Every Child Ready to Read

Every Child Ready to Read

What is every child ready to read?

Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) is a research-based educational program designed to help parents and other caregivers develop early literacy skills in children from birth to age five.  Five simple practices—talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing—are used to develop language and pre-reading skills in very young children.  Special programs are designed to help parents and caregivers incorporate these five skills into everyday activities.

Before children can learn to read, they must develop a range of early literacy skills. Learning these skills, which begins at birth, has a long- term impact on children’s  reading achievement and academic success. Children who enter school with  well-developed early literacy skills have an advantage; they are ready to learn to read (Every Child Ready to Read, 2nd Edition).

Who created this program?

Every Child Ready to Read was developed by the Public Library Association and the Association for Library Services for Children.

For more information:

Visit the Every Child Ready to Read website at www.everychildreadytoread.org

Additional Resources for Parents:

Booklists

Booklists:

These lists are are PDF files. You will need Adobe Reader or another PDF reader to view these files.

Library Catalog Help

Searching the GCLS Library Catalog

Using our e-Library catalog, you can search for books, movies, audio CDs, video games, and other library materials for all member libraries of the Libraries of Gloucester/Salem Information Network (LOGIN).

Beginning Your Search

1. On the catalog homepage, you'll see a green highlighted search box to begin your search. By default, this will be a keyword search which is the most broad search. This is usually a good place to start, so leave the keyword search box selected.

2. Type your search terms into the box. You can search by title, author, subject, etc.

3. You'll see a dropdown box on the right of the search box that is defaulted to "words/phrase." This is an extremely broad search that will likely return unecessary results. It is recommended to click on the box and select another search option. You can choose from title, author, subject, series, or periodical title.

4. Next, select a library to search. You can search a particular library or you can choose to search a group of libraries. To do this, scroll to the top of the list to see the library groups.

5. Now, you are set to search! Click on the blue search button to be taken to the results list.

Searching Tips

1. Not sure what you are looking for? Keywords are a good way to find materials if you are uncertain how to locate what you need. It is best to use as few keywords as possible and keep them as broad as possible. If you are looking for materials on caring for cats, do not type "how to take care of cats" into the search box. Why? Because the catalog will try to find materials that have every single one of those keywords which shrinks the possible results. To get the most results possible, instead search "cats AND care." This will return a much larger volume of materials.

2. Know what title or author you are looking for? Great! Type the title or author in the search box. Don't forget to change from "words/phrase" to "title" or "author" using the dropdown or your search may not return relevant results.

3. What's a Browse Search? This search may often be performed by a librarian who wants to browse the catalog alphabetically. If you do a Browse Search for "A Tale of Two Cities," you will see the all items that exist in the catalog before and after the book alphabetically. This search is very literal and will search for exactly what you typed in the order it appears. Keywords do not work here!

4. What's an Exact Search? This search should be used very sparing, if at all. It is the most literal search possible and will look for exactly what you typed in perfect order even down to spaces and punctuation marks. Librarians will often use this search to locate an item by a specific library barcode number.

Things to Avoid

1. Do NOT use your web browser's Back button. This will cause the catalog to timeout and return a page that may say "Document Expired" or something similar. Instead, use the "Go Back" button in the blue toolbar of the catalog.

2. Do NOT favorite or bookmark any items in the catalog as the catalog will clear out the session in an hour and you will lose your bookmark. Instead, click on "Link to Page" in the blue toolbar to get a permanant link to the item that will never expire.

How to Search

How to Search  

  • Type your search terms in the Search box.

  • Select the type of search you want to conduct by clicking on the appropriate radio button.
    • Keyword Search finds records containing the words you typed.
    • Browse Search brings you to an alphabetical list of authors, titles or subjects.
    • Exact Search finds records that exactly match your search. (Avoid using "a", "an", and "the" in search.)
  • Select the category in which you want to search, e.g. title, author, words or phrase from the drop-down menu to the right of the Search box.

