Early Literacy Kits
Early literacy begins at birth with everyday, language-rich interactions—not just reading—and helps children enter school ready to learn and thrive.
Boise Public Library is excited to offer Early Literacy Kits to help families support learning from birth through age five. Early literacy builds the foundation for all future learning by strengthening brain development, vocabulary, communication, and social-emotional skills. These skills lead to greater academic success, confidence, and lifelong opportunities.
Borrow Early Literacy KitsAbout the Kits
Early Literacy Kits are themed tote bags designed for families and caregivers to use together at home. Each kit includes:
- 3–5 books
- 1 hands-on activity
- A parent/caregiver guide with simple, fun activities
Browse Kits by Age Group
Babies are never too young to learn. Early literacy experiences in infancy with parents and caregivers help build the skills needed for later learning. Talking, singing, playing, and sharing books from birth supports healthy brain development and prepares children for more advanced concepts as they grow.
Quantities, book titles, and activity pieces are subject to change.
ABCs (Letter Knowledge) - Learning that letters have different shapes, names, and sounds.
- 5 books
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar's ABC
- My First Padded Book of Alphabet
- See, Touch, Feel: ABC: A first sensory alphabet book
- What Does Baby See? ABC: A First High
- Contrast Board Book
Shapes (Baby's First Library)
- 4 soft shape toys
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Enjoying Books (Print Motivation) - Developing a love of books and a desire to read.
- 5 books
- Tummy Time!: A high-contrast fold-out book with mirror for babies
- Hello, Face! (Hello, Body!)
- Peek-A-Baby
- Peekaboo Sun
- Tummy Time: Savanna
- 1 soft tummy time activity book
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Fun with Sounds (Phonological Awareness) - Recognizing and playing with the sounds of language.
- 5 books
- Hello Farm! (Happy Baby)
- My First Learn-to-Talk Book
- The Wheels on the Bus: Sing Along with Me! (Sing Along with Me!)
- Diggers Go
- Toot Toot Beep Beep
- 2 music makers (like tambourines)
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Fun with Words (Vocabulary) - Learning new words and understanding what they mean.
- 5 books
- First Words (Bright Baby)
- 100 First Words (Ms. Rachel) (Books by Ms. Rachel)
- What Does Baby See? A High-Contrast Board Book
- First Words (Baby Touch and Feel)
- Baby Talk (Baby's Day)
- 10 soft ABC blocks
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Storytelling (Narrative Skills) - Understanding stories, sequences, and meaning.
- 5 books
- Now That You're Here: A High Contrast Book for Newborns (A Love Poem Your Baby Can See)
- For Your Smile: A High Contrast Book for Newborns (A Love Poem Your Baby Can See)
- Peekaboo Who?
- I Kissed the Baby!
- Very Busy Spider
- 5 finger puppets
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Using Books (Print Awareness) - Learning how books and print work and that print has meaning.
- 5 books
- Hello, My World
- Peekaboo Lion
- See, Touch, Feel
- Peek-a Who?
- Hey Baby
- 3 indestructible books
- Indestructibles: Hear the Sounds
- Indestructibles: Rhyme with Me!
- Indestructibles: Touch Your Nose!
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Toddlers’ brains grow rapidly. Talking, reading, singing, and playing with language helps strengthen neural connections during this critical period.
Quantities, book titles, and activity pieces are subject to change.
ABCs (Letter Knowledge) - Learning that letters have different shapes, names, and sounds.
- 5 books
- ABC Dance!: An Animal Alphabet
- A Little Book About ABCs (Leo Lionni's Friends)
- Hello Hello Shapes
- A is for Apple (Smart Kids Trace-And-Flip)
- Touch and Trace ABC (My First Home Learning)
- 10 magnetic letters
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Enjoying Books (Print Motivation) - Developing a love of books and a desire to read.
- 5 books
- Don't Push the Button!
- Five Enormous Dinosaurs
- Play Games with Me (A Playdate Book)
- Hello Hello Colors
- Dinosaur Dance!
- 10 ABC blocks
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Fun with Sounds (Phonological Awareness) - Recognizing and playing with the sounds of language.
- 5 books
- Goodnight Goodnight, Construction Site
- Little Blue Truck
- Pig the Pug
- Fox in Socks
- Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
- 2 shake-and-move ribbon bells
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Fun with Words (Vocabulary) - Learning new words and understanding what they mean.
- 5 books
- See Touch Feel: Words
- Pete the Cat's 100 First Words Board Book
- Priddy Books First 100 Words
- My Very First Book of Words (Eric Carle)
- Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature
- 4 farm animal figures
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Storytelling (Narrative Skills) - Understanding stories, sequences, and meaning.
- 4 books
- A Good Place
- Truck by Donald Crews
- I Want My Hat Back
- Red Sled
- 1 magnetic board and story pieces
- 5 magnetic Farm Animals/Set Pieces
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Using Books (Print Awareness) - Learning how books and print work and that print has meaning.
- 4 books
- The Monster at the End of this Book
- Llama Llama Loves to Read
- Press Here
- There's a Dragon in Your Book!
- 1 flash card activity
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Early literacy is important for preschoolers because it builds the language, listening, and early reading skills they need to succeed in kindergarten. It also supports social-emotional development, boosts confidence, and helps children develop a love of learning.
Quantities, book titles, and activity pieces are subject to change.
ABCs (Letter Knowledge) - Learning that letters have different shapes, names, and sounds.
- 3 books
- Fingertrail ABC: A Kindergarten Readiness Book for Kids
- A is for Axolotl: An Unusual Animal ABC
- Walter's Wonderful Web
- 12 magnetic letter squares
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Enjoying Books (Print Motivation) - Developing a love of books and a desire to read.
- 3 books
- An Elephant & Piggie Biggie! (Elephant and Piggie Book)
- Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
- When You Love a Book by Kaz Windess
- 5 letter stencils
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Fun with Sounds (Phonological Awareness) - Recognizing and playing with the sounds of language.
- 3 books
- The Goat and the Stoat and the Boat
- Rhyming Dust Bunnies
- There's a Bear on My Chair
- 5 word flip books
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Fun with Words (Vocabulary) - Learning new words and understanding what they mean.
- 3 books
- Wombats Go Wild for Words
- Taro Gomi's Big Book of Words
- A Stone Sat Still
- 2 binoculars for exploration play
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Storytelling (Narrative Skills) - Understanding stories, sequences, and meaning.
- 3 books
- Daddy, Tell Me a Story
- Monster Hands
- Hank Finds an Egg
- 1 comic drawing sheet and dry-erase marker
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide
Using Books (Print Awareness) - Learning how books and print work and that print has meaning.
- 3 books
- How to Read a Book
- The Book with No Pictures
- Can I Be Your Dog?
- 1 magnetic writing board
- 5 pre-writing practice cards
- 1 Parent/Caregiver Guide