Giving Children Access to Print Materials Improves Reading Performance

   Studies show that children's book lending and ownership programs have a  have positive behavioral, educational, and psychological outcomes.

   Access to print materials:

· Improves children's reading performance

· Proves instrumental in helping children learn the basics of reading

· Causes children to read more and for longer lengths of time

· Produces improved attitudes toward reading and learning among children.

   Borrow books from your library. Books and magazine subscriptions are good holiday and birthday presents.

...From Reading is Fundamental

Motor Skills and Early Literacy

   Young children develop all sorts of motor skills as they grow.  Here are some that pertain to books and literacy.
   At 6-12 months a baby can reach for a book, and put it in his mouth.  He can sit in your lap, hold his head steady and turn pages with adult help.
   At 12-16 months a baby can sit without support, may carry a book, can hold a book with help, and turn pages of a board book, several at a time.
   At 18-24 months, a baby can turn pages of a board book, one page at a time, and can carry a book around the house.
   At 24-36 months, a toddler learns to handle paper pages, and goes back and forth in books to find her favorite pictures.
   At ages 3 years and up, a child exhibits competent book handling and can turn paper pages, one page at a time.

Key to future success: Learning to read well by fourth grade

 Just 34 percent of fourth graders are reading at an acceptable level in grade four. Only 8 percent are "advanced" readers. On the surface, it may appear to parents that their children have four more years of grade school in order to become acceptable readers, but new studies show the importance of reading by grade four.

Findings by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, are the first to show that kids are far more likely to drop out of high school if they can't read pretty well by fourth grade. Unless America dramatically improves the number of kids who can, a growing proportion of the them will live in poverty as adults. The Foundation contends that the tendency to drop out of high school begins in the early grades when children don't learn to read. They say dropouts "don't just happen."

What can parents do?
* Show that education is important by getting a GED if they didn't graduate from high school themselves.
* Do all they can to assure that kids attend school every day.
* Show an interest in their children's reading beginning in first grade. Have them read to you and help them with the words.
* Provide books they like. Let them pick out books at the library or grocery store. Some kids like comic books.
* Don't let them lose reading skills over the summer. Keep them in practice. Find books they will like to read.

TumbleBooks

   Libraries are known for their books, and we have thousands of them to share for both children and adults.

   We've added another component to stories for children.  TumbleBooks joins Dial a Story as a supplement to books in print.

   TumbleBooks is an online book service.  Children can watch talking picture books, and older children can read the printed word while listening to the audio story.   Log onto TumbleBooks through the library webpage.

   Dial a story is a story available on the telephone.  Stories are for young children and are changed weekly.   1-888-4ATALE1  (1-888-428-2531)

Reading aloud to your children

   Reading aloud to children is one of the best ways to help children to discover the joy of reading.
   It is never to early--or too late--to start.  All children, from youngest to oldest, can benefit from listening to a story read aloud.
   Reading aloud encourages children to read of their own, and to become better listeners and students.  It helps to build vocabulary and language skills.
   When you read aloud together, children learn that reading is important, and they learn that reading is fun.

TumbleBooks

   Just in time for Children's Book Week, we are trying out a new subscription to online books for children.  Take a look at TumbleBooks and TumbleReadables.    The link is also available through our webpage.

   These are full text books online, for all age groups.  Books for the youngest children have some animation with them.  Books for older children are text only.

   You can access these books from your home computer or from a library computer.

   Enjoy!

Read Kiddo Read

James Patterson has long been known for his books for adults.  He's a prolific and popular author.

Now, James Patterson has a website 'dedicated to making kids readers for life."  What started out as a project to encourage his child to read, is expanded now as a source for reading information for parents, teachers and librarians.

ReadKiddoRead provides information on good books grouped by ages. Books are suggested, a synopsis given, and other books with similar themes are listed.  Also included are reading guides, tips to encourage reading, and a section aimed at getting boys to read.

March is Save Your Vision Month

The American Optometric Association sponsors Save Your Vision Month in March of each year.

They have a posted an excellent info sheet on Healthy Vision at the Computer, filled with things to be aware of as you work on your computer.

Another help for your vision are large print books. All libraries and bookmobiles have a selection of large print books for those who need this type of print. And even if you don't absolutely need large print, sometimes it is just nice to read in that format.

In the near future we will be purchasing additional large print materials thanks to a grant appropriated by the Florida State Legislature.

