The Best Problem Solving Books For Kids
Reading to your children regularly and engaging with them during story time can help them develop essential thinking skills, particularly problem-solving capabilities. Utilize these books as a vehicle for teaching your child new strategies for dealing with problems at school or in daily life.
These books challenge children to think outside the box and find creative solutions. Plus, there are plenty of chances for parents to ask their kids questions that promote higher-order thinking skills!
1. The Little Mouse and the Big Hungry Bear
The Little Mouse and the Big Hungry Bear is a beloved children’s classic tale with humorous illustrations, exciting surprises, and an unexpected ending that make reading aloud pure enjoyment!
This charming book follows a young mouse as it protects its strawberry from an hungry bear. As the narrator warns the mouse about potential hazards, he offers helpful suggestions on how to hide their prize.
This book helps children develop problem solving skills as the mouse attempts to save his strawberry from the bear. It provides an engaging opportunity for retelling stories, summarizing data, and drawing inferences; plus it gives them practice with retelling dialogue and asking questions.
A delightful starting point for discussions about animals and nature, this charming story has become a favorite in our home. With its gorgeous double page pastel pictures and endearing mouse character, it will surely delight young readers.
This delightful tale tells of a mouse who will do anything to protect his strawberry from an hungry bear. A must-have for any library!
Alliteration, use of varying font sizes, and visual vibrations in the illustrations all work to draw readers into the plot. This makes for an ideal read-aloud for beginners or teachers looking for a quick lesson in problem-solving skills.
This beloved story, first published in 1984, is now available as an audiobook. Narrated by award-winning illustrator Don Wood, the narration brings the captivating illustrations alive for young listeners. Together with his wife Audrey Wood, Don has remastered the tale and its beautiful illustrations for younger listeners.
2. The Big Book of Problems
The Big Book of Problems is an invaluable tool for teachers who want to foster high-level thinking in their students and help them come up with creative solutions. Authors Strasser and Bresson provide numerous examples of how to ask children questions that stimulate thought, imagination, and innovation – making this book beneficial to educators across all grades and age groups.
The book begins with the story of a child who has been trying to avoid an issue for too long, but ultimately decides to confront it and realize its not so bad after all. The author then goes on to explain how that child can apply what they’ve learned to other problems in both his own life and those around him.
This book introduces a concept that may be difficult for children to grasp: boundaries. Using terms like red flags and green flags, the book helps children distinguish what they can say and what they cannot.
Moreover, the book emphasizes the significance of talking about difficult feelings and letting them pass. This lesson is invaluable as it will prepare children for future struggles.
Elephant’s Feelings is an excellent book to discuss this topic with kids; it teaches them how to let go of their emotions and manage them healthy. The book uses a positive tone so that readers understand sadness or anger as normal parts of life.
This book is an invaluable tool for teachers working with children who struggle to express their emotions in social contexts. The text offers various strategies and techniques that can be utilized to help children express themselves appropriately, such as mindful breathing. Furthermore, well-researched back matter provides helpful resources for parents on discussing emotions with their kids.
3. What Do You Do With an Idea?
An incredible idea can come to you at any time. It may appear strange and fragile at first glance, but with time and dedication you will make it real.
Kobi Yamada’s award-winning book, Let an Idea Grow, shows children the value of allowing an idea to blossom and blossom into something amazing. Through his tale, a boy discovers the power of ideas that are wild, daring, and different from others.
Yamada uses straightforward language and stunning illustrations to encourage readers to take risks, believe in their dreams, and pursue their daring ideas. Her books also teach children how to celebrate their individuality while being kind to others.
In this story, however, the boy is worried about what others think of his idea. At first he ignores it but eventually nurtures and nurtures it until sharing it with others.
Ultimately, the boy discovers his idea wasn’t bad at all – he just needed to nurture it and turn it into reality. Through sharing this inspiring and thought-provoking book with children, parents and educators can inspire their kids to pursue their passions.
4. The Brownie and the Spoon
The Brownie and the Spoon is sure to please at any party or special occasion. It comes in a handy fabric bag and will surely impress guests, plus both items are reusable – so feel free to use them again and again! The generous 9.5cm by 6cm tin measures 70g, making this gift ideal for years to come. Additionally, you’ll get an adorable novelty-colored wooden spoon which you’re sure to use often in your kitchen – and best of all: sending it isn’t even a chore!
5. The Bear in the Big Woods
Renee Graef’s vibrant illustrations bring Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved Little House series to life for younger readers. This full-color hardcover picture book adaptation tells a cozy Christmas story set in the Big Woods and is ideal for those just beginning to read chapter books.
The Ingalls family lives in a rustic log house in Wisconsin’s Big Woods region. Here, they spend time working and farming vegetables and corn together. As one big happy family, they celebrate Christmas together, play fiddle music for fun, and just hang out together.
They are a family that comes together, even during cold and snowy weather, to stay warm and comfortable. They learn how to hunt and cook their own food while growing their own vegetables for consumption.
This book is an excellent tool to teach children about frontier life and emphasizes the value of hard work. It also emphasizes having fun and maintaining a positive outlook.
In this book, we meet Laura – a girl living in the Big Woods with her parents and two sisters. Laura strives to be an upstanding citizen but makes mistakes from time to time, often leading her to feel guilty. She strives to improve herself as a person every day.
Laura has a sister named Mary who is larger than she and they often play with rag dolls. Additionally, they own a bulldog named Jack.
The family lives in the woods, which are home to bears and wolves. Their fear of these animals is real, so they must exercise caution when handling them.
Pa instills safety in his children by telling stories about his exploits in the woods. These tales are embedded throughout the text, providing both children and their parents with valuable moral/safety lessons. Please be aware that some of these tales involve violence; thus, some kids may become fearful due to it.