Storytimes & More for Your Growing Reader
Our Grow a Reader program is designed for children aged 0 to 5. The librarians who lead these classes and storytimes specialize in developing the reading skills and other foundational abilities that babies and toddlers need before kindergarten. However, the Grow a Reader program offers much more! Explore the resources available for your budding reader below.
Board Books
The first book your baby will hold! Board books are typically made from sturdy cardboard that can mostly withstand the curiosity of babies and toddlers. They are usually short and designed for little hands to easily grip.
Browse Popular Topics:
Picture Books
Picture books are filled with visual representations of imaginative worlds, often containing surprises and important lessons that young readers can absorb. Plus, they primarily consist of pictures.
Browse Popular Topics:
Beginning Readers
Beginning Readers are intended for children who are starting to read independently. Often, these books are organized into different levels to indicate their reading difficulty.
Browse Popular Topics:
Book + Audio (CDs, eAudio, etc.)
These captivating books are not just fun; they play a crucial role in building essential reading skills. Watching your little one engage with these stories as the words come to life will ignite their love for reading!
Building Skills for Growing Readers
Help develop your growing readers with these blogs on building reading, talking, and writing skills.
Visit a Learn & Play Room
Gone are the days when libraries were quiet spaces where librarians would shush children for the slightest noise. Today, libraries encourage play and fun while preparing children to read. Our Grow a Reader Learn and Play Rooms invite children and their caregivers to explore. Each branch that has a room features toys, blocks, letters, and interactive panels that enhance the library experience and teach early reading skills through play and self-discovery.
What if you can't visit those specific locations? No worries! While our smaller branches do not have separate playrooms, children and caregivers can still enjoy toys available in the children's department to encourage play.
But why should we promote play? Aren't we just a library and not a play center? In reality, we are both. Play has numerous benefits that help children develop the skills they need to prepare for reading. When children play, they often tell or act out stories—whether these are tales they've created or stories they've heard at home, on television, or in one of our Grow a Reader classes. This not only shows children that reading and storytelling can be enjoyable but also allows them to practice narrative skills—essentially, the ability to describe events to convey a story. Acting out a story demonstrates a child's understanding of the content.
Moreover, observing children as they play gives caregivers a great opportunity to engage with them, encouraging conversation and asking questions. Such interactions are crucial, as talking, questioning, and expanding conversations help children learn new information, including vocabulary.
So, come on in, explore your library’s Grow a Reader Learn and Play Room, and feel free to make some noise while you’re at it!
