October 2025

Skulls!

Author: Blair Thornburgh

Illustrator: Scott Campbell

Summary: This smart, skull-positive story cheerfully dispels any fears kids might have about their skeletons, changing our view of skulls from spooky to a fascinating, cool, and crucial part of our bodies.

Recommended Ages: 4-8 years

Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Use this engaging book to introduce the skeleton system. Students will learn how our eyes, ears, nose and mouth are all supported by our skull.

Extension Activities: After reading the book, have students create their own "I Love My Skull" craft. The craft can include a paper skull that children decorate with cutouts or drawings showing what they love about their skull, such as being a safe place for their brain. You can use the free printable coloring pages provided by the publisher for the craft. Click here!

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September 2025

The Day the Crayons Made Friends

Author: Drew Daywalt

Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers

Summary: Duncan's crayons have disappeared! They have gone exploring in his room, had exciting adventures and made new friends. Will Duncan be able to get them back in the box?

Recommended Ages: 4-8 years

Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Especially at the beginning of a new school year, kids can have anxiety about making friends in a new classroom. This funny new addition to the Crayon books can be a springboard to serious discussions on how to be a friend in new situations.

Extension Activities: Choose the link below to find some engaging activities! Click here!

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August 2025

This Book is Dangerous

Author: Ben Clanton

Illustrator: Ben Clanton

Summary: This new picture book features anxious Jelly trying to navigate his way through the dangerous ocean and this dangerous book! Help Jelly make his way through to the end!!

Recommended Ages: 3-7 years

Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This book provides the perfect lead into talking about Jelly's fears and anxieties, courage and perspective and how the reader's choices affects the story and Jelly's well-being. Encourage children to brainstorm solutions for Jelly's challenges and think about how they would help a friend who is scared.

Extension Activities: Have children draw their favorite part of the story or create a new dangerous scene for Jelly. They can then write about the new adventure Jelly faces.

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July 2025

Make More S’mores

Author: Cathy Ballou Mealey

Illustrator: Ariel Landy

Summary: Roscoe has his campfire blazing and all his ingredients for a yummy s'more ready to go! He is excited to share when Bear shows up, but what happens when more and more friends arrive to the delicious smell of the gooey treat?

Recommended Ages: 4-8 years

Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Make More S'mores explores the themes of sharing (so hard for little people), friendship, and community. Its' rhyming text helps to explore how we are all part of a community.

Extension Activities: Did you know that National S'more's Day is celebrated on August 10? Find some fun and sticky activities on the link below! Help your kids harness the power of the sun with a solar oven, make a sensory activity using graham cracker crumbs, mini marshmallows and chocolate syrup, or practice creating patterns using chocolate squares, marshmallows and whole graham crackers! And of course, eat one!! Click here!

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June 2025

These Are My Rocks

Author: Bethan Woollvin

Illustrator: Bethan Woollvin

Summary: Have fun exploring different collections of all kinds in this fun story about gathering all types of things from the ordinary to the humorous to the invisible!

Recommended Ages: 2-7 years

Themes, Skills, & Concepts: "These Are My Rocks" encourages so many early learning skills: counting, sorting, listening and matching to name a few! Kids are encouraged to interact with each collection and determine how each are related.

Extension Activities: Take a nature walk with kids, encouraging them to collect found items (rocks, sticks, leaves, snail shells..any kind of fun item they may find). Have kids sort their items into categories grouped by type and then name their collections. See how many different ways that their collections can be grouped. For a deeper dive into types of rocks, click on the link below for some lesson ideas. Click here!

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