Read Across America

“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.”

What better way to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday than reading to a child? On March 2 (Dr. Seuss’s birthday), Random House and the National Education Association urge you to participate in Read Across and read to a child .

Why Celebrate Dr. Seuss?
Dr. Seuss epitomizes a love of children and learning. Also, his use of rhyme makes his books an effective tool for teaching young children the basic skills they need to be successful. When we celebrate Dr. Seuss and reading, we send a clear message to America’s children that reading is fun and important. ....seussville.com

So have some fun. Pick out a good book and Read Across America.

What others are reading.

What are the most popular books?

With our updated catalog webpage, we can generate information on what are the most popular titles, authors and subjects.

If you like to see what others are reading and viewing look at the catalog webpage under what others are reading. You can click on the item link and place a request so you can read that book too. You'll need your library card number and PIN (obtained at the library) to place a request online.

Read to your children

Can't say it too many times:

Children whose parents read to them become better readers and perform better in school. Other family activities, such as telling stories and singing songs, also encourage children’s acquisition of literacy skills.

Source: Every Child Ready to Read, the joint project of the Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children

Summer programs at the library

Libraries locally and across the state are gearing up for summer programs at the library. The goal is to keep children reading during the summer so that they maintain their reading skills while school is not in session.

Reading is like learning to play the piano...children get better with practice.

Library staff will be visiting schools to tell children about programs and distribute schedules. Schedules will also be available at the libraries and online.

Read Across America

Read Across America Day is Monday, March 3, 2008. From the NEA (National Education Association) website:

(Read Across America) was orignally a one-day event to celebrate the joy of reading, NEA's Read Across America, sponsored by the National Education Association, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P., and more than 50 national sponsors including the National Football League Players Association, has grown into the nation's largest reading celebration.

Read Across America culminates each year on March 2—the birthday of beloved children's author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. The program provides children with motivation to read and delivers an important message: Kids who read—and are read to—do better in school and in life. Read Across America calls on every community to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday through reading motivation and awareness. The literacy program also provides NEA members, parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on their calendar 365 days a year.

It's a day to notice, but we hope you don't need a special day to read to your child...read every day!

1 in 4

1 in 4--the headline reads "1 in 4 adults read no books last year."

What a shame...all the enjoyment and knowledge that is missing from their lives.

Everyone has priorities and work, TV, Internet may be more important for some than reading.

The article only talks about reading books, not magazines or newspapers. I hope that one person is reading something.

At least our library users are the other three of the four. I worry, though, about the other one.

R is for Reading

Five things to do to encourage your child to read:

5. Read with a purpose...read directions for a craft activity or a recipe.

4. Encourage your child to read aloud to you...have your child share an interesting part of a book or read a joke to you.

3. Encourage older children to read to younger brothers and sisters.

2. Read aloud to your child.

1. Take your child to the library regularly.

Children's Programs (continued)

Some summer program schedules are ready, check the online calendar for June and July. More programs will be posted as soon as the schedule is finalized.

Children's Programs

Brown Bear, Dr. Seuss books, Hungry Caterpillar...just a few great children's books. The library has many, many more of course.

Staff who work with children might use these books and many others in presenting programs for children. The spring schedule of programs is winding down...the programs will be over by the end of April. But staff is busy working on a schedule of programs for school age children during the summer.

Teachers know and research has shown that children need to keep reading during the summer to maintain the skills they have learned during the school year. Reading is like learning to play the piano: practice, practice, practice; you get better with practice.

Programs at the library during the summer keep children involved with books and reading. Staff are working hard to develop programs that children will enjoy. New books are purchased. We are working to keep children reading during the summer.

Schedules will be ready soon. They will be available through the schools, at the library and posted online.

Children and Libraries

Have you checked on programs for children at the libraries?

Long before children start to read on their own, they love to listen to stories. Interacting with your child with a good book is a way to instill the love of reading in your child. Even the youngest children benefit from exposure to books and stories.

Holding a book, feeling its texture, learning that we turn pages in a certain way all contribute to reading readiness. The more a parent can do when a child is young, the better ready a child is to start reading on their own when the time is right for that child.

Your library has many books for children, from the youngest to those reading on their own. Library staff will be able to assist you in selecting books of interest to you and your child.

There are many programs for preschoolers now and in the summer libraries concentrate more on programs for school age children. Check back for that schedule.