Communities all over the country recognize National Safety Month each June. Picture books are a fun way to teach personal and community safety skills in ways that make kids laugh and listen.
How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe?, by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
Giant, colorful, feathery, silly dinosaurs learn about everything from safely crossing the street to dialing 9-1-1 in this rhyming story that reminds kids they can always make good choices (and will make them laugh, too.)
No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons), by Jean E. Pendziwol, illustrated by Martine Gourbault
A little girl befriends a dragon at the beach and brings him home for a snack. But when he sneezes, he sets the kitchen on fire! The girl teaches the dragon how to safely respond to a fire.
Check out this great video from the public library in Oakville, Ontario, featuring a firefighter explaining his equipment and reading the book — and videos of other firefighters reading the book in Farsi, Spanish, Chinese, and French, as well as a version translated into ASL.
Our Pool, by Lucy Ruth Cummins
People of all ages from many backgrounds celebrate their beloved neighborhood pool in this colorful book. Along with encouraging pool and sun safety, the story can help kids feel comfortable and confident when they’re learning how to swim.
Runaway Signs, by Joan Holub, illustrated by Alison Farrell
When the stick-figure kids on a School Crossing sign get tired of being stuck in one place, they go on an adventure! But when they convince other signs to join them, things go terribly wrong. This story will teach kids to notice all sorts of safety and information signs.
Playtown: Emergency, by Roger Priddy
Little ones love busy lift-the-flap books. In this bright board book, they’ll meet rescuers and helpers who work all around Playtown, explore a fire station and a hospital, and check out exciting vehicles like fire ladder trucks and rescue helicopters.