One story. A pencil. A little time together.
Choose from all 48 books on the Reading Nook shelf, print a sheet, and put the screen away. The questions come from each story and its grown-up notes. No grades, no right answers.
Each sheet has room to write or draw. Your browser's Print dialog saves a PDF. With scripts off, open the sheets you want before printing.
The Frost Before Breakfast
The Frost Before Breakfast
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What three things does Mom check in the night sky?
What can Allison learn by looking at the result of her freezer experiment?
How does Allison take a turn at noticing for someone else?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Frost Before Breakfast
The Friends Who Did Not Match
The Friends Who Did Not Match
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the safe rules Allison follows near Ember.
Show me a courteous distance with your hands.
Say one thing Ember and Brook have in common.
Words to say together: cougar: a large wild cat that lives in the Americas. / keeper: a person or animal that watches over something. / axolotl: a small water animal with feathery gills beside its head. / courteous: polite and respectful of someone else's space. / squall: a sudden burst of strong wind and rain. / lantern: a light inside a case that protects its flame.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Friends Who Did Not Match
The Friends Who Did Not Match
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why are the facts about Ember better than the hurrying stories?
How does Allison introduce the hours instead of forcing a friendship?
What lets Ember and Brook choose their own way to meet?
Words to say together: cougar: a large wild cat that lives in the Americas. / keeper: a person or animal that watches over something. / axolotl: a small water animal with feathery gills beside its head. / courteous: polite and respectful of someone else's space. / squall: a sudden burst of strong wind and rain. / lantern: a light inside a case that protects its flame.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Friends Who Did Not Match
Room on the Map
Room on the Map
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the map Allison gives Prince Alder.
Show me how you could walk beside someone without drawing their line.
Say one real job a new person could help you do.
Words to say together: fountain: a place where water is pushed up and falls into a basin. / satchel: a bag carried with a strap. / mountain: land that rises very high above the ground around it. / spectacles: eyeglasses. / switchback: a sharp bend in a path that climbs a steep place. / ridge: a long, narrow top of a hill or mountain.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Room on the Map
Room on the Map
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why does a map that works perfectly still leave Alder feeling lost?
What is the difference between lending someone your looking and lending them your lines?
How does drawing himself on the fountain help Alder belong?
Words to say together: fountain: a place where water is pushed up and falls into a basin. / satchel: a bag carried with a strap. / mountain: land that rises very high above the ground around it. / spectacles: eyeglasses. / switchback: a sharp bend in a path that climbs a steep place. / ridge: a long, narrow top of a hill or mountain.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Room on the Map
The Queen's Keys
The Queen's Keys
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the four seasons in Allison's new plan.
Show me a slow hand and a small turn.
Say one daily job that helps keep a welcome ready.
Words to say together: keyhole: the shaped opening where a key goes into a lock. / ivy: a climbing plant that holds onto walls. / basket: a container woven from thin strips of material. / autumn: the season after summer and before winter. / mittens: warm hand coverings with one space for the thumb. / hedgerow: a line of bushes or small trees along a road or field.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Queen's Keys
The Queen's Keys
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why does the Queen say no to Allison's first plan?
How is keeping a door bigger than opening it once?
What does Allison discover by looking from the door's height?
Words to say together: keyhole: the shaped opening where a key goes into a lock. / ivy: a climbing plant that holds onto walls. / basket: a container woven from thin strips of material. / autumn: the season after summer and before winter. / mittens: warm hand coverings with one space for the thumb. / hedgerow: a line of bushes or small trees along a road or field.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Queen's Keys
Princess of the Month
Princess of the Month
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the one cup that says come sit.
Show me how Allison offers her extra cup to the new princess.
Say one good thing that becomes better when it is shared.
Words to say together: hollow: an empty space or dip inside something. / honey: a sweet food made by bees. / satchel: a bag carried with a strap. / ledger: a book used to keep an organized record. / curtsy: a greeting made by bending the knees and lowering the body. / sash: a long strip of cloth worn around the body or over a shoulder.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Princess of the Month
Princess of the Month
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why does Allison's big first plan fail even though everyone is kind?
