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Skill-Building Book Tips

Turn storytime into skill-building time.

These free, downloadable resources offer tips for building children’s life skills based on classic and diverse children’s books.

With content customized to each book, Book Tips help boost science-driven learning, fun and engagement between children and adults. These resources are available in English and Spanish and designed for three age groups, infants and toddlers, preschoolers and school-age.

Educators can also access Book Tips through a partnership with First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise that provides books and educational materials for educators serving children in need.

Books & Tips that Promote Life Skills

Communicating

Moo, Baa, La La

Infant / Toddler
This rhyming romp is a favorite of countless families. As expressive barnyard animals make the wrong sounds, children delight in correcting them. Along the way, they’ll quack, moo, neigh, baa, meow and giggle! Available in Spanish.
Download English
Download Spanish

Focus & Self-Control

A Chair For My Mother

Preschool
When a fire destroys their home, Rosa, her mother and grandmother put their shiny coins into a jar until they have saved enough to buy the chair they are all dreaming of.
Download English
Download Spanish

Taking on Challenges

Owen

Preschool
Owen loves his blankie. He loves it outside or inside, during the day and the night. How will Owen go to school without his blankie? Kevin Henkes’ lovable mouse illustrations and trademark tender humor are plentiful in this picture book about gaining independence one step at a time. Available in Spanish.
Download English
Download Spanish

Perspective Taking

Freedom Summer

School Age
In this powerful story, two best friends are thrilled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 allows them to swim together at their local pool for the first time. When they arrive, they learn the town has decided to fill the pool with asphalt rather than integrate it. Demonstrates diversity/inclusion.
Download English
Download Spanish

Critical Thinking

Hana’s Suitcase

School Age
Hana’s Suitcase is a true, sad, yet joyful story that spans 70 years and three continents. Fumiko Ishioka, the director of a newly established Holocaust center in Tokyo, acquires Hana’s suitcase from a concentration camp, then relentlessly pursues Hana’s story to learn who Hana was and what became of her. Her goal is to share Hana’s story so that every child in Japan can learn about the Holocaust. Demonstrates diversity/inclusion. Available in Spanish.
Download English
Download Spanish

Communicating

Bark, George

Infant / Toddler
In this very funny book, George’s mother asks her puppy to bark, but instead, he meows, quacks, oinks, and moos. When she takes George to the vet to find out what is going on, the vet reaches deep inside of George and pulls out a cat, a duck, a pig and a cow.
Download English
Download Spanish

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