I’ve loved watching my 15-month-old granddaughter’s fascination with orcas, and we’ve all had fun studying orcas along with her! Here are our favorite books for an orca theme!
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Just choose books based on your child’s age and what you think will engage your child’s interest. I recommend checking out the “Read sample” 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 an Orca Theme
I’m featuring books here for an orca theme mainly for preschool through elementary-age kids.
If you’re looking for an orca book for babies and toddlers, this is our favorite (although it isn’t a Montessori-style book): Baby Orca: Finger Puppet Book (this series is so much fun … and it’s a favorite of my 15-month-old granddaughter!)
Books for an Orca Theme
Top Shelf of Forward -Facing Display:
- Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth
- Ocean Anatomy
- National Geographic Kids Ocean Animals: Whos Who in the Deep Blue Sea
2nd Shelf:
- Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia (Gorgeous book!)
- A Mammal Is an Animal
- National Geographic Kids Ultimate Mammalpedia
3rd Shelf:
4th Shelf:
Bottom Shelf:
- There’s a lot of fascinating information about the orca life cycle in the Baby Orca book.
- The Little Book of Ocean Animals is one of the very few items with a battery that I
like for young children. It’s an inviting way for children to learn to identify a variety of ocean animal sounds. Not only is there a clear image and description of each ocean animal but the book includes each animal’s scientific name, where found, what it feeds on, young, adult characteristics, and length. Of course, the best part is the set of buttons with a animal-head button that plays each ocean animal’s unique song. Recommended for ages 3 on up, although my grandkids have loved this series as babies. (Note: Over the years, I’ve purchased every book in the series because my grandkids love them so much, and they’ve learned so much from them!) - Goodnight Little Orcas: A Counting Book (typically only available as used book, so you have to check on the book’s current price and availability)
like for young children. It’s an inviting way for children to learn to identify a variety of ocean animal sounds. Not only is there a clear image and description of each ocean animal but the book includes each animal’s scientific name, where found, what it feeds on, young, adult characteristics, and length. Of course, the best part is the set of buttons with a animal-head button that plays each ocean animal’s unique song. Recommended for ages 3 on up, although my grandkids have loved this series as babies. (Note: Over the years, I’ve purchased every book in We’re also using:
- The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth has lots and lots of stunning two-page spreads. I often use it!
- DK Smithsonian Picturepedia, which I love for most units, including our orca unit. It has gorgeous photos and illustrations with amazing two-page spreads on a wide variety of topics.
- Marvelous Mammals: This series (I have and recommend the whole set) is great for young readers and preschoolers who are learning about animal classifications!)
You can see lots of Orca Books for Kids here.
More Orca Resources
Free Orca Printables and Montessori-Inspired Orca Activities
Montessori-Inspired Dolphin and Whale Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
Free Montessori-Inspired Orca Pack
Montessori-Inspired Orca 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).
More Ocean Resources and Activities
- Free Ocean Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ocean Activities
- Free Ocean Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Guided Ocean Meditations for Kids {Mindfulness Resources}
- Free Guided Ocean Meditations {Mindfulness Resources for Teens and Adults}
- Free Ocean Animal Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- The Best Ocean Books for Kids
- The Ultimate Montessori-Inspired Shark Unit
- Free Shark Songs and Educational Videos
- Non-Scary and Montessori-Friendly Resources for a Shark Tooth Dig
- How to Make a Simple Ocean Animal Water Table or Sensory Bin Featuring Sharks
- Shark Water-Bead Number or Letter Sensory Bin
- Free Shark Printables and Montessori-Inspired Shark Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Ocean Unit
- Montessori-Inspired Resources for World Oceans Day
Montessori-Inspired Ocean Math Activities - Shells and Starfish Activities + Free Printable from Montessori By Mom
- Farm, Zoo, & Ocean Animal Sensory Bottles for Babies and Toddlers
- Coral Reef Kit and Sensory Bin
- DIY Coral Reef Water Table with Practical Life Activities
- How to Make a Simple Ocean Animal Water Table or Sensory Bin Featuring Sharks
- Ocean-themed, Editable Name and Word Tracing Pack in Print or Cursive
- Free Shark Printables and Activities for a Montessori-Inspired Shark Unit
More (Non-Human) Mammal Resources and Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Toddler Geography Activities with Baby Beluga
- Montessori-Inspired Horse Unit
- Wonderful Whale and Water-Bead Sensory Bin
- Free Raccoon Printables and Montessori-Inspired Raccoon Activities {Kissing Hand Unit}
- Free Raccoon Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Raccoon Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Polar Bear Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Lamb Printables and Montessori-Inspired Lamb Activities
- Free Lamb Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Lamb Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Simple African Animal and Continent Map Cut-and-Paste Activity {Free Printables}
- Free Bear Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bear Activities,
- Free Bear Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download,
- Free Bear Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Panda Activities
- Free Panda Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Panda Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Red Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Red Panda Activities
- Free Giant Panda and Red Panda Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Bat Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bat Activities
- Free Bat and Vampire Bat Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Bat Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Rabbit Printables and Montessori-Inspired Rabbit Activities
- Free Rabbit and Kitten Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Phonics Instant Download)
- Free Rabbit Cutting Strips
- Montessori Vertebrate Resources (including a Mammal Printable Pack) for Preschool Through Elementary
- Montessori-Inspired Dolphin and Whale Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
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
- Free Reptile Printables and Montessori-Inspired Reptile Activities
- Free Fish Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fish Activities
- Free Bird Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bird Activities post
- Free Mammal Printables and Montessori-Inspired Mammal Activities post
- Montessori Invertebrate Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
I hope you have a great rest of the summer!
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