How does asking Bea for help change what her careful practice is for?
What family lessons does Allison carry into the Hall?
Words to say together: hollow: an empty space or dip inside something. / honey: a sweet food made by bees. / satchel: a bag carried with a strap. / ledger: a book used to keep an organized record. / curtsy: a greeting made by bending the knees and lowering the body. / sash: a long strip of cloth worn around the body or over a shoulder.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Princess of the Month
The Forever Den
The Forever Den
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the den that is pretty on the outside and empty on the inside.
Show me how Allison holds still and lets herself be looked at.
Say one thing you would bring to make the empty den feel like home.
Words to say together: birches: slim trees with smooth white bark. / level: a builder's tool that shows whether something is straight and even. / doorway: the open space you walk through to get inside. / trough: a long open container that animals drink from. / wreath: leaves or flowers woven into a ring. / ledger: a book used to keep an organized record.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Forever Den
The Forever Den
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why does the King build the doorway wide and hang no door in it?
What does Allison figure out when the unicorn looks in and sleeps outside instead?
How do the friends' gifts change the den in a way the paint could not?
Words to say together: birches: slim trees with smooth white bark. / level: a builder's tool that shows whether something is straight and even. / doorway: the open space you walk through to get inside. / trough: a long open container that animals drink from. / wreath: leaves or flowers woven into a ring. / ledger: a book used to keep an organized record.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Forever Den
The Name She Drew
The Name She Drew
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the orange girl with her arms up in all that rain.
Show me how you would set a cushion down for someone who sits on floors.
Say one name you say out loud every morning.
Words to say together: marker: a pen with a thick tip for drawing and coloring. / mane: the long hair along the top of an animal's neck. / ledger: a book used to keep an organized record. / rounds: the regular visits someone makes to check on things. / wren: a small brown bird with a short tail that points up. / cushion: a soft pad used to make a seat or special place comfortable.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Name She Drew
The Name She Drew
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why does Quill keep an empty space in her ledger instead of picking a name herself?
Why does no name from Tansy, Juniper, or Maren fit, even though all three are kind?
How does the King's story about Allison's own name help her hear the name she has been saying all along?
Words to say together: marker: a pen with a thick tip for drawing and coloring. / mane: the long hair along the top of an animal's neck. / ledger: a book used to keep an organized record. / rounds: the regular visits someone makes to check on things. / wren: a small brown bird with a short tail that points up. / cushion: a soft pad used to make a seat or special place comfortable.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Name She Drew
La olla que no se deja sola
La olla que no se deja sola
Nombre: ____________________ Fecha: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Señala la ventana donde el arroz con leche espera a Andreas.
Enséñame cómo menea Allison la olla, despacio y sin parar.
Di una cosa que huela a que alguien ha llegado a casa.
Palabras del cuento: olla: la vasija honda donde se cocina el arroz con leche. / cuchara: el utensilio largo de madera con el que se menea la olla. / canela: una especia dulce, en raja o molida, que perfuma la olla. / limonero: el árbol del patio que da limones. / delantal: la prenda que la Abuela se pone encima para cocinar. / marinero: una persona que trabaja en un barco, como Andreas.
Dibuja tu parte favorita y cuéntasela a alguien.
StoryBeam Kids · La olla que no se deja sola
La olla que no se deja sola
Nombre: ____________________ Fecha: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
¿Por qué la Abuela cambia la olla del tamaño de un barco por dos puñados de arroz?
¿Qué hace Allison distinto en la segunda olla, y por qué funciona?
Cuando la primera olla se pega, la Abuela dice "hay más leche". ¿Qué le está enseñando a Allison?
Palabras del cuento: olla: la vasija honda donde se cocina el arroz con leche. / cuchara: el utensilio largo de madera con el que se menea la olla. / canela: una especia dulce, en raja o molida, que perfuma la olla. / limonero: el árbol del patio que da limones. / delantal: la prenda que la Abuela se pone encima para cocinar. / marinero: una persona que trabaja en un barco, como Andreas.
