Zoo Books for Toddlers
Board books are perfect for toddlers! They’re much sturdier than traditional books. These zoo books for toddlers help introduce little ones to zoo animals.
Teaching toddlers and preschoolers about the zoo and zoo animals is so much fun! Reading about gorillas, giraffes, zebras, and more is sure to engage even your littlest listeners.
These awesome board books are perfect your upcoming preschool zoo theme activities!
Zoo Books for Toddlers
Below, I’ve featured just a handful of zoo-themed board books that will help your toddlers learn about life at the zoo.
You should be able to find them at your local library or bookstore. If you can’t find them locally, you can click each image cover to purchase them on Amazon.
Put Me in the Zoo – They say a leopard can’t change his spots–but Spot sure can! Babies and toddlers will love pointing out the colors of his changing spots in this delightful, rhyming adaptation of Robert Lopshire’s classic Bright and Early Book.
Pat the Zoo – This engaging touch-and-feel book takes babies on a playful trip to the zoo where they can pet animals like lions, pandas, turtles, and more, all the while making cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Peek-a-Boo Zoo – Join in on the classic game of peek-a-boo with a lion, a bear, and more zoo animals by lifting the flaps to reveal each cute creature’s joyful face.
Bright Baby Touch & Feel At the Zoo – Cute pictures of animals, rhyming text to read aloud, and touch and feel textures make this book perfect for you and your bright baby.
Treasure Hunt: At the Zoo – There are so many animals to see on a trip to the zoo – how many lions can you count? This seek-and-find book has five big, fold-out pages, each one featuring animals from a different habitat, such as the jungle or the desert – and all packed with photographs of animals to look for, find, and count.
Elmo at the Zoo – Explore the zoo with Elmo and his friends! In this unique new format, each page turn brings the reader deeper into the environment and the story!
Curious George at the Zoo – This engaging touch-and-feel board book lets youngsters feel a rhino’s rough skin, a fuzzy zebra’s mane, and the coats of penguins. All the while, they can search for Curious George, who is hiding on each page: “Is George around to see?”
Peek-A-Zoo! – Colorful pictures and a lively, rhyming text help children predict what animal is peeking through die-cut windows. The anticipation of what’s hiding on the next page and the bright, engaging illustrations will keep youngsters laughing and learning all the way to the surprise ending.
Color Zoo – Shapes and colors in your zoo, lots of things that you can do. Heads and ears, beaks and snouts, that’s what animals are all about. I know animals and you do too; make some new ones for your zoo.
1, 2, 3 to the Zoo– This board book combines simple counting with Carle’s unusual illustrations of animals.
Good Night, Gorilla – It’s bedtime at the zoo, and all the animals are going to sleep. Or are they? Who’s that short, furry guy with the key in his hand and the mischievous grin?
Baby Zoo: The Book of Colors, Numbers, and Shapes – This book follows the story of an accident with paint at the zoo with baby animals. The painter then figures out a simple solution to get all animals clean and save the day. Your child will learn the name of each animal, colors, numbers, shapes, emotions and other important concepts.
Dear Zoo – Young readers love lifting the flaps to discover the animals the zoo has sent-a monkey, a lion, and even an elephant! But will they ever find the perfect pet?
Zoo: Peek-a-Flap Board Book – You’ll meet all sorts of animals when you peek and explore around wild habitats!
My Heart is Like a Zoo – This board book edition of the award-winning picture book is perfect for little hands and the very youngest readers, who will learn that a heart can be hopeful, silly, happy, rugged, snappy, or lonely.
Zoo Animals Ideas for Kids
Add some plastic zoo animal figures to your pretend play area for kids to explore. They’ll have so much fun using them to act out zoo books or other imaginative play scenarios.
Read Do You Know Hank the Hippo, and let your preschoolers act out the story with an adorable crocheted hippo toy.
Set up a zoo animals sensory bin with this kit! Filled with a mixture of textures, bright and vibrant colors, this kit will let your little one explore for hours.
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.