination and important oral language skills. From a young age, most children understand the wonder of hearing a story and love to make up their own. This game allows them to do so. (Related: See our post on How to Use Storytelling to Build Joy, Connection, and Literacy with Kids.)
Sequence Letters is a letter matching game for kids ages four to seven. One letter of the alphabet is on each card in both uppercase and lowercase, and the child playing matches the letter with the beginning sound of a picture. This is a great way for kids to practice sounding out letters and making connections between images and words.
Boggle is already a well-loved game, and now your young kids under five can join the fun by playing Boggle Jr. It’s a great fit for kids three and up who have already begun learning the letters of the alphabet. There are two levels of play so the game can grow with your child. Younger children can play with the letter cubes and practice matching the letter shapes with the picture word cards. And when your little one is ready for more of a challenge, they can play the second level of the game, which creates opportunities to sound out short, simple words.
Bob Books Happy Hats Board Game
This game is designed for beginning readers ages four and up, and is made by the creators of Bob Books, a series featuring sparse illustrations and simple, decodable words. In our household, we’re currently using Bob Books to teach our preschooler early literacy skills—and they’re the same books I learned to read with when I was a preschooler, as well! This game is highly rated by parents and allows the player to create more than 16o words.
Zingo Word Builder is perfect for kids about five years old, or younger children who have already developed early literacy skills and are ready to learn more. This game allows the player to build vocabulary and reading skills by challenging them to create three-letter words. There are two levels of play for this game, which makes it perfect for beginning readers and more skilled readers, as well.
Designed for kids 4 to 9 years old, This goofy game teaches children to read common words as they compete to be the first kangaroo to get some pizza. What’s really nice about this game is that there are three levels with increasingly difficult words. This means the game can grow with your kids, and it also means that if you have multiple children at different reading levels, they can still play together, each with their own personal set of challenges. Another fun aspect is that the players can compete against one another OR you can play a cooperative mode, where everyone works together. The flexibility and fun is really what puts this game on the list. And, after all, shouldn’t reading be fun?
Over recent years, fidget toys, especially pop fidgets, have become incredibly popular, and you’ve probably seen them everywhere! The Fidget Game cleverly combines the fascination of pop fidgets into the practice of learning high-frequency or “sight” words. The game includes word cards for pre-K to 3rd grade, so you can tailor the game to your child’s specific reading level. You can support your little one’s reading journey while having fun with colorful pop fidgets and spending bonding time together. Your child learns to read, and you both get to enjoy the experience.
If you’re familiar with the best-selling game Bananagrams, you’ll love the small-child version, My First Bananagrams. It has lowercase, color-coded tiles that brilliantly adapt it for little ones, promoting early literacy in a playful manner. The game’s simplicity keeps the kindergarten set engaged, fostering vocabulary and spelling skills about as effortlessly as is possible. The vibrant colors and tactile experience enhance the overall enjoyment. It’s a delightful way to bond with your children while witnessing their language skills blossom. Highly recommended for both educational and family entertainment.
Bonus: If your family enjoys playing board games together, check out our tutorial on making your own personalized DIY alphabet board game!
No matter what stage your child is in when it comes to reading skills, using games as a way to help develop early literacy can be really successful for many children (and lots of fun!).
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“No!” “Stop!” “Don’t!” Kids hear these words every day. There are rules for bedtime. There are rules for playgrounds and classrooms. There are rules for how we treat our friends and family. Sometimes you even have to set rules you never thought you’d set, like We don’t lick spiders.
But what about a set of rules for what kids can do? A set of rights that are protected and that they always get. Even if they bite their sister, throw a tantrum in the grocery store, or color on their bedroom walls—again. What would those rules look like? How would your family decide what those would be?
This is how I explain the Bill of Rights to my preschool class. The Bill of Rights promises people in the United States that, no matter what, they are allowed to do certain things or have permission to act in certain ways. And kids love it! The American ideal of protected rights is easily understood by children as young as three and four. So this Fourth of July, I want to show you how to create your very own Kids’ Bill of Rights!
