Are you searching for a fun way to engage your tot with hands-on learning? The updated Five Little Monkeys Tot Book is here to help you teach early childhood concepts through fun play! Toddlers naturally love rhythm, rhyme, and interactive stories. Because the classic story is already familiar to many kids, they often stay excited to practice their skills. This free printable pack combines early learning skills with cute monkey graphics. As a result, your child will build confidence while practicing letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and more!
What Is a Tot Book?
The Tot-Book was developed originally in 2008 for my then 2 year old son who was obsessed with the movie Cars. He carried around his Cars Tot-Book and had fun learning shapes, colors, his name, and more because his friend McQueen was “teaching” him.
A Tot Book is a simple hands-on lapbook designed specifically for toddlers and young preschoolers. Instead of overwhelming little learners with big workbooks, a tot book organizes interactive pieces inside a simple file folder. Many tots love to have their own learning supplies like this and when you choose a theme your tot already loves it’s even better!
How to Assemble a Tot Book (VIDEO)
- File Folder Layout:
- Cut a standard-sized file folder in half and fold the right and left side flaps in so they meet in the middle.
- Staple an extra folder piece onto the back to create a worksheet pocket and add sturdiness.
- Tot Pack Expansion Option:
- To expand into a full Tot Pack, store all activities in a full-sized file folder or a Ziploc bag. Use paper clips to hold cards in pockets.
Check out a quick step-by-step assembly video on Instagram to see how this printable comes together. Watch the video to see how to fold the folder, attach the pieces, and set up the interactive components before printing.
Tot Book Components & Activities
- Monkey Parts
- Pocket cards that prompt children to compare monkey body parts to their own (e.g., “Monkey has a head. Do you have a head?”, ears, nose, mouth, tail, legs, feet, arms).
- What Shape Does Monkey Have?
- An accordion book/cards teaching shapes: square, heart, triangle, circle, diamond, rectangle, hexagon, and star.
- My Name
- An editable mini name book. You type your child’s name into the PDF before printing.
- Color the Monkey
- A pocket with cards your tot can color.
- How Many Monkeys?
- A counting mini book covering numbers 1 through 10.
- What Color Does Monkey Like?
- A mini color identification book covering blue, green, pink, red, orange, purple, yellow, brown, and black.
- Alphabet Cards (ABC & abc)
- Uppercase and lowercase alphabet cards spanning A through Z.
The base Tot Book is created with the components listed above and can be assembled like this:
In addition to the Tot Book component, this set has a couple of additional printables that don’t fit into the standard Tot Book.
- Storytelling Props
- Includes a bed cutout and individual monkey cutouts to act out the “Five Little Monkeys” rhyme.
- Size Ordering
- Monkey images in tiered sizes for teaching big-to-small or small-to-big ordering concepts.
Favorite Books and Toys for a Five Little Monkeys Theme
Pairing printables with real books and sensory play creates a rich learning environment. Because toddlers respond so well to physical objects, we love combining our printable activities with physical storybooks and interactive toys.
Here are a few favorite items to pair with this tot book:
Download Your Free Five Little Monkeys Tot Book Today
Hands-on learning at home does not need to be complicated or overwhelming. By using nursery rhymes and interactive matching games, you help your toddler build crucial early skills. Download the updated Five Little Monkeys Tot Book today and start creating fun learning memories with your toddler!
Click here for more tot books!
