10 Early Literacy Resources at Your Public Library (Besides Books)

The journey toward literacy starts at birth, as a child begins to collect information about language through his everyday experiences. The knowledge base surrounding reading and writing that the child develops in these early years is commonly known as early literacy. In addition to books, which are a key component in acquiring early literacy skills, your local public library provides many more resources to support your early literacy efforts. Ten of these are described below.

Children’s Magazines

Most libraries subscribe to at least a few magazines for children. For pre-readers, check out Babybug, Ladybug, Highlights Hello, and Highlights High Five for developmentally appropriate stories, rhymes, songs, and activities which incorporate early literacy practices.

Educator Magazines

At my local public library, there is a section of the children’s area designated for parents and educators. In addition to lots of wonderful non-fiction books about everything from sleep training to fingerpainting, there is also a selection of magazines for early childhood educators. If your library has such a section, look for titles such as The Mailbox and Young Children, which provide wonderful ideas for educational play from early childhood experts.

Brochures

It is likely that somewhere in your library there is a table, shelf, or desk on which are spread various printed materials for patrons to pick up. Though it can be easy to overlook this area, you might be missing out on some great information. Take a moment to scan through the brochures and flyers and pick up anything referring to reading with young children or promoting early literacy.

Book Lists

Often, among the printed material left out for library users to take is a collection of book lists. These are commonly sorted by grade level, but many libraries also take the time to create lists of suggested books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. These book lists are also nice because they often tell you where the items can be found on the shelves at your specific library.

Workshops

Not all libraries provide workshops for parents and caregivers, but it’s worth keeping an eye on the calendar for opportunities that might pop up, such as a class on creating flannel boards, or a training about the Every Child Ready to Read campaign. Many libraries also provide outreach services and might be willing to provide a workshop to your moms group or other local organization.

Bookflix

Scholastic periodically puts out video adaptations of classic picture books. These are available on DVD, but if your library subscribes to Bookflix, you can also stream them online from home with your library card. Each video of a fictional story is accompanied by a related non-fiction title to help your child explore a given topic in further detail. The books on Bookflix also have a read-along option, where subtitles can be turned on so your child can follow the words as they are read.

Tumblebooks

Similar to Bookflix, Tumblebooks also provides web-based video versions of picture books. You and your kids can create playlists of your favorites, and the site also provides accelerated reader and Lexile level information for its titles. (Note: Tumblebooks are more like e-books, whereas the Bookflix videos are often fully animated.)

Databases

Libraries subscribe to online databases on myriad topics, depending on the needs and interests of their communities. I have used library databases to locate children’s poems and short stories, to find suggested reading material based on things I and my daughter have enjoyed, and even to research early literacy information. Ask your local librarian for detailed information on what is available from your library.

Story Times

Story time is the ultimate early literacy experience! Join in on a session to learn about books, songs, and rhymes you can share at home, and to get helpful hints for reading aloud at home.

Children’s Librarians

While children’s librarians are not reading teachers or experts on child development, many of them have been trained in early literacy skills and practices and can suggest developmentally appropriate activities to do with your child. The children’s librarian is also the go-to source for all the resources mentioned above, as well as every other library resource available for kids. (Read more about the awesomeness of children’s librarians in this post!)

Moms Club Story Time, 5/13/15

As in April, the date I chose for our May story time was chilly and breezy, despite being surrounded by 80-degree days. This time, though, I did have the story time outside, and though people seemed to enjoy it (including a grandmother who was not part of our group!), it was not an experience I am eager to repeat any time soon. Book pages and flannel board pieces were flying everywhere in the breeze, my hair was in my face when I played the ukulele, and the kids were cold and not shy about saying so. This time, there were three babies under one, 4 toddlers in the 18-20 mos. range, and one almost three-year-old. Here's what we did.

Opening Song with Ukulele: Hello, How Are You?

Song: If You’d Like to Read a Book

Book: King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey and Don Wood
I don't think anyone in the group loved this book as much as I do, but it is just so much fun to read aloud. I think slightly older kids would have liked it better.

Flannel Board Song: Royal Crowns (based on Daddy's Ties)
I had four members of a royal family - king, queen, prince, princess - and four felt crowns, which kept blowing away. We sang about each one, while trying to keep warm.

