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Reading with kids makes them more likely to succeed in school

Reading Aloud & Early Literacy

Reading helps children learn:

  • Letters and their sounds

  • Phonological awareness (rhyming; breaking down words into sounds)

  • Narrative skills and comprehension

  • Background knowledge (learning about the world around them)

  • Vocabulary

  • Print awareness (the way a book is organized; learning that print has meaning; loving books)

In other words, reading aloud can teach children all the oral language components they need to know in order to become successful readers. But perhaps the most important thing reading out loud can teach children is a love of reading. If the reading aloud experience is fun and pleasurable, a child will want to learn to read and will work hard to learn, even if it is sometimes a struggle. So...

HOW we read with young children is every bit as important - or more important! - as how often we read with them.Reading with your child makes reading fun for them!

For example:

  • If children are actively involved in the reading aloud experience, they learn more early literacy skills - and it's more fun!

  • Talk, talk, talk - about the story and the pictures. Encourage your child to participate with repeated phrases, animal sounds, and so on. Ask your child what is happening in the pictures or to predict what will happen next. If something in the story or the pictures prompts a memory in your child's life, talk about it! Have a conversation around the book and always keep it fun!

Here are three great ways to read aloud with a child:

Dialogic Reading

Shared Reading

Picture Book Walk

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:
Who Am I? by Jeffrey Turner

Skills:
• Phonological Awareness
• Print Motivation
• Narrative Skills

Practices:
• Talking
• Playing
• Reading

Extend the book by making an animal silhouette!

Book Cover Title:
Everything a Drum by Sarah Warren

Skills:
• Phonological Awareness
• Vocabulary
• Print Motivation

Practices:
• Reading
• Talking
• Playing

Extend the book by making your own drum!
Preschool Events
Wed, Sep 17, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Sep 18, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Cancelled
Thu, Sep 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago

Thu, Sep 18, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Sep 18, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Sep 18, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Sep 18, 6:00pm - 7:15pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Fri, Sep 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Mon, Sep 22, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Sep 23, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Sep 23, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Sep 23, 10:30am - 11:15am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Sep 23, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Sep 23, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Sep 23, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Sep 24, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Sep 24, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Sep 25, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Munster - Children's Program Room

Fri, Sep 26, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Hobart Branch - Children's Area

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

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

Thu, Oct 02, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Oct 02, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Oct 02, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Oct 02, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Oct 02, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Oct 07, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Oct 07, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Oct 07, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Oct 07, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Oct 07, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Oct 07, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Oct 07, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Oct 07, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Oct 07, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Oct 07, 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Oct 08, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Oct 08, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Oct 08, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville Branch - Children's Area

Thu, Oct 09, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Munster - Children's Program Room

Sat, Oct 11, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Oct 14, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Oct 14, 10:30am - 11:15am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Oct 14, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, Oct 14, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Oct 14, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Oct 14, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Oct 14, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Oct 14, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Oct 15, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Wed, Oct 15, 6:00pm - 7:15pm
Munster Branch Library - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Thu, Oct 16, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Oct 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Oct 16, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Oct 16, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Oct 16, 11:00am - 11:40am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Oct 16, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Family Events
Wed, Sep 17, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Sep 18, 6:00pm - 7:15pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Sat, Sep 20, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville Branch - Children's department

Tue, Sep 23, 10:30am - 11:30am
Hobart - Large Meeting Room

Wed, Sep 24, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, Sep 25, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Thu, Sep 25, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)

Sat, Sep 27, 11:00am - 12:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Sat, Sep 27, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room Whole (A & B)

Thu, Oct 02, 5:30pm - 7:15pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Sat, Oct 11, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Oct 15, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Oct 15, 6:00pm - 7:15pm
Munster Branch Library - Large Meeting Room
This event is full