Dramatic Play Books for Little Learners
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The dramatic play center can be such an interactive and beneficial area in the classroom, but it can be hard to introduce and find books to use for that center. So, I have gathered up my favorite books that I use to introduce the dramatic play center or to encourage learning while students are at the pretend area.
Remember, don’t assume students have gone to a place in the community like a store or a restaurant. Even though it’s something you may do in your own life, other families may not do that for various reasons. So, it’s really important to build background and vocabulary knowledge through books and virtual field trips on YouTube. If students don’t know how to act out a certain role or theme or use new props related to a job, they will play with the props carelessly, dump tubs, or have behaviors.
Check out ALL the dramatic play sets here!
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General Dramatic Play Books
These are some great books to have on hand for the beginning of the year or as a resource to build background knowledge. Your students may need guidance on how to play in the pretend area and these books are a good choice.
These are my favorites! I actually use these to introduce the dramatic play center because they go in-depth on how to bake a cookie/pizza with simple illustrations and simple step-by-step text on how to make a pizza or make a cookie. Find more like these: Apple Farmer Annie, Firefighter Frank, Zinnia’s Flower Garden, and more!
Whose Tools Are These? Identify the person who uses the tools that are pictured. It’s time to get those thinking caps on…. some of these can be tricky!
Whose Hat It This? This book runs in the same series as the book listed above, but this time around we get to identify the person who wears the hat in the picture. Find more in this series here!
ABC of Jobs The ABC’s are used to name jobs around the community. From an airline pilot zookeeper, kids will learn that there are many jobs in the community.
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do is a great book to teach kids about the special gear people need for different jobs. This guessing book is full of fun and has a surprising twist at the end.
Families in Many Cultures Learn about the many family makeups all around the world. This nonfiction book is a staple for many different themes in my classroom.
Clothes in Many Cultures This book is full of pictures that focus on the variety of clothes that are worn around the world. Talk about a fashion show! Find more books in this series here!
Nonfiction Dramatic Play Books
This series from Bullfrog Books is a wonderful nonfiction option for teaching students all about different kinds of jobs in their community. There are so many options that you are sure to find some books that will fit your needs! They have simple text and amazing photographs. They are diverse, and there’s a ton in the series! Some of my favorites that aren’t shown are veterinarians, nurses, chefs, and farmers.
This is a great nonfiction series. Again, they are super simple step-by-step with great vocabulary on how to go do each activity. There’s also Let’s Swim, Let’s Snowboard, Let’s Skateboard, and more!
Let’s Go Camping! This is a great book to learn about the equipment needed to go camping. As well as some of the skills and safety rules you should follow to have a great time camping.
Let’s Ice-Skate! A great read to inform students about the equipment needed to ice-skate. It also includes some safety advice and talks about the skills you may need to ice skate.
A Day in the Life of a Veterinarian Learn about what a vat does in a day at their office. The simple text in this series is great for little learners, and the images are helpful in showing students new information. There are other books in the series, too!
A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper The book explains what a typical day may look like for a zookeeper.
Fiction Dramatic Play Books
These have simple text, and the characters talk to each other, so there’s great language. They have step-by-step directions on what to do, which helps build background knowledge so that students can act out the different pretend play themes.
Lola is a curious little girl who loves to explore her environment. The text is simple and relatable to little learners. Some of the books are also available in Spanish! Check out the Lola series here.
Maisy books are another great series for the classroom. They are simple to read and provide students with a learning opportunity for places they may have never been before. Find more Maisy books here.
Maisy Goes to the Local Bookstore
This I Can Read series called My Community is another wonderful option for young learners to read and learn about jobs and places in their community. They are short stories that provide students with meaningful information and fun pictures to help them stay engaged.
Dramatic Play Books for Certain Themes
Birthday Party Dramatic Play
A birthday party dramatic play area is so much fun and relatable for little learners. It is a good theme for the beginning of the year when you are getting to know your students or in January with the new year. Get the Birthday Party printables here.
