Read for the Record!

On Thursday, October 6, 2011, we'll be joining with millions of others around the country who will be reading Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney.  Help us set a reading world record AND call for an end to America's early education achievement gap.

We'll all have fun -- and we'll be standing up for kids!  Join us for our special storytimes at any of the following locations this Thursday, October 6, as we participate in Jumpstart: Read for the Record.

• Children's Services, Main Library, 10:00 a.m.
• Aboite Branch, 10:30 a.m.
• Dupont Branch, 10:30 a.m.
• New Haven Branch, 10:30 a.m.
• Shawnee Branch, 11:00 a.m.
• Woodburn Branch, 1:00 p.m.
• Little Turtle Branch, 1:30 p.m.
• Grabill Branch, 7:00 p.m.
• Hessen Cassel Branch, 6:30 p.m.
• Waynedale Branch, 7:00 p.m.

Have You Read To Your Child Today?

Reading aloud to your children -- at any age, from birth on up -- is one of the most important thing parents can do to help your children's reading development.  From sharing short, simple board books with your infant or toddler ... to sharing picture books with your preschooler...to reading snippets of chapter books with your school-age child ... reading aloud has been shown over and over again to be beneficial, in many, many ways.  Just a few minutes a day is all it takes, but you may find you're enjoying it so much, you'll be spending more time reading together!

Checkout Reading Rocket's Top Ten Resources on Reading Aloud for some great tips.

One of my all-time favorite resources on reading aloud with children is the The Read-aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease.

Of course, you can always visit us at the library, where your friendly children's librarians will be happy to share their favorite read-alouds with you!  Happy Reading!

Have you read to your child today?

Adults -- be sure to pick up a Reading Partners Bookmark and complete at least 6 of the reading activities with your children.  Then, fill out the bookmark and bring it back to the library by July 29, 2011 to be entered into the Reading Partners drawing!  Three $100.00 gift cards will be given away in a drawing, but really, everyone who participates will be a winner, because they will have spent time reading with their children!

Read, read, read with your kids!  Share your childhood favorites with them.   Ask them about their favorite books.  Make up stories with them.  And when they start to learn to read on their own, keep on reading to them!   Need ideas for great books to read aloud?  Ask us! 

Team Read!

Reading through the summer time is important and fun -- in addition to the FREE Summer Reading Program offered at the library, parents will also want to explore Team Read. Team Read is a FREE reading program for children entering 1st - 3rd grade next year. Children are paired up with trained teen reading coaches for weekly summer reading activities.

Team Read runs from June 20 - July 28, 2011.

Fill out an application and turn it in at any Allen County Public Library location to attend the program at the New Haven or Georgetown branch libraries. There is limited space at library locations for this program, so turn in your application early!

Team Read will also be offered at local Boys & Girls Clubs, Old Fort YMCA and several local parks. For more information about Team Read, contact Nancy Magi at 260-421-1260.

Have You Tried TumbleBooks?

A new service of the Allen County Public Library, TumbleBooks are e‑books for kids ‑‑ animated, talking picture books which help kids learn the joy of reading.

• You can listen to books, or read along at your own speed.
• Both storybooks and nonfiction titles are included
  
• You can play book-related games and work on book-related puzzles.
• Books are available in English, French, and Spanish.
  

You can use TumbleBooks on any kids' computer at the Allen County Public Library or on your own computer at home. The TumbleBooks link is always available on the top, right-hand side of the Children's Services page, and is also available by clicking on the TumbleBooks link on the Books & Literature portion of the ACPL's Research Databases page.

Check it out!

Bake Up Some Goodies!

It's that time of year when many families are baking up some tasty treats for winter holiday celebrations. Involving children in the process can be fun -- and helpful in their literacy development! Encourage writing skills by having your children help write out shopping lists...or read aloud the steps of a recipe with your children as you complete them together.

The library has plenty of simple cookbooks written especially for kids; here are just a few. Check some out next time you visit!

Volunteer for Learn United

The United Way of Allen County has issued a callout for adult volunteers for the 2010 - 2011 Classroom Buddy Program. Volunteers will be paired with students K - 3rd grade for weekly one-hour sessions.

This is a great opportunity to help boost reading skills and change the lives of children in Allen County -- see the United Way's Learn United website for more information.

Literacy Connections

Those interested in literacy -- parents, teachers, caregivers and tutors -- will want to look at the resources available at Literacy Connections. Practical advice, activities for babies, preschoolers, school-agers and adults, recommended books and links to other sources can all be found at this website.

For more literacy resources, see our Everybody Reads page:
http://www.acpl.info/children/everybodyreads.html .