Looking for bug & insect books for your preschool theme? Check out our favorites!
We are a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links. Click HERE to read our full disclosure.
BOOK LIST: BUGS & INSECTS BOOKS
One great theme to use in your preschool classroom or at home with your little ones is BUSY BUGS & INSECTS.
Preschoolers love this theme since they’re endlessly fascinated by the world of bugs. Plus I love that you can teach this theme any time of the year…it’s not tied to one specific season or holiday (although I do love to teach it in spring if I can!)
Keep reading to check out some of our favorite bug & insect books for preschool that you’ll definitely want to read to your little ones…plus I’ve included a freebie and a snack idea to make these books come alive!
Looking for bug & insect activities to go along with these books? Check these out!
BUGS & INSECTS BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL
Ants, Workers of the World: This book shares numerous interesting facts about ants, with zoomed-in images that enhance the text. But this book is 141 pages long, making it less than ideal for a read aloud. However, reading a page or two can enhance any lesson about ants!
Grasshopper: In this wordless picture book, a girl explores her yard and finds ants, beetles, and more. But then she finds a grasshopper that she keeps for a while, before letting him go. Even though this book has no words, the story is sharp and clear.
A Beetle Is Shy: This enchanting book can be a read aloud for multiple grade levels. For younger kids, just read the A Beetle Is…. For older kids, read the cool facts as well! Learn about beetles, from sizes to different types, and you’ll almost certainly uncover new beetle facts!
The Beeman: Learn about making honey and different types of bees in this rhyming picture book! You’ll see how beekeepers set up their hives, and you’ll see the bees, thanks to the remarkable illustrations that make this a perfect read aloud
The Very Lonely Firefly: Your heart will go out to this lonely firefly looking for other fireflies. As he searches, he finds candles, lanterns, fireworks, and more! For older kids, you can discuss how the man-made lights could be light pollution, and younger kids can just enjoy the story!
The Very Quiet Cricket: This cricket is trying to say hello to all the other bugs, but can’t chirp! Throughout the day, he tries and tries, only to finally chirp at night with another quiet cricket. This endearing book is perfect for read alouds, and your little one will love it!
The Very Clumsy Click Beetle: This click beetle is trying to learn how to click and flip over, so he doesn’t get stuck on his back! He tells animals to watch him, but he flips onto his back again! When it really matters, can this click beetle flip? Find out with this enchanting read aloud!
The Digger and The Butterfly: This book has it all! Construction trucks, caterpillars, butterflies, and friendship. Join Digger as he helps a caterpillar transform into a butterfly by sheltering his cocoon. This book’s unique illustrations tell the story as much as the words, making this a perfect read aloud!
It Is Time: The Life of a Caterpillar: This book wonderfully illustrates a caterpillar’s life cycle, from egg to butterfly. Full-page illustrations show how this life cycle unfolds, with words that are easy to understand for your little one. Plus, the diagram at the end is perfect for any science lesson, from pre-k onward!
What’s Inside A Caterpillar Cocoon? Adorable cartoon caterpillars, butterflies, and moths take you and your little one on a scientific journey through caterpillars, cocoons, chrysalises, butterflies, and moths! There are diagrams, cool facts, sidebars, and illustrations that enhance the world of moths and butterflies.
Waiting For Wings: This book, an ideal read aloud, features not only short rhyming segments of text, but mesmerizing illustrations as well. Younger kids will be captivated by the story, and older kids will be fascinated by the information and facts at the end!
The Very Impatient Caterpillar: One word: hilarious. This impatient caterpillar can’t wait to be a butterfly. You will laugh with your little one as this caterpillar tries to pass the time during his metamorphosis…in probably the silliest way ever!
A Butterfly Is Patient: This book shares about the butterfly life cycle, following the format A Butterfly Is…. With beautiful illustrations, this book is jam-packed with interesting facts that you can choose to read or not to read, depending on the age level.
Milkweed for Monarchs: A cute rhyming book about monarch butterflies, which makes for a great read aloud. Plus, on a few pages, there’s additional info for older kids! The illustrations are colorful and show a monarch’s life cycle in a very captivating way.
The Caterpillar And The Butterfly: Learn about metamorphosis with your new best friend, Sam the caterpillar! Join him as he learns that all caterpillars turn into butterflies, when it’s their time. A colorful story that explains metamorphosis—and something deeper—through Christian beliefs.
Monarch Butterfly: This book about a monarch’s life cycle has the perfect amount of text on each page: enough to give information, but not so much that it’s a bad read aloud. Plus, the illustrations—complete with labels—enhance the information by showing exactly what the author is telling you about, to promote understanding.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar: This classic story about a hungry caterpillar is not one to miss! Through Eric Carle’s distinctive illustrations, your little one will be with this caterpillar every step of the way. This book is hilarious and entertaining! *If you love this book, check out these activities we’ve paired with it to bring it to life!*
BUGS & INSECTS BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL
The Grouchy Ladybug: This book tells a humorous story about a grouchy ladybug looking for an animal to fight. It decides no one is big enough, even a whale! This ladybug’s cocky attitude will inspire giggles in your little one, while Eric Carle’s unique style of storytelling makes this a perfect read aloud!
Ladybugs: This nonfiction book about ladybugs has lots of images and very little text, making it a good read aloud for any age. At the back, there are diagrams to help you understand some facts, and a mini-glossary to expand vocabulary!
