Unit Plan 19 (PreK Library): Trying New Books
PreK library unit helping children try new books, topics, and formats with curiosity while responding through talk, drawing, building, and play.
Focus: Help PreK children grow as library learners by trying new books, unfamiliar topics, and different formats with guidance. Children explore a “try something new” basket that may include poetry, nonfiction, folktales, concept books, wordless books, or unfamiliar topics, then respond creatively through talking, drawing, building, dramatizing, or sharing what they noticed.
Grade Level: PreK
Subject Area: Library (Book Exploration • Curiosity • Creative Response)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 weeks, 20–30 minutes per session
I. Introduction
This PreK library unit encourages children to step gently outside their usual book choices. Many young children naturally return to familiar favorites, such as animal books, truck books, funny stories, or books with favorite characters. Those preferences are important, but the library can also help children discover new topics, formats, authors, pictures, rhythms, and story experiences.
The librarian introduces a “try something new” basket with carefully selected books that feel inviting but slightly unfamiliar. These might include poetry, nonfiction, folktales, concept books, wordless books, photo books, or books about topics children have not explored yet. Children are not expected to love every new book. The goal is for them to try, notice, talk, and respond creatively so they begin seeing exploration as part of reading and library learning.
Essential Questions
- What happens when I try a new book?
- How can I choose books based on interest, pictures, topic, or recommendation?
- How can trying new books, tools, and learning experiences help me grow?
- How can I respond creatively to a new book or topic?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Choose books and materials based on interest, pictures, topic, or recommendation.
- Try out new books, tools, and learning experiences with guidance.
- Respond creatively to books and topics through making, building, dramatizing, or talking.
- Explore unfamiliar books, topics, or formats from a curated “try something new” basket.
- Share or show one thing they noticed about a new book, picture, topic, or format.
- (Optional Sessions) Strengthen curiosity and flexible book choice through repeated exploration, creative response, book tasting, and guided sharing.
Standards Alignment — PreK (AASL-based Custom)
- L:S4.PKa — Choose books and materials based on interest, pictures, topic, or recommendation.
- Example: A child selects a book about animals because they are interested in pets.
- L:S5.PKb — Try out new books, tools, and learning experiences with guidance.
- Example: A child uses a listening center, story app, or picture database for the first time.
- L:S5.PKc — Respond creatively to books and topics through making, building, dramatizing, or talking.
- Example: A child builds a setting from a story using blocks after a read-aloud.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can try a new book.
- I can look at a new topic or kind of book with help.
- I can choose a book by its pictures, topic, or recommendation.
- I can share something I noticed.
- I can draw, build, act, talk, or make something about a book.
- I can be curious even when a book is new to me.