These fun color books are perfect for preschool and kindergarten students who are learning words about colors. Keep the fun going with ideas for color activities, games, and lively songs (includes free printables).
Color has always been one of my favorite things to teach. I absolutely love COLOR and love to play with paint and encourage kids to get colorful!
You are reading: Color books for kindergarten
I’ve also found that once children grasp the concept of color, they enjoy showing off their knowledge.
mrs sharon! mrs sharon!
“I have an orange shirt, see? watch? “
mrs sharon! mrs sharon!
“I have a purple stain on my sweater” (is it grape jelly?)
There are some amazing books on colors to share with your students. every topic we teach has a set of books to go with it and these are my favorite coloring books for beginning readers. each book passes my personal test. they are
- kid approved
- fun and easy to read aloud.
- and has great illustrations.
if you’re a fan of amazon (waves frantically), you can get these titles and more by clicking the links below.
9 Great Color Books Your Class Will Love
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin
The simple story and colorful illustrations make it a joy to read to young children. repetitive word patterns mean children can engage very quickly. this is a great book for children to revisit at centers or during library because they will remember the patterns.
Literacy Tip: Books with repeating patterns are helpful stepping stones in the process of reading development. they help even the most hesitant reader experience success as active participants in reading.
- little peas by keith baker
In this fun book, a group of cheerful peas fill the pages of this playful exploration of color. the lively rhymes introduce a rainbow of colors and the best part is watching the peas romp through a rainbow of colors. children who enjoy books with a lot of detail will enjoy checking out this book.
- monsters love colors by mike austin
Three kid-friendly monsters go wild with color in this energetic picture book. kids seem to enjoy the vibrant illustrations and animated monsters. the language is delightfully silly and the story is full of wacky rhymes. is a great book to use when teaching primary and secondary colors.
- pete the cat: i love my white shoes by eric litwin.
Children love pete the cat books and this story is a delight to read. Pete the cat goes for a walk and stomps on strawberries, mud and more in his new white shoes. Bright colors, visual humor, and simple repetitive word patterns make this a great read-aloud book. you can listen to the song here.
- mouse paint by ellen stoll wash
See Also: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Full Book Summary | SparkNotes
Three mischievous white mice discover three paint cans: red, blue and yellow. they jump in and out, splattering paint drops and discovering a whole rainbow of new colors in the process. the charming story combined with colorful collage illustrations makes this book a joy to read.
related: try this kindergarten craft in different colors
- swatch: the girl who loved color by julia denos
swatch tames the swirling colored ribbons and entices them to come when she calls. swatch starts collecting the colors in jam jars and soon has the space full of them. all except yellowest yellow, which simply refuses to be tamed. the language is rich in descriptive words, making it perfect for kids to build their vocabulary. You can even use it as a springboard for movement and art with these extension activities.
- colorful dog day: a messy story about colors by emma dodd (also a counting book)
The dog starts the day in a beautiful white coat, but wherever he goes, he ends up with a new patch of color. each new spot is added until the dog returns home with ten spots of different colors. Then it’s bath time for this colorful canine. This book makes learning colors and numbers fun and easy.
- the artist who painted a blue horse by eric carle
Kids enjoy this book because it’s silly and gives them permission to break the rules about what colors animals should be. It’s a quick read and would make a wonderful introduction to colorful art activities like this.
- the noisy paintbox: the colors and sounds of kandinsky’s abstract art by barb rosenstock
Russian schoolboy Vasya Kandinsky is given a box of paint and discovers that he can hear colors. As Kandinsky grows older, he longs to create works of art that reflect the wondrous sounds he hears. this book is a beautifully told story of a pioneer in the world of art.
songs and color games
once you’ve finished reading one of these books, continue the theme with some songs, games, and activities. a little more learning sneaks in and the kids seem to love these games and activities. win-win!
songs
your clothes have some red(song: “if you are happy and you know it”)
does your clothes have any red, any red? Do your clothes have some red and red? if your clothes have some red, put your hand on your head, does your clothes have some red, some red?
>
does your clothes have blue, any blue? Do your clothes have any blue, any blue? if your clothes have any blue, bend over and touch your shoe, does your clothes have any blue, any blue?
additional verses:
does your clothes have any white? kick your feet with all your might. Do your clothes have any brown? nod your head up and down. Do your clothes have any black? put your hands behind your back. Do your clothes have any pink? give your eyes a double blink
free resource: get these teddy bear color puzzles for free
this activity goes well with:
hokey-pokey color (you’ll need a bit of room for this one)
- choose two colors of crepe paper streamers. cut into 12-inch strips.
- invite children to hold one streamer of each color in each hand.
- stand in a circle to sing the song.
color hokey-pokey (melody: hokey pokey)
you put blue, you take blue. you turn blue and shake everything. you hokey-pokey and turn around. that’s what it’s all about!
See Also: How to Make Book Bricks for your Little Free Library – Little Free Library
repeat, naming the other color.
You could extend this song with four colors and have each child choose two to hold and shake during the corresponding verses.
free resource: download these free printable word matching puzzles
games
blue elbow
In this game you will say a color and a part of the body. students must find an object in the room that is that color and then touch the selected body part with that object. For example, if the teacher says red thumb, then students should find an object in the classroom (you may want to exclude clothing) that is red and touch it with their thumb. the teacher keeps calling colors and body parts.
I spy
play see see using colors instead of letters. I spy with my little eye something that is red.
simón says to draw
give each child a large sheet of paper and markers/crayons
call simon says instructions
- simon says draw a red circle
- simon says make purple dots
- simon says draw something blue
- simon says make yellow zigzags
continue until the papers are covered in color.
Simon could also ask them to trade papers with a friend, but some kids may have a hard time letting go of their picture.
now it’s your turn
what is your favorite book about color? what would you add to the list? What color activities do your students enjoy?
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See Also: Kindle iPhone Reading 101: How to Download Purchased Books (iOS 15)
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See Also: Kindle iPhone Reading 101: How to Download Purchased Books (iOS 15)