The Bookmobile at SF Parks

The Early Literacy Mobile (ELM) is coming to play at the park! The ELM is a library in a big truck just for children 0-5 and their caregivers. “Early literacy” is what a child knows about reading and writing before she learns to read. Movement and play are an important part of growing into a reader.

The ELM holds 1000s of books for children under 5 years. Diggers & movers, dinosaurs, dragonflies, frogs, monsters, princesses, tricycles, flowers, hummingbirds, even a barrel of monkeys. Picture stories, non-fiction, fairy and folktales, board books, parenting resources, music on CDs, educational DVDs, and so much more. Check out your favorite book or find a new favorite. Get a library card.

Come to the playground and hit the swings with a good book, or take some books home to cuddle up later.

Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m.-12 noon: • Every first Tuesday - Golden Gate Park, Koret Children’s Quarter (Children’s playground), 295 Bowling Green Drive (off Martin Luther King Drive)
• Every second Tuesday - Parque Niños Unidos, 23rd & Treat Streets
• Every third Tuesday  - Helen Wills Playground, Broadway & Larkin Streets
• Every fourth Tuesday - Potrero Hill Recreation Center Park, 801 Arkansas Street (at Madera)

Getting Books that are the Right Level

If your child took the California STAR test you were given the results and information sheet as to their reading level through the mail.  Parents can help kids choose books that are the right level for them based on the English Language Arts Standards Test score. Although no single test will tell you what books your child can or should read -- encourage your child to explore other reading list numbers to find books of interest.

Visit the California Reading List. 

SFUSD School Library Resource

SFUSD individual school library information is available online. This resource is a district-hosted, web-based library system. You can search the titles available in your library and see if the book you're looking for is currently in stock. This is a wonderful tool for older students who are looking for resources for reports or who are looking for specific titles or authors.

Simply follow these steps:

1) Visit San Francisco Unified School District Library website.

2) On the links on right side, click on "Online School Library Catalogs."

3) Choose the name of your school.

4) Click on the "Catalog" tab and search by keyword, title, author, or subject.

Great Reading Lists   
• The California Young Reader Medal program encourages recreational reading of popular literature among the young people of our state.
• John Newbery Medal honors the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
• (Randolph) Caldecott Medal honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
• (Pura) Belpré Award honors a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose works best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
• Andrew Carnegie Medal honors the producer of the most outstanding video production for children released during the previous year.
• Geisel Award is named for Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) and honors the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children’s literature known as beginning reader books published in the United States during the preceding year.
• State of California Reading List (CRL)  offers reading lists based on your child's score on the California English-Language Arts Standards Test. A specific list has been designated as appropriate for him or her in terms of reading difficulty and interest level.
• Library of Congress Families Page presents American history, literacy, maps, and facts from around the world.

Other Local Libraries 

• Mechanics Institute, Library and Chess Room is a membership-based club with events, books, and fabulous chess classes and tournaments for youth and adults.
• GALEN UCSF Digital Library is available to the public.
• SFGov San Francisco Law Library for Kids presented by the State Bar of California. The Kids and the Law page is an A to Z publication of laws pertaining to kids. The easy-to-read text provides footnote citations to actual code sections. This publication is in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
• BJE Jewish Community Library Organization is free and open to the public. The library serves families and adults through its collections of books, music, DVDs, and free public programs. The Library is located on the campus of the Jewish Community High School.