Reptiles can be a high-interest theme, and reptile books are especially popular with many children. Here are some of our favorite books from our reptile unit.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Just choose books based on your child’s age and what you think will engage your child’s interest. I recommend checking out the “Look Inside the Book” feature on Amazon and reading reviews there. Another place to learn about a book is on YouTube. You can typically see the entire book there.
Montessori-friendly books use photos or realistic illustrations. They don’t have talking animals or a lot of fantasy. But many books that have fantasy and talking animals are wonderful books, and I love sharing them with children who understand the difference between fantasy and reality.
For toddlers and preschoolers, about ¾ of the books I use are typically Montessori friendly (focusing on reality without smiling or talking animals or smiling or talking vehicles).
Books for a Reptile Theme
I’m featuring books here for a reptile theme mainly for preschool through elementary-age kids.
Books for a Reptile Theme
Top Shelf of Forward -Facing Display:
- National Geographic Kids First Big Book of Reptiles and Amphibians. We have a number of books in this series and love them!
- National Geographic Kids Ultimate Reptileopedia: The Most Complete Reptile Reference Ever. I love its gorgeous photos and detailed descriptions of lots and lots of reptiles!
- Animal Classification: Reptiles
2nd Shelf:
- DK Find Out! Reptiles and Amphibians
- Really Cool Reptiles (This series – I have the whole set – is great for young readers and preschoolers who are learning about animal classifications!)
- About Reptiles
3rd Shelf:
- National Geographic Kids Reptiles
- National Geographic Kids Lizards
- National Geographic Kids Snakes
- Caimans, Gharials, Alligators, and Crocodiles
4th Shelf:
- Alligators and Crocodiles
- National Geographic Kids Turtles
- What’s the Difference? Turtles and Tortoises
- Go Wild! Sea Turtles
Bottom Shelf
- Hurry Up, Franklin ( We have – and love – many books in the Franklin series)
- The House on East 88th Street (We have and love the entire Lyle, Lyle Crocodile series.)
- The Greedy Python
- The Magic School Bus Gets Cold Feet
Shelf with Reptile-Themed Fiction Books and Schleich Animals
On the other side of the room is a shelf with some fun reptile-themed fiction books and related Schleich animal figures:
- Mañana Iguana with Schleich Iguana
- Bill and Pete (We have and love the entire series.) with Schleich Crocodile
- The Mixed-Up Chameleon with Schleich Chameleon
- Except Antarctica! with Schleich Tortoise
We used other books that we keep in a large book basket, such as:
- Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth
- Nature Anatomy
- The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth is great for plant and animal classification as well as animal themes.
- DK’s First Animal Encyclopedia. The book has lots of great 2-page spreads.
- DK Smithsonian Animal Book
- National Geographic Kids Little Kids First Big Book of Animals
- Animalium: Welcome to the Museum
- My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things
- DK Animal Atlas
- Over and Under the Pond (part of a beautiful series of Over and Under nature books)
- Smithsonian Everything You Need to Kow About Snakes
- Chameleons Are Cool
My 5-year-old grandson is fascinated with crocodilians, and he loves reading chapter books and graphic novels. He’s reading and in love with the InvestiGators book series right now!
You’ll find some of the books we used here as well:
You can see lots of reptile books as they’re published here.
More Reptile Resources
Montessori-Inspired Snake Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Crocodilian Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Alligator Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Greater Than/Less Than Work, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox for the current password if you’re already a subscriber)
Montessori-Inspired Turtle Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, and DIY Movable Alphabet (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Reptile Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Free Reptile Printables and Montessori-Inspired Reptile Activities
Free snake printables and Montessori-inspired snake activities includes a number of snake posts.
Free crocodilian printables and Montessori-inspired crocodilian activities includes a number of crocodilian posts.
Montessori-inspired alligator unit with free printables and activities includes a number of alligator posts.
Check out my post and video with hands-on, greater than, less than alligator math using part of our subscriber freebie pack and another free printable!
- Greater Than, Less Than Alligator Math Printables and Activities
- Free Alligator Printables and Montessori-Inspired Alligator Activities
- Free Turtle Printables and Montessori-Inspired Turtle Activities
- Free Turtle Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Turtle Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Montessori-Inspired Alligator Unit with Free Printables and Activities
- Fabulous, Hands-on, Greater Than, Less Than Alligator Math
- Free Alligator Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Alligator Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download
- The Best Alligator and Crocodile Books for Kids
- Free Endangered Animal Printables and Montessori-Inspired Endangered Animal Activities
- Free Crocodilian Printables and Montessori-Inspired Crocodilian Activities
- Free Crocodile Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download
- Free Crocodile Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Snake Printables and Montessori-Inspired Snake Activities
- Free Snake Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Indigo Snake Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable
- Free Snake Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Favorite Books for a Snake Theme
Helpful Animal Classification Posts
- Living and Non-Living
- Plant and Animal Sorting
- Montessori Animal Classification
- Free Zoo Printables and Montessori-Inspired Zoo Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Animal Units
- Montessori Vertebrate Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
- Free Amphibian Printables and Montessori-Inspired Amphibian Activities
- Montessori Invertebrate Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
If you’d like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout May and June, see my May Themed Activities for Kids.and June Themed Activities for Kids.
Have fun exploring reptiles!
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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