Ten Little Ladybugs: These ten ladybugs that you can actually touch are traveling home. Along the way, they encounter other animals, and one by one, they disappear. This book teaches kids how to count backwards through simple text and endearing illustrations, leading up to the party at the end.
The Itsy Bitsy Spider: This book starts out like the normal Itsy Bitsy Spider, but then more verses are added, verses involving fans and cats and pails! The illustrations cover the whole page, with only a few words on each page, making this a perfect read aloud!
Diary of a Spider: This spider’s diary is riveting, hilarious, and entertaining. Spanning five months, this spider’s life is never boring. From sleepovers to going to the park, you are guaranteed to laugh at this perfect read aloud.
The Very Busy Spider: The story of this spider building her web through many distractions is a classic. There are not a lot of words on each page, which highlights Eric Carle’s unique illustrations. This book is a perfect read aloud, not only because of the storyline, but because there are hidden images throughout the book. See if your little one can spot the pesky fly!
Ladybug Girl Series: This series about Lulu, an imaginative kid who pretends to be a superhero known as Ladybug Girl, is not one to miss! Ladybug Girl goes on adventures, armed with her imagination and compassion, and with her dog Bingo always by her side. This is a funny series that is perfect for read alouds! Check out our favorite books and see for yourself!
Ladybug Girl and Her Mama, Ladybug Girl Plays, Ladybug Girl (the book that started it all!), Ladybug Girl Loves, I Love You Bingo, Ladybug Girl Says Good Night, Ladybug Girl Makes Friends
BUGS & INSECTS BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL
In The Tall, Tall Grass: A rhyming picture book, this shows the many things that can be in the tall, tall grass. Not just during the day, but during the night as well! This book is a perfect read aloud, since it’s easy to understand for all ages!
Some Bugs: Through gorgeous bug illustrations, you and your little one can explore all the differences in the bug world. This rhyming book is ideal for read alouds, since there’s barely any words on each page.
A Day In The Life: Bugs: At every hour of the day, bugs go about their business. In this book, what that business is is revealed! From dragonflies to comet moths, all represented in beautiful illustrations, you can learn about so many bugs! This book just might not be the perfect read aloud, but it’s good nevertheless.
I Love Bugs! A kid explores his yard looking for bugs. He finds ants and bees and caterpillars and more! Look at all the different types of bugs in this rhyming picture book that is perfect for a read aloud, as this book shows the rich diversity of bugs everywhere.
Hey, Little Ant: A kid is about to squish an ant in a crack, leading to a musical adventure where both the kid and the ant share their perspectives. The way the book ends opens the door for conversation about “What would you do?” in both classrooms and homes. And in the back is sheet music, so if you have an instrument, you can play along!
Hank’s Big Day: Hank, a little pill bug, is having a big day! He’s going to Amelia’s yard to have a playdate! This book shows you the world from a bug’s perspective, which is very interesting indeed. The humor and adventure makes it a perfect read aloud!
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly: This version of the classic There Was An Old Lady That Swallowed A Fly is true hilarity in book form! Throughout the story, various animals offer rhyming commentary—even from her stomach. At the end, the old lady dies from eating a horse.
Bugs (National Geographic): With vivid photos and basic bug facts, this book is an excellent read aloud! With activities for younger kids in the back, this book can provide a good intro to bugs lesson!
BUGS & INSECTS SNACK IDEAS
Want to pair one of your bug or insect preschool books with a fun snack? Try these delicious and healthy ideas! Your preschooler is sure to enjoy making (and eating!) butterflies out of apples & ladybugs out of strawberries. Check out this post for all the details!
INCREDIBLE INSECTS PRESCHOOL STORYTIME
Looking for some screen time you can feel good about? Head over to my YouTube channel and have your little one watch my Incredible Insects storytime! This storytime is filled with songs, finger plays, and of course…stories! We also focus on the letter and sound for “Ii” as in “insect.” Click here to watch and keep the fun going for your busy bugs & insects theme!
LIFE CYCLE POSTERS & CARDS FREEBIE
These FREE posters go along perfectly with any bug or insect theme for preschool! They’re a great way for your little ones to learn about the life cycles of butterflies, ladybugs, and bees. They can look for the similarities and differences between the different cycles.
This activity (along with all of our freebies!) can be downloaded from the Free Activity Library. If you’re already a member of our email community, you can click HERE to head to the Free Activity Library, enter your password (it’s on your most current email from me), and download your copy!
If you’d like to join our email community & receive the password as my way of saying THANK YOU for joining, you can click HERE to subscribe. Once you enter your information, the password will be emailed to you within minutes.
BUGS & INSECTS MATH & LITERACY PRINTABLES
I hope this book list helped you fill-in your bug & insect lesson plans for your preschool classroom or homeschool. If you want an entire pack of printable math & literacy centers for this theme, check out my Busy Bugs & Insects Preschool Activity Pack.
SHARE YOUR FAVORITES
Do you have any favorite bug or insect books for preschool? I’d love to hear them and add them to our list! Comment below or find me on Instagram [@littleslovelearningblog].
love these books? pin them for later!
Looking for other book lists for preschool and kindergarten? Click HERE to check them out!
Happy Learning!