  • Select the location where you want to search from the drop-down menu labelled "library:"
  • Choosing All allows you to search all 15 libraries in LOGIN.
  • Click on the Search button.

Tips for Author Searches

Tips for Author Searches 

  • Type the name of the author in the Search box.
    • An author doesn't just need to be the writer of a book. It can also be an actor in a movie or a singer on a CD.
    • You can type the names in any order, but typing it last name first will be more helpful if you misspell one of the names.
  • Leave the radio button next to Keyword Search selected.
  • Select author from the drop-down menu to the right of the search box.
  • Click on the Search button.

Tips for Title Searches

Tips for Title Searches 

If you are sure of the title:

  • Type the first few words of the title in the Search box.
  • Click in the radio button next to Browse Search.
  • Select title from the drop-down menu to the right of the search box.
  • Click on the Search button.
  • This search will bring up your title within an alphabetical list of titles. Click on your title to view a list of matching items.
  • Click on Next or Previous on the blue navigation bar to browse through the results list.

If you can only remember certain words in the title:

  • Type words from the title in the Search box. Try to avoid common words like "the," "is," and "for."
  • Leave the radio button next to Keyword Search selected.
  • Select title from the drop-down menu to the right of the search box.
  • Click on the Search button.
  • This search will bring you to a list of records with those words in their titles.

Tips for Subject Searches

Tips for Subject Searches

Keyword searching

  • Type the words of your topic in the Search box.
    • Be as specific as possible. A search for United States History will bring up too many records.
    • Use many words to narrowly define your search.
  • Leave the radio button next to Keyword Search selected.
  • Select words or phrase from the drop-down menu to the right of the search box.
    • It may be tempting to click on Subject, but you should only do this if you are certain of the terms used in the official Library of Congress Subject Headings.
  • Click on the Search button.
  • This search will bring you to a list of titles with those words anywhere in their record.

Browsing subjects

Browsing subjects

You can leisurely browse through subjects using iBistro's picture-based Find It Fast and Kids' Library features.

  • Kids' Library is a subject-based approach to finding materials for children.
  • Find It Fast offers the same subject-based approach, but includes library materials for all ages.

Working with Search Results

Working with Search Results

Limiting Searches

If you receive too many search results, you can refine your search by clicking on the Limit Search button located in the blue navigation bar.

  • Use item category 1 to limit to a particular format, such as video, audio or book.
  • Use item category 2 to limit your search results to juvenile, young adult or adult materials.
  • You can choose a year of publication (2001) or a range of years (1999-2001) in the pubyear box.
  • Other options are to limit materials to ones written in a particular language and to sort your results by author, title or relevance.

Locating an item

Locating an item

  • After finding a title, click on the Details button to view the record for the item.
  • In the bottom portion of the Item Information box under Holdings, you will see a list of libraries that own the item with the call number and location for the item. This will also tell you if the item is checked out or otherwise unavailable.

Playing

Before children can learn to read, they must develop a range of early literacy skills. Learning these skills, which begins at birth, has a long- term impact on children’s reading achievement and academic success. Children who enter school with well-developed early literacy skills have an advantage; they are ready to learn to read (Every Child Ready to Read, 2nd Edition).

Activities to do at Home

  • Encourage dramatic play– make up stories using puppets and stuffed animals.
  • Pretend to read a book– let your child tell you a story based on the pictures in a book.
  • You don’t need expensive toys. Inexpensive items that you have around the house can be used for imaginative play.

