September 9, 2025 PA Promise for Children Releases List of September Books for Preschoolers PA Promise for Children has released its list of September books for preschoolers that includes eight books across four categories. Learn More The list is broken down into four categories – Social Studies Thinking, Language and Literacy Skills, Science Thinking and Technology, and Mathematical Thinking and Expression. The book list is accompanied by a downloadable Kindergarten Here I Come activity guide that features a variety of resources, learning activities, information, and play opportunities for caregivers that can be used to help their preschool-age child. The books on this month’s list include: Social Studies Thinking Actual Size (Steve Jenkins) Say Please, Little Bear (Peter Bentley) Language and Literacy Skills It Is Night (Phyllis Rowand) The Bus for Us (Suzanne Bloom) Science Thinking and Technology Put It On the List (Kristen Darbyshire) Mrs. McNosh and the Giant Squash (Sarah Weeks) Mathematical Thinking and Expression One Mole Digging a Hole (Julia Donaldson and Nick Sharratt) 365 Penguins (Jean-Luc Fromental and Joelle Jolivet)
August 18, 2025 PA Promise for Children Releases Activity Guide for Preschoolers PA Promise for Children included a new activity guide during its most recent “Kindergarten, Here I Come” newsletter that focuses on the topic of preparing for kindergarten and features a variety of activities for caregivers and preschoolers. Learn More All activities in the guide are linked to Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards that are used in pre-k programs throughout the state as a resource for developing classroom learning situations that will ensure a child’s development in the skill areas necessary for future success. Early learning standards outlined in the guide include: Approaches to learning through play Creative thinking and expression Language and literacy development Mathematical thinking and expression Social and emotional development Health, wellness, and physical development Scientific thinking and technology Social studies thinking The guide also discusses how to choose an early learning site and provides descriptions for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, Keystone STARS Child Care, and Head Start. It provides registration information that includes a list of things to do to prepare for a child’s transition to kindergarten. The list includes contacting a child’s school district to find out which school a child will be attending, completing registration forms on time, and gathering the necessary paperwork. The activity guide also provides a variety of activities for each month of the year. Activities in the guide help to: Develop problem-solving skills Spark children’s imagination and creativity Celebrate a child’s differences Promote healthy eating habits Promote safety Promote reading, writing, listening, and speaking Develop positive relationships The guide also provides suggestions regarding children’s health, including keeping a child’s immunizations up to date, promoting physical activity, encouraging a child to eat nutritious foods, and brushing teeth regularly. For more information, check out PA Promise for Children’s activity guide for preschoolers.
August 11, 2025 Kindergarten Here I Come at Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh sets aside a day each year to celebrate the start of a young child’s formal educational journey – kindergarten – with a variety of activities and resources to prepare children and caregivers for the milestone. Learn More The museum will celebrate the class of 2038 on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. Activities will include: A school bus ride that includes meeting a crossing guard Readiness skills activities such as shoelace tying Back-to-school giveaways Resources for parents on topics such as vaccinations, library assets, and healthy lunches A chance to explore the museum The event is free for rising kindergartners, children under age 2, and one caregiver. Admission is $8 for additional guests and $2 for those who qualify for the Museums for All discount.
June 11, 2025 PA Promise for Children Lists June Books for Preschoolers PA Promise for Children has released its list of June books for preschoolers, providing eight titles across four categories. Learn More The list of books is included in PA Promise for Children’s latest Kindergarten Here I Come newsletter. The four categories for the selections include language and literacy skills, scientific thinking and technology, learning through play, and mathematical thinking and expression. This month’s selections include: Language and Literacy Skills Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree (Eileen Christelow) Zin! Zin! Zin! (Lloyd Moss) Scientific Thinking and Technology Biggest, Strongest, Fastest (Steve Jenkins) Who Sank the Boat? (Pamela Allen) Learning Through Play Octopus Opposites (Stella Blackstone) Two Little Trains (Margaret Wise Brown) Mathematical Thinking and Expression The Best Bug Parade (Stuart J. Murphy) The Napping House (Audrey Wood and Don Wood) Check out PA Promise for Children’s June list of books for preschoolers.
February 12, 2025 PA Promise for Children Releases February Books for Preschoolers List PA Promise for Children has released its list of February Books for Preschoolers that features selections in four different categories. Learn More The book selections are broken down into four categories: Language and Literacy Skills, Social and Emotional Development, Social Studies Thinking, and Mathematical Thinking and Expression. The selections for February included: Language and Literacy Skills I Like Myself! (Karen Beaumont) Lola Loves Stories (Anna McQuinn) Social and Emotional Development When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry (Molly Bang) Grumpy Monkey (Suzanne Lang) Social Studies Thinking Telephone (Mac Barnett) Nana in the City (Lauren Castillo) Mathematical Thinking and Expression Each Orange Had 8 Slices (Paul Giganti, Jr.) One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count With Me! (John Micklos, Jr.) The full list is available in PA Promise for Children’s Kindergarten Here I Come newsletter.
November 13, 2024 Kindergarten Here I Come Releases November Books for Preschoolers Kindergarten Here I Come has released a list of November books for preschoolers that cover a wide variety of topics. The List The list breaks the month’s selections down into four categories. Under Language and Literacy Skills, the list included two titles – “The Relatives Came” by Cynthia Rylant and “Neighborhood Mother Goose” by Nina Crews. For Social and Emotional Development, the month’s titles included “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz and “The Pout-Pout Fish” by Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna. The Science Thinking and Technology category included “Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake” by Michael Kaplan and “Bread and Jam for Frances” by Russell Hoban. For Mathematical Thinking and Expression, the selections were “Stripes of All Types” by Susan Stockdale and “Elmer” by David McKee. Additional Activities In its monthly newsletter, Kindergarten Here I Come pairs the reading selections with other activities for parents who are reading them to their child. For its Language and Literacy Skills selections, it suggests using stuffed animals, action figures, or dolls to retell a story or utilizing a sock puppet as a storytelling device. For the Mathematical Thinking and Expression choices, it suggests using objects to make patterns with preschoolers and to see if their preschooler can tell what comes next in the patterns. The Science Thinking and Technology selections can be paired with a Guess the Taste game that involves placing different foods on a plate. Preschoolers should close their eyes, taste the food and try to guess what it is. Then, get them to guess the foods by smell. And for the Social Emotional Development books, it suggests viewing people’s faces in magazines and asking children to talk about the expressions and emotions they notice. Use signs, words, and photos of emotions to reinforce language development. . Kindergarten Here I Come’s full November booklist is available online.