Bring your child’s favorite stories to life with these engaging craft projects! Each activity is designed to reinforce story elements while developing fine motor skills and creativity.

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” Crafts

Craft Idea Materials Needed Age Range Instructions Learning Focus
Egg Carton Caterpillar Egg carton, green paint, pipe cleaners, googly eyes 3+ Cut egg carton into strips, paint green, poke holes for pipe cleaners, attach eyes Counting, colors, life cycle
Paper Plate Caterpillar Paper plate, green paint, construction paper, brad fasteners 3+ Cut circles from paper plate, paint, connect with brads for movement Sequencing, fine motor skills
Fruit Printing Apples, pears, oranges, paint, paper 2+ Cut fruit in half, dip in paint, stamp on paper Healthy eating, patterns
Butterfly Coffee Filters Coffee filters, markers, spray bottle, clothespins 4+ Color filters, spray with water, clip with clothespin Symmetry, color mixing

“Where the Wild Things Are” Crafts

Craft Idea Materials Needed Age Range Instructions Learning Focus
Paper Bag Monsters Paper bags, construction paper, markers, glue 4+ Decorate bags with monster features, use as puppets Imagination, storytelling
Monster Masks Paper plates, feathers, horns, elastic, paint 5+ Cut eye holes, paint, attach decorative elements Creative expression
Wild Thing Crowns Cardboard, yellow paper, markers, stapler 3+ Cut crown shape, decorate with zigzag patterns Royal play, fine motor
Sailboat Craft Walnut shells, toothpicks, paper, clay 6+ Place clay in shell, insert toothpick sail Story sequencing

“Corduroy” Crafts

Craft Idea Materials Needed Age Range Instructions Learning Focus
Paper Plate Bears Paper plates, brown paint, construction paper, brads 3+ Create moveable bear with jointed arms and legs Body parts, friendship
Button Sorting Buttons of various sizes and colors, egg cartons 2+ Sort buttons by color, size, or number of holes Classification, counting
Corduroy’s Overalls Blue paper, buttons, yarn, hole punch 4+ Create wearable overalls for stuffed animals Dressing skills, empathy
Department Store Diorama Shoe box, fabric scraps, miniature furniture 7+ Recreate Corduroy’s store adventure Spatial awareness, retelling

“The Rainbow Fish” Crafts

Craft Idea Materials Needed Age Range Instructions Learning Focus
Shimmery Fish Paper plates, aluminum foil, sequins, glue 3+ Cover plate with foil, add colorful sequins Sharing, friendship
Coffee Filter Fish Coffee filters, markers, spray bottle, string 4+ Color filters, spray to blend, cut into fish shapes Color theory, kindness
Underwater Scene Blue paper, tissue paper, cotton balls 5+ Layer materials to create ocean depth Marine life, generosity
Scales Matching Game Cardboard fish, metallic stickers, number cards 6+ Match numbered scales to fish bodies Number recognition, sharing

“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” Crafts

Craft Idea Materials Needed Age Range Instructions Learning Focus
Coconut Tree Paper towel tube, brown paint, green tissue paper 3+ Paint tube brown, attach tissue paper leaves Alphabet recognition
Letter Magnets Foam letters, magnets, magnetic board 4+ Stick magnets to letters, arrange on tree Letter identification
Alphabet Crowns Sentence strips, letter stickers, stapler 5+ Create personalized alphabet crowns Letter sounds, names
Chicka Boom Books Construction paper, crayons, stapler 6+ Create individual alphabet books Letter formation, writing

“The Giving Tree” Crafts

Craft Idea Materials Needed Age Range Instructions Learning Focus
Handprint Tree Brown paint, green paper, scissors 3+ Make handprint trunk, add paper leaves Gratitude, giving
Apple Tree Mobile Embroidery hoop, green felt, red pom-poms 5+ Attach felt leaves and apple pom-poms to hoop Seasons, generosity
Gratitude Leaves Leaf templates, markers, hole punch, ribbon 4+ Write things you’re grateful for on leaves Thankfulness, writing
Tree Ring Counting Paper plates, brown marker, magnifying glass 6+ Draw tree rings, count and discuss tree age Nature science, math

“Brown Bear, Brown Bear” Crafts

Craft Idea Materials Needed Age Range Instructions Learning Focus
Animal Color Wheels Paper plates, brads, crayons, animal cutouts 4+ Create spinning wheels showing animals and colors Color recognition, animals
Binocular Craft Toilet paper rolls, string, decorative paper 3+ Cover rolls, attach string, decorate Observation skills
Animal Masks Paper plates, elastic, paint, construction paper 5+ Create masks for each story animal Dramatic play, colors
I Spy Books Magazine pictures, glue, construction paper 6+ Create personalized color and animal books Reading comprehension
Craft Idea Materials Needed Age Range Instructions Learning Focus
Sequence Chain Construction paper, scissors, glue, markers 5+ Create paper chain showing story sequence Cause and effect
Cookie Decorating Sugar cookies, frosting, sprinkles 4+ Decorate real cookies while discussing story Following directions
Mouse Puppet Gray felt, googly eyes, pink felt, glue 6+ Sew or glue simple finger puppet Fine motor skills
Story Map Large paper, markers, stickers 7+ Map out the mouse’s journey through the house Sequencing, mapping

“The Snowy Day” Crafts

Craft Idea Materials Needed Age Range Instructions Learning Focus
Cotton Ball Snow Blue paper, cotton balls, glue, white paint 3+ Create snowy scenes with cotton and paint Weather, seasons
Snowflake Art Coffee filters, scissors, watercolors 5+ Fold and cut snowflakes, paint with watercolors Symmetry, winter science
Footprint Snow Angels White paint, blue paper, sponges 4+ Make footprints and sponge-paint snow angels Movement, creativity
Peter’s Snow Suit Paper doll, fabric scraps, velcro 6+ Dress paper doll in winter clothes Seasonal clothing, independence

“Madeline” Crafts

Craft Idea Materials Needed Age Range Instructions Learning Focus
Madeline Paper Dolls Cardstock, markers, scissors, brad fasteners 5+ Create moveable Madeline figures French culture, friendship
Eiffel Tower Model Popsicle sticks, glue, paint 7+ Build simple tower structure Architecture, geography
French Flag Red, white, blue paper, glue, popsicle stick 4+ Create flag while learning about France Cultural awareness
Madeline’s Hat Yellow paper, elastic, decorations 3+ Make wearable yellow hats Dramatic play, colors

“Caps for Sale” Crafts

Craft Idea Materials Needed Age Range Instructions Learning Focus
Stacking Hats Paper plates, paint, scissors 4+ Create stackable hats in story colors Sequencing, balancing
Monkey Puppets Brown paper bags, markers, construction paper 5+ Make monkey bag puppets for retelling Story comprehension
Hat Shop Dramatic Play Various hats, play money, cash register 6+ Set up pretend hat shop Math skills, commerce
Color Sorting Game Colored hats, sorting mats 3+ Sort hats by color like in the story Classification, colors

Tips for Success

Category Recommendation
Preparation Read the book together before crafting
Safety Always supervise young children with scissors and small parts
Adaptation Modify difficulty based on child’s abilities
Extension Encourage retelling the story using finished crafts
Storage Create a special box for story craft collections

Additional Resources

Resource Type Examples
Online Templates Free printable patterns for story characters
Library Programs Story time craft sessions
Educational Apps Interactive story and craft combinations
Seasonal Adaptations Holiday versions of favorite story crafts
Group Activities Classroom or party craft modifications