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Seasonal Tactile Book Ideas

These braille books with tactile illustrations can be used with children who are blind or visually impaired, including those with multiple disabilities, for seasonal themes and holidays.

By Tracy Fitch

For each month I like to create tactile books for my kids who are either pre-braille or those with severe or profound intellectual disabilities who need exporure to tactile materials.  I like for the books to be meaningful, fun and fit in with the theme of what the class would be talking about each month.  What I typically do is to research kids songs or poems that follow a seasonal theme.  I then choose a couple to create a book with.  I will usually make one simple counting book and one book that is more of an actual story.  

Websites I like to use are:

There are many others, but these are just a few that I typically return to each month.

You can keep it simple with foam shapes that you find each season at hobby stores.  You can also create your own pictures with real items or more life like stickers that can be found in the scrapbook aisle of a craft store.

I’ve provided examples of books I’ve made for February through April.

Valentine Book Ideas

“I’m a Little Valentine”

Cover of "I'm A Little Valentine"
Cover of “I’m A Little Valentine”
I'm a little valentine,
I’m a little valentine,
Red and white.
Red and white.
with ribbons and lace
With ribbons and lace,
I'm a beautiful sight.
I’m a beautiful sight.
I can say I love you,
I can say I love you,
On Valentine's Day.
On Valentine’s Day.
and give me away.
and give me away.

Five Pretty Valentines

Five Pretty Valentines
Five Pretty Valentines
Four pretty valentines shaped like a "v", ___ bought one and then there were three.
Four pretty valentines shaped like a “v”, _ bought one and then there were three.
Three pretty valentines said,
Three pretty valentines said, “I love you,” ___ bought one, then there were two.
Two pretty valentines, this was so much fun, __ bought one and then there was one.
Two pretty valentines, this was so much fun, __ bought one and then there was one.
One pretty valentine sitting on a shelf.  I felt sorry for it, so I bought it for myself.
One pretty valentine sitting on a shelf. I felt sorry for it, so I bought it for myself.

Five Green Shamrocks

Here’s an idea for St. Patrick’s Day!

Five Green Shamrocks
Five Green Shamrocks
Two green shamrocks, growing beneath a tree, another one sprouted and then there were three.
Two green shamrocks, growing beneath a tree, another one sprouted and then there were three.
Three green shamrocks,  by the cottage door,  another one sprouted and then there were four.
Three green shamrocks, by the cottage door, another one sprouted and then there were four.
Four green shamrocks, near a beehive, another one sprouted, and then there were five.
Four green shamrocks, near a beehive, another one sprouted, and then there were five.

Kite Flying

This is a nice book to make in March to welcome Spring!

Kite Flying
Kite Flying cover
I wish that I could be a kite flying in the sky.
I wish that I could be a kite flying in the sky.
I'd chase the clouds.  Oh, what fun!
I’d chase the clouds. Oh, what fun!
I'd fly up, up, up and down, down, down!
I’d fly up, up, up and down, down, down!
I'd spin round and float to the ground.
I’d spin round and float to the ground.

Five Little Easter Eggs

Five Little Easter Eggs
Five Little Easter Eggs cover
Four little Easter eggs, two and two, you see, __ ate the red one, then there were three.
Four little Easter eggs, two and two, you see, __ ate the red one, then there were three.
Three little Easter eggs, before I knew, __ ate the yellow one, then there were two.
Three little Easter eggs, before I knew, __ ate the yellow one, then there were two.
Two little Easter eggs, oh, what fun, __ ate the purple one, then there was one.
Two little Easter eggs, oh, what fun, __ ate the purple one, then there was one.
One little Easter egg, see me run!  I ate the very last one, and then there were none!
One little Easter egg, see me run! I ate the very last one, and then there were none!
Seasonal tactile book collage