Letter Play Day with Letters Q and U

Visit the downtown library this Wednesday with your preschooler!  We'll have storytime in the morning -- 9:30am for daycares and other groups; 10:30am for families -- and we'll have extra-special activities set up in the Early Learning Center, all about Letter Q and Letter U.

Learning about letters is an important pre-reading activity.  Click on the links for more Letter Q and Letter U fun!

Exciting Improvements in the Early Learning Center!

Have you visited the Early Learning Center recently? We've made some changes in the books that "live" there.... Instead of having a hodgepodge of picture books, we are being much more selective in deciding what books go in this special space. All the books are designed to reinforce specific fundamentals of Early Literacy. Six color-coded types of picture books are available:

• Counting Books
• ABC Books
• Favorite Stories
• Rhyming Books
• Books about Shapes
• Books about Colors

And, of course, all books are available to be checked out so you can enjoy them with your child at home.

Visit us soon and check it out!

New Padded Railing in the ELC!

Yesterday, we were excited to have Sammy from Sew On and Sew Forth come to the Library to put a beautiful padded vinyl covering on the railing by the dramatic play area in the Early Learning Center.

It was hard work, but Sammy did a GREAT job!

And now YOU have a great new piece to play on and with.

I wonder if you can balance a dinosaur on the padded railing?

It's Letter T Playday!!

Tickle ten toes!

Tame that tiger!

How many letter T words can YOU think of?



Come visit us at the downtown library today for some Letter T fun in the Early Learning Center!

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Thanks Keyara, for leaving this lovely drawing in the Early Learning Center mailbox for us to find.

We love to see the drawings that kids and their grown ups create in the Early Learning Center. Stop by today and draw us a picture!

The Early Learning Center is open:
Monday - Thursday 9am to 8pm
Friday & Saturday 9am to 6pm
Sunday 12pm to 5pm

Letter D Play Day

Today is Letter D Play Day!
Our storytime will feature books and rhymes about DUCKS and our Early Learning Center will have activities that will feature the letter D.
Please, join us in the Children's Services at the Main Library for some delightful, daring, dynamic, dazzling, divine and ducky fun today!

Storytime for Preschools, Daycares, and other groups is at 9:30 am today
Smart Start Storytime is at

10:30 am today

Der Tooth Feree

"Der tooth Feree
i luv you
fum Zelle"

This kind of writing practice is an EXCELLENT way for a child to work on early literacy skills. Zelle used phonological awareness & letter knowledge to write this letter. Her well developed print motivation inspired her to put pen to paper to let the Tooth Fairy know how she feels.

Sit your child down to write letter to a friend, a relative or even the library. The writing center in the Early Learning Center is a great place to practice early literacy skills. Visit today!

2nd Saturday Family Storytime at the Library!

What could be a better start to your Saturday than a visit to the Children's Services department for a fun-filled story time? Join us at 11:00 am today for stories, rhymes and music ~ our story times are perfect for children of all ages!
After story time (or before!), you can visit our amazing Early Learning Center or our enormous fish tank! The library is a great place for families!

It is Springtime in the ELC!

We can tell it is Spring in the Early Learning Center when we start to find drawings like this one in the mailbox. Stop in with your preschooler and spend some time at the writing center drawing pictures and writing stories. Everything you do in the Early Learning Center together, helps your child build important early literacy skills.

We can't wait to see you!

The Early Learning Center is open:

Monday through Thursday: 9am to 8pm
Friday & Saturday: 9am to 6pm
Sunday: Noon to 5pm

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Shelby drew this wonderful tree for us and left it in the Early Learning Center mailbox. Thank you Shelby!

We love to see the drawings that kids and their grown ups create in the Early Learning Center. Stop by today and draw us a picture!

The Early Learning Center is open:
Monday - Thursday 9am to 8pm
Friday & Saturday 9am to 6pm
Sunday 12pm to 5pm

Octopus

Daily we find treasures in the Early Learning Center mailbox. I couldn't resist sharing this special drawing of an octopus with you. This child had fun and worked on early literacy skills at the same time.

Please visit the Early Learning Center to practice early literacy skills with your preschooler!

Monday through Thursday 9am-8pm
Friday and Saturday 9am-6pm
Sunday 12pm to 5pm

See you there!

It's Letter K Playday!

Calling all preschoolers! Join the fun of Smart Start Storytime at today at 10:30; then grab your grown-up and spend some time exploring the

Letter K
in the Early Learning Center.

Activity stations designed for adult and child play will be set up and available for use throughout the day, until the Early Learning Center closes at 8:00 p.m.

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you for your note and picture. We love books too!

The next time you visit the Early Learning Center with your grown up, please take a minute to tell us about your favorite book. We really like when kids tell us about books that they have been reading.

Sincerely,

The Library

The Barn is Back!

If you're a regular visitor to our Early Learning Center, you may have noticed that our

BIG RED BARN

has been missing. I'm happy to tell you that it's back, along with a farmyard of animals, and ready to play!

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Isn't this a wonderful story about a girl who loved to read. What do you think happens next?


Visit the Early Learning Center today with your preschooler to work on early literacy skills together. Writing stories is a great way to develop narrative skills.

The Early Learning Center is open:

Monday through Thursday 9am-8pm
Friday and Saturday 9am-6pm

Tomorrow is Letter H Play Day in the Early Learning Center!

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Emma,

Thank you for sharing your mermaid drawing with us. We hope that you say hello to us the next time you are at the library!

Sincerely,

ACPL Staff

Calling All Preschoolers!

Wednesday is an exciting day for Preschoolers at the Main Library. Please join us Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. for a fun storytime, "Do A Dance!" Then, take your favorite adult with you to the Early Learning Center for Letter Play Day. This month, Letter Play Day is brought to you by the Letter D. Delightful activities will be available all day until the Early Learning Center closes at 8 p.m.

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Dear Ethan,

You are welcome. We are so glad that you have fun at the Thank you for the wonderful letter. It is always nice to hear "thank you".

Sincerely,

Library Workers

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Hi Elaine,

We love books too! We also love to see you when you visit the library. Thank you so much for the letter.

Sincerely,
The Downtown Library

Early Learning Center Mailbox

Look at all of these wonderful jelly fish faces! I wonder what they are thinking about.

Visit the Early Learning Center today and create a drawing with your preschooler. The Early Learning Center is open:

Monday through Thursday 9am-8pm
Friday and Saturday 9am-6pm