Early childhood literacy includes preparing our community’s babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to arrive “ready to learn” come kindergarten. As part of her intentional work to ensure diversity, inclusion, and equity in all storytimes, Early Literacy Librarian Shelley Harris recently shared a resource she’s found impactful in her everyday storytime work and when auditing Oak Park’s early childhood … Read more
At 19-months-old Elliott’s house, reading is definitely a priority! Here, Elliott poses for his celebratory “first finisher” photo, part of his formal recognition as the first child to finish the library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Since its November launch, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten has attracted more than 600 families to sign up with their … Read more
Each year, our Children’s Services team loves to reflect (and vote!) on their personal picks for best titles in the world of children’s literature. The Caldecott and Newbery awards recognize the year’s best, according to the American Library Association. While 2018’s winners were announced Monday, our “mock vote” was last week, choosing Crown for the … Read more
Earlier this year, the Collaboration for Early Childhood circulated a community survey targeted at parents with kids ages 0–5, aiming to gather input on the resources and activities parents would like to see in our community. Through survey results shared with the library, we learned that local families want more resources and support for managing … Read more
When it comes to learning, there is no such thing as starting too early. Research tells us how important it is to introduce literacy concepts to children in their first years of life, even as newborns. It’s why we strategically support parents, caregivers, teachers, babies, toddlers, and preschoolers—with library-based resources and expertise as well as … Read more
By Carolyn Newberry Schwartz Executive Director, Collaboration for Early Childhood “Baby can’t wait” is a phrase you hear often at the Collaboration for Early Childhood. A compelling body of research shows the vital role early experiences play in a child’s ability to grow up healthy and ready to succeed. The Collaboration for Early Childhood, a public/private partnership, was … Read more
