Living Books for World Geography
In our newest resource, The Precious People Year One, we are taking a trip around the world with living books.
Each month of the resource covers a new continent, along with themes that bring world geography alive for early elementary students. We also include a weekly virtue with paired picture books.
These books highlight courageous stories from many cultures, but if you don't have a big book budget, or you can't find them at the local library, many are available as Youtube read alouds, or you can simply substitute
for a similar book.
Introduction
A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska (We will use this book or a children's world atlas every month)
This is Our Earth by Laura Lee Benson
Look, Listen, Taste, Touch, and Smell: Learning About Your Five Senses
Sunshine Makes the Seasons by Dr. Franklyn M. Branley
The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provenson
North America Living Books
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler
Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska (We will use this book or a children's world atlas every month)
There’s a Map on My Lap by Tish Rabe
I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. illustrated by Kadir Nelson
What do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry
Nature Recycles by Michelle Lord
If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen
Explore! America’s Wildlife by Kitson Jazynka and Hannah Bailey
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
How Food Gets From Farm to Store Shelves by Erika L. Shores
Buy Month One North America Here
South America Living Books
The Boy Who Biked the World Part Two by Alastair Humphreys
Digging for Words by Angela Burke Kunkel
I Am La Chiva! by Karol Hernández
What is Given from the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack
George Washington and the General’s Dog by Frank Murphy
Over and Under the Rainforest by Kate Messner
Explore My World: Rainforests by Marfe Ferguson Delano
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett
Buy Month Two South America Here
Europe Living Books
If You Lived Here by Giles LaRoche
Hello World! Greetings in 42 Languages Around the Globe by Manya Stojic
Once Upon a Word by Jess Zafarris
Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Christina Bjork
The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes
Ambrose and the Cathedral Dream by Margo Sorenson
Africa Living Books
Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling
We All Went on Safari by Laurie Krebs
Andy and the Pharoah’s Cat by Carolyn Watson Dubisch
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Picture Book Edition by William Kamkwamba
Rocks and Minerals by Kathy Weidner Zoehfeld
Africa is Not a Country by Margy Burns Knight
Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer
Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer by Laura Wifler
Asia Living Books
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack
Celebrate Chinese New Year by Carolyn Otto
I Live in Tokyo by Mari Takabayashi
I'll Go and Come Back by Rajani LaRocca
All About India by Chloe Perkins
The Blue Butterfly of Cochin by Ariana Mizrahi
The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha
Australia Living Books
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Are We There Yet by Alison Lester
Peppe the Lamplighter by Elisa Bartone
Meet Captain Cook by Rae Murdie
Coral Reefs by Kristin Baird Rattini
It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach
Nanny Mihi’s Harvest by Melanie Drewery
Kiwi and Little Blue by Emily Brunner
A is for Australia by Frané Lessac
Wombat Stew by Marcia K Vaughn
Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming
Antarctica Living Books
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Shackleton’s Journey by William Grill
Antarctica: a Continent of Wonder by Mario Cuesta Hernando
On the Same Day in March by Marilyn Singer
This is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe
Draw the World by Kristin J. Draeger
We will be adding more books to the list as we finish each continent unit. Can't wait to learn more about the world with you!
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2 comments
Hi Rosa,
The extended book list will be included in the curriculum, and we will have the full bundle available by 10/1/25.
I’ll have the second month available by 8/1/25. Thanks for your patience with us!
I think this resource is amazing!!!! Thank you so much!
I would like to use it with my older kids too. Where can I find the extended books list and also how soon is the rest coming? Will we be able to purchase what is coming once we finish this month study?