•An intervention of reading a child's fable with health concepts (nutrition and exercise) was demonstrated to show a significant change in changing preschoolers knowledge of health concepts when measured by pre- and post-test measurement tools.•A cost-effective, easy to administer teaching tool can be implemented in a school setting to effective preschoolers knowledge of health concepts.•The intervention of reading a child's fable with health concepts should be expanded to additional health concepts/health prevention topics.•The intervention of reading a child's fable with health concepts should be explored in additional settings (i.e., outpatient clinics, primary care) and with additional childhood age ranges.