Meet a new set of friends that will capture the hearts of young readers this summer. New original stories are now available in the Khan Academy Kids app. Our Stories with People books feature lively characters who build important skills like friendship, confidence, patience, teamwork, empathy, and more. You can find them all in the Khan Kids Library!
Artistic illustrations set the backdrop of these colorful stories, which are inspired by real-life kids who reflect the multicultural world that we live in. As more children see themselves in our stories, we hope to inspire their lifelong connection to reading and learning.
This is our first set of books with human characters, and we are eager to hear what our readers think. We invite you to contact us here to provide feedback on these books. In addition, if you are a book creator (writer or publisher) interested in collaborating with us, please fill out this form.
To learn more about these stories we’ve included a synopsis of each book below.
Story Descriptions
Bonjou!
Leo is surprised when a new student speaks Creole to him. Leo speaks Creole at home with his family but doesn’t want anyone at school to know. When the new student needs help, Leo must decide whether to reveal that he speaks two languages. Topic: making friends and celebrating heritage.
Trading Lunches
Two friends bring in a lunch the other one has never seen before. They are unsure at first but end up trying each other’s lunch and loving it! Topic: trying new things.
The Best Way to Catch a Bug
Three friends are trying to catch fireflies and have different ideas about the best way to do it. They soon see that there can be more than one right way to solve a problem. Topic: teamwork.
A Problem at Night
A little girl loses her stuffed animal and uses some strategies to help her calm down and solve her problem. Topic: problem solving and self-regulation.
Save It or Spend It
A little girl learns a lesson about saving up for the things you really want. Her brother teaches her about the difference between spending now and saving for later. Topic: hard work, patience, taking responsibility, and planning ahead.
Why Is Our Skin Different Colors?
One friend wonders why her skin isn’t as dark as her best friend’s. She learns that it’s just the amount of melanin that makes their skin look different. Topic: learning about and celebrating differences.
Let’s Play
A girl and her friends play soccer every day. When two new boys join their game, the girls show that they can be just as good at soccer as the boys. Topic: sportsmanship and treating people as individuals.
Pranking Problems
Two sisters, who love to play pranks, accidentally ruin their friend’s poster when they spray him with water. They learn a lesson about the difference between intent and impact. Topic: self-awareness, consideration, and empathy.
Calming Down
A little girl loses her temper while playing a board game. She practices some strategies that her dad taught her to calm down and apologizes to her friend. Topic: self-regulation, mindfulness, and managing feelings.
Give It a Try
When a young boy is sidelined from recess with a hurt ankle, he’s invited to make friendship bracelets with some girls from his class. He learns that anyone can enjoy any activity if they give it a try. Topic: trying new things and treating people as individuals.
Big Kids Can Cry
Some friends are skateboarding. One of them gets frustrated and starts to cry. He learns that crying is an OK way to express your feelings. Topic: processing emotions, honesty, and acceptance.
Just Ask
A child who uses a walker gets annoyed when her classmate tries to help her with everything without asking first. She explains that she is capable of doing things on her own and that he should ask first if he wants to be helpful. Topic: awareness and empathy.
Different, Not Weird
Two best friends have a sleepover and soon discover that their families have different ways of doing things, and learn about each other’s cultures in the process. Topic: friendship and understanding different cultures.
Wait For It
A young boy is impatiently waiting for seeds to sprout. With his dad’s encouragement, he finds ways to practice patience and pass the time. Topic: Patience, curiosity, and resourcefulness.
Something Warm
A young boy has outgrown his favorite coat. When he sees a neighbor walking to school without anything warm to wear, he must decide if giving up something he loves is the right thing to do. Topic: thoughtfulness and helping others.
Friendship Takes Time
When a new neighbor moves to his street, a young boy is disappointed that it seems like they have nothing in common, but his mother helps him see that sometimes friendship can take time to develop. Topic: making new friends and finding common ground.
Pink is For Everyone
It’s wear your favorite color day at school, and a young boy decides to wear his favorite pink shirt. At first, one of his classmates tells him pink is just for girls, but they all learn that anyone can wear any color. Topic: self-confidence and freedom of expression.
Star of the Show
A little girl is about to audition for a school play when she overhears other kids talking about what the main character is “supposed” to look like. She gives herself a pep talk and gets the part. Topic: self-confidence.
Let us know your feedback!
If you have any questions or suggestions about the books, let us know! Our support team is available at khankids@khanacademy.org to connect with you.
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