Dibuja tu parte favorita y cuéntasela a alguien.
StoryBeam Kids · La olla que no se deja sola
La ficha que viaja
La ficha que viaja
Nombre: ____________________ Fecha: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Señala la ficha que Mac aprueba con dos golpecitos.
Enséñame cómo se saluda con las dos manos para que se sepa que eres tú.
Di en voz alta "paso", como Allison, cuando no tengas nada que poner.
Palabras del cuento: ficha: cada pieza blanca del dominó, con puntos en las dos mitades. / malecón: el muro largo y bajo junto al mar por donde camina el Abuelo. / pelícanos: pájaros grandes de mar con el pico muy largo, que se posan en fila. / gorra: el sombrero plano que el Abuelo se pone para caminar. / nudo: una lazada apretada en una soga, como la que Andreas ata en la muñeca. / bigote: el pelo sobre el labio del Abuelo, que se toca cuando va a poner una ficha buena.
Dibuja tu parte favorita y cuéntasela a alguien.
StoryBeam Kids · La ficha que viaja
La ficha que viaja
Nombre: ____________________ Fecha: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
¿Por qué pierde Allison las tres primeras partidas, aunque guarde sus mejores fichas?
¿Cómo descubre Allison que Andreas no tiene seises?
El Abuelo dice que pasar no es perder. ¿En qué se parece pasar a esperar?
Palabras del cuento: ficha: cada pieza blanca del dominó, con puntos en las dos mitades. / malecón: el muro largo y bajo junto al mar por donde camina el Abuelo. / pelícanos: pájaros grandes de mar con el pico muy largo, que se posan en fila. / gorra: el sombrero plano que el Abuelo se pone para caminar. / nudo: una lazada apretada en una soga, como la que Andreas ata en la muñeca. / bigote: el pelo sobre el labio del Abuelo, que se toca cuando va a poner una ficha buena.
Dibuja tu parte favorita y cuéntasela a alguien.
StoryBeam Kids · La ficha que viaja
The King Who Went Out Early
The King Who Went Out Early
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the stone Allison is holding at her window before the sun is up.
Show me how you would open a heavy gate with both hands.
Say one thing on your table that somebody had to carry home.
Words to say together: latch: the small bar that holds a gate or a door shut. / mill: a building where grain is crushed into flour. / slates: flat pieces of stone laid in rows to cover a roof. / bale: a large bundle of something like wool, tied up tight. / barrel: a round wooden container with flat ends. / cart: an open wagon pulled by animals, used for carrying loads.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The King Who Went Out Early
The King Who Went Out Early
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why does Allison's first page have room for so many more marks than she wants?
What changes for Allison when she smells the flour at the mill?
The first stop gives her nothing to count, and the King never says sorry for it. Why not?
Words to say together: latch: the small bar that holds a gate or a door shut. / mill: a building where grain is crushed into flour. / slates: flat pieces of stone laid in rows to cover a roof. / bale: a large bundle of something like wool, tied up tight. / barrel: a round wooden container with flat ends. / cart: an open wagon pulled by animals, used for carrying loads.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The King Who Went Out Early
The First Day of Princess School
The First Day of Princess School
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the empty part of Allison's map before school.
Show me how Allison sits close enough to keep Maren company.
Say one thing you might draw for a new friend.
Words to say together: crayon: a colored wax stick used for drawing. / butterflies: fluttery insects, or the jumpy feeling in your stomach. / courtyard: an open space surrounded by buildings. / braid: hair woven together in crossing sections. / fountain: a place where water is pushed up and falls into a basin. / satchel: a bag carried with a strap.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The First Day of Princess School
The First Day of Princess School
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why does the King call Allison's nervous feeling doorway weather?
How does helping Maren change Allison's own storm?
What fills the blank place on Allison's map by the end of the day?
