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Every Child Ready to Read

You can help your child succeed at reading long before they are ever ready to sound out words on their own.

Here are some important practices you probably already do when you read a book or otherwise interact with your child:

Every Child Ready to Read Practices Logo: TalkingEvery Child Read to Read Practices Logo: SingingEvery Child Read to Read Practices Logo: ReadingEvery Child Read to Read Practices Logo: WritingEvery Child Read to Read Practices Logo: Playing

Click each to learn more! 

When you practice these things with your child, you are teaching them six important skills:

Print Awareness:
Noticing print everywhere
Phonological Awareness:
Knowing sounds
Narrative Skills:
Knowing how stories work
Letter Knowledge:
Naming letters and their sounds
Vocabulary:
Knowing lots of words
Print Motivation:
Enjoying books


What's the easiest way to start?

• Go to Mother Goose on the Loose (storytime for babies!)

• Sign up for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and win a free book and other prizes!

• Sign up for Imagination Library and receive a free book in the mail every month!

• Watch Lakeshore Public Media's Building Blocks for a great look at why early literacy and learning - just what we practice with our programs here at LCPL - are so important for babies and children!

This Month's Featured Reads!

LCPL staff have selected these books because kids love them and they help build important pre-reading skills. Check them out today!

Want more hand-picked kids' books? You can request a surprise bag of kids' books for curbside pickup! 

book cover Title:
Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party by Kimberly and James Dean

Skills:
• Letter Knowledge
• Print Awareness

Practices:
• Talking
• Playing

Extend the book with pizza memory game!

Book Cover Title:
Finnegan Fox by Katie Gilstrap

Skills:
• Phonological Awareness
• Background Knowledge

Practices:
• Reading
• Playing

Extend the book with a paper bag fox puppet!
Preschool Events
Wed, Mar 12, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Mar 12, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Wed, Mar 12, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Section

Thu, Mar 13, 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Munster - Children's Program Room

Sat, Mar 15, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Mar 17, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Mar 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 18, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Mar 18, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Mar 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Mar 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Mar 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, Mar 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Mar 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 18, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Mar 18, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 18, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Mar 18, 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Mar 20, 10:15am - 10:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Thu, Mar 20, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, Mar 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Mar 20, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Mar 20, 11:15am - 12:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Mar 20, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Sat, Mar 22, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Mar 24, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 25, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Mar 25, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 25, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Mar 25, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 25, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 25, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 25, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Mar 26, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Mar 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room
This event is full

Thu, Mar 27, 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Munster - Children's Program Room

Thu, Mar 27, 2:30pm - 3:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Fri, Mar 28, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Hobart Branch Library - Children's Area

Tue, Apr 01, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 01, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 01, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Apr 01, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Apr 01, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 01, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 01, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 01, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 01, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Apr 03, 10:15am - 10:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Apr 03, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Apr 03, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Apr 03, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Apr 03, 11:15am - 12:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Apr 03, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Apr 07, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Apr 07, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Apr 07, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 08, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 08, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 08, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Apr 08, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 08, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 08, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 08, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, Apr 08, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 08, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 08, 4:00pm - 4:45pm
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Apr 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Apr 09, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Section

Thu, Apr 10, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Munster - Children's Program Room

Thu, Apr 10, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Family Events
Wed, Mar 12, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Mar 12, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Mar 15, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Mar 15, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville Branch Library - Children's Area

Tue, Mar 18, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Mar 22, 11:00am - 12:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Sat, Mar 22, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Mar 24, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Wed, Mar 26, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Mar 26, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Mar 27, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Thu, Mar 27, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Tue, Apr 01, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 01, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Apr 07, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Merrillville Branch - Information Desk

Mon, Apr 07, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Dyer-Schererville Branch - Info Desk

Mon, Apr 07, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Mon, Apr 07, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Mon, Apr 07, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 08, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Dyer-Schererville Branch - Info Desk

Tue, Apr 08, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Merrillville Branch - Information Desk

Wed, Apr 09, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Dyer-Schererville Branch - Info Desk

Wed, Apr 09, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Merrillville Branch - Information Desk

Wed, Apr 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Apr 09, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Apr 10, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Dyer-Schererville Branch - Info Desk

Thu, Apr 10, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Merrillville Branch - Information Desk

Thu, Apr 10, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room