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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:
Snuggle Puppy: A Little Love Song by Sandra Boynton

Skills:
• Background Knowledge
• Print Awareness

Practices:
• Singing
• Playing

Extend the book with a peek-a-boo valentine!

 

Book Cover Title:
A Dog is a Dog by Stephen Shaskan

Skills:
• Phonological Awareness
• Vocabulary

Practices:
• Reading
• Playing
• Singing

Extend the book with a stacking animal craft!
Preschool Events
Sat, Feb 22, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

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

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

Tue, Feb 25, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mon, Mar 03, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Tue, Mar 04, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Mar 04, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Mar 04, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Mar 04, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 04, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Mar 04, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Mar 04, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 04, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 04, 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Mar 06, 10:15am - 10:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Mar 06, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Mar 06, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Mar 06, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Mar 06, 11:15am - 12:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Mar 06, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, Mar 06, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster Branch Library - Munster Children's Area

Sat, Mar 08, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

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

Mon, Mar 10, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Mar 10, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Mar 18, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - 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
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

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

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

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

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

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

Thu, Mar 20, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming 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

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

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

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

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

Mon, Mar 03, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Tue, Mar 04, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Mar 08, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Mar 10, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

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