• General Recommendations
  • Staff-Created List

Start with Stories

Explore books and resources that complement our early literacy video series for caregivers and early childhood educators called Start with Stories. Join Surrey Libraries’ staff as we share songs, rhymes and tips that support your child as they grow into strong and imaginative readers.

26 items

  • "The call-and-response, patterned text (“Can you flap your out-there elbows? / Yes, I can flap my out-there elbows”) invites eager audience participation, both vocal and physical. Everyone is invited to this read-along/sing-along body…
    BookNew York : Holiday House, [2019] — SHIEFMA
  • "In this bright and lively rhyme, the letters of the alphabet race each other to the top of the coconut tree. When X, Y and Z finally scramble up the trunk, however, the weight is too much, and down they all tumble in a colorful chaotic…
    BookNew York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c1989. — MARTIN
  • "A beautiful board book about gratitude by celebrated Indigenous author Richard Van Camp, complemented by photos from tea&bannock, a collective blog by Indigenous women photographers." **Also available as an eBook**
    BookVictoria, British Columbia : Orca Book Publishers, 2019. — VANCAMP
  • "Rhyming text compares babies born in different places and in different circumstances, but they all share the commonality of ten little fingers and ten little toes."
    BookOrlando [Fla.] : Harcourt, c2008. — FOX
  • “We’ll love you as much as the narwhal loves its tusk. We’ll love you as much as the seal loves its musk. Little One, our new baby,Welcome to our family.” This loving bedtime poem shares all the ways in which a family will welcome their…
    BookIqaluit, Nunavut : Inhabit Media Inc., 2023. — KELLY
  • "Expand your child's world! This lift-a-flap board book features the faces of seven children from many nations speaking Hello and Goodbye. Includes phonetic pronunciations. Languages spoken include: English, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish,…
    BookNew York : Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, [2021] — YOON
  • "Black-haired, brown-skinned children describe many sources of happiness in this board book, dedicated by the author to “former Indian Residential School students.” Specific visuals ground this sweet celebration of simple pleasures." --…
    Book[Victoria, British Columbia] : Orca Book Publishers, 2016. — GRAYSMI
  • The book "emphasizes that it’s OK to refuse a hug or feel scared and that readers’ friends might feel that way sometimes, too. Provides adults with helpful information about teaching children to identify and name their feelings as well as…
    BookLondon Welbeck Editions, an imprint of Welbeck Children's Limited, 2022. — BUTTERF
  • "Snuggle Puppy's parent expresses love for their fuzzy little one through a sweet song that includes kisses."
    BookNew York, NY : Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 2018. — BOYNTON
  • "THE all-time classic picture book, from generation to generation, sold somewhere in the world every 30 seconds! Have you shared it with a child or grandchild in your life? Carle's classic tale of a voracious caterpillar who eats his way…
    BookNew York : Philomel Books, c1987. — CARLE
  • “Five little ostriches, huddled in one spot. The first one said, ‘It’s getting rather hot." In this interactive book, the "...audience can help by calling out the number of ostriches or by doing some of the movements with their hands. The…
    BookWatertown, MA : Charlesbridge, [2022] — MCGRATH
  • "Planting a Rainbow...is a dazzling celebration of the colorful variety in a flower garden and the cyclical excitement of gardening. A young child relates in ten simple sentences the yearly cycle and process of planning, planting, and…
    BookSan Diego : Harcourt, c1988. — EHLERT
  • Five elephants go on a whole day march. "As the elephants arrange themselves across each double-page spread, counting gives way to prepositions while they march over, under, up, down, and around, always proud and purposeful." --Horn Book…
    BookNew York, NY : Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2018] — HENKES
  • "Children see a variety of animals, each one a different color, and a mother looking at them. Includes notes to parents and teachers, and fun related activities." **Also available as an eBook**
    BookNew York : Henry Holt, 1967. — MARTIN
  • "Kindness is a skill, and this book is the perfect way to practice it. Each example of kindness is an action that a child can take independently, without adult supervision, and regardless of ability status. Furthermore, because they all…
    BookNew York : Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2019. — BEER
  • "Illustrations and easy-to-read text follow a baby and father through a day filled with ups and downs, ons and offs, and plenty of fun."
    BookNew York, NY : G.P. Putnam's Sons, [2019] — GEE
  • "A lonely little cloud named Ploof needs your help. This interactive picture book directly addresses children, encouraging participation with Ploof. When Ploof is feeling shy, readers are told to clap for encouragement. Similarly, when…
    Book[Toronto] : Tundra Books, an imprint of Tundra Book Group, [2023] — CLANTON
  • Marc Brown's Playtime Rhymes

    a Treasury for Families to Learn and Play Together

    Brown, Marc Tolon
    "A collection of the artist's twenty favorite read-and-play-along finger rhymes complements such entries as "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" and "I'm a Little Teapot" with pictorial instructions for correlating finger movements."
    BookNew York : Little, Brown and Company, ©2013. — 398.8 BRO 2013
  • "Thirteen nursery songs, with hand motions included, to share with young ones... songs include “Pat-a-Cake” (with four-layer cake, topped with the letter “B”), “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” and “Polly Put the Kettle On. Plenty of…
    BookNew York : Henry Holt and Company, 2016. — 784.42 SIN
  • What'll I Do With the Baby-o?

    Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Stories for Babies

    Cobb, Jane
    "Whether it is for use at a library program, in a daycare, or at home, this selection of great rhymes, songs, and stories provides enough material to engage and delight babies throughout their first two years of development. All of the…
    BookVancouver : Black Sheep Press, c2007. — 372.13 COB 2007