The five stories in Paws Signs Stories are original. They utilize strategies found successful in teaching early reading skills, such as repeated phrases, patterned language, and predictable structure. Each story also teaches something about ASL. Each story has three games (i.e., 15 in all), each focusing on a different skill, such as visual memory, visual sequencing, literacy, spelling, math, and creativity.

This version of Paws Signs Stories comes with five sturdy books, one for each story. The storybooks won Best in Category for Excellence in Print by the Printing and Graphics Communications Association in 1998. Sign vocabulary from the stories is depicted in the back of each book.

Linda Bove, the deaf actress on Sesame Street, dressed as Paws the dog, signs the stories, directions, and game instructions. Signing and/or audio are options for accessing information.