Looking for creative ways to make storytime even more exciting or some fun ideas for Read Across America Week? These 25+ kids book crafts are perfect for bringing your child’s favorite books off the page and into their hands. Combining literacy and creativity, these crafts aren’t just fun—they help kids connect with stories, characters, and themes in a hands-on, memorable way. Plus, they’re simple, low-prep, and use materials you probably already have at home.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver, you’ll love these activities because they support early literacy skills, boost fine motor development, and spark imaginative play—all while having a blast crafting together.
Why You’ll Love These Kid’s Book Crafts
- Literacy Connection: Bring favorite stories to life through art.
- Easy Set-Up: Simple materials and step-by-step instructions.
- Hands-On Learning: Perfect for building motor skills and story comprehension and perfect for Read Across America Week!
- Fun for All Ages: Great for toddlers, preschoolers, and young readers alike.
- Perfect for Storytime: Ideal for at-home reading, classroom projects, or library activities.
25+ Kid’s Book Crafts
1. Caterpillar Name Craft
The Caterpillar Name Craft is a fantastic way to engage your children in a hands-on project that celebrates their unique identity while paying homage to a beloved story.
2. Fork Painted Horton Hears A Who Craft
Our fork painted Horton Hears a Who craft is a fun and textured art project that brings the beloved elephant Horton and his tiny friends to life in a whole new way. Fork painting, a simple yet innovative technique, adds texture and depth to their creations, making this activity both educational and entertaining.
3. Fork Painted Thing 1 and Thing 2 Craft (with free printable)
This Fork-Painted Thing 1 and Thing 2 Craft is exactly what you need! Using a plastic fork and bright blue paint, kids will love creating the wild, spiky hair of these iconic troublemakers from The Cat in the Hat.
4. Fork Painted Snowy Owl Craft
This fork-painted baby owl craft is a fun and creative way to bring the story of Owl Babies by Martin Waddell to life. With simple materials and a unique painting technique, kids can create their own fluffy baby owls while exploring themes of family and comfort from the book.
5. The Lorax Paper Strip Craft
Diving into the world of Dr. Seuss can be as exciting as it is meaningful, especially when you bring his characters to life with a bit of creativity and craft supplies. Today, we’re channeling the spirit of environmental stewardship and whimsy with a simple, yet striking Lorax paper strip craft.
6. Paper Towel Roll Rocket Ship Craft
This paper towel rocket ship craft is the perfect companion activity for reading Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed. Inspired by the story of Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, this craft encourages kids to dream big and explore the universe—one rocket ship at a time!
7. Pom Pom Parrot Craft
This pom pom parrot craft is a colorful and fun activity to pair with Polly Parrot Picks a Pirate by Peter Bently. Kids will love creating their own fluffy, vibrant parrot while enjoying this playful story about friendship, adventure, and finding the perfect pirate companion.
8. Paper Plate Dinosaur Craft
This paper plate dinosaur craft is a fun and creative activity to pair with How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen. Kids will love designing their own dinosaur using simple materials while enjoying this playful bedtime story that explores fun dinosaur antics and sweet nighttime routines.
9. Bubble Wrap Dragon Craft
This bubble wrap printed dragon craft is a fun, textured activity that pairs perfectly with Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin. Kids will love using bubble wrap to create colorful, scaly patterns for their dragons while enjoying the hilarious story about dragons, tacos, and the spicy surprises that bring them together.
10. Rainbow Weave Fish Craft
This rainbow weave fish craft is a bright and engaging activity to pair with The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. Kids will enjoy weaving colorful strips of paper to create their own shimmering fish while learning about the importance of sharing, kindness, and friendship—just like the Rainbow Fish in the beloved story.
11. Paper Plate Hot Air Balloon Craft
Bring a Dr. Seuss favorite- All the Places You’ll Go to life with this fun Paper Plate Hot Air Balloon Craft idea for kids.
