Reading aloud to preschoolers is one of the best pre-literacy activities. Preschoolers develop vocabulary, understand print and how it works, and build social skills through hearing books and stories. These books about scarecrows are great for fall and farm themes and to build knowledge beyond a child’s personal experience.
Books About Scarecrows
Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown
Little Scarecrow Boy wants to go to the cornfield with his father to scare the crows. But his father says he is not fierce enough to scare crows yet. He must grow. Will the Little Scarecrow Boy ever be fierce enough to go to the field?
Scarecrow’s Hat by Ken Brown
Chicken admires Scarecrow’s hat. He agrees that it is a fine hat. But he’d rather have a walking stick. Chicken knows someone with a walking stick. And thus begins her great swapping adventure.
Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant
“A scarecrow’s life is all his own.” This gentle and quiet book examines the life of a scarecrow.
The Lonely Scarecrow by Tim Preston
A scarecrow wants to be friends with the animals and birds. But the animals are afraid of his flapping coat and flopping hat; they will not come near the scarecrow. Winter comes and covers the land and the scarecrow. The animals see a jolly snowman and play on and around him all day. But will they stay and be friends when the snow melts?
The Scarecrow’s Dance by Jane Yolen
A wild wind blows a scarecrow free from his post. He danced through the cornrows and around the farm. He dances to the house and overhears a child’s prayer. The words send him back to his field to guard the corn.
Scarecrow Books for Preschoolers
Otis and the Scarecrow by Loren Long
The farmer brings a scarecrow to the farm. Otis the tractor tries to make friends. The animals come to try to be friends with the scarecrow. But the scarecrow stares sternly at the cornfield and says nothing. Otis wonders what to do to become friends with the scarecrow.
The Shy Scarecrow by Mary Packard
Rags the scarecrow is too shy to do his job. Crows eat his corn. The farmer finds a hat for Rags to wear. The hat gives him courage to do his job and scare the crows away.
Scaredycrow by Christopher Hernandez
Can a scarecrow who is afraid of everything become brave enough to make friends on his farm?
Barn Dance by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
A scarecrow plays the fiddle in the barn at night and calls together animals for a barn dance. A skinny boy from the house (who cannot sleep) joins them for a night of fun and dancing until the morning comes.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
A little old lady walking home after dark is confronted (and followed by) a pair of shoes, a pair of pants, a shirt, and other scary things. But she’s not scared. At home the items knock on the door to scare her but she still will not be scared. But she does give them a job in her garden.
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