The CU Museum is closed until January 8, 2026.

During this time, collection visits will be available by appointment and other special access requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.Ěý
Please email cumuseum@colorado.edu for more information.Ěý

Curated Children's Books to Read

We miss seeing you at the museum to explore our connections with nature in person. One of our favorite sources of inspiration as we create programs are well-written and illustrated children’s books. They contain a wealth of information presented in appealing and approachable ways. We always learn something new from a good book and hope that you do too as you share these resources with children.

Each book has a recommended age range. If the people in the books are racially diverse, we have noted that with a d (but most of the books do not have any humans in them). We will post book recommendations periodically. If you’d like a recommendation on a particular topic, please ask at museumed@colorado.edu.

Featured Books

The Very Quiet Cricket

The Very Quiet Cricket

Written and illustrated by Eric Carle

For the youngest learners, this board book introduces a cricket that makes no sound... until the end, where the cricket’s chirp is recorded and played. 1-3 years old.

Buzzing With Questions

Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner d

Written by Janice N. Harrington and illustrated by Theodore Taylor III

Once you start encouraging active listening for insect sounds, your child may be buzzing with questions, just like the young Charles Henry Turner. This book relates the true story of one of the first black entomologists, the questions he asked about insects, and the processes he used to find the answers. 7-10 years old.

Noisy Bug Sing-Along

Noisy Bug Sing-Along

Written and illustrated by John Himmelman

This book encourages kids to replicate bug sounds with fun onomatopoeia representations of insect noises. A link to audio files and activities is in the back of the book. 4-9 years old.

Sounds All Around

Sounds All Around: The Science of How Sound Works d

Written by Susan Hughes and illustrated by Ellen Rooney
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We hear insects–but how do they make those noises which reach our ears and get translated into the chirping, buzzing, whirring, and clicking sounds we recognize? This book shares how sounds are made, how they travel, and gives words to describe the sounds your kids hear around them. 5-8 years old.