Fiction Books

  • Caillou: play with me by L’Heureux, Christine (E Caillou)
  • Duck, Duck, Goose by Hills, Tad (E Hills)
  • Fancy Nancy: Tea Parties by O’Connor, Jane (E O’Connor)
  • Follow the Leader by Silverman, Erica (E Silverman)
  • How do dinosaurs play with their friends? By Yolen, Jane (BDBK Yolen)
  • I’ll play with you by Siddals, Mary McKenna (E Siddals)
  • Let’s Play House: A book about imagination by Quay, Emma (BDBK Quay)
  • Let’s Pretend by Bailey, Debbie (BDBK Bailey)
  • Max and Ruby play school by Wells, Rosemary (IREAD Wells)
  • My First Baby Games by Manning, Jane (BDBK My)
  • Playing by Slegers, Liesbet (BDBK Slegers)

Non-Fiction Books

  • Go out and play!: favorite outdoor games from Kaboom by KaBoom Organization (J 796 Go)
  • Let’s Play: traditional games of childhood by Gryski, Camilla (J 790.1 Gryski)
  • Little people big book about playtime by Time-Life for Children (J 810.8 Little)
  • The baby’s game book by Wilner, Isabel (J 649 Wilner)
  • The ultimate indoor games book: the 200 best boredom busters ever! By Gunter, Veronika Alice (J 793 Gunter)
  • This little piggy: lap songs, finger plays, clapping games, and pantomime rhymes by Yolen, Jane (J 782.42 This)

DVDs

  • Barney: Let’s Play School! (J DVD FIC Barney  Learning Let’s)
  • Blue’s Clues: Blue’s jobs (J DVD FIC Blues)
  • Max & Ruby: Rainy day play (J DVD FIC Max)
  • Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends: Bug-a-boo day play (J DVD FIC Miss)
  • Play time with Maisy (J DVD FIC Maisy)
  • Play with me Sesame: Let’s Play games (J DVD FIC Sesame)
  • Sesame beginnings: Beginning together (J DVD FIC Sesame)
  • Signing time! Playtime signs (J DVD 419 Signing)
  • Waybuloo: Piplings love to play! (J DVD FIC Waybuloo)
  • We sign: Play time (J DVD 419 We)
  • Wiggly play time (J DVD FIC Wiggles)
  • Yo Gabba Gabba! Clubhouse (J DVD FIC Yo Gabba Gabba)

In-house Play

Be sure to check out each branch library’s children’s section to see what is offered for playing.

  • Puppets
  • Puzzles
  • Dolls/Stuffed animals
  • Games
  • Early Literacy Station (computer with age appropriate games)

Adult Resources

  • The power of play: how spontaneous, imaginative activities lead to happier, healthier children by Elkind, David (155.4 Elkind)
  • Play and imagination in children with autism by Wolfberg, Pamela J. (371.94 Wolfberg)
  • 365 Games Babies Play: Playing, Growing and Exploring with Babies from Birth to 15 Months by Ellison, Sheila (649 Ellison)
  • The secret of play: how to raise smart, healthy, caring kids from birth to age 12  by Pleshette Murphy, Ann (649.1 Pleshette)
  • The parent’s guide to play by Masi, Wendy S. (649.5 Parents)
  • Unplugged play: no batteries, no plugs, pure fun by Conner, Bobbi (790.1 Conner)

Websites

GCLS Catalog

Go to www.gcls.org/catalog

Search Terms: subject: play

Databases

Go to our eReference Center and choose Kids' Sites.

TumbleBook Library (animated talking picture books)

Online Calendar

Go to www.gcls.org/calendar to view the current month's schedule of events.

Reading

Before children can learn to read, they must develop a range of early literacy skills. Learning these skills, which begins at birth, has a long- term impact on children’s reading achievement and academic success. Children who enter school with well-developed early literacy skills have an advantage; they are ready to learn to read (Every Child Ready to Read, 2nd Edition).

Activities to do at Home

Note: Model reading to your child—if your child sees  you reading, he/she will most likely enjoy reading, too.  Show your child the importance of signs around you. For example—”There’s the exit sign—that’s how we get out of the store.”

