The book kits are part of a movement in Bay Area libraries to help schools and child-care providers promote reading at a young age, says Nancy Jackson, supervising librarian for children's services.

There are 20 kits available with different themes, such as farm life, seasons and weather, families and feelings. Each kit contains 10 hardcover picture books, two cardboard books for toddlers and a video on the theme of the kit. The transportation book kit is called "Things that go" and contains books about trains, boats, airplanes and other modes of transportation.

The kits also contain related activity and resource guides. For instance, in the seasons and weathers kit are some crafts projects and nursery rhymes that relate to seasons and weather. "We've tried to include activities that librarians use during story time here at the library," Jackson said.

Jackson helped spearhead the project at the Sunnyvale Library. The kits are modeled after a similar but larger project in San Jose called Books for Little Hands. "We've had quite a few requests for this kind of service. Libraries all over the Bay Area are starting these types of programs," says Jackson.

The kits are aimed at preschool children ages three to five. "The goal is to get books into the places where young children are. We know that not all young children have access to the library," Jackson said.

As large picture books are designed for young children, Jackson said, "These kits are for adults to share with young children, so the kids can have the books be read to them."

Jackson says the kits are designed to help overworked child-care providers. "For family day-care providers it can be difficult to get to the library. They work long hours. They don't have time to select children's books. This is a way of providing quality materials to members of the community who are working with young children," she said.

Currently the kits are only available to child-care providers who are members of the city's Sunnyvale Family Child Care Network. "We chose a small group because we were only able to fund a small number of kits," Jackson said. The kits have been out since June, and Jackson says the program has been successful so far.

Bobby Martin, a child-care provider in Sunnyvale, says the book kits have made it easier for her to bring books back to the children she takes care of. "I like it because I don't have to go in and look for something in this age range. It's very convenient, and nowadays, anything convenient helps," she said.

The kits also help her with her programming because of the supplemental videos, songs and activities, Martin says.

The book kits are available at the library and can be checked out for a month at a time.

The total cost of the project is$4,000 and the Friends of the Sunnyvale Library provided the full amount. The materials for each kit cost approximately $200.

For more information on the Sunnyvale Family Child Care Network, call 408.746.0336.