Words to say together: crayon: a colored wax stick used for drawing. / butterflies: fluttery insects, or the jumpy feeling in your stomach. / courtyard: an open space surrounded by buildings. / braid: hair woven together in crossing sections. / fountain: a place where water is pushed up and falls into a basin. / satchel: a bag carried with a strap.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The First Day of Princess School
The Storm That Stayed Inside
The Storm That Stayed Inside
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the things that make Allison's inside storm grow.
Show me how Allison and the King sit beside each other.
Say one feeling that can move through you like weather.
Words to say together: crayon: a colored wax stick used for drawing. / braid: hair woven together in crossing sections. / weather: what the sky and air are like outside. / genuine: real and truly meant. / mended: fixed after being torn or broken. / pardoned: forgiven and no longer blamed.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Storm That Stayed Inside
The Storm That Stayed Inside
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why does the King take every small wrong seriously?
How does saying the whole list change Allison's inside storm?
What does the visible patch help Allison remember?
Words to say together: crayon: a colored wax stick used for drawing. / braid: hair woven together in crossing sections. / weather: what the sky and air are like outside. / genuine: real and truly meant. / mended: fixed after being torn or broken. / pardoned: forgiven and no longer blamed.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Storm That Stayed Inside
The King's Day Off
The King's Day Off
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the cold cup that tells Allison the King needs care.
Show me how Allison carries the cool water with both hands.
Say one kind thing your hands are big enough to do.
Words to say together: beekeeper: a person who cares for bees and their hives. / notebook: a small book of blank pages for writing or drawing. / scepter: a decorated staff carried by a ruler. / appointment: a planned time to meet or do something. / napkins: pieces of cloth or paper used while eating. / willow: a tree with long branches that bend down.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The King's Day Off
The King's Day Off
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
What does Allison notice that everyone else has missed?
Why is letting himself be helped hard work for the King?
How does Allison keep the plan safe and sized for her own hands?
Words to say together: beekeeper: a person who cares for bees and their hives. / notebook: a small book of blank pages for writing or drawing. / scepter: a decorated staff carried by a ruler. / appointment: a planned time to meet or do something. / napkins: pieces of cloth or paper used while eating. / willow: a tree with long branches that bend down.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The King's Day Off
The Longest Royal Wait
The Longest Royal Wait
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the dark lantern where the bird makes her nest.
Show me how Allison watches from a respectful distance.
Say one thing that takes the time it takes.
Words to say together: taper: a thin candle used to carry a flame. / nest: a home a bird builds for eggs or babies. / coral: a bright pink-orange color. / confession: something true that feels hard to say. / patience: staying steady while something takes time. / cheeping: making tiny, high bird sounds.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Longest Royal Wait
The Longest Royal Wait
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why can Allison plan the keeping-company but not the hatch?
How does the pile of drawings make waiting feel lighter?
What safety choices let the birds decide when the lantern is finished as a home?
Words to say together: taper: a thin candle used to carry a flame. / nest: a home a bird builds for eggs or babies. / coral: a bright pink-orange color. / confession: something true that feels hard to say. / patience: staying steady while something takes time. / cheeping: making tiny, high bird sounds.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Longest Royal Wait
The King Who Crossed the Storm
The King Who Crossed the Storm
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to the part where Allison makes a plan for finding her boat.
Show me how you would hold the cup with both hands while somebody helps.
Say one small thing you made that would matter to you.
Words to say together: lantern: a light inside a case that protects its flame. / stream: a small, narrow river. / willow: a tree with long branches that bend down. / shallows: the parts of water that are not deep. / satchel: a bag carried with a strap. / mended: fixed after being torn or broken.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The King Who Crossed the Storm
The King Who Crossed the Storm
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why does waiting feel easier once Allison has a plan?
What does Allison do when the first two places do not have her boat?
How does the brighter patch change the way Allison thinks about the tear?
Words to say together: lantern: a light inside a case that protects its flame. / stream: a small, narrow river. / willow: a tree with long branches that bend down. / shallows: the parts of water that are not deep. / satchel: a bag carried with a strap. / mended: fixed after being torn or broken.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The King Who Crossed the Storm
The Crown That Was Too Big
The Crown That Was Too Big
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 3–5: say it, draw it, tell it.
