From weather patterns to days of the week, to months and patterns in nature, chronological awareness is a skill taught in preschools all over the world. As children understand more about their world, chronological learning helps small children exercise greater autonomy and increase in awareness of the world around them. The following picture books are a wonderful way to incorporate chronological learning into the fun of storytime!
Time for a Hug by Phillis Gershator & Mim Green, illustrated by David Walker
From waking up to going to sleep, every hour brings new things to do! But in between all the fun, there’s always time for hugs! This sweet rhyming story starts at sun-up and finishes at bedtime, providing great numbers and time practice, as well as an emotional boost.
Kimchi, Kimchi Every Day by Erica Kim
Korean pickled vegetables, or kimchi, can be served in so many different ways! In this cheerful, rhyming picture book, the narrator eats a different kimchi dish for each day of the week. Kimchi facts and descriptions of each dish are also included at the end of this book. With its bright illustrations, rhyming text, and repetition, this is a perfect read aloud book for parents and new readers!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The timeless story of the little caterpillar that ate its way through a week’s worth of food will always be one of our favorites! From days of the week, to numbers and colors, this story is not only engaging, but it’s also a fantastic early learning tool. Eric Carle’s bright and beautiful illustrations of the caterpillar’s journey and transformation help make it an instant classic in any home library!
A Busy Year by Leo Lionni
A pair of twin mice befriend a tree in January and follow its progression throughout the following year. From buds to blossoms, from fruit to falling leaves, the mice experience each month with their friend, Woody—even saving her from a forest fire! This story is a fun way to help children learn the progression of months, seasons, and foliage.
Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead
It’s almost winter, and Bear has a story to tell! But Duck is preparing to fly South. And Mouse is gathering acorns. All of his friends are too busy preparing for winter to listen to Bear’s story. It’s not until spring arrives that Bear can gather his friends—but will he remember his story after his long, sleepy winter? This sweet story is juxtaposed with seasons, wildlife, and information about how animals survive the winter.
A New Day by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Dan Santat
When Sunday quits, it’s up to the rest of the days to find a suitable replacement. From Superhero Day to Can-day, to Caturday and Llama Day, all kinds of day ideas audition for the job. But it’s not until a little girl says a simple thank you that the final decision is made. This hilarious book is both touching and laugh-out-loud funny, with incredible illustrations, whimsical dialogue, and clever text. It belongs on every shelf and will easily become a favorite!
Pitter Pattern by Joyce Hesselberth
Lu sees patterns everywhere! At her soccer lesson on Monday, piano on Tuesday, dance on Wednesday, and even the zoo on Saturday! The illustrations in this fun story are also full of patterns for young readers to find. This story is a perfect way to reinforce chronological concepts and inspire kids to find and notice patterns, not only in the story, but in their world as well.
Lift by Minh Le, illustrated by Dan Santat
In this gorgeous story, a big sister’s favorite thing to do is press the button for the elevator. So when her little brother takes a turn, she retaliates by pushing all the buttons—and breaking the elevator! When the new one arrives, she swipes the old button from the trash to tape to the wall in her room—only to find that pushing it opens a whole new world of magic. Told in both text and illustration, this is a story of a week—as well as love, family, and magic.
Llama Destroys the World by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Heather Fox
On Friday, Llama will destroy the world. All because of too much cake on Monday, dance class on Tuesday, and a bologna and cheese sandwich on Wednesday. Not to mention a powerful black hole. This story will keep kids and adults laughing from the beginning of Llama’s fateful week until the (hilarious) end of it.
In the Garden by Emma Guiliana
From spring to summer and fall to winter, there are always things to do and observe in the garden! With interactive elements and lots of information, this book gives insight into the progression of a garden—and the many growing things in it!—throughout the year.