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The library's Youth Services Department makes the development of early literacy skills and school readiness for children a top priority. Our early literacy programs are based on the “Every Child Ready to Read” principles developed by American Library Services for Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association. This initiative encourages caregivers to use five basic practices with children: talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing together. At the library, we use the BOUNCE label to help identify books and other materials in the library's collection that help build literacy using these five activities.
Focusing on key early literacy practices, our library storytimes combine stories, fingerplays, action rhymes, music, and interactivity.
Learn more about library storytimes and see the schedule here.
Can't make it to storytime at the library? Create your own themed storytime at home. Watch a story video, read books (many are available digitally through Libby or Hoopla Digital), sing songs, and do an activity or two. Click to see our available Storytime@Home themes.
Our Youth Services staff have created lots of quick, fun videos perfect for young kids. Check out our playlists here.
Read books together and earn prizes along the way.
A calendar of fun activities for the year leading up to kindergarten.
Take a walk and read a book in these special outdoor installations.
Our books, audiovisual items, kits, and games enable children of all ages and their caregivers to enjoy the world of reading together. Here is a sample of the collections we provide to help with early literacy.
Board Books
Often a baby's first introduction to books and literacy, board books have sturdy covers and pages, bright pictures, and few words.
JE Picture Books
Picture books contain lots of illustrations that work together with text to tell stories. Since picture books can be designed for different audiences, look for our BOUNCE stickers on the spines of many of those meant for the youngest ages.
J Nonfiction
This collection contains informational books geared toward kids of all ages, so look for the BOUNCE labels on early literacy titles.
R Beginning Readers
Designed for children who are learning to read, our beginning reader books are color-coded by reading level.
Grab and Go Bags
Each bag includes five picture books (four fiction and one nonfiction) on a specific topic, like trucks, butterflies, friends, superheroes, sports, and more.
Board Games & Adventure Kits
Hands-on activities for families to check out and enjoy at home.
Book & CD
These are primarily fiction and nonfiction picture books with a pocket on the inside cover containing a CD recording of the story. A special section within this collection is set aside for beginning readers.
For more read-along fun, ask us how to access read-along ebooks in our Hoopla and Libby digital collections.
Videos
eBooks
eBooks
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