Babies:

  • Have Board books available for baby to look at—try “reading” the books
  • Have baby imitate sounds—have an animal picture and tell child the sound it makes
  • Sing the “ABC” song

Toddlers:

  • Use puppets to tell a story
  • Have child retell a story with puppets
  • Look at pictures and make up a story about what could be happening

Preschoolers:

  • Use the same activities as you would with toddlers
  • Provide letter magnets or felt letters and “write” simple words like “cat,” “dog”
  • Draw pictures and label what they are
  • Have children draw pictures for a story and tell you the story.  You write the words to create a little book.
  • Label objects around the house using index cards

The Gloucester County Library System has thousands of children’s books that will get you and your child talking. We also have books for adults on child development.  Check out some of the books on this pathfinder and try taking a picture walk with your child to encourage conversation.

Children’s Stories Stressing Phonics/Alphabet                                        

Alphabet Adventure by Audrey & Bruce Wood 
        E Wood (Glassboro)

Bob Books First
        IRead Maslen
        Books 1-12 (Swedesboro)

The Bug in the Jug Wants a Hug: a short vowel sounds book by Brian P. Cleary
       J 428.1 Cleary (Glassboro)

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin
        E Martin (Greenwich, Glassboro, Mullica Hill, Swedesboro)

Get Ready – Get Set – Read! – Series
        By Foster & Erickson
        IRead Foster (Swedesboro)

Learn to Read by Maureen Spurgeon  
        E Spurgeon (Mullica Hill)

My Little Poney: Phonics Fun by Joanne Mattem
       IRead My Phonics (Greenwich)

Talk of the Block Series by Ann Haffner  (Greenwich & Logan)
        (long and short vowel stories and activities)

Ted in a Red Bed by Phil Roxbee Cox
        E Cox (Greenwich, Glassboro)

A Train on the Track: Learning the TR Sound  by Sarah Sheffield
        IRead Sheffield (Greenwich)

Kits                                                                                                                 

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (sound recording)
J Kit CD Martin (Mullica Hill)

Hooked on Phonics. Pre-K, through 2nd grade, Level 2,  [Kit]: Learn to Read
J Kit 372.465 Hooked (Mullica Hill)

Hooked on Phonics: Learn to Read (for preschoolers through 2nd grade)
Adult Kit – CD 372.4 Hooked (Logan)

Sing Along with Sounds and Songs
J Kit 372.465 Kindergarten Sing (Mullica Hill)

Videos/DVDs                                                                                                                                    

The Alphabet Zoo:  A Fun Way to Learn Letters and Phonics
 JDVD Fic Alphabet (Logan)

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
J DVD Fic Chicka  (Logan)

Fun-damentals: Dance, Laugh, & Learn About ABC’s, Numbers, Colors, & Shapes!  Hooked on Phonics
J DVD 372.465 Fundamentals (Swedesboro, Mullica Hill, Glassboro)

Leap Frog.  Letter Factory Video by Bruce David Johnson
J DVD 372.465  (Glassboro)

Winnie the Pooh ABC’s:  Discovering Letters and Words
J DVD Fic Winnie (Mullica Hill)

Websites

Adult Books on Literacy/Reading

Hey, I’m Reading Edited by Sylvie Wickstrom
J 372.41 Miles (Swedesboro)

The New York Times Parent’s Guide to the Best Books for Children by Eden Ross Lipson
011.62 Lipson (Swedesboro)

The Secret of Natural Readers: How Preschool Children Learn to Read by Ada Anbar

Teach Anyone to Read: The No-nonsense Guide by Lillie Pop
372.41 Pope (Swedesboro)
372.4 Amber (Logan)                                                        

GCLS Catalog

Go to www.gcls.org/catalog

Search Terms: Literacy, Phonics, Reading, Language

Databases                                                             

Go to our eReference Center and choose Children & Teens.  

TumbleBook Library (animated talking picture books)

AWE- Early Literacy Station Computer

Go to toolbar and click “Reading, Words, & Phonics:
Giggles Toddler ABC’s & 123’s
Bailey’s Book House
Reader Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics
Just Grandma and Me
Stellaluna
Sesame Street – Let’s Make a Word
Little Monster at School
Sammy’s Science House
The Tortoise and the Hare

Online Calendar

Go to www.gcls.org/calendar to view the current month's schedule of events.

