Building Your Classroom Bookshelf

Browse books you can use to support children’s Core Skills

Books We Recommend

This library shares children’s books that can be read to foster each Core Skill. Our book recommendations feature diverse authors, illustrators, and characters. Each book is accompanied by a reading guide, which highlights ways you can engage children while also supporting a specific skill.

Relate

Books that focus on building relationships, supporting self-confidence, and fostering empathy and sense of self
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young girl and toddler reading book

Building Relationships Through Books

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Two toddlers hug in a classroom

Fostering Empathy and Sense of Self

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Boy Happy with Hands in Air

Developing Self-Confidence

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Regulate

Books that support young children's growing understanding of emotions and help build their executive function skills
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children listening to a story. Teacher reading story to group.

Supporting Emotions and Behaviors

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Teacher points to animal in book as baby looks on

Fostering Executive Function

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Move

Books that focus on supporting children's motor skills, self-care, and healthy eating habits
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child painting with twigs

Supporting Motor Skills Through Books

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Supporting Self-Care and Healthy Habits Through Books

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Think

Books that support young children's thinking skills, including imitation, exploration, inquiry, reasoning, and problem-solving
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Young boy and teacher pretending to use fake binoculars

Supporting Imitation and Exploration

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A teacher explaining her thoughts about an instrument to a toddler

Supporting Inquiry, Reasoning, and Problem-Solving

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Think-Math

Books that introduce mathematical concepts in meaningful and engaging ways
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An infant sits on the floor with an educator, and their mouth is open

Exploring Early Math with Infants Through Books

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Child counting quantity of apples

Supporting Numeracy, Operations, and Measurement

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Teacher points at book while sitting on floor with two toddlers

Supporting Geometry, Spatial Sense, and Patterning

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Communicate

Books that support young children's communication skills, including language and literacy
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Toddler standing holding talking stick

Supporting Early Language Development

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Children on floor listening as teacher holds a book

Building Literacy Skills

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