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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:
Hi, Pizza Man! by Virginia Walter

Skills:
• Phonological Awareness
• Vocabulary
• Print Motivation

Practices:
• Reading
• Talking
• Playing

Extend the book with a paper plate pizza craft!

 

Book Cover Title:
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr

Skills:
• Print Motivation
• Vocabulary

Practices:
• Reading
• Talking

Extend the book with a thankful song!
Preschool Events
Sat, Dec 07, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Dec 07, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Dec 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Dec 09, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Dec 09, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tue, Dec 10, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

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

Wed, Dec 11, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

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

Sat, Dec 14, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Dec 14, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Dec 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Dec 16, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 17, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, Dec 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

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

Tue, Dec 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Dec 17, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 17, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 17, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Dec 17, 12:00pm - 12:40pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Dec 18, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

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

Thu, Dec 19, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Dec 19, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Dec 19, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Sat, Dec 21, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Mon, Dec 23, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Dec 23, 5:30pm - 7:15pm
Hobart - Large Meeting Room

Fri, Dec 27, 10:30am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Fri, Dec 27, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Hobart - Children's Area

Tue, Dec 31, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, Jan 02, 10:15am - 10:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

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

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

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

Thu, Jan 02, 11:15am - 12:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

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

Thu, Jan 02, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster Branch Library - Children's Area

Family Events
Sat, Dec 07, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Dec 07, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room D
This event is full

Sat, Dec 07, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Hobart - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Dec 09, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

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

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

Sat, Dec 14, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Dec 14, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A
This event is full

Sat, Dec 14, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Sat, Dec 14, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 17, 10:30am - 11:30am
Hobart - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 17, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Dec 18, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Highland - Meeting Room A

Thu, Dec 19, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Sat, Dec 21, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville Branch - Children's Area

Cancelled
Sat, Dec