Singing

Before children can learn to read, they must develop a range of early literacy skills. Learning these skills, which begins at birth, has a long- term impact on children’s reading achievement and academic success. Children who enter school with well-developed early literacy skills have an advantage; they are ready to learn to read (Every Child Ready to Read, 2nd Edition).

Activities to do at home

Note: Sing to your child the songs you know and love. You don’t need a perfect voice, just some enthusiasm.

  • Move to the music
  • Sing Nursery Rhymes
  • Fill a plastic bottle with cereal or use a pie-tin and wooden spoon as percussion instruments

Books

  • Hush Little Baby   (J 649 HILL)
  • I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont (E Beaumont)
  • Mary Had a Little Lamb by Linda Jennings (E Jennings)
  • One, Two Buckle My Shoe by Jane Cabrera (E Cabrera)
  • Over in the Meadow by Jane Cabrera (E Cabrera)
  • The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort (E Hort)
  • The Wheels on the Bus by Jane Cabrera (E Cabrera)
  • There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly   by Simms Taback (E Taback)
  • We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Margery Cuyler (E Rose)

CDs

  • Disney Karaoke Series (J Music CD Disney)
  • Here Comes Science by They Must Be Giants (J MUSIC CD Here)
  • Insects, Bugs and Squiggly Things   (J Music CD Songs)
  • Jungle Gym by Justin Roberts (J Music CD Jungle)
  • Kidz Bop 21   (J Music CD Kidz)
  • Learning Songs Music by Leapfrog (J Music CD Learning)
  • Sunny Day by Elizabeth Mitchell (J Music CD Sunny)
  • Tangled by Cindy Robinson (J Music CD Tangled)
  • The Best of Laurie Berkner Band ((J Music CD Best)
  • The Princess and the Frog by Cindy Robinson (J Music CD Princess)
  • Veggie tales: Bob and Larry Sing the 80’s (J Music CD Veggie)
  • We All Live Together by Greg and Steve (J Music CD We)
  • We did it! Dora’s Greatest Hits by Nickelodeon (J Music CD Dora)
  • Wee Sing Silly Songs by Pamela Beall (J Music CD Wee)
  • Yummy, Yummy by The Wiggles (J Music CD Yummy)
  • Music by Raffi
  • Music from Disney and other movies

DVDs

  • VeggieTales, If I Sang a Silly Song   (J DVD FIC Fairies)
  • Debbie and Friends   (J DVD FIC Debbie)
  • Wiggles. Ukulele Baby ( J DVD FIC Wiggles)
  • Sesame Street. Elmo’s Travel Songs and Games   (J DVD FIC Sesame)
  • BIG BIRD, LITTLE BIRD   (J DVD 782.42 Big)

Books with CDs                                                                   

Sing-along-Songs    (J KIT –CD   SING ALONG)

Websites

Adult Books on Child Development

  • Child: How Children Think, Learn and Grow in the Early Years by Desmond Morris (612.654 Morris)
  • Ready for Preschool: Prepare Your Child for Happiness and Success at School by Nancy Hertzog (649 Hertzog)
  • Your Baby and Child: From Birth to Age Five by Penelope Leach (618.92 Leach)

GCLS Catalog

Go to www.gcls.org/catalog

Use Power Search to find Juvenile Music CDs or DVDs
Search Terms: subject: Children’s Songs

Databases                                                            

Go to our eReference Center and choose Children & Teens.                            

TumbleBook Library (animated talking picture books)

AWE- Early Literacy Station Computer

Check out the various early literacy games and activities on our AWE computers.

Online Calendar

Go to www.gcls.org/calendar to view the current month's schedule of events.

