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Jumpstart is a national early education program that leverages adult-child relationships to deliver a carefully designed curriculum that builds the key language and literacy skills children need to succeed in school and life. We also recognize that families are children’s first and most important teacher. The encouragement and support that young children receive at home reinforces everything they learn at Jumpstart. That’s why we support families with free online resources and information to extend learning from Jumpstart sessions into the home.
Jumpstart Resources for Families
The following resources have been developed to educate and support your engagement in your child’s development of language, literacy, and school readiness skills at home.
Jumpstart’s 2012 Calendar (PDF, post as is)
*See attached PDF
Reading for Generations: A Guide for Grandparents (post as is, English and Spanish)
This resource, made possible through a generous grant from MetLife Foundation, informs grandparents about the importance of early literacy for preschool children and helps them with their unique role in the lives of their grandchildren.
*See attached PDF
Jumpstart’s Favorite Books & Reading Tips
When reading with your child, every story can be an exciting and fun learning
opportunity to build language and knowledge! Below is a list of Jumpstart’s all-time favorite books read to children in the Jumpstart session that you can read to your children at home:
NOTE: All of the favorite book content below should be in a PDF format.
Jumpstart’s All-Time Favorite Books
Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad by David Soman and Jacky Davis
2012 Jumpstart Read for the Record Campaign Book
A girl named Lulu or otherwise known as Ladybug Girl, gathers her friends Bumblebee Boy, Dragonfly Girl, Butterfly Girl for some imaginary fun. Lulu and her friends learn about friendship, feelings, and courage.
• Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky
Babies need a lot of care and all family members try to soothe Baby Louise.
Only her brother Daniel can make her stop crying by saying the words “oonga boonga” and
“bunka wunka.”
• The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza by Philemon Sturges
The Little Red Hen discovers that she needs a pan and the ingredients to make a pizza, so she asks her friends for help. They are too busy, so Little Red Hen does all the work herself. When the pizza is ready, they gladly accept her invitation to dinner.
• One Dark Night by Hazel Hutchins
A surprise visitor—-a stray cat—-arrives one night as a thunderstorm approaches. Jonathan watches the cat as it leaves suddenly and returns twice more, each time bringing another new kitten to safety.
• Gilberto and the Wind by Marie Hall Ets
Gilberto hears the wind whispering at the door and runs out to play. The wind teases Gilberto by carrying his balloon away and breaking his umbrella. The wind is playful too, racing Gilberto, lifting his soap bubbles, knocking down an apple for him to eat, and gently lulling him to sleep.
• The Puddle Pail by Elisa Kleven
Ernest, a young blue crocodile wants to collect things just like his big brother, Sol, does. He thinks that puddles and their reflections are beautiful, so he decides to start a puddle collection. Then he mixes puddle water with watercolors and paints the things he reflected in his puddle pail, creating a collection of paintings.
• Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard search for just the right place to nest. After the ducklings hatch, the family settles in the perfect home in the Boston Public Gardens.
Jumpstart Read for the Record Books
• The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper and Loren Long
In this classic tale, a little train carrying a cargo of toys makes her way up the hill with the inspirational words, “I think I can.”
• The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
A classic tale of a bull that refused to be bullied into behaving differently. While all the other bulls would run, jump, and butt their heads, Ferdinand would rather sit, smell the flowers, and be true to himself.
• Corduroy by Don Freeman
This is the story of a young girl who wanted to buy a teddy bear but was told by her mother that she couldn’t. They didn’t have enough money, and the teddy bear was missing a button. The little girl later used money from her piggy bank to purchase the stuffed bear, and repaired is shoulder strap by sewing on a new button. Before his purchase, Corduroy has some adventures in the department store.
• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The 1963 Caldecott Medal Winner is the simple tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. Peter enjoys the snowy city with a day of many adventures including experimenting with footprints, knocking snow from a tree, making snow angels, and trying to save a snowball for the next day.
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
A delightful story that introduces children to the days of the week, foods and the growth cycle. The predictable text is a great way to get your child to read along with you.
• Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
A young llama worries when his mother, who is downstairs, doesn’t respond quickly to his calls. He cries out louder and louder each time, until he hollers for her. He learns that mothers are sometimes busy, and that prevents them from responding immediately. He also learns that children must be patient.
• Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad by David Soman and Jacky Davis
2012 Jumpstart Read for the Record Campaign Book
A girl named Lulu or otherwise known as Ladybug Girl, gathers her friends Bumblebee Boy, Dragonfly Girl, Butterfly Girl for some imaginary fun. Lulu and her friends learn about friendship, feelings, and courage.
Picture Books & Predictable Books
Predictable books and picture books offer children the opportunity to be active participants during shared reading. Picture books allow children to tell the story using pictures and to develop important creative skills. This list also contains some old-time favorites!
