Early Years Learning with Disney Characters

Most children would be familiar with classic Disney stories such as The Lion King, Pinocchio and Cinderella. Usually, children would not have had the opportunity to engage with those characters outside of the usual story.  Well, that’s about to change!!

We’ve compiled a list of 12 board books where children can learn alongside their  favourite Disney characters.

These books are aimed at children at the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). For the uninitiated,  EYFS relates to pre-school children.  There are certain milestones which it is recommended these children reach

These books can be used to contribute to those milestones.

Winnie the Pooh : How about you?

This book encourages children to explore their feelings.

Pooh with his friends Eeyore, Roo , Rabbit and Piglet  explore the following feelings  the feelings of Happiness, sadness, fear, grumpiness and shyness

This book contributes to the EYFS milestone of :

Personal Social & Emotional Development: Managing feelings and behaviour.

 Beauty and the Beast: Busy Day

Here, Beauty and the Beast  Introduces children to the concept of ‘actions’.

Belle and the Beast explore the following actions:

• Waking up
• Drinking
• Tidying
• Mending
• Dusting
• Reading
• Writing
• Baking

This book contributes to the EYFS milestone of:

*Physical Development:  Moving and Handling

The Lion King: Playtime with Simba

Children are introduced to the concept of describing words while simultaneously learning words which are opposite to each other. Simba, Nala,  Pumbaa  and Timon help children to learn the following words:

• Inside & Outside
• Left & Right
• Near & Far
• Under & Over
• Big & Small
• Fast & Slow
• Behind & In front
• Above & Below
• Off & On

This book can contribute to the EYFS milestone of:

* Communication and Language: Speaking

*Communication and Language: Understanding

Buy a copy

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs: Good , Bad, Happy, Sad

Following on from the book above, Snow White, Bashful, Doc, Dopey  and the other Dwarfs consolidate children’s understanding the use of the  following opposite words:

• Dirty & Clean
• Happy & Sad
• Awake & Asleep
• Morning & Evening
• Work & Rest

This book can contribute to the EYFS milestone of:

* Communication and Language: Listening & Attention

Buy a copy

Bambi: Rain and Shine

Children can make their way through the forest with Bambi and his friends as he learns about the weather.

Their journey is chronicled in a rhyming style as Bambi and his friends learn about:

• The Rain
• The Wind
• The Sun
• The Snow

This book can contribute to the EYFS milestone of:

*Understanding the World: The world

Toy Story: Counting Time

Buzz, Woody , Rex and the rest of the gang introduce children to the concept of numbers.

Through the use of rhymes, children will start learning to count  from 1 to 4.

This book can contribute to the EYFS milestone of:

 *Mathematics: Numbers

Buy a copy

Pinocchio: Head to Toe

Children begin to learn about parts of their body with the help of Pinochio.

Through the use of rhyme and highly impressive illustrations children will learn about their various body parts and their use.

This book can contribute to the EYFS milestones of:

*Physical Development: Moving and Handling.

*Personal Social & Emotional Development:  Self-confidence and Self-awareness

Cinderella: Dressing Up

Cinderella and her mice friends invite children to join them while they try on the clothes she sewed for them.  They also get a chance to complete their outfits with a range of accessories. Along the way they also learn that the environment dictates the clothes they wear.

This book can contribute to the EYFS milestone of:

*Physical Development:  Health & Self-Care

Winnie the Pooh: I Smell Honey

This time Pooh is on his own as he teaches children about the senses.

Through the use of rhyme, they learn how Pooh uses his eyes, ears, nose, paws and tongue.  Children also get to consolidate their use of describing words, for example, soft ears, round eyes and little black nose.

This book can contribute to the EYFS milestone of:

*Physical Development : Moving and Handling

The World of Cars: Colourful Cars

Lightning McQueen,  Doc Hudson, Luigi, Mater and the gang invite children to join them for a race.

Through the use of rhyme, children are introduced to a range of colours

This book can contribute to the EYFS milestone of:

*Expressive Arts & Design

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The Little Mermaid: Underwater world

Little Mermaid introduces children to her underwater world where they learn about the fascinating creatures which live in the sea.

The book is divided into 5 sections:

• Swell Shells – explains the features of crab & turtles
• Look Out – looks at the predatory creatures such as sharks and jelly fish.
• Tentacle Time – introduces children to octopus and squid.
• Fancy Fish – explains the features of seahorses, clownfish and starfish
• Ocean friends – Explores the world of ‘friendly’ sea creatures,; dolphins, whales and seals

This book can contribute to the EYFS milestone of:

Understanding the World: The world

101 Dalmatians Out & About

The Dalmatians invite children to join them as they go out and about in the community.  They visit a café, a farm and a fairground before making their way back home.During each visit children are given a challenge to find a range of objects.

This book can contribute to the EYFS milestone of:

Understanding the World: People and Communities.