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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:
Rumble and Roar: Sound Around the World by Sue Fliess

Skills:
• Phonological Awareness
• Letter Knowledge

Practices:
• Talking
• Reading

Extend the book with a noisemaker craft!

Book Cover Title:
A Day So Gray by Marie Lamba

Skills:
• Background Knowledge
• Narrative Skills
• Print Awareness

Practices:
• Writing
• Talking
• Reading

Extend the book with a colorful sweater craft!

TumbleBook of the Day (by Indiana State Library and Tumblebooks)

Preschool Events
Mon, Dec 11, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Dec 11, 1:00pm - 1:40pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Dec 11, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 12, 10:15am - 10:45am
St. John - Children's Program Room

Tue, Dec 12, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 12, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, Dec 12, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Dec 12, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Children's Program Room
This event is full

Tue, Dec 12, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Dec 12, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

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

Tue, Dec 12, 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Munster - Children's Program Room

Wed, Dec 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Dec 13, 2:30pm - 3:15pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Wed, Dec 13, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville Library - Children's Department

Thu, Dec 14, 6:00pm - 7:15pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Mon, Dec 18, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster Branch - Children's area

Tue, Dec 19, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, Dec 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Dec 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 19, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 19, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 19, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Dec 21, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Dec 21, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Dec 21, 11:00am - 11:45am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Dec 21, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, Dec 21, 6:00pm - 6:30pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Fri, Dec 22, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Dec 26, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Dec 26, 11:00am - 11:30am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 26, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Dec 28, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Dec 28, 2:30pm - 3:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Jan 02, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jan 02, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jan 02, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jan 02, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Jan 02, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Jan 02, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Jan 03, 5:30pm - 6:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jan 04, 10:15am - 10:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Jan 04, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jan 04, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Jan 04, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Jan 04, 11:00am - 11:45am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jan 04, 11:15am - 11:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

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

Sat, Jan 06, 10:00am - 10:30am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Jan 08, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Jan 08, 1:00pm - 1:50pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Family Events
Wed, Dec 13, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville Branch - Children's Department

Wed, Dec 13, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Dec 14, 6:00pm - 7:15pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Mon, Dec 18, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Dec 18, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster Branch - Children's area

Tue, Dec 19, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville Branch - Children's Department

Wed, Dec 20, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Dec 21, 6:00pm - 6:30pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Dec 27, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Sat, Jan 06, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room