Wolf’s Coming! Everyone is usually scared of the wolf, but be prepared to be surprised when the animals prepare a party for the wolf.
Platypus and the Birthday Party A great book to explain what may be at a birthday party, like decorations, a cake, presents, etc. Platypus is planning a birthday party for his favorite stuffed animal, and with the help of his friend, they have a wonderful time.
For more birthday-themed books, check out this book list.
Flower Garden/Shop Dramatic Play
A flower shop dramatic play area makes a good theme for the spring season. Students can learn about plants while practicing social skills, math, and literacy skills in the center. You will find all the flower shop printables here.
Flower Garden Join a little girl and her dad as they purchase flowers and plant them as a surprise for mom. This book does a good job of showing students how to plant flowers and the things that they need.
Lola Plants a Garden Lola wants to plant some flowers, so she gets a book to learn about it and then tries it for herself. A simple text that is perfect for little learners to grasp a new concept.
For more plant books, look here.
Grocery Store Dramatic Play
A grocery store dramatic play area is a staple in my classroom. It makes the perfect theme for the beginning of the year, Thanksgiving, for a food theme, or as a filler for in-between themes. Find all the printables here.
Put It on the List! Mom headed to the store, but the family didn’t put the things they needed on the list.
Llama Llama Mad at Mama Llama Llama is not happy to be at the store with Mama. It is too noisy and too peoply, but Mama couldn’t leave him at home. A great book to share the environment of the grocery store if students haven’t been before.
You can find more food books on this book list.
Ice Cream Shop Dramatic Play
My students love it when I set up an ice cream shop and dramatic play area. They are able to create something they love to share with their classmates. You can find all the ice cream shop printables here.
The Sundae Scoop How many sundaes can you make if you have 6 ingredients to choose from? Your students will have so much fun seeing all the sundae creations!
The Little Ice Cream Truck Read about a day in the ice cream truck. It is hot and everyone needs a cool treat, the little ice cream truck is going to save the day.
For more ice cream books, go here.
Vet Dramatic Play
Set up a vet or animal clinic in your pretend area for students to practice empathy, caring, and other social skills. They will also learn many science skills and new vocabulary. Grab all the vet dramatic play printables here.
What Does the X-Ray Say? A book written and illustrated by children about what they see in the x-rays. This is a fun book to read for any medical theme you may do in your classroom.
Sally Goes to the Vet Sally the dog hurts herself while playing. Her owner takes her to the vet, and she is scared, but she learns that she doesn’t need to be scared.
Taco Shop Dramatic Play
A taco shop dramatic play area is a good dramatic play for a food theme, in the community theme, or for a diversity study. Students can learn so many math and literacy skills in the taco shop.
Little Taco Truck What will he do when other food trucks start parking in his spot? Little Taco Truck has been coming here for a long time, and the people love his tacos.
Hot Cocoa Shop Dramatic Play
Coming soon! A hot cocoa shop is a fun idea for the winter months and can be used with lots of winter themes.
Holly’s Hot Cocoa Shop See how Holly picks out the perfect ingredients to make a yummy cup of cocoa. The text is simple and full of rhymes, so it is just right for little learners.
Weather Station Dramatic Play
Coming soon! Learn about the weather and being on TV with a fun weather station dramatic play.
The Meteorologist in Me A lovely story about a little girl that wants to become a meteorologist but has some doubts. Summer overcomes her fears and self-doubt and wants to share weather information with everyone.
Playing in the dramatic play center has so many benefits for little learners; plus, you can hit a ton of academic skills while children play! You can see how I set up my dramatic play area for a bunch of themes here.
Love these dramatic play books? Pin this image!
For more of my favorite books, check out my themed Book List Blog Series that features themed book lists to accompany your lessons and activities! These are sure to keep your library shelves full! If there is a book list for a theme you need, just let us know so we can create it for you!
hey, i’m jackie!
I’m Jackie, your go-to girl for early childhood inspiration and research-based curriculum.
