Books for Teaching About the Letter E
Looking for some fun letter E books for your letter of the week lessons for Ee? Picture books are a great way to introduce new letters, practice beginning sounds, and build vocabulary! If you’re planning your letter E week, I’ve rounded up five books that are perfect for teaching about the letter Ee and its short and long vowel sounds.
From elephants and eggs to eagles and ears, these books are great additions to your letter E activities!
1. Elephants Cannot Dance! by Mo Willems
Gerald and Piggie are always a hit with kindergarteners, and Elephants Cannot Dance! is no exception! In this story, Piggie tries to teach Gerald how to dance, but Gerald is convinced that elephants simply can’t dance. This book is perfect for practicing the /e/ sound in “elephant”, and it’s also a great way to talk about perseverance and trying new things!
2. Elephants by Avery Hurt
If you’re looking to add some nonfiction to your letter E lessons, Elephants by Avery Elizabeth Hurt is a great choice! Students will love learning about these enormous animals, including their trunks, tusks, and habitats. It’s a wonderful opportunity to build vocabulary and practice identifying the beginning sound in “elephant”.
3. Go Wild! Elephants by Margie Markarian
Here’s another great nonfiction option for your letter E week! Go Wild! Elephants features colorful photographs and interesting facts about elephants. It’s a fun way to introduce nonfiction text while helping students learn more about elephants.
4. What If You Had Animal Ears? by Sandra Markle
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have the ears of an elephant, a rabbit, or another animal? This fun nonfiction book explores different animal ears and how they help animals survive. Your students will love imagining what it would be like to have their own animal ears! It’s also a great choice for introducing the long E sound in ears.
5. The Ear Book by Al Perkins
This is a classic beginner book that explores all kinds of sounds that we hear with our ears. Students will love listening to the noises and repetition in this book, and you can use it to reinforce the long E sound in ear. It also makes a great connection to a lesson about the five senses, if you’re talking about that with your class!
6. Egg by Kevin Henkes
Egg by Kevin Henkes is a sweet picture book with simple illustrations and very few words. The story follows several eggs as they hatch, with one unexpected surprise! This book is a wonderful choice for encouraging students to make predictions. Plus, the word “egg” is perfect for practicing the short E sound!
7. A Parade of Elephants by Kevin Henkes
This charming picture book follows five colorful elephants as they march through their day. With simple, rhythmic text and beautiful illustrations, A Parade of Elephants is perfect for young learners. It’s a great book for reinforcing the letter E while also incorporating counting, colors, and sequencing!
8. Eagles Up Close by Christopher Blazeman
If your students enjoy learning about animals, Eagles Up Close is another great nonfiction addition to your letter E books! This book gives students a closer look at eagles. It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce the long E sound in eagle while building their vocabulary. I love the eagle-eye photographs throughout this book, too!
9. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
This beloved story is also a great addition to your letter E week! The Little Engine That Could tells the story of a determined little train that keeps trying, even when faced with a difficult challenge. You can also use it to practice the short E sound in the word “engine”! Side note, my oldest daughter used to request this book every single night, so it’s extra special to me!
Add These Letter E Books to Your Kindergarten Lessons!
Reading letter E books is a simple way to reinforce letter recognition and letter sounds while introducing students to new stories, vocabulary, and concepts. Whether you’re reading about elephants or eggs, these books provide plenty of opportunities to practice beginning sounds and build early literacy skills.
You can also pair these books with letter E crafts, alphabet worksheets, or literacy centers to extend the learning throughout your letter E week! Click here to read about my favorite Letter E Activities!
You might also like:
Letter E Activities for Kindergarten
Letter Recognition Games for Kindergarten
Roll and Read Games for Kindergarten
