Pre-K to Fifth Grade Literacy Kits

What is a Literacy Kit?

A literacy kit is designed to enhance children’s literacy skills and appreciation for literature, and to encourage parent involvement in this effort. The kits are checked out by schools or organizations to students, much like a library book. The student takes the kit home to read the book and do the activities with his or her parents. The books selected as the basis for the Learning Connections literacy kits are all great, award-winning children’s literature.

Sixteen of the twenty-eight literacy kits contain both an English and a Spanish copy of the book, a literacy guide written in both English and Spanish, an educational activity, and a Response Journal for parents to communicate with the teacher. (Twelve of the literacy kits are available only in English because the books are not published in Spanish.) The first page of the guide suggests questions for parents to ask their child as they are reading the book together, as well as discussion questions after they have finished. The second page describes in detail how to do the activity that is included in the kit; the third page offers an additional activity for parents to do at home with their child; and the last page is a bibliography of related books to look for on their next visit to the library. The hands-on activity is always educational and can be used at the level of the child. All of these items are housed in a colorful, durable children’s backpack.  The backpacks may be customized with your program’s logo for a small, one-time set up fee.

Learning Connections literacy kits provide unique, motivating, hands-on learning opportunities for children preschool through fifth grade.

Download the printable order forms here.

Displaying 1–28 of 28
  • Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Literacy Kit

    “I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair… and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.” So begin the trials and tribulations of Alexander. People of all ages have terrible, horrible days, and Alexander offers us a humorous […]

  • Being Active Literacy Kit (Bilingual)

    Being Active is designed to get kids and families moving. With the obesity rate at an all time high, this book and literacy guide give families many ideas on how to get and stay active. The literacy guide also provides good information for helping to maintain an active lifestyle, discusses the importance of being fit, […]

  • Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food Literacy Kit

    Mama Bear lays down the law when she notices that Papa and the cubs are getting too chubby. With the help of Dr. Grizzly’s slide show on how the body works, the Bear family makes a healthy adjustment in both their diet and fitness habits. This is a most enjoyable introduction to good nutrition and […]

  • Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV Literacy Kit

    In Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV, Mama Bear decides her family spends too much time in front of the TV, so she bans it for a week. The Bear family discovers lots of other ways to have fun and keep busy, and find they watch less TV when it is allowed again–and don’t even […]

  • Charlotte’s Web Literacy Kit

    An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. A prancing, playful character, Wilbur is devastated when he learns of the destiny planned for him. Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that reads “Some Pig,” convincing the farmer and surrounding community […]

  • Chrysanthemum Literacy Kit

    She was a perfect baby and her parents chose a name to match–Chrysanthemum. She thought her name was “absolutely perfect” until the first day of kindergarten when she finds herself in a world of strange new names such as Sue, Bill, Max, Sam, and Joe. That would not have been so bad except for mean-spirited […]

  • Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type Literacy Kit

    In this hilarious picture book, the cows find an old typewriter in the barn and begin typing out demands for Farmer Brown. The first letter asks for electric blankets and notes keep going back and forth until the cows go on strike. The duck acts as an impartial party to help work out a compromise […]

  • Confessions of a Former Bully Literacy Kit

    After Katie gets caught teasing a classmate, she faces consequences for her actions.  It doesn’t take long before Katie realizes that bullying hurts not only the people around her, but it hurts her, as well.  Told from the unusual perspective of the bully, Confessions of a Former Bully provides kids with real life tips and […]

  • Corduroy Literacy Kit

    Corduroy is a small stuffed bear who has been on the department store shelf for a long time waiting for a home. As soon as Lisa sees him she knows he’s the bear she has always wanted. Her mother refuses to buy him as she has spent too much money that day and that he […]

  • Green Eggs and Ham Literacy Kit

    Dr. Seuss turns 50 simple words into magic in this time-honored classic. Sam-I-am won’t give up. He keeps trying to get the grumpy grown-up in the story to taste green eggs and ham. No matter how Sam-I-am presents the green eggs and ham (in a box, with a fox, in the rain, on a train), […]

  • Healthy Snacks Literacy Kit (Bilingual)

      Healthy Snacks gives families great ideas on what types of foods are healthy for snacks and why eating healthy is so vital to being fit. The literacy guide addresses portion sizes, discusses five rules to live by to maintain a healthy diet, and provides recipes for healthy snacks. With the obesity rate at an […]

  • Making Friends Is An Art Literacy Kit

    Brown is the least used pencil in the box. He’s tall, geeky and lonely. Brown envies Red, Purple, Blue and all the other pencils who have fun coloring and playing together. Dark Green is trustworthy, Pink listens well, Orange has fun, and everybody likes Red!  Brown doesn’t smile very often because he doesn’t get used […]

