Hand-Painted Montessori Printables for Curious Learners
Liza Dora Books was built on the understanding that all traditional subjects stem from a desire to explain and explore our world. Science is simply asking questions and looking for answers—things our children do naturally.
We’re here to nurture that curiosity through original and curated resources moms can trust designed to put big ideas in little hands.
And, just as importantly, we want to care for our children’s most likely teachers—moms. So it’s ok to drop the “mom guilt” here. We’re not looking for martyrs; we’re looking for partners, playmates, and friends. For community, kindness, and support. And if you’re here—maybe you are, too.
Welcome. Please have a look around.
More children’s books are coming back to the site soon. Until then, you’ve got two easy doors:
Shop printables here →
— Liza
Featured for fall
🍂 Fall Early Learning Bundle | Montessori-Inspired | 15 Activities + 5 FREE Bonus | Ages 3–10
Bring the magic of fall into your learning space! This Montessori-inspired bundle is packed with 20 beautifully designed printable activities that turn pumpkin season into a hands-on science, math, and literacy adventure for little learners ages 3–10.
What's Inside:
🎃 Pumpkin Life Cycle Unit (5 activities!)
Montessori 3-Part Nomenclature Cards
Life Cycle Posters
Sequence Cards
"Let's Draw the Life Cycle" Worksheet
Cut & Paste Activity
🔬 Parts of a Pumpkin (3 activities!)
Montessori 3-Part Nomenclature Cards
Anatomy Poster
Label-the-Pumpkin Activity
🧮 Math & Fine Motor
Pumpkin Seed Counting Cards
Clothespin Clip Cards
Play Dough Pumpkin Mats
🍁 Nature & Exploration
Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt
Fall Leaves Montessori 3-Part Cards
🍞 Real Kid-Friendly Recipes
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Easy Spiced Pumpkin Bread
🎁 5 FREE Bonus Activities:
Letter Pp Handwriting Practice
Favorite Pumpkin Cookies Recipe
Fall Leaf Prints Art Activity
Fall Scavenger Hunts
Fall Matching Game
This isn't just a stack of worksheets — it's a complete fall learning experience. The Fall Early Learning Bundle brings together 15 thoughtfully designed core activities + 5 free bonus activities, all rooted in Montessori-inspired, hands-on learning.
At the heart of the bundle is a deep dive into the pumpkin life cycle — with five different activities that let kids explore the same concept through posters, sequencing, drawing, cutting & pasting, and Montessori 3-part nomenclature cards. Kids also learn the parts of a pumpkin through a labeled poster, anatomy cards, and a hands-on labeling activity.
But this bundle goes way beyond the page. Your little learner will get their hands messy with play dough pumpkin mats, build fine motor strength with clothespin clip cards, and head outdoors for a pumpkin patch scavenger hunt. There are even real kid-friendly recipes — roasted pumpkin seeds and spiced pumpkin bread — so the learning continues right into the kitchen.
What makes this bundle special:
🧩 Montessori 3-Part Cards — Three complete sets (Pumpkin Life Cycle, Parts of a Pumpkin, Fall Leaves) for vocabulary building and independent work
🔬 Real science — Life cycle sequencing, plant anatomy, and nature observation
🍳 Kitchen connection — Three fall recipes bring learning into real life
🎨 Multi-sensory — Play dough, art, outdoor scavenger hunts, and clip cards go beyond the page
🔢 Math skills — Pumpkin seed counting and clothespin number matching
✂️ Fine motor practice — Cutting, pasting, clipping, drawing, and tracing
The 15 Core Activities:
Pumpkin Life Cycle — Montessori 3-Part Cards
Pumpkin Life Cycle — Posters
Pumpkin Life Cycle — Sequence Cards
Let's Draw the Pumpkin Life Cycle — Worksheet
Pumpkin Life Cycle — Cut & Paste
Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe
Parts of a Pumpkin — Montessori 3-Part Cards
Parts of a Pumpkin — Poster
Parts of a Pumpkin — Label Activity
Play Dough Pumpkins
Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt
Pumpkin Seed Counting Cards
Easy Spiced Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Clothespin Clip Cards (Pumpkins)
Fall Leaves — Montessori 3-Part Cards
🎁 5 FREE Bonus Activities:
Letter Pp Handwriting Practice
Favorite Pumpkin Cookies Recipe
Fall Leaf Prints Art Activity
Fall Scavenger Hunts
Fall Matching Game
Who It's For: Homeschool families (especially Montessori-inspired), preschool and Pre-K classroom teachers, daycare and childcare providers, and any parent or caregiver looking for meaningful, screen-free fall activities. Works beautifully for learning centers, morning tubs, unit studies, or weekend fun.