Point to a place where Allison remembers the road with her hand.
Show me how big the King's crown looks when Allison tries it on.
Say where you would put a light on a dark path.
Words to say together: cushion: a soft pad used to make a seat or special place comfortable. / harbor: a sheltered place where boats can stay safely. / bramble: a prickly bush with tangled branches. / ochre: a warm yellow-brown color. / throne: a special chair for a king or queen. / diggers: people who make holes in the ground.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Crown That Was Too Big
The Crown That Was Too Big
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Ages 6–8: talk first, then write or draw.
Why can Allison notice something about the road that the grown-ups cannot?
What makes the King treat Allison's map like real work?
How does Allison decide whether to move the mark by the old wall?
Words to say together: cushion: a soft pad used to make a seat or special place comfortable. / harbor: a sheltered place where boats can stay safely. / bramble: a prickly bush with tangled branches. / ochre: a warm yellow-brown color. / throne: a special chair for a king or queen. / diggers: people who make holes in the ground.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Crown That Was Too Big
Allison and Nonna's Warm-Water Day
Allison and Nonna's Warm-Water Day
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What does Allison notice about Nonna?
How do the robe, water, towels, and shade help their day?
Which parts of the pool day need a grown-up?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Allison and Nonna's Warm-Water Day
Allison, Enzo, and the Long Loop
Allison, Enzo, and the Long Loop
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why do they check the way instead of guessing at the fork?
How can one hiker help when another needs a rest?
Draw a trail marker you would look for with a grown-up.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Allison, Enzo, and the Long Loop
Papa's Quietest Beat
Papa's Quietest Beat
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What does Papa do when a beat gets rushed?
How can quiet be part of music?
Show a comfortable, quiet rhythm with your hands.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Papa's Quietest Beat
The Garden That Brought Friends Home
The Garden That Brought Friends Home
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why leave an open spot in the garden?
How can a friend bring a different idea?
Which garden materials need a grown-up to check them first?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Garden That Brought Friends Home
Lumi and the Lantern Meadow
Lumi and the Lantern Meadow
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
How does Lumi care for the plant while she waits?
What could you notice by looking at the same plant on several evenings?
Draw a bud and an open flower. Tell someone what changed.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Lumi and the Lantern Meadow
Marlow Runs the Starlit Line
Marlow Runs the Starlit Line
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Match the three crate symbols to the garden beds.
Why does fog call for slower travel and extra checks?
Which train jobs belong to Conductor Bea?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Marlow Runs the Starlit Line
Princess Sela and the Palace of Small Repairs
Princess Sela and the Palace of Small Repairs
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What does Sela notice that needs help?
Why is asking the right helper part of being a leader?
Which task is the right size for Sela to do herself?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Princess Sela and the Palace of Small Repairs
Kip Is Going to Be First
Kip Is Going to Be First
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What did Kip try before he asked Oona?
Why do you think Oona said "Hmm" instead of yes?
Why did Kip give his turn to Gus?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Kip Is Going to Be First
Otto Can Hold Everything
Otto Can Hold Everything
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why did Otto say "Problem" for the first time?
What did the friends find out when Otto let go?
When have you had your hands too full to help?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Otto Can Hold Everything
Hippo Is Very Good at Hiding
Hippo Is Very Good at Hiding
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why did Hippo wiggle her ear when she was winning?
How does Peep stay kind every time she finds Hippo?
What is the best part of hide-and-seek for you?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Hippo Is Very Good at Hiding
Moss Will Be Right There
Moss Will Be Right There
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why was Moss's answer fair?
What did Zip have to do to play Moss's game?
Who in your family goes at a different speed from you?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Moss Will Be Right There
Bao Is Not Even a Tiny Bit Sleepy
Bao Is Not Even a Tiny Bit Sleepy
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What three things did Bao try to stay awake?
