Fun and Creative Book-Themed Crafts and Activities for Kids
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Do you recall the time when a good book was all you needed to transport you to another world?
Those were the good ol’ days, huh?
And now, as parents, teachers, or just the favorite adult in some kid’s life, we can spark that same love for books in the little ones around us.
But here’s an idea – what if we could make the fun continue even after the story ends? Let’s bring the magic of those tales into the real world.
And how do we do that?
Simple!
By turning them into hands-on, fun-filled crafts and activities.
Whether you’re looking for a creative way to bring a story to life, or simply need to keep the kids entertained for a bit, I’ve got you covered.
From DIY crafts inspired by storybook characters to exciting activities that make the story play out in your living room, this blog post has a bunch of ideas that will add a fun twist to storytime.
But these activities do more than just keep the kids busy.
They’re also a great way to enhance their understanding of the story, boost their creativity, and cultivate a deep love for reading.
So, are you ready to check it out?
So let’s do this.
Book Themed Crafts and Activities for Kids
As a mum, one of my life’s missions is to introduce my adorable munchkins to the enchanting realm of books.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love reading books to my kids, but honestly, there are only so many times you can read “Goodnight Moon” before you start dreaming about it yourself!
So, to keep things interesting (and maintain my sanity), I started incorporating book-themed crafts and activities into our reading time.
Guess what?
It’s been a total hit!
Not only are my kids devouring books like a pack of wild, literature-loving animals, but their creativity is going through the roof.
Bonus points? These activities also help develop their fine motor skills.
Win-win-win, right?
You wouldn’t believe the number of children’s books that perfectly lend themselves to some seriously fun and engaging crafts.
We recently dug into “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle, and then, oh boy, we made our very own caterpillar using nothing but pom-poms and pipe cleaners. Counting, colors, and cuteness.
And, how could we forget our favorite wild adventure – “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak?
Post-reading, we unleashed our wild side and crafted some seriously ferocious Wild Thing masks with simple paper plates, paint, and the random craft supplies that are permanently scattered around the house.
The kids loved it and, between you and me, I might’ve enjoyed it a bit too much myself.
We’ve tried our hands at book-related scavenger hunts, word searches, even crossword puzzles.
I’ve seen firsthand how these activities don’t just make for a great time but also boost my little one’s vocabulary and comprehension skills.
For those of you feeling inspired (high five if you are!), there are a ton of resources online that have got you covered.
Overall, book-themed crafts and activities are an epic way to bring some fun into learning.
So whether you’re a parent, teacher, babysitter, or just someone looking to win the Best Aunt/Uncle award, these activities will surely make you a hit with the kids.
Crafts for Kids
Alright, let’s dive into the fun part, the actual crafting.
If you’re worried about it being complicated, let me tell you as long as you can handle a pair of scissors without accidentally giving yourself a new hairstyle, you’re good to go.
Here are some fun book-themed crafts that you can create with your kids.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Remember the alphabet jingle?
Well, we kicked it up a notch with a craft inspired by “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault.
Alphabet letters, a couple of construction paper trees, and voila!
We created a beautiful and intricate piece of art that doubles as an alphabet-learning tool.
Pete the Cat
Oh, and let’s not forget our favorite cool cat – “Pete the Cat” by James Dean.
My kids went absolutely bonkers when we made a Pete the Cat puppet using a simple paper bag and some construction paper.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle, the genius behind “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, inspired us to create a beautiful butterfly out of coffee filters and pipe cleaners.
The result was so good it even made the refrigerator door our at-home art gallery.
You can make a collage using tissue paper too.
And to keep things buzzing, we turned to “The Grouchy Ladybug” by Eric Carle. Cue some paper plates.
More Book-Themed Activities
This is just the beginning! There are so many fun activities that you can use with books.
Reading a book about trains? Whether it’s The Little Engine That Could, a fun Thomas The Tank Engine story, or even the Polar Express, this train paper craft is ideal!
Reading How To Catch A Rainbow or any other rainbow book? Even a leprechaun book? This rainbow paper craft for preschoolers is perfect!
If you’re reading about The Gingerbread Man, this is the perfect activity. Or maybe you’re reading about Santa and his reindeer (Rudolph or any other tale will do pair perfectly with this fun reindeer themed activity). And this Christmas wreath craft for kids is ideal for kicking off your holidays with any of your favorite Christmas books.
Jumping into spring with The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle? Or maybe diving into Are You A Ladybug? This fun ladybug paper craft activity is just the thing.
There are so many fun activities to pair with books. And if you can’t find one, turn your child loose with their imagination and let them create their own!