Library of Things: Early literacy

Help the children in your life foster a love of reading with one of these fun and interactive kits.

Alex Jr. Rolling Busy Bus: Borrow a wooden school bus featuring a curvy bead maze, peek a boo window sliders, turning picture tiles, spinning gear, mirror and rolling wheels. Recommended for ages 10 months+. View availability

Disney 101 Dalmatian kit: Dive into the delightful adventures of Pongo, Perdita, and their puppies. When evil Cruella De Vil kidnaps 99 Dalmatian puppies, the dogs of London must come together to rescue them before it's too late! This kit includes a stuffed animal, book, and audio disc. view availability

Disney Dumbo kit: Dumbo is a little elephant with big spirit and even bigger ears. He doesn't have many friends at the circus, until he meets Timothy the circus mouse and discovers a hidden talent that will make him into a star. This kit includes a stuffed animal, book, and audio disc. view availability

Disney Lion King kit: Share the magic of Disney and Te exciting tale of Simba, a young cub who earns his place in the Circle of Life. This kit includes a stuffed animal, book, and audio disc. view availability

Little People Sit with Me School Bus: Press the Discovery Button to open the bus door, flip open the stop sign, and activate lights, sounds and songs. Place bus driver Emily in the driver’s seat for fun lights, sounds, and songs. This kit for children ages five and younger includes a school bus and bus drivers Emily and Eddie figures. view availability

Very Hungry Caterpillar and jack-in-the box: This kit includes Eric Carle's classic tale of a voracious caterpillar who eats his way through the days of the week and then changes into a beautiful butterfly and a Very Hungry Caterpillar themed jack-in-the-box to give your baby a first experience with peekaboo, cause and effect, and object permanence. view availability

Adventures with Nicholas: The five crayons in Spanish: Six-year-old Nicholas uses five crayons to create an imaginary world in this story-based introduction to the Spanish language. This kit includes a stuffed animal, book, and audio disc. view availability

Melissa & Doug Safari Animal Rescue Sorting Truck: This kit includes a wooden sorting truck with nine wooden safari-themed shapes and the "Baby Touch and Feel Wild Animals" board book. Recommended for ages 2+. view availability

Melissa & Doug Turn and Tell Wooden Clock: This kit includes a wooden clock with 13 time match cards, a teaching tips card, and "The Clock Struck One" book. Recommended for ages 3+. view availability

Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly kit: Tell the story of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" using puppet play with this kit that includes a cloth doll with seven stuffed cloth pieces and a hardcover book. Recommended for ages 3+. view availability

Paddington Bear kit: Paddington Bear had traveled all the way from Peru when the Browns first met him in Paddington Station. Since then, their lives have never been quite the same, for ordinary things become extraordinary when a bear called Paddington is involved. This kit includes a stuffed animal, book, and audio disc. view availability

Velveteen Rabbit kit: Originally published in 1922, the classic story of a toy rabbit who loves a boy so much he eventually becomes real has charmed children and adults for nearly a century. This kit includes a stuffed animal, book, and audio disc. View availability

Storytime in a bag: Storytime in a Bag is designed to support early literacy education for children ages birth to four years. Families may check out materials to deliver excellent storytimes for their young children. Each bag offers a set of books selected to feature a specific theme along with an accompanying guide. Follow the link for a list of themes. view themes and availability