Talking

Before children can learn to read, they must develop a range of early literacy skills. Learning these skills, which begins at birth, has a long- term impact on children’s reading achievement and academic success. Children who enter school with well-developed early literacy skills have an advantage; they are ready to learn to read (Every Child Ready to Read, 2nd Edition).

Activities to do at Home

Note: Speak to your child in the language you know best.

Babies:

  • Encourage babble - imitate what they say
  • Stay silent so they can talk back
  • Use all kinds of words even if they don’t understand
  • Speak in “Parentese”- elongated vowels, high pitch, exaggerated facial  expressions and short, simple sentences

Toddlers:

  • Add signing to their babble to help your child be understood- signing aids in speech development
  • Narrate what you are doing- “I’m folding the socks and then I’m going to put them away”
  • Ask your toddler to tell you about something that happened to him or her today; ask for more details so your child can expand on the story

Preschoolers:

  • Ask questions that have more than a yes or no answer. This will get your child to think about possible answers and ask more questions
  • Ask open ended questions- “Why do you think that happened?”

The Gloucester County Library System has thousands of children’s books that will get you and your child talking. We also have books for adults on child development.  Check out some of the books on this pathfinder and try taking a picture walk with your child to encourage conversation.

How to take a Picture Walk:

  • Look at the cover
  • Point out the title and author
  • Talk about the illustration; ask your child what he or she thinks the story will be about.
  • “Walk” through the book, one page at a time.
  • Talk about the characters and predict what might happen to them
  • Ask your child “How do you think the story will end?”
  • When doing a “picture walk” remember to take turns talking- listen to what your child has to say.

Wordless Picture Books

  • The Boy, The Bear, The Baron and The Bard by Gregory Rogers (E Rogers)
  • A Boy, A Dog, and A Frog by Mercer Mayer (E Mayer)
  • Carl’s Masquerade by Alexandra Day (E Day)
  • Chalk by Bill Thomson ( E Thomson)
  • Clementina’s Cactus by Ezra Jack Keats (E Keats)
  • Colors Everywhere by Tana Hoban (E Hoban)
  • Dinosaur! by Peter Sis (E Sis)
  • Dinosaur Dream by Robin Michael Koontz (E Koontz)
  • Flotsam by David Wiesner (E Wiesner)
  • The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang (E Bang)
  • Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Tafuri (E Tafuri)
  • Home by Jeannie Baker (E Baker)
  • I See a Song by Eric Carle (E Carle)
  • The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (E Pinkney)
  • Sidewalk Circus by Paul Fleischman (E Fleischman)
  • Time Flies by Eric Rohmann (E Rohmann)
  • Trucks by Donald Crew (E Crew)
  • Wave by Suzy Lee (E Lee)
  • Welcome to the Zoo by Allison Jay (E Jay)
  • Window by Jeannie Baker (E Baker)

Factual Books

Factual books are great conversation starters. Let us know what 
your child is interested in and we can help you find some great books.

DVDs                                                                                                                          

Signing dvds can be found under the call number J DVD 419

Adult Books on Child Development                                                    

  • At a Loss For Words: How American Is Failing Our Children and What We Can Do About It by Betty Bardige (372.21 Bardige)
  • Baby Read-Aloud Basics: Fun and Interactive Ways to Help Your Little One Discover the World of Words by Caroline Blakemore (372.4 Blakemore)
  • Building Literacy With Love: A Guide For Teachers and Caregivers of Children From Birth Through Age 5 by Betty Bardige (372.6 Bardige)
  • Simple Signing for Young Children: A Guide for Infant, Toddler and Preschool Teachers by Carol Garboden Murray (419 Murray)
  • Talk to Me Baby!: How You Can Support Young Children's Language Development by Betty Bardige (372.6 Bardige)

GCLS Catalog

Go to www.gcls.org/catalog

Search Terms: subject: child development

AWE- Early Literacy Station Computer

Talk about the games and activities you are playing together

Databases                                                             

Go to our eReference Center and choose Kids' Sites.

