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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

Making Connections

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Infant / Toddler
This must-read book tells the story of one caterpillar’s metamorphosis as he eats many foods, spins a cocoon and emerges as a butterfly. It’s perfect for practicing counting and colors, and it’s available in a bilingual board book edition. Available in bilingual and Spanish editions.
Download English
Download Spanish

Communicating

Not Norman

Preschool
When a boy receives a pet goldfish named Norman, he thinks he would rather have a pet that does more than swim around in the bowl. He says, “I wanted a pet that could run and catch … not Norman.” He plans to return Norman, but the more he realizes Norman is actually communicating with him, the more he feels he would rather have Norman than any other pet in the whole world. Demonstrates diversity/inclusion.
Download English
Download Spanish

Self-Directed, Engaged Learning

The Snowy Day

Preschool
In this endearing classic, a boy named Peter awakens to find his world transformed by snow. With sled in hand, he sets out on his own to explore a winter wonderland. Children readily relate to Peter’s curiosity and desire for independence. Demonstrates diversity/inclusion. Available in Spanish.
Download English
Download Spanish

Communicating

No Talking

School Age
The fifth graders at Lakewood Elementary School are so noisy that they are known as “The Unshushables.” When Dave learns that Mahatma Gandhi practiced silence one day a week to bring order to his mind, it triggers a clever two-day, no-talking contest between the boys and girls that results in many lessons learned for all. Available in Spanish.
Download English
Download Spanish

Taking on Challenges

Jingle Dancer

School Age
In this prize-winning book, Jenna daydreams of dancing in the upcoming powwow—an important tradition in her family—but she doesn’t have jingles on her skirt and there isn’t enough time to order them. Jenna has an idea and turns to four women who are important to her to help. A heartwarming story that shares contemporary life and Native American tradition. Demonstrates diversity/inclusion.
Download English
Download Spanish

Critical Thinking

Blue Hat, Green Hat

Infant / Toddler
Most of the animals are wearing clothes the proper way, but—oops!—the turkey cannot figure out where his clothes should go. Toddlers adore this fresh and funny introduction to colors, clothes and very silly mistakes. Available in Spanish.
Download English
Download Spanish

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