Why did the get-ready nap work when the other plans did not?
What did Mei say when Bao woke her up, and why is that funny?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Bao Is Not Even a Tiny Bit Sleepy
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
The one real chase on this shelf. Peter has a scare in Mr. McGregor's garden, loses his jacket and shoes, and ends up safe in bed with camomile tea. A few words are wonderfully old fashioned: exert, sieve, fortnight.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why did Peter go where his mother said not to?
What do you think camomile tea tastes like?
Draw two places Peter tries to hide. What happens in each one?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Tale of Peter Rabbit
The Velveteen Rabbit
The longest book on the shelf, and worth every minute. There is one sad stretch when the Boy is ill and the old toys must be cleared away, and then the happiest transformation in the nursery. The scene breaks make easy stopping spots if you want to read it over two nights.
The Velveteen Rabbit
by Margery Williams · or, How Toys Become Real
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What makes a toy Real, according to the Skin Horse?
Which of your toys is the most loved-worn?
How does the Boy show that the Rabbit matters to him?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Velveteen Rabbit
The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
Peter's cousin talks him back into Mr. McGregor's garden to rescue his clothes, and the two end up trapped under a basket by a cat until old Mr. Bunny arrives. One heads-up: the rescue ends with an old-fashioned switch-whipping on the walk home, one line and period-typical; soften or skip it aloud if you prefer.
The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
by Beatrix Potter
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why did Peter want his clothes back?
What would you have done when the cat sat down?
How does old Mr. Bunny help the two cousins get home?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
Nutkin sasses the old owl with riddle after riddle while the polite squirrels gather nuts, and the riddles are real ones you can guess together. There is one gulp of a moment when Old Brown finally grabs him; Nutkin escapes, minus most of his tail, and that is why he answers rudely to this day.
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
by Beatrix Potter
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why did the other squirrels bring Old Brown presents?
Can you make up a riddle of your own?
How does Nutkin behave differently from the squirrels gathering nuts?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
Jemima wants to hatch her own eggs and takes nesting advice from a very polite gentleman with sandy whiskers. Grown-ups will hear his dinner plans humming under every compliment; kids usually just find him funny. Kep the collie stages the rescue. One bittersweet beat: the first eggs are lost in the scuffle, and by the last page she hatches four ducklings of her own.
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
by Beatrix Potter
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What made the gentleman seem so polite?
Who was really looking out for Jemima?
How is the end of Jemima’s story different from her first nesting plan?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
All three rounds of too-hot, too-soft, and just-right are here for chiming along. In our telling Goldilocks says sorry and comes back the next day to help mend the little chair, so it ends with a friendship instead of a scramble out the window.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
A classic English tale, retold gently
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What should Goldilocks have done at the door?
Why did coming back the next day fix things?
Draw the little chair before and after Goldilocks helps mend it.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Goldilocks and the Three Bears
The Three Little Pigs
All the huffing and puffing is here, and it wants your biggest wolf voice. Nobody is eaten in this telling: the straw and stick pigs run safely to the brick house, and the wolf leaves soggy and out-huffed.
The Three Little Pigs
A classic English tale, retold gently
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why did bricks take longer than straw?
What would you build your house from?
How do the pigs help one another when the wolf arrives?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Three Little Pigs
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Trip-trap, trip-trap: this one begs for three goat voices, small, middle, and enormous. The troll gets a bump and a splash, dries off on a sunny bank, and has a long think about manners.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
A Norwegian tale, retold gently
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why did the troll let the little goats pass?
What do you think the troll says now, on his sunny bank?
Tell the bridge crossings in order, using a different voice for each goat.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Gingerbread Man
The run-run-as-fast-as-you-can refrain comes around five times, and kids usually take it over by the second one. In the old telling the fox wins at the river. In ours the fox goes hungry, and the fastest cookie in the world picks his own ending.
The Gingerbread Man
A classic chasing tale, retold gently
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why did the gingerbread man trust the fox for a moment?
Where would you run first, if you were that quick?
