My books are a goldmine for educators because they blend lyrical storytelling with clear, actionable themes—ranging from STEM and history to social-emotional learning (SEL). Below is a curated guide of my books, their educational tie-ins, and specific national holidays to anchor your lesson plans.
Turn reading into an interactive adventure with a bingo challenge! From the rhythm of The Thank You Book to the historical world of The Hawk of the Castle, Danna Smith’s books are perfect for young learners. This challenge helps students:
- Spark curiosity through lyrical storytelling.
- Explore themes like nature, family, and history.
- Engage deeply with educational and fun content.
Make every day a book day with Danna Smith’s Literary Calendar! Whether you’re exploring the science of flight during National Aviation Month or practicing gratitude on World Kindness Day, this guide connects Danna’s vibrant stories to the national holidays and milestones. Explore our month-by-month breakdown to find the perfect classroom connection and keep your students inspired all year long.
This curated list by Danna Smith offers a versatile collection of mentor texts designed to spark curiosity and build character. From exploring the science of the seasons to practicing mindfulness and gratitude, these books serve as essential tools for teaching academic foundations and life skills. Each selection includes practical activity ideas and downloadable resources to help educators and parents turn storytime into an interactive, multi-sensory learning experience.
Downloadable Activity Guides
Choose from a wide range of downloadable activity guides designed to work seamlessly with Danna’s books. These extensive guides are jam-packed with engaging math exercises, creative reading prompts, inspiring writing tasks, fascinating art projects, lessons on kindness, techniques for mindfulness, and captivating science experiments. Ideal for teachers and parents alike, these resources not only complement the narratives in Danna Smith’s books but also encourage critical thinking and creativity in a playful manner. Click the Image below for guides to all books
Zenguin
ZENGUIN invites you to discover your inner calm! Grab our free worksheets to gently guide you in creating your own personal Zen space and truly grasp the beautiful concept of Zen.
Plus, don’t miss out on the pure delight of our adorable coloring pages and a tricky-but-fun Zenguin and Pip Maze!
Bunny’s Easter Basket
Kids will love this Happy Easter Coloring & Activity Book, which includes activities like coloring pages, color by number, an Easter maze, a decorate your own Easter egg page, and a memory game!
How Do You Haiku? A Step-by-Step Guide with Templates.
Create a kuhi (poem stone) with this downloadable template and/or download these fun haiku coloring pages: Catku, Dogku.
Peek-A-Boo Haiku
Learn how to write Haiku with this easy and fun worksheet or look for hidden animals in this downloadable Peek-A-Boo Haiku Memory Game for younger readers.
The Thank You Book
Thanking is easy. Thanking is fun. Here’s a way to thank someone! Download this happy little thank you postcard and print it in color on heavy paper. You’re welcome :). You might also like this Thankfulness Jar activity that gives children (and adults) a place to collect all they are grateful for.
The Welcome Book
From inviting a friend to play to welcoming a new baby into the world, this sweet book celebrates all the ways we can welcome those around us—and shows readers that even small acts can have a big impact. Download these coloring pages created with the book’s original artwork for some coloring fun!
Rooftop Garden
Do you wish you could encourage more helpful local insects into your garden? Let’s make Seed Spheres to scatter and grow in the garden when the time is right. Plus, you can make your own mini garden book blooming with fun garden activities!
One Blue Gnu
You can count on tons of fun with this “gnu” activity guide! Identify objects (then find the images hiding in the book), make a “pizza,” then count the toppings, color One Blue Gnu, trace the names of Gnu’s friends, and talk about the book with discussion questions before, during, and after reading, plus more!
Swallow the Leader
Nothing fishy here! This activity guide is filled deep as the ocean with fun things to do. Draw and count your favorite color fish, sing songs, make a paper flag and play Follow the Leader (the leader gets to hold the flag), and count goldfish crackers, then pretend you are a shark and eat them all up!
Mother Goose’s Pajama Party
Kids, grab a copy of the book and throw a pajama party for all your friends with this SLUMBER PARTY KIT! Here, you’ll find printable party invitations, goosey name tags, fun games, easy snacks to make yourself, and even a Georgie Porgy doorknob hanger to mark your reading spot!
The Hawk of the Castle: A Story of Medieval Falconry
Big kids will have fun testing their falconry knowledge after reading The Hawk of the Castle with this comprehension Q & A. And little readers will enjoy this castle maze.
Balloon Trees
This amazing 30-page activity guide is bursting with learning fun. Enjoy math cards, color pages, vocabulary games, compare and contrast, comprehension, writing prompts, and making your own rubber! Plus, don’t miss the four pages of Creative Mind Activities here and at the back of the book.
Arctic White
Finish your journey through the tundra with this activity guide for all ages. Draw a picture of the northern lights, practice writing and storytelling with a colorful exercise, make cool snow for sensory play, test story comprehension with Q & A, and play a game that’s as bright as the Aurora Borealis.
Make your own Little Golden Book
Kids will have fun making their own Little Golden Book with this Penguin Random House downloadable activity. Their creation will be complete with Little Golden Book’s trademark golden spine and a special “This book was created by” page ready for their autograph. Just download, print, staple, and create!