In addition to being a great social-emotional learning experience, this Bill of Rights activity for preschoolers gives children the opportunity to improve their writing. They will be able to practice their pencil grip, sounding out words, and letter formation. It’s also a chance for beginning writers to use a skill called “invented spelling.” Invented spelling is when kids take a stab at writing a word using their emergent knowledge of letters and sounds. For example, a little one might spell people as pepul.
Invented spelling is a natural part of the process for children learning to write and allows even the youngest children to begin expressing themselves in writing. Think of these early efforts as precursors to conventional spelling, not misspellings alone. Let kids express their ideas and grow as readers and writers without the start-and-stop of being corrected along the way.
In this activity, you and your child will think about your values for your home. You’ll be able to discuss what is important to them and why it matters. Let’s get to learning and growing!
Materials:
- Copy of the Bill of Rights (Print it out or bring it up on a computer.)
- Paper
- Pens or Markers
Cost: Free
Step 1: Review the Bill of Rights with your child. Some of the rights are complicated to explain to kids, so gauge what your child and family are comfortable discussing. I always make sure to cover the First Amendment, because children can really connect with those concepts.
Step 2: With your child, discuss what they think should be in their Kids’ Bill of Rights. Remember: These are rights that are protected, not limitations on behavior!
Step 3: Here’s where the writing kicks in! Let your child write out the rights that your family has decided on. You can do this in a number of ways. You can let them trace your writing. You can work together to sound out words and write with guidance. Or you can let them write independently, using invented spelling.
Step 4: Hang your Kids’ Bill of Rights in a place of honor! Now everyone can be reminded of how much you love each other and what you cherish about your family.
As children learn to define their needs, wants, and emotions, it is important that they also learn how to communicate them. By creating a Kids’ Bill of Rights, that communication will be both verbal and written. Children come up with really beautiful and equally hilarious choices. I’ve had responses from “We all have the right to be treated nicely” to “Everyone is always allowed to act like a dinosaur.” (Though you might have to turn down a few “We can have chocolate for breakfast every day” suggestions, as well.)
*Photos by Chrysta Naron.
Juneteenth marks the day that word of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached enslaved black people in Texas, two years and six months after President Abraham Lincoln ordered it. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in the state and announced the terribly belated news that “all persons held as slaves” within areas of the Confederacy “are, and henceforward shall be free.” Texas declared Juneteenth a statewide holiday in 1980 and several other states have followed suit over time. In 2021, the work of activists like Opal Lee was rewarded when President Joe Biden designated it a federal holiday.
To remember and celebrate the freedom the day commemorates, check out our list of inspiring and informative Juneteenth picture books to read with your children. Since many of the books were published prior to 2021, it’s important to share with your little ones that Juneteenth is now a federal holiday. Additionally, note that Juneteenth is one of many milestones on a long road to freedom for black people in America. The Emancipation Proclamation only applied to those enslaved in Confederate states, and many people remained in bondage after Juneteenth. The 13th amendment, which ended slavery in the nation, was not ratified until December 6, 1865—three years after Lincoln’s Proclamation and half a year after Juneteenth.
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It’s time for the Fourth of July. A day of flags, picnics, parades, fireworks, and, now, books! After all, what better way to introduce your child to the significance of this holiday and what it means to you than through the written word?
This list of picture books for the Fourth of July gives families the opportunity to explore different ways people love America and a variety of American experiences. Granted, we’re certified book lovers, but we think these books will light up bedtime as much as fireworks!
Teaching our children about the Fourth of July is important. It’s so much more than just a single day when a document was signed. It is the neighborhoods we create, the schools we attend, the relationships we build, and the love we share. This year, may your family celebrate those beautiful parts of America with a good book, and hopefully a slice of apple pie.
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