Fun and Learning with Lois Ehlert Stories

Are you looking for vibrant, visually engaging stories that spark creativity while supporting early learning? Books by Lois Ehlert are a fantastic choice for young learners.

From Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to Leaf Man and Planting a Rainbow, her books combine bold collage-style illustrations with simple, rhythmic text that captures children’s attention and invites exploration.

Whether you’re teaching in an ESL classroom, homeschooling, or working in a primary school, these stories are playful, colorful, and perfect for hands-on learning.

Lois Ehlert was a celebrated author and illustrator known for her distinctive collage technique using cut paper, fabric, and natural materials.

Her books often focus on nature, seasons, colors, and the world around us, making them ideal for introducing young children to both language and early science concepts.

Why Use Lois Ehlert Stories?

Supports Visual Learning
Bright, bold illustrations help children connect words with images easily.

Great for ESL Learners
Simple, repetitive text and strong visual cues support comprehension and participation.

Builds Vocabulary Naturally
Her books introduce everyday words related to nature, colors, food, and seasons.

Encourages Creativity
Her collage style inspires children to create their own art.

Cross-Curricular Learning
Perfect for integrating language with science topics like plants, weather, and seasons.

Favorite Lois Ehlert Books to Explore

These colorful and creative stories are filled with bold collage art, nature themes, and engaging vocabulary that inspire curiosity and hands-on learning. Lois Ehlert’s books are perfect for exploring science, seasons, gardening, colors, and creativity while encouraging observation and artistic expression.

Planting a Rainbow

A vibrant gardening story that introduces children to flowers, colors, and the process of planting and growing a rainbow garden. The bold illustrations and simple text make it a wonderful springtime read-aloud.

Great for: Gardening themes, colors, spring activities, nature studies, sequencing
You can extend this story with: flower planting, color sorting, garden sensory bins, seed investigations, and rainbow art projects.

Leaf Man

A creative autumn story about a leaf figure traveling wherever the wind may take him. Made from real leaves and natural materials, the illustrations inspire imagination and seasonal exploration.

Great for: Fall themes, nature art, seasons, creative storytelling, observation skills
You can extend this story with: leaf collages, nature walks, outdoor scavenger hunts, storytelling prompts, and autumn sensory activities.

Eating the Alphabet

A colorful alphabet book introducing fruits and vegetables from around the world. This engaging nonfiction-inspired favorite encourages healthy eating and vocabulary development.

Great for: Alphabet learning, nutrition, vocabulary building, food themes, multicultural learning
You can extend this story with: fruit and vegetable tastings, alphabet sorting games, pretend grocery stores, healthy eating discussions, and food art projects.

Snowballs

A playful winter story showing creative snowpeople made from everyday household objects. Children love spotting the materials used in each collage illustration.

Great for: Winter themes, creativity, observation skills, art exploration, seasonal activities
You can extend this story with: snowman crafts, recycled art projects, winter sensory bins, creative building challenges, and texture explorations.

Waiting for Wings

A beautifully illustrated introduction to butterflies and their life cycle, filled with bright colors and engaging information. The rhythmic text and collage art make science concepts accessible and exciting.

Great for: Butterfly studies, life cycles, spring themes, science connections, nature exploration
You can extend this story with: butterfly life cycle crafts, garden planting, insect observations, science journals, and symmetry art activities.

Growing Vegetable Soup

A lively and colorful story that follows the process of planting, growing, harvesting, and cooking vegetables into a delicious homemade soup. The simple text and bright collage illustrations make this a wonderful introduction to gardening, healthy foods, and life cycles.

Great for: Gardening themes, healthy eating, sequencing, plant life cycles, cooking activities
You can extend this story with: classroom gardening projects, vegetable tastings, soup-making activities, seed investigations, dramatic play farmers markets, and cooking-themed sensory bins.

Prediction Practice
Before and during reading, ask students to:

• Look at the illustrations
• Guess what the story is about
• Predict what might happen next

This builds engagement and comprehension.

Sequencing Practice
After reading, ask students to:

• Order events (first, next, then, last)
• Retell the story using simple sentences
• Match pictures to parts of the story

This supports language development.

Create Your Own Collage
Inspired by her style:

• Use colored paper, magazines, or natural materials
• Create animals, plants, or scenes
• Present and describe their artwork

This encourages creativity and expression.

Nature Walk and Connect
Take learning outside:

• Collect leaves, flowers, or small objects
• Connect them to the story
• Describe colors, shapes, and textures

Great for vocabulary and observation.

Vocabulary Practice
Choose key words from the story:

• Match words to pictures
• Sort by categories (colors, plants, animals)
• Use in simple sentences

Keep it visual and interactive.

Color and Pattern Exploration
Focus on:

• Identifying colors
• Creating patterns
• Describing combinations

Perfect for early learners.

Act It Out
Even simple stories can be dramatized:

• Use movements (growing plants, falling leaves)
• Assign simple roles
• Retell the story physically

This builds confidence and understanding.

Create a Warm Storytime Environment

• Use colorful visuals and displays
• Add real objects (leaves, fruits, flowers)
• Create a cozy reading space

A stimulating environment enhances engagement.

Books by Lois Ehlert are more than just visually striking—they are powerful tools for building vocabulary, creativity, and curiosity about the natural world. Through bold illustrations and simple text, children learn to observe, describe, and connect ideas.

Whether you focus on language, art, or science, her stories adapt beautifully to any learning setting.

So choose a story, gather your students, and enjoy a colorful and creative reading experience.