12. Witch’s Broomstick Craft
This pipe cleaner broomstick craft is a simple and fun way to bring Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson to life! Kids will love twisting and shaping their own tiny broomsticks, just like the witch and her friends use for their magical adventure in the story.
13. Trufulla Tree Name Craft
Diving into the colorful world of Dr. Seuss with this Trufulla Tree Name Craft, we find not just whimsy and wonder but a treasure trove of lessons waiting to be discovered.
14. Paper Plate Teddy Bear Pouch Craft
This paper plate teddy bear craft is a cuddly and fun project that pairs perfectly with classic teddy bear books like Corduroy by Don Freeman and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle. Kids will love creating their own adorable bear while enjoying stories about friendship, adventure, and curiosity.
15. Sponge Painted One Fish, Two Fish Craft
Our Sponge Painted One Fish, Two Fish Craft is more than just an art project; it’s a gateway to exploring colors, shapes, and storytelling. This activity is perfect for a rainy day, a Dr. Seuss-themed party, or anytime you and your little ones want to dive into a creative sea adventure.
16. Newsprint Racoon Craft
This newspaper print raccoon craft is the perfect activity to go along with The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. Using recycled newspaper for texture, kids can create their own adorable raccoon while exploring themes of love, comfort, and bravery from the story.
17. Paper Plate Cat in the Hat
My kids can’t get enough of the Cat in the Hat! They have the books and sometimes watch the shows! Make this easy fork painted paper plate Cat in the Hat craft for Dr. Seuss week!
18. Handprint Caterpillar Craft
This handprint caterpillar craft is a fun and colorful activity to pair with The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Kids will love using their handprints to create a bright, wiggly caterpillar while learning about growth, change, and the life cycle of a butterfly—just like in the beloved story.
19. Sponge Printed Ladybug Craft
This sponge printed ladybug craft pairs perfectly with The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle. Kids will have fun stamping and painting their own bright red ladybugs while learning about patience, kindness, and getting along with others—just like the grouchy ladybug learns in the story.
20. Cupcake Liner One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
We introduced our kids to Dr. Seuss books at a very young age and easy crafts like this this Red Fish Blue Fish craft soon followed.
21. Sponge Printed Caterpillar Craft
This sponge print caterpillar craft is a fun, hands-on activity that’s perfect for pairing with The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Using sponges and vibrant paint, kids can stamp their own colorful caterpillar while exploring the story’s themes of growth, transformation, and healthy eating.
22. Paper Bag Fox Puppet Craft
This Fox in Sox Paper Bag Fox Craft is a cute craft for preschoolers and toddlers!
23. Cupcake Liner Fish Craft
This cupcake liner fish craft is a bright and fun activity to pair with The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. Using colorful cupcake liners to create shimmering scales, kids can make their own beautiful fish while learning about the importance of kindness, sharing, and friendship—just like the beloved Rainbow Fish.
24. Torn Paper Trufulla Tree Craft
Bring Dr. Seuss to life with this Torn Paper Truffula Tree Craft. If your kids love The Lorax, they’re going to be obsessed with creating these bright, fluffy trees.
25. Paper Ladybug Craft
This paper ladybug craft is a fun and simple activity to pair with The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle. Kids will enjoy creating their own cute ladybug while exploring the story’s lessons about friendship, manners, and the value of kindness.
26. Paper Bag Put Me in the Zoo Craft
What kid doesn’t love creating something cool from a simple paper bag! This is one of our favourite crafts for kids, as your little ones can create their own paper bag Put Me In the Zoo Craft. The perfect activity for a rainy or snowy afternoon after reading the book by Dr Seuss.
How These Kid’s Book Crafts Support Learning
These book-themed crafts do more than just keep little hands busy. They:
- Reinforce story comprehension by recreating characters and scenes.
- Encourage imaginative play tied to story themes.
- Support fine motor skills with cutting, gluing, and painting.
- Offer opportunities for discussion about emotions, lessons, and big ideas in each story.
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