TumbleBook Library (animated talking picture books)

Online Calendar

Go to www.gcls.org/calendar to view the current month's schedule of events.

Writing

Before children can learn to read, they must develop a range of early literacy skills. Learning these skills, which begins at birth, has a long- term impact on children’s reading achievement and academic success. Children who enter school with well-developed early literacy skills have an advantage; they are ready to learn to read (Every Child Ready to Read, 2nd Edition).

Activities to do at Home

Allow your child to select the hand they wish to write with. Hand items
to your child or place them in front of him/her. Do not force writing instruments 
into a particular hand.

Babies:

  • Encourage fine motor skills with fingerplay. (Itsy Bitsy Spider, Where is Thumbkin)
  • Give your baby items to hold and manipulate in their hands.
  • Speak to your baby and say words of items they see. (cat, mom, dish, etc.)
  • Expose your child to books. Seeing words written will encourage reading and writing.
  • Read to your child.

Toddlers:

  • Provide your toddler with crayons in a supervised environment.
  • Encourage playing with puzzles as this increases fine motor skills.
  • Give your child snacks such as Cheerios to build muscles and coordination in hands and fingers.
  • Read to your child. Picture dictionaries are a great activity. Point to the words as you read them to your child.  Point out starting sounds (M is for Mom)

Preschoolers:

  • Practice writing words. Start with their name.
  • Provide supervised activities with scissors and writing instruments.
  • READ - READ - READ. 

How to get your child writing

  • Invest in an erasable white board and markers.
  • Draw their name in dots and have them connect the dots.
  • Correct backwards and upside down letters.  Don’t allow bad habits.
  • Point out words in your everyday life  (Stop signs, McDonalds, etc.)
  • Provide a picture dictionary with bold words.
  • Allow your child to draw and write on paper.
  • Remember the more your child reads, the better they will write.

Books that will assist in writing skills

The library has numerous alphabet and word books available to you and
your child . The more you read to your child, the better they will speak, write,
and communicate. These skill will carry them through their school years and 
into adult life. 

Reading is Key! Here are some suggestions to get you started.

  • My First Dictionary by Archie Bennett (J423 BEN)
  • My Favorite Word Book by Selina Young (J428.1 Young)
  • Play With Letters series by Jane Belk Moncure (E Moncure))
  • C Is For Curious by Woodleigh Hubbard (E Hubbard)
  • Kipper’s A to Z by Mick Inkpen (E Inkpen)
  • Opposites by Sue Hendra (J428.1 Hendra)
  • Preschool Arts and Crafts by Grace Jasmine (LM372.55 Jasmine)
  • The Busy Mom’s Book of Preschool Activities by Jane Kyle (372.13)
  • Nursery Rhyme Time by Ru Story-Huffman (LM372.1332 Story)
  • Cut and Create Mother Goose by Kim Rankin (372.55 Rankin)
DVDs                                                                                                                          

Letter and Phonics DVDs can be found in J DVD 372

Many DVD’s are available on language development (i.e. Sesame Street, Barney,
Baby Einstein, etc.)

Adult Books on Child Development                                                    

  • Baby Read-Aloud Basics: Fun and Interactive Ways to Help Your Little One Discover the World of Words by Caroline Blakemore
  • Child: How Children Think, Learn and Grow in the Early Years by Desmond Morris (612.654 Morris)
  • Ready for Preschool: Prepare Your Child for Happiness and Success at School by Nancy Hertzog (649 Hertzog)
  • Simple Signing for Young Children: A Guide for Infant, Toddler and Preschool Teachers by Carol Garboden Murray (419 Murray)
  • Your Baby and Child: From Birth to Age Five by Penelope Leach (618.92 Leach)

GCLS Catalog

Go to www.gcls.org/catalog

Search Terms: subject: child development

Databases

Go to our eReference Center and choose Kids' Sites.

TumbleBook Library (animated talking picture books)

Online Calendar

Go to www.gcls.org/calendar to view the current month's schedule of events.