Book: Titch by Pat Hutchins
I love Titch, as does Miss Muffet. This book was better received than King Bidgood.

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big

Book: Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horacek
Pop-up books are always a hit. I had to actually purchase this book in order to get a copy where the butterfly had both wings, but it was worth it.

Song: Fly Like a Butterfly
We flapped our arms like wings when we sang this song. The toddlers were into it.

Songs with Ukulele: ABCs / Twinkle Twinkle / Baa Baa Black Sheep

Song with Ukulele: The Little Bird 
I have been singing this song a lot to Miss Muffet and now I'm pretty tired of it, so it probably won't appear in my repertoire over the summer. Still, it's a great winding down song, since the final verse says goodbye.

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This 

My June story time is scheduled for this coming Monday, when the forecast is predicting clouds and warmth. I have 7 moms signed up, and I'm hoping for a more pleasant experience!

Moms Club Story Time, 4/23/15

It was pretty difficult to find easily accessible public places to have story time during this past winter, which was exceptionally cold and snowy for our area. Therefore, I took a little break from story time in February and March and scheduled this one to be held at the park in late April. Unfortunately, though we had some warm days in and around my chosen date, the actual day itself was not one of them! Fortunately, one of the moms graciously opened her living room to the group at the last minute and we were able to have story time without freezing or blowing away. The theme was Spring, there were five kids in attendance (4 mos., 17 mos., 18 mos., 20 mos., and 3 years). This is what we did.

Opening Song with Ukulele: Hello, How Are You?

Song: If You’d Like to Read a Book

Book: How to Grow a Friend by Sara Gillingham

This book is a little bit abstract for toddlers, as it compares friendship to a garden, but the illustrations are so appealing, and it's a good mom-pleaser. I would use this one again for a spring, friendship, or flowers theme.

Song: One Seed

The motions for this are really too hard for toddlers, but they all seem to liked watching their moms do them.

Book: Mary Had a Little Lamb illustrated by Salley Mavor 

It was fun to share this book because everyone knew the song, but not everyone knew there were so many verses.

Song Rhyme: Hands Up High

The tune for this song is London Bridge, but I had trouble singing it on the heels of Mary Had a Little Lamb, so we just wound up doing it as a chant. 

Rhyme: Hop Your Bunnies

Songs with Ukulele: ABCs / Twinkle Twinkle / Baa Baa Black Sheep 

After this medley, one of the moms added another verse which came from a lullaby CD her son likes. (I think it's this one. The name of the song is simply "ABC Song.") The verse has to do with counting - if anyone is looking for a counting song to this tune, I have transcribed the lyrics and will happily share them by email. I have started singing it to Miss Muffet every day at nap time.

Book: Over in the Meadow by Ezra Jack Keats

I didn't think the kids had the patience for two singable books, so I read this one as a poem. Most of their focus was gone by this point, since there were exciting toys around, but we made it through to the end.

Song: Chickadee 

We got some decent flying action from some of the kids on this one.

Song with Ukulele: The Little Bird 
I really wanted to play this song for an audience, so even though the kids were playing with toys by this point, I played it as background music anyway. (I didn't have a flannel board, so I just played and sang.)

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This 

I feel awkward doing a goodbye song at these story times, since we never leave right afterward, and yet I feel like I am not done unless I do one. I'm still working on finding a closing song for this group that is a little less final. 

Early Literacy in Everyday Places: The Pool

With Memorial Day behind us, it is now officially pool season! Make the most of your pool time with these fun activities which promote early literacy skills. 

• Dive for letters. Label a set of diving sticks with letters - random ones, the letters in your child's name, or the letters in a particular word or phrase - then challenge your kids to collect them in the correct order. 
• Play Water World Simon Says.  This game, suggested by Creative Connections for Kids, is just like regular Simon Says, except that the leader does water-based movements. Start out playing the leader yourself, then pass the role onto the kids and give them a chance to come up with their own motions for the group to do. 
• Make a whirlpool and sing. Choose a song like Ring Around the Rosie, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, or Round and Round the Village and sing it with your kids as you circle around the pool and make a whirlpool.
• Write on the deck/cement with a wet finger. Show your kids how to spell their names and other familiar words on the edge of the pool, or challenge their spelling skills by calling out sight words and seeing who can write them the quickest.