The author of Goodnight Moon gives children a wonderfully gentle book that describes a simple day on the farm. The pig squeals, the hen sits on her eggs, and the horses run in the field. The illustrations are tranquil and the text rhymes effortlessly. It’s a perfect bedtime book for toddlers and preschoolers.

Mrs. Wishy-Washy likes to keep a clean farm. And that includes the animals! But Duck, Cow, and Pig have had enough of bath time—they’re leaving the farm! The animals head into the city where they wind up in a few silly situations. In the end, Mrs. Wishy-Washy comes to their rescue, and they all head home for a delightful, much-appreciated bath. It’s a humorous escapade that preschoolers and early elementary kids are sure to enjoy!

This is your children’s guide to farm living. They’ll learn about harrows and hackles, buckwheat and bantams. The illustrator adds informative diagrams that reveal the inner workings of soil, the various types of barn cupolas, and much more. It’s packed with facts and details that are easy for elementary kids to understand. Kids will find something new every time they page through this book. Plus, it’s a visual treat!

In this book, playful farm sounds are added to Eric Carle’s iconic art. There are 30 sounds in all. Little ones can hear from a frog, duck, dog, cat, rooster, and many other farm friends. The text is simple, just one line on each page. This makes it engaging, not overwhelming, for toddlers and preschoolers. It provides an age-appropriate introduction to farm animals.

Where does our food come from? This book gives the answer! Many people work hard to make sure we have food on our tables. This book explains it from beginning to end, from the farmers who plow the fields and milk the cows, to the warehouse workers who deliver food to the grocery store. The last few pages give tips for growing your own garden with your children. This is a good book to use for inspiring preschoolers and early elementary kids to think about the process of food production and to be thankful for the people who make it possible.

In this Level 1 reader from National Geographic Kids, young readers can learn all about plants. They’ll learn about seeds, pollination, and more. There are also a few diagrams and plant jokes to keep kids interested. Kids in first grade will love to read this one to you or their younger siblings!

This is a lullaby like no other! There are cows blasting off into space, sheep setting sail, frogs on bikes, and yaks in Cadillacs—humorous illustrations and rhymes fill each page. This book is as silly as it is sweet. It’s a wonderful bedtime book for preschoolers and early elementary kids. Get this one as a board book or in hardcover.

It’s time for everything on the farm to go to sleep. Kids will say goodnight to the farmer and the plow, the trailer and the cow. Throughout the book, a young boy in his pajamas is shown saying goodnight to everything as the sun goes down. The text is quick and easy to read, making it a great bedtime book for preschoolers.

Nearly every question you could ever ask about chickens is answered in this book! It has a playful tone that youngsters will love. Charming illustrations add educational value to every page. Learn the basics of what makes a chicken a chicken, and find out fun facts about these feathered friends. The writing in this book is more advanced, so it’s best suited for elementary children. However, the playful illustrations will appeal to any child.

Follow along as Buttercup the cow meets the other rescued farm animals at Barn Sanctuary. She’s afraid and isn’t sure she’ll fit in with the other animals. Through their friendship and kindness, everything turns out just fine! This book is especially fun because the characters are based on actual animals living at Barn Sanctuary in Michigan. Read it with your preschoolers and early elementary children.

From award-winning children’s author Gail Gibbons comes this book about the work and seasons of the farm. Children will take a journey through the main elements of each season, even winter. They’ll learn about farm chores, crops, machinery, and much more. The illustrations are bright, but not too busy for preschoolers. It provides a nice introduction to the work done on a farm.

The farm has worked hard through the spring, summer, and fall. Now it’s time for it to rest during the winter. Throughout the book, the peak of the farm season is revisited as the preparations for winter are made. Cozy illustrations give this book a sleepy winter feel. It’s another great bedtime book for early elementary children and preschoolers.

A sandwich, a juice box, some fruits and veggies—how’d they all get to your children? They’ll find out in this book! Snippets of text and retro-like illustrations describe how each ingredient is made. The processes for bringing bread, apples, tomatoes, and clementines to the table are described in detail. In the final pages, there’s also a brief discussion of how food nourishes our bodies. This book is sure to inspire curiosity in early elementary children!

Beep, beep, beep! It’s the Little Blue Truck coming down the road. This book is an instant classic that inspires kids to be friendly, no matter how grumpy others may be. It’s filled with animals and their distinct sounds, which makes it a joy for parents to read. Even the littlest ones can join in! Toddlers and preschoolers will love to read this one again and again.

This book is simple, but it’s so much fun! Sparse text is paired with silly photographs featuring farm animals. There’s a goat with a beard, ostriches with long necks, and a llama flashing his smile. Early readers will be proud to read this one on their own. Even preschoolers will memorize the text after a few readings and read it to you, too!

This book starts with springtime and takes a detailed look at all the activities that happen on small farms each season. It describes a variety of farms like orchards, dairy farms, and sheep farms. Detailed diagrams and colorful illustrations add to the learning. There’s a glossary of farm terms in the final pages. This one is packed with information, so we recommend taking it section-by-section with early elementary kids.

Come and visit Apple Tree Farm! These 16 stories feature the animals and people who live there. They are all gentle, cheerful stories. As a bonus for parents of young children, each page features two levels of text: a short sentence at the top and a longer description for older kids at the bottom. This makes it a good pick for toddlers or preschoolers.

This is an illustrated and heavily adapted version of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Farmer Boy.” The story follows Almanzo Wilder, who would become Laura’s husband when they were grown up. He lives on a farm in upstate New York. Children will listen to the story as he does his winter chores and then goes inside for a hearty meal with his family. It’s a beautiful portrayal of what life on a farm was like during the 1800s. The illustrations are warm and cozy, too. Read it with your preschoolers.