How It Works:
Purchase and download instantly
Print the activities you need (unlimited prints!)
Grab some scissors, play dough, clothespins, and pumpkins — and start learning!
No shipping wait. No subscription. Just download, print, and explore fall!
____________________________________________
Digital Download. No product will be shipped.
Download is in high quality .pdf format ready to print. Color print recommended.
There are NO REFUNDS based on the nature of this product. If you have trouble with your order, please contact us at support@lizadorabooks.com.
Featuring original artwork by Liza Dora. Materials may not be duplicated, distributed, or sold without express written permission or consent from Liza Dora Books. These products are for individual student or individual classroom use. For licensing information for private and public school-wide or district-wide usage, contact schools@lizadorabooks.com or learn more here.
Moon Phases Unit Study — 18 watercolor activities exploring lunar cycles, orbits, and STEM projects
🦟 Cicada Unit Study | Original Watercolor Art | 16 Printable Activities for Ages 2–10
Hear that buzzing in the trees? That's cicada season calling — and this Cicada Unit Study turns the backyard soundtrack of summer into a complete, multi-subject learning adventure your kids will love.
With 16 beautifully illustrated printable activities spanning science, reading, math, literacy, art, and music, this unit study takes a single fascinating insect and explores it from every angle — life cycle, anatomy, sound science, predators, and even how to build your own cicada-inspired musical instrument.
What sets this unit study apart? Every page features original hand-painted watercolor artwork of a Texas-native cicada species — the same stunning art quality you'll find in our Moon and Fall bundles. You'll see the adult cicada in brilliant greens and golds, the translucent nymph shell in delicate tans, and even the eggs on their woody branch. This is not clip art. This is real art that makes learning feel like an experience, not a worksheet.
But the real magic is in the depth. Your little entomologist won't just learn what a cicada looks like — they'll discover whycicadas molt (exoskeletons!), who eats them (everyone, apparently), why they lay hundreds of eggs, and how male cicadas produce their incredible sound using tymbal organs that vibrate up to 480 times per second. Then they'll take that science knowledge and build their own Cicada Guitar — a hands-on STEM craft using popsicle sticks and rubber bands that teaches resonance, vibration, and sound in a way kids never forget.
The 8 Cicada Fact File Cards are packed with advanced science that keeps older kids engaged too — from the periodical Magicicada (which only emerges every 13 or 17 years!) to the Empress Cicada of Malaysia with an 8-inch wingspan, to the Cicada Hunter Wasps that paralyze their prey. And the Advanced Cicada Vocabulary Extension introduces real scientific terms like Arthropoda, Phylum, Periodicity, Xylem, and Resonance — perfect for stretching curious minds.
What makes this unit study special:
🎨 Original watercolor artwork throughout — Hand-painted Texas-native cicada species on every page. No clip art anywhere.
🎸 Cicada Guitar Musical Craft — A hands-on STEM project that connects cicada tymbal science to music, sound, and vibration
📊 8 Fact File Cards — Real science including Magicicada periodicity, the loudest insect on record, and Cicada Hunter Wasps
🔬 Life cycle explored 3 ways — Illustrated poster, fill-in cards, and multi-size cut-out coins
📖 Science-rich reading activities — Why cicadas molt, predator food chains, egg-laying survival strategies, and the physics of sound
🧠 Advanced Vocabulary Extension — 2 pages of scientific terms that stretch learning well beyond preschool (Arthropoda, Phylum, Chelicerates, Xylem, Exoskeleton, and more)
✏️ Print AND Cursive handwriting — Both styles included, plus a Let's Spell activity
🎨 2 Coloring Pages — Adult cicada and nymph, hand-drawn from the original watercolor art
📋 Curated resources page — Book recommendations, videos, and hands-on product suggestions to extend the learning
The 16 Activities:
Cicada Lifecycle Poster (simple + detailed labeled versions)
Cicada Lifecycle Cards (fill-in activity)
Cicada Lifecycle Circle Cut-Outs (3 sizes + letter coins)
Parts of a Cicada Diagram (labeled watercolor)
(8) Cicada Fact File Cards
3 Reading Activities
Cc Handwriting Practice (Print)
Cc Handwriting Practice (Cursive)
Let's Spell Cicada
Advanced Cicada Vocabulary Extension
Cicada Counting Puzzle (1–10)
8.5x11" Cicada Art Print
Cicada Print
(2) Coloring Pages
Cicada Guitar Musical Craft
Cicada Unit Resources
Also Included:
Cover Page — Beautiful watercolor cover for the complete unit
Regional Note — The species depicted is native to Texas, but there are over 3,000 species worldwide! Your cicadas may look different — and that's part of the adventure.