  • Putting Porn in its Place Literacy Kit

      Research has shown that the average age of first exposure to porn is now between 8 and 11 years old.  Parents are their kids’ first, most consistent, and normally most trusted teachers, and can make a positive difference by talking with their children. Children are naturally curious about sex.  If we do not teach […]

  • Swimmy Literacy Kit

    Swimmy is the only little fish amongst his brothers and sisters who was born black instead of red. He also has the ability to swim faster than the rest of the fish and is able to out swim the big fish that comes to devour his family. Poor Swimmy is left all alone in the […]

  • Tacky the Penguin Literacy Kit

    Tracy the Penguin is a total nonconformist who lives with a group of formal, proper penguins.  But it is Tacky who foils the plans of three hunters who threaten the penguins.  With his un-penguin-like behavior, Tacky puzzles the hunters to such an extent that they are firmly convinced that they cannot be in the “land […]

  • The Bully Blockers Club Literacy Kit

    On the first day of school, Lotty Raccoon encounters Grant Grizzly, the class bully, who taunts and teases her at every turn. Ignoring him does not work, nor do several other tactics she tries. Finally, she comes up with a solution: a Bully Blockers Club. She recruits other students who have been bullied by Grant. […]

  • The Cat in the Hat Dictionary Literacy Kit (Bilingual)

    For those who have always wanted to say things like “Mi madre es una gallina” (“My mother is a hen”) or “Los zorrillos huelen mal” (“Skunks smell bad”), this book is the answer to your dreams! After all, who wouldn’t want to learn Spanish from the Cat in the Hat? Simple (and occasionally silly) English […]

  • The Cat in the Hat Literacy Kit

    Poor Dick and Sally! It is cold and wet and they are stuck in the house with nothing to do . . . until a giant cat in a hat shows up, transforming the dull day into a madcap adventure and almost wrecking the house in the process! This book will really help children learn […]

  • The Hat Literacy Kit

    Hedgie the hedgehog discovers the wisdom of the adage, “Don’t go poking your nose where it doesn’t belong” only after curiosity gets this prickly fellow in a pickle. When Lisa’s woolen stocking blows off the clothesline, Hedgie finds it and sticks his nose inside, only to discover his prickles prevent him from pulling out of […]

  • The Judgmental Flower Literacy Kit

    The flower patch has always been the same.  Purples hang with Purples. Blues hang with Blues.  But when Purple moves into the Blue Patch, Blue just isn’t sure how he feels about that! Fortunately, Blue’s Mom is around to point out how much Blue and his friends can learn from Purple. This important tale teaches […]

  • The Keeping Quilt Literacy Kit

    In Patricia Polacco’s signature book, she narrates the true story of her family’s history from the time her great-grandmother came from Russia to her own family. The significance of this family quilt is highlighted throughout the generations with uses ranging from weddings, births, comfort, and playtime. Following this brightly colored quilt through four generations is […]

  • The Scrambled States of America Literacy Kit

    It was a very ordinary day and states all over the country were waking up to enjoy a beautiful sunrise.  All the states, except Kansas.  Together with Nebraska, they decided to throw a first annual “states party.”  During the party states hatched a plan to switch places so each could see a different part of […]

  • The Tooth Book Literacy Kit

    Every child studies dental care in school and this lively picture book makes learning how to care for your teeth fun. Taking good care of your teeth and gums is an important part of maintaining overall health. After all, you need your pearly whites to eat, smile, and talk. But what should you expect when […]

  • The Vegetable Group Literacy Kit (Bilingual)

    The Vegetable Group provides important information about this essential food group and gives examples of healthy eating choices. It will help children and parents alike learn of the value of eating vegetables as part of a healthy life style and will encourage kids of all ages to eat more vegetables. The guide gives you tips […]

  • Up, Down and Around Literacy Kit

    This is a story of two children who help plant a garden and learn about how some plants grow up into the air, some grow down into the ground, and some grow around vines. It is a cheerful story that is a pleasant introduction to planting and prepositions. In 2008, up, Down, and Around ws […]

  • Where the Wild Things Are Literacy Kit

    This is one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by children and grown-ups. Max dons his wolf suit in pursuit of some mischief and gets sent to bed without supper. Amazingly, a forest grows in his room, allowing his wild rampage to take place. Sendak’s colorful illustrations (perhaps his finest) are […]

  • Wiggle Literacy Kit

    Do you wake up with a wiggle? Do you wiggle out of bed? For energetic toddlers (are there any who aren’t?), here is a book that invites them to wiggle along with the story. Told in rollicky, wiggly rhyme that begs to be read again and again, Doreen Cronin’s latest romp will have toddlers wiggling, […]

  • Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge Literacy Kit

    A small boy, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, knows and likes all of the folks in the retirement home next door, but his favorite is 96-year-old Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper because she has four names, just like him. Everyone says Miss Nancy has lost her memory, and despite the fact that Wilfrid doesn’t even know […]