Cuddly bears, sleeping turtles, singing, and fact-filled books can fill your bookshelf for a hibernation theme! Check out this small but mighty hibernation book list that is just right for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten circle times! It can be tricky sometimes to find quality books that will keep students engaged. I’m sharing my favorites for a hibernation theme with you. Trust me, you need these books in your classroom!
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Non-Fiction
This nonfiction text features real-life, colorful pictures that will keep your little learners engaged! As you read, you will discover how animals change and adapt to the cold winter climate!
This levelled reader is perfect for those students that are beginning to read and want to learn more about nature. This book would also work great as a read-aloud in the classroom. It is full of real-life images and talks about how birds migrate or adapt in the winter months.
This text follows a mama bear and her cubs as they prepare for the winter. The images are captivating and will keep your little learner engaged and wanting to learn about the bear family. The book provides vocabulary and a follow-up activity.
Have you ever wondered what other animals hibernate in the winter? I am sure your little learners have asked you that before! Read this book to find out why bears hibernate and other animals that also snuggle up and sleep all winter long.
Your little learners will love this book as it explores a new world that is under the snow and full of life! Read about squirrels, bullfrogs, and many more animals that create tunnels and stay nice and warm under the snow.
Fiction
This silly book is full of rhyming and an animal party! A fierce snowstorm is blowing outside and different animals are taking shelter in the bear’s den. Will he stay asleep while the other animals make a fire and pop some popcorn? Your little learners will be on the edge of their seats waiting to find out!
In this companion book to Bear Snores On, his friends try to help Bear fall asleep in time for winter. But nothing seems to be working! They try some hot tea and singing lullabies but Bear just can’t fall asleep!
This fun book will turn any winter grouch into a lover of snow! Tortoise’s friends try to show him how winter can be fun and exciting, even in the cold snow. Your little learners will love all the fun activities the animals partake in!
Follow Hedgie as he tries to stay awake during the winter to see all the snowy magic. He will find that not everything about winter is fun but luckily Lisa saves him. He, then, gets to experience winter from a warm, cozy house! My personal favorite way to enjoy winter!
One of my all-time favorites! The Mitten is about a little boy that goes into the snowy woods but he drops his mitten along the way. Your little learners will love seeing which animal climbs into the boy’s mitten next and how big it can stretch. This book is great for teaching about foreshadowing with its little pictures that provide a sneak peek into the future.
Choo, choo! Take a ride on the hibernation train! This fun, rhyming book takes kids on a train ride with tons of animals that hibernate. It is awfully noisy and I’m not sure the animals will ever get to sleep!
This text is perfect for teaching your littles about relaxation. The book walks the reader through 30 breathing exercises to calm and prepare for hibernation. These exercises will make the perfect addition to your calming area or to practice when things get overwhelming!
This book will have your little learners laughing as they listen to all the excuses little black bear uses to get out of hibernation! Winter is coming and he needs to hibernate but he just doesn’t want to go to bed!
Your little learners will be delighted with this peek-through book. As you read, the snowflakes disappear with each turn of the page. Practice counting backwards with this sparkly book!
This book provides a wintery twist on the classic, Goldilock’s and the Three Bears. A little Inuit girl walks into the polar bears’ house while they are letting their breakfast cool. She eats some soup, tries some boots, and finally settles down for a nap. Your little learners will love to see what happens next in this fun book!
Now that your bookshelves are ready to go, check out THIS POST to fill your lesson plans with hands-on hibernation centers and activities.
Want to check out more of my favorite books for little learners? Check out my Book List Blog Series that features themed book lists to accompany your lessons! If there is a book list for a theme you need, just let us know so we can create it for you!
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