"Hi Mom!" Letter — A personal note from Liza about how her own family uses these activities
Who It's For: This unit study works beautifully across a wide age range. Little ones (ages 2–4) will love the coloring pages, counting puzzle, art print, and cut-out coins. Preschoolers and kindergartners (ages 4–6) will dive into the life cycle activities, handwriting practice, spelling, and reading activities. And older kids (ages 6–10) will be fascinated by the fact file cards, advanced vocabulary, sound science, and the Cicada Guitar STEM craft. It's designed so big kids can read to little ones, everyone can color together, and there's truly no "right" way to use it.
Perfect for Montessori and Charlotte Mason homeschool families, nature study co-ops, preschool through elementary classrooms, summer learning programs, science centers, and morning tubs.
How It Works:
Purchase and download instantly
Print the activities you need (unlimited prints!)
Grab some crayons, scissors, popsicle sticks, and rubber bands — and start exploring!
No shipping wait. No subscription. Just download, print, and discover the incredible world of cicadas!
____________________________________________
Digital Download. No product will be shipped.
Download is in high quality .pdf format ready to print. Color print recommended.
There are NO REFUNDS based on the nature of this product. If you have trouble with your order, please contact us at support@lizadorabooks.com.
Featuring original artwork by Liza Dora. Materials may not be duplicated, distributed, or sold without express written permission or consent from Liza Dora Books. These products are for individual student or individual classroom use. For licensing information for private and public school-wide or district-wide usage, contact schools@lizadorabooks.com or learn more here.
Moon Phases Unit Study — 18 watercolor activities exploring lunar cycles, orbits, and STEM projects
Fall Early Learning Bundle — 20 pumpkin-themed printable activities with Montessori 3-part cards
🌙 Moon Unit Early Learning Bundle | Montessori-Inspired | 15 Activities + 3 FREE Bonus | Ages 2–6
Take your little learner on a journey to the moon! This Montessori-inspired bundle features original watercolor artworkand is packed with 15 beautifully illustrated printable activities + 3 FREE bonus activities that turn the lunar cycle into a hands-on science, math, literacy, and STEM adventure for ages 2–6.
What's Inside:
🌑 Moon Phases Science (6 activities!)
Montessori 3-Part Nomenclature Cards
Moon Phase Visual Lesson Sheet
Moon Phase Board
Phases of the Moon Poster
Double Phases of the Moon Posters
Moon Phases Linear Print
🔭 Moon Facts & Exploration
8 "Did You Know?" Moon Fact Cards
Lunar Cycle Tracking Chart
Full Moon Print
🧮 Moon Math & Patterns
Moon Math Pages
Missing Moon Pattern Practice
Moon Phases by Number
📖 Literacy & Critical Thinking
Rhyming on the Moon
Moon Mystery
🚀 STEM
Orbits of the Earth and Moon Project
🎁 3 FREE Bonus Activities:
Moon Phase Cut-Out Coins
My Moon Creative Activity
Letter Mm Handwriting Practice
✨ All artwork is original hand-painted watercolor — no clip art. Every page features stunning illustrations of the moon, Earth, and Sun that make learning feel magical.
Perfect for: Montessori homeschool families, preschool & Pre-K teachers, daycare providers, and space-loving kids everywhere.
