Read to Me! 1000 Books - play, sing, talk, write, grow
In the News!
Keep up the good work!

Once your child reaches their 1,000 book goal, keep up the habit of daily reading. Research shows that children benefit by being read to well into the elementary school years. Find out more here.
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January 8, 2015
Books for Kids who Need them Most

Article addressing the disrepancy between number of books in low vs. high income neighborhoods and how the nonprofit First Book helps to get books to children who need them.
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January 4, 2015
Talk, Sing, Read, Write, Play!

Libraries support parents and caregivers by showing them how to interact with their babyies and toddlers in ways that build early literacy skills.
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December 30, 2014
Bill Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, and Reading Aloud!

Love it! President Bill Clinton on The Ellen Degeneres Show talks about the importance of reading aloud, and the efforts of Too Small to Fail, and The Clinton Foundation!
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November 10, 2014​
A Shining Star!

Three Cheers for Dolly Parton! Through her generosity and imagination, millions of books have been donated to children from around the world who need them most.
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September 27, 2014
New Policy Statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Literacy Promotion: An Essential Component of Primary Care Pediatric Practice—
Read about it here!
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June 23, 2014
Kindergarten... Ready or Not?

Check out the new 'Sesame Street' Framework for School Readiness and help your little one prepare for success!
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July 15, 2014​
Learning to read is a process that begins at birth— or sooner! By the time babies celebrate their first birthday, they will have learned all of the sounds needed to speak their native language. Children who are read to frequently from birth are exposed to a significantly higher number of words which makes their job of learning to talk (and later to read) easier. Parents are a child's first (and best) teachers, and have the unique opportunity to build a solid foundation for success when their child enters school!
Resources
read
Make reading aloud a daily habit! Reasearch shows that reading together is the best way to prepare your child to become a reader. Reading aloud helps build vocabulary, develop language skills, introduces new ideas and concepts, increases social skills, teaches how books work, strengthens listening skills, and helps make connections between letters and sounds. Most importantly, it fosters a loving bond between parent and child.
Everyday activities can help build pre-reading skills! Here's how...
Check out the latest literacy news and research here!
play
When learning is fun, your child learns best. You are your child's favorite playmate, and you can set the stage for meaningful play that will help develop pre-reading skills. Play offers children the opportunity to learn new skills, experiment with how things work, think creatively, problem solve, develop social skills, practice language, connect to stories, increase comprehension, and learn about the world all around them. Playing and having fun will help your child learn and grow!
Children naturally respond to music. Singing and clapping to the beat is a fun way to add learning to your daily routine. Songs can introduce new ideas and concepts, and often have repetitive words, rhymes and verses which helps to reinforce learning. Singing slows down language, making it easier to hear distinct sounds in words. Even very young children can learn simple dances or finger motions to go with songs!
talk
sing
It might feel strange to talk to a baby who can't yet speak, but don't let that stop you! Talking with your child is very important. Babies learn to talk by hearing those around them speak. As they listen, children learn sounds, words, expressions, and gestures that make up language. Talking extends vocabulary, and increases a child's understanding of the world. Have conversations, explain things, and ask questions even if your child can't answer you yet— very soon he will!
write
Writing, reading, speaking, and listening are forms of communication. In order to write, children need to understand that written words are symbols of spoken words, and that writing has a purpose. They also need to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Help your child notice letters, numbers, words, colors, shapes in books and the world all around. Provide opportunities to play with age appropriate small toys to strengthen little hands and fingers.
Check out our blog for fun tips, ideas and books recommendations for your child!
Start a "1,000 Books Challenge" program at your library or school!
Click here for information and ideas!