How does the gingerbread man’s adventure end in this telling?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Gingerbread Man
Little Red Riding Hood
The what-big-eyes game is all here. In our telling Grandma is safely out picking mint when the wolf arrives, so nobody is swallowed, and the wolf leaves through the window when the woodcutter knocks. The quiet lesson about strangers on the path stays in.
Little Red Riding Hood
After Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, retold gently
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What was the prickle on Red's neck trying to tell her?
Why do we save chatting for people we know?
What is Grandma doing while the wolf is in her cottage?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Little Red Riding Hood
The Ugly Duckling
There are some lonely stretches in the middle, told softly, and the ending shines all the brighter for them. A good one for any kid who feels like they do not quite fit yet. The farmyard bullies do not return; the ending gives the young swan belonging rather than revenge.
The Ugly Duckling
After Hans Christian Andersen, retold gently
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
When did the duckling stop feeling ugly?
What is something you were early at, like the swan?
How do the swans welcome the newcomer? What could the farmyard animals learn from them?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Ugly Duckling
The Window Seat
gentle sister story and imaginative train ride; the official blurb says “magical,” with no occult mechanism identified
The Window Seat
A Book Dash story by Sindeka Mandoyi
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What do the sisters notice or imagine on their train ride?
Choose a picture from the journey. What detail would you point out to someone beside you?
Draw something you would like to see from a train window. Tell someone about it.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · The Window Seat
Khaya Wants to Row
child dreams of rowing; warm grandparent support; the child's mother works away
Khaya Wants to Row
A Book Dash story by Zandile Mnisi LaMvuleni
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What does Khaya dream of doing?
How does Khaya’s grandparent support that dream?
Draw something you would like to learn. Who could help you get started?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Khaya Wants to Row
Going Places
classroom children share pretend adventures; mild shark, space, and elephant imagery
Going Places
A Book Dash story by Andie Reeves
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Which pretend adventure would you choose from the story? Why?
How do the pictures help you imagine the places the children describe?
Invent a pretend journey for your class. Draw a place you would visit together.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Going Places
Best Friends
friendship and caring; mild worry when a friend is absent from school because she is unwell
Best Friends
A Book Dash story by Julia Smuts Louw
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
How does the story show that the children care about each other?
What changes when a friend is away from school?
Draw or write a kind message you could share with a friend who is unwell.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Best Friends
Samoosas!
child and grandmother cook together; encourages patience and accepting imperfect shapes
Samoosas!
A Book Dash story by Matthew Kalil
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What do the child and grandmother do together?
What can you notice about trying again when a shape is not quite right?
Draw two different samoosa shapes. Tell someone what makes cooking together special.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Samoosas!
Thuli’s Tissue
playful hygiene and litter-bin lesson involving a used tissue
Thuli’s Tissue
A Book Dash story by Jacqueline Samuels
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Follow the tissue through the pictures. What happens to it?
Where does a used tissue belong? What should you do after putting it there?
Draw a reminder that would help someone remember to use the bin.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Thuli’s Tissue
Julia Loves Books
cheerful literacy story about searching for a special book
Julia Loves Books
A Book Dash story by Diane Awerbuck
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
What is Julia looking for in the story?
Which picture helps you see how Julia feels about books?
Draw the cover of a book you would like to find. Tell someone what would be inside.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Julia Loves Books
Tata comes home
warm family reunion; a father comes home for the weekend after working away
Tata comes home
A Book Dash story by Sewela Langeni
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
Why has Tata been away from home?
How does the family spend time together when he returns?
Draw a way to welcome someone home. What would you say to them?
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Tata comes home
Jock and Me
affectionate play with an old family dog; no death occurs
Jock and Me
A Book Dash story by Nathalie Koenig
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
Read together, then talk or draw.
How do the child and Jock spend time together?
Choose a picture that shows affection for Jock. What do you notice?
Draw a quiet game you could share with an older dog and a grown-up.
Draw your favorite part. Tell someone what happened.
StoryBeam Kids · Jock and Me