“The single most important thing we can do to help our children grow into thoughtful, compassionate, literate adults is to read aloud to them.” —Emma Walton Hamilton, Raising Bookworms: Getting Kids Reading for Pleasure and Empowerment
Early childhood literacy includes preparing our community’s babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to arrive “ready to learn” come kindergarten.
Storytime classes help children acquire pre-literacy skills in fun, age-appropriate ways through the Very Ready Reading Program. See upcoming storytimes »
“The more books a child has read, the more words a child has heard, the better off they will be once they start school,” said Early Literacy Librarian Shelley Harris. Learn more about committing to the long-term goal of reading together »
Early Bird Readers is a digital early learning program to support parents, caregivers, and teachers. Get text & video tips »
Resources & tips
- Encourage spontaneous, meaningful language with these 9 ways to enrich your child’s life »
- See how you can encourage diversity, inclusion, and equity with storytime »
- Help your child prepare for kindergarten and beyond: Explore new apps and digital library tools (pdf) »