Age 2-3,  Age 3-5,  Age 5-8,  Social-Emotional

10 Picture Books About Giants

We’ve been in a kick of reading GIANT books. Not 300 page tomes but books that feature l-a-r-g-e creatures. Giants, ogres, and other beings with “terrible tusks and terrible claws and terrible teeth in [their] terrible jaws.”

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I hadn’t thought too much of it until I came across this passage in The Happiest Toddler on the Block:

“‘I’m big!’ (But yikes, I’m little too!) One of the most profound comparisons your older toddler makes is between herself and others. These assessments help her see herself as a strong, independent person. But they can provoke some troublesome feelings too… Your three-year-old is all too aware that she is no longer a baby.  But the recognition that she’s bigger than a baby brings with it a potentially scary realization: Compared to everyone else, she’s small and vulnerable. No wonder three-year-olds like to make big splashes in puddles and enjoy stories about being big and strong.”

Perhaps these read alouds have been a form of bibliotherapy for my own 3-year-old Bookworm. It certainly fits the bill since I’ve been simultaneously shaking my head at how big he is and yet how much bigger his big bro is! I’ve shared many of these stories with my 3-5 year old storytime at co-op, and they have been hits all around. They make for dramatic read alouds and we’ve had quite a lot of imaginative play come about after hearing them. (The word “Zoop!” became a household term after falling for Abiyoyo!)

Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger
Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson
The Gruffalo’s Child by Juila Donaldson
Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne
Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne
The Giant of Jum by Elli Wollard
The Giant of Jum by Elli Wollard
Rude Giants by Audrey Wood
Rude Giants by Audrey Wood
The Princess and the Giant by Caryl Hart
The Princess and the Giant by Caryl Hart
Carolinda Clatter! by Mordicai Gerstein
Carolinda Clatter! by Mordicai Gerstein
The Woods by Paul Hoppe
The Woods by Paul Hoppe

Lionheart by Richard Collingridge

Lionheart by Richard CollingridgeDo your bookworms enjoy stories about giants and other larger than life creatures? What are your favorite titles? I’d love to hear! Connect with me in the comments below, on my Facebook page, or on Instagram.

Look for these titles at your local library, or through the affiliate links provided.