Format: Instant digital download — PDF printables. Includes a "How To Use This Unit" guide. Print as many copies as you need!
Ready for liftoff? This Moon Unit Early Learning Bundle is a complete, Montessori-inspired learning experience that takes little ones ages 2–6 on a journey through the phases of the moon — with 15 beautifully illustrated printable activities + 3 FREE bonus activities covering science, math, literacy, and hands-on STEM.
What sets this bundle apart? Every single page features original hand-painted watercolor artwork — gorgeous, detailed illustrations of the moon in all its phases, a watercolor Earth with visible continents and clouds, and a warm watercolor Sun. This is not clip art. This is real art your kids will want to look at again and again, and that you'll be proud to hang on your classroom walls.
At the heart of the bundle is a deep dive into the phases of the moon — explored six different ways through Montessori 3-part nomenclature cards, a visual lesson sheet, an interactive moon phase board, and three different poster styles (single, double, and linear) so you can choose the perfect display for your classroom or learning space.
But this bundle goes far beyond moon phases. Your little astronomer will discover fascinating lunar facts with 8 "Did You Know?" cards, track the real lunar cycle with a tracking chart, practice math skills with moon-themed counting and pattern pages, build literacy through rhyming and mystery activities, and explore how our solar system works with the Orbits of the Earth and Moon STEM project.
What makes this bundle special:
🎨 Original watercolor artwork throughout — Hand-painted moon, Earth, and Sun illustrations on every page. No clip art anywhere.
🧩 Montessori 3-Part Cards — A complete set for moon phases vocabulary building and independent work
🔬 Real science — Moon phase identification, lunar cycle tracking, and an Earth-Moon orbit project
🌕 Six ways to learn moon phases — 3-part cards, lesson sheet, board, single poster, double poster, and linear print
🧮 Math connections — Counting, patterns, and number recognition all wrapped in moon themes
📖 Literacy integration — Rhyming and critical thinking with a moon mystery activity
🚀 STEM project — Hands-on Orbits of the Earth and Moon builds real understanding of how our solar system works
📊 8 "Did You Know?" Cards — Fascinating moon facts that spark curiosity and conversation
📋 "How To Use This Unit" guide — Included so you know exactly how to get the most out of every activity
The 15 Core Activities:
Moon Phases — Montessori 3-Part Cards
Moon Phase Visual Lesson Sheet
"Did You Know?" Moon Fact Cards (set of 8)
Moon Phase Board
Phases of the Moon Poster
Double Phases of the Moon Posters
Moon Phases Linear Print
Full Moon Print
Moon Math Pages
Orbits of the Earth and Moon Project
Rhyming on the Moon
Missing Moon Pattern Practice
Moon Phases by Number
Moon Mystery
Lunar Cycle Tracking Chart
🎁 3 FREE Bonus Activities:
Moon Phase Cut-Out Coins
My Moon Creative Activity
Letter Mm Handwriting Practice
Who It's For: Homeschool families (especially Montessori-inspired), preschool and Pre-K classroom teachers, daycare and childcare providers, and any parent or caregiver looking for meaningful, screen-free learning activities. This bundle is perfect for space-themed units, science centers, morning tubs, or anytime your little one looks up at the night sky and asks, "Why does the moon look different?"
How It Works:
Purchase and download instantly
Print the activities you need (unlimited prints!)
Grab some scissors, coins, and curiosity — and blast off!
No shipping wait. No subscription. Just download, print, and explore the moon!
————
Digital Download. No product will be shipped.
Some downloads are zipped files . After download right click on the icon to unzip (or extract) documents.
Download is in high quality .pdf or .png format ready to print. Color print recommended.
No refunds. If you have trouble with your order, please contact us at info@lizadorabooks.com.
Featuring original artwork by Liza Dora. May not be duplicated, distributed, or sold without express written permission or consent from Liza Dora Books. ©LizaDoraBooks
Fall Early Learning Bundle — 20 pumpkin-themed printable activities with Montessori 3-part cards
Wildflower season is calling, and this unit study brings the whole roadside-bouquet, picking-flowers-on-a-Sunday-afternoon magic right to your learning table.
