It's So Much Fun To Teach Verbs with Picture Books

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You won’t believe how much fun it is to teach verbs with picture books! It’s super simple with this book list and free mini-pack of printables.

It is important for kids to have a strong grasp of the basics of grammar. To start, they need to understand the basics of the eight parts of speech.

I have shared with you my favorite grammar picture books with a focus on nouns. To make the most basic sentence, kids will also need verbs. So, today’s book list and printable will focus on just that.

My daughter memorized a chant years ago that she still repeats today when I ask her to define the word verb. I’ve included it on an anchor chart in today’s printable pack along with a few worksheets to practice with.

Teach Verbs with Picture Books

I have mentioned before that my favorite grammar picture books are written by Ruth Heller and Brian P. Cleary. I used these books with my own kids when they were in elementary grades, but many are appropriate through middle school.

Heller’s books tend to be a little more advanced than Cleary’s so keep that in mind on your search.

To Root, to Toot, to Parachute is a great way to introduce younger students to action verbs. The basic message throughout this book is “If it’s an action, it’s a verb.”

When your student is ready to move on to linking verbs and the relationship between subjects and verbs, Slide and Slurp, Scratch and Burp is the book you’ll need.

Heller’s Kites Sail High starts off with pages that are perfect for younger learners, but she quickly dives in to more meaty concepts such as mood, tense, and voice making it more suitable for the middle school crowd.

More Books to Teach Verbs

Fill your book basket with a great collection of books to teach verbs. Most of these books can be found at your local library or used bookstore.

If you have a hard time finding them, you can order them through my Amazon affiliate links by clicking the images below.

Nouns and Verbs Have a Field Day – It’s Field Day in Mr. Wright’s class, and not just for the students. Nouns and verbs want to play their own games, such as tug-of-words and three-legged races. But wait! No one is getting anywhere.

It’s Hard to Be a Verb – Being a verb is hard! Especially for Louis, who can’t seem to control himself when he gets the urge to move at the wrong time and situation.

If You Were a Verb – Provides an introduction to verbs, and includes an activity.

teaching verbs

Once you’ve read one or more books that feature verbs, teach your students the definition of a verb. Use the anchor chart in today’s free printable.

Then, read another story (or reread their favorite), and see if they can identify the verbs in the story you’re reading.

After that, have them choose an activity page that works best for your age group. They can draw a verb and write about. Or, they can read sentences and find the verbs. Younger kids can act out verbs in a charades-like game. Or, you can have children read words and identify all of the verbs.