Children's books and activities

Homes and Habitats

Do you know any kids who are curious about the amazing homes that animals build in their natural environment? Or how we design and build our own houses? We've gathered up a great collection of books, activities, apps, and websites for learning all about homes and habitats.

Try pairing fiction with nonfiction books and exploring different genres (like poetry and biographies) and formats (like graphic novels and audio books). You'll be creating your own "text sets" — collections of texts focused on a specific topic, such as homes and habitats. Reading widely in this way helps children build background knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.

Homes and Habitats

Great Fiction & Nonfiction Books

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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Birds Make Nests

By:
Michael Garland

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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Fleabag

By:
Helen Stephens

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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Home

By:
Carson Ellis

Age Level: 3-6 years old

Home, Sweet Home: What Makes a House a Home?

By:
Moira Butterfield
Illustrated by: Clair Rossiter

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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How a House Is Built

By:
Gail Gibbons

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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In the Small, Small Pond

By:
Denise Fleming
Illustrated by: Denise Fleming

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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Jump into Science: Coral Reefs

By:
Sylvia Earle
Illustrated by: Bonnie Matthews

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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Looking Closely Along the Shore

By:
Frank Serafini
Illustrated by: Frank Serafini

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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Looking Closely Around the Pond

By:
Frank Serafini

Age Level: 3-6 years old

Nesting

By:
Henry Cole

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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On the Way to the Beach

By:
Henry Cole

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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Out on the Prairie

By:
Donna Bateman
Illustrated by: Susan Swan

Age Level: 3-6 years old

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Trout Are Made of Trees

By:
April Sayre
Illustrated by: Kate Endle

Age Level: 3-6 years old

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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A Beach for the Birds

By:
Bruce McMillan

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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A City Through Time

By:
Philip Steele
Illustrated by: Steve Noon

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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A House Is a House for Me

By:
Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by: Betty Fraser

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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A Place for Fish

By:
Melissa Stewart
Illustrated by: Higgins Bond

Age Level: 6-9 years old

Along the Tapajós

By:
Fernando Vilela

Age Level: 6-9 years old

Birds, Nests and Eggs

By:
Mel Boring

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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Even an Ostrich Needs a Nest

By:
Irene Kelly

Age Level: 6-9 years old

Home

By:
Jeannie Baker

Age Level: 6-9 years old

Home for a Penquin, Home for a Whale book cover showing swimming penquins and sea creatures underwater

Home for a Penguin, Home for a Whale

By:
Brenda Williams
Illustrated by: Annalisa Beghelli

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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If You Lived Here: Houses of the World

By:
Giles Laroche
Illustrated by: Giles Laroche

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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Leaving the Nest

By:
Mordicai Gerstein

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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Nat Geo Wild Animal Atlas: Earth's Astonishing Animals and Where They Live

By:
National Geographic Kids

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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Roberto: The Insect Architect

By:
Nina Laden

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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Seabird in the Forest: The Mystery of the Marbled Murrelet

By:
Joan Dunning

Age Level: 6-9 years old

illustrated cover of Seashells, More Than a Home with several different shells laid out on the sand.

Seashells: More Than a Home

By:
Melissa Stewart
Illustrated by: Sarah S. Brannen

Age Level: 6-9 years old

The Barn Owls

By:
Tony Johnston
Illustrated by: Deborah Kogan Ray

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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When the Wolves Returned: Restoring Nature's Balance in Yellowstone

By:
Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Illustrated by: Cassie & Dan Hartman

Age Level: 6-9 years old

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Where Once There Was a Wood

By:
Denise Fleming
Illustrated by: Denise Fleming

Age Level: 6-9 years old

Age Level: 9-12 years old

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Encantado: Pink Dolphin of the Amazon

By:
Sy Montgomery

Age Level: 9-12 years old

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Take Shelter: At Home Around the World

By:
Nikki Tate
Illustrated by: Dani Tate-Stratton

Age Level: 9-12 years old

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The Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea

By:
Sy Montgomery

Age Level: 9-12 years old