The Texas Wildflowers Unit Study is a love letter to the eight wildflowers that paint our state every spring. Built around original hand-painted watercolor artwork, this unit is packed with framable prints, Montessori-inspired card sets, art studies, handwriting, fine motor activities, and a special bonus mini-unit on the Texas Bluebonnet. It is designed so kids of every age can be on the same topic without being on the same page.
🎨 Original watercolor artwork of all eight Texas wildflowers, painted by Liza Dora and ready to frame, study, and admire.
🤠 Texas to the bone. Every species was chosen because it actually grows here, and the names follow the Texas vernacular Liza grew up with (yes, that's "Buttercup," not Pink Evening Primrose).
🌿 Hands-on, screen-free invitations to play. Set 2 or 3 activities out on a tray and let the kids choose their adventure.
📚 Built for mixed ages. A 3-year-old can match counting cards while a 9-year-old labels bluebonnet anatomy. Same flowers, different depth.
🌼 Bonus Bluebonnet Mini-Unit included. A complete deep dive on the state flower at no extra cost.
What's Inside
Texas Wildflower Resources
8.5 x 11" Wildflower Bouquet Print, ready to frame
(8) 4.25 x 5.5" Framable Watercolor Prints (one for each wildflower)
Texas Wildflower 3-Part Cards (Montessori nomenclature cards)
Texas Wildflower Clothespin Cards (fine motor + picture matching)
Texas Wildflower Counting Cards (numbers 1 through 8)
(4) Art Studies featuring famous artists, plus an Extension Adventure
Texas Wildflower Handwriting Practice (cursive W and F)
Paint and Play Dough Flowers Activity Mats
Wildflower Pressing Guide
Wildflower Pressing Bookmark Craft
Bonus: Bluebonnet Mini-Unit
Parts of a Bluebonnet Learning Pages
Bluebonnet Anatomy Fill-in-the-Blanks
Parts of a Bluebonnet 3-Part Cards
Bluebonnet Watercolor Project
Bb Handwriting Practice (print)
The Canonical 8 Wildflowers Featured
Texas Bluebonnet
Indian Paintbrush
Indian Blanket / Firewheel
Buttercup
Mexican Hat
Black-Eyed Susan
Drummond's Phlox
Butterfly Weed
How to Use This Unit
There's no one right way to use these activities. There's just your kid's way. Here are a few favorites to get you started:
For ages 2 to 4: Start with the counting cards and the framable prints. Hang the prints at kid eye-level and let your toddler point to each flower as you name it. Pull out the play dough mats for tactile play.
For ages 4 to 7: Set up an "invitation to play" with the 3-part cards, the clothespin cards, and a small vase of real wildflowers from your yard or a roadside walk. Let them match, sort, and discover. The bluebonnet anatomy pages are perfect at this age.
For ages 7 to 10+: Dive into the art studies and the cursive handwriting practice. Press real wildflowers using the pressing guide, then make a bookmark to remember the season. Use the extension adventure to take the learning outdoors.
Together, as a family: Frame the wildflower prints. Pick a bouquet. Talk about which flower is whose favorite. Texas wildflower season is short and special, and this unit is built to help you mark it.
Perfect For
Texas homeschool families, Montessori homeschoolers, nature study co-ops, preschool and elementary classrooms, grandparents teaching from afar, road-trip learning, spring nature tables, and any family that wants to slow down and notice the wildflowers blooming right outside the window.
How It Works
Purchase and instantly download the high-quality PDF.
Print on cardstock (color print recommended) and laminate the cards if you want them to last.
Set out 2 to 3 activities on a tray as an invitation to play, and let the wildflower season begin.
Pairs Beautifully With
Cicada Unit Study to keep the hands-on, screen-free learning rolling right into the cicada-singing days of late spring and summer.
Moon Unit Early Learning Bundle for another deep, multi-age unit study with the same watercolor-and-invitation-to-play feel, perfect for stargazing nights after a day of wildflower picking.
Digital Download. No product will be shipped.
Download is in high quality .pdf format ready to print. Color print recommended.
No refunds. If you have trouble with your order, please contact us at info@lizadorabooks.com.
For personal and single-classroom use only. For institutional or multi-classroom licensing, contact schools@lizadorabooks.com.