Picture Storybooks
• The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
• It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
• Frederick by Leo Lionni
• Best Friends for Frances by Russell Hoban and Lillian Hoban
• Hats off for the Fourth of July! by Harriet Ziefert and Gustaf Miller
Books that are predictable include strategies to make them predictable – repetition, rhyme, one idea or thought per page, and patterns. Predictable books are the books you hear children reading to themselves and others. These books encourage children to think of themselves as readers.
Predictable Books
• If You Give a Mouse a Muffin by Laura Joffe Numeroff
• Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
• Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle
• Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
• Only You by Rosemary Well
Poetry, Song & Picture Books
Jumpstart has gathered a list of favorite children’s poetry, song, and picture books. Reading these books with young children is both a fun and engaging way to build their speaking and listening skills. Listening to and repeating poems and songs in picture books offer children and adults playful experiences with the sounds of words which play an important role in children’s literacy development.
Poetry Books
• Give Yourself to the Rain: Poems for the Very Young by Margaret Wise Brown
• Ride a Purple Pelican by Jack Prelutsky
• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
• Noisy Poems by Jill Bennett
Song & Picture Books
• Abiyoyo by Pete Seger
• Mama Don’t Allow by Thacher Hurd
• Over in the Meadow by Ezra Jack Keats
• Raffi Songs to Read by Raffi
Multicultural Books & Gender Benders
Multicultural books, anti-bias books, and gender benders allow young children to begin constructing
their own sense of themselves and the world. These books show children what the world might look like through others eyes who may or may not be from their community.
Multicultural and Anti-Bias Books
• Erandi’s Braids by Tomie DePaloa and Antonio Hernandez Madrigal
• Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris
• A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
• The Good Luck Cat by Joy Harjo
• Black is Brown is Tan by Arnold Adoff
Books that Break Gender Stereotypes
• Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
• The Art Lesson by Tomie DePaloa
• When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
• The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
• Boy, Can He Dance! by Eileen Spinelli
Books that Support Social-Emotional Development
Jumpstart has gathered a list of favorite children’s books that support children’s social-emotional development. Learning how to get along with others, how to problem solve, how to tell others what you like or do not like and what you need are all important skills preschool aged children can develop. These books help children to explore their feelings and learn about how to negotiate their world.
Books that Support Social-Emotional Development
• Be Quiet, Marina by Kirsten DeBear
• The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
• When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
• Koala Lou by Mem Fox
Early Education and Care
Being informed about your child’s early education is important. Below are some websites that share information about early education and care.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has a great “for families” section providing information on what to look for in finding the best fit and high quality early education and care for your child, how to find accredited child care programs. You can also find early education news from around the world, publications by leading authors and researchers, and ways to take part in advocating for quality early education. NAEYC is the largest professional organization for early educators.
The National Association for Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) can connect you with local agencies to assist in locating child care options in your neighborhood, as well as support in paying for child care. The website (and local agencies) also provides lots of information on child development, examining your work options after having a baby, current legislation, and more.
Supporting Your Child’s Reading and Writing Development
The following web sites provide information about how your child develops reading and writing skills and ways you can support the development of these skills.
Reading if Fundamental is the oldest and largest children's and family nonprofit literacy organization in the United States. Find tips and activities to help encourage your child to read, author and illustrator question and answer chats, book suggestions, and a website area for children to play games.
A campaign to support children birth to five, this website contains lots of links to information relevant for parents anywhere in the country. Find a milestones and activity guides in eight languages, and much more.
Reading Rockets is national multimedia project and an educational initiative of WETA, the flagship public television and radio station in the nation's capital, and is funded by a major grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Find information, webcasts, blogs, books ideas, articles and more.
This website is designed for parents of English language learners. Find resources in English and Spanish that can support your work with schools and provide you with activities you can do at home.
This website “is the place for today’s new generation of active, involved grandparents to find everything they need to get more fun, more smiles, and more memories out of the time they spend with their grandchildren.” You will find a wide variety of resources including activities, expert advice, city guides, and gift reviews.
General Child Development and Learning
The earliest of years matter and Zero to Three is dedicated to educating and training professionals, policymakers and parents to “improve the lives of infants and toddlers.” Find parenting resources such as handouts, publications, videos, and web tools to learn about infant and toddler child development and its key connections to later school readiness and life success. You can also learn about the neuroscience behind your child’s brain development.
Born Learning provides information on how children learn, and easy ways to turn everyday activities into fun, meaningful learning moments. It also can provide tools for building community advocacy and activation around children’s issues.
This web site link connects you to Ellen Galinsky’s book, Mind in the Making: the Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs, and other resources like easy research-based tips for your child.