© Liza Dora Books
Made for fall curiosity…
Pumpkins on the table, cicadas still singing in the trees, and a moon worth wondering about. Take a look — what would invite your little one to explore today?
Bluebonnet season is just around the corner, and these Montessori 3-part cards bring eight of Texas's most beloved wildflowers right to your learning table.
Each species was hand-painted in watercolor, capturing the real colors, textures, and details that make these flowers so recognizable along Texas roadsides every spring and summer. This is not clip art. These are original watercolor illustrations that turn a simple matching activity into something your child will actually want to pick up again and again.
We included two complete card sets: one with common names and one with scientific names. The common names come first, because that's how Texans know their wildflowers. Your child will start by matching Bluebonnet, Indian Paintbrush, and Firewheel. When they're ready for a bigger challenge, the scientific name set introduces Lupinus texensis, Castilleja indivisa, and Gaillardia pulchella, stretching the same cards all the way up through elementary school.
That's what makes this set so versatile. A 3-year-old can match pictures and name the flowers. A 6-year-old can sort by bloom season and compare petal shapes. A 10-year-old can use the scientific names to explore Latin roots, plant families, and real botanical classification. One set of cards, years of learning.
What makes these cards special:
🎨 Original watercolor artwork on every card, hand-painted with the real colors and details of each species. No clip art anywhere.
🌿 Two complete 3-part card sets in one download: common names for younger learners, scientific names for older kids ready to level up.
🤠 Texas-native species that your child can actually find on nature walks, road trips, and in your own backyard. These aren't abstract flowers from a textbook.
📚 True Montessori 3-part format: picture card, label card, and control card for each species. Built for the classic matching progression that builds vocabulary, reading, and memory.
🔬 Scientific names included for all 8 species, perfect for introducing binomial nomenclature, Latin roots, and real-world botany to older learners.
🌼 Wide age range (3–12) because the two-set structure means this printable grows with your child instead of getting outgrown in a year.
The 8 Species:
Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis)
Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa)
Indian Blanket / Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella)
Pink Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa)
Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera)
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Drummond's Phlox (Phlox drummondii)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
What's Included:
Common Name 3-Part Card Set (picture cards, label cards, and control cards for all 8 species)
Scientific Name 3-Part Card Set (picture cards, label cards, and control cards for all 8 species)
Instructions + Ideas Page with activity suggestions, tips for different age groups, and creative ways to extend the learning
Who It's For:
These cards work beautifully across a wide age range. Little ones (ages 3–5) will love matching the picture cards to the common name labels, sorting by color, and naming the flowers they've seen on walks. Early elementary learners (ages 6–8) can tackle the scientific name set, sort by bloom season, and start a nature journal. And older kids (ages 9–12) can use the scientific names as a gateway to Latin roots, plant classification, and independent research. Pair these with a Texas wildflower field guide, a magnifying glass, and a nature walk for the full experience.
Perfect for Montessori and Charlotte Mason homeschool families, nature study co-ops, preschool through elementary classrooms, Texas history and science units, and anyone who wants their kids to know the real names of the flowers blooming outside their window.
How It Works:
Purchase and download instantly Print the cards on cardstock and cut (laminate for extra durability!) Start matching, sorting, and exploring, indoors or out in the field
No shipping wait. No subscription. Just download, print, and discover the wildflowers of Texas.
—————Digital Download. No product will be shipped.
Download is in high quality .pdf format ready to print. Color print recommended.
There are NO REFUNDS based on the nature of this product. If you have trouble with your order, please contact us at support@lizadorabooks.com.
Featuring original artwork by Liza Dora. Materials may not be duplicated, distributed, or sold without express written permission or consent from Liza Dora Books. These products are for individual student or individual classroom use. For licensing information for private and public school-wide or district-wide usage, contact schools@lizadorabooks.com or learn more here.
Looking for more natural studies?
Moon Phases Unit Study — 18 watercolor activities exploring lunar cycles, orbits, and STEM projects
Less screen time. Less stress. Less overwhelm. And more of all the good stuff.
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Engaging, educational stories and content, original artwork, and curated and tested materials designed to spark interest, imagination, and creativity.
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Instant Digital Downloads and Delightful Full-Color Children’s Books.
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Simple lessons designed to engage and to help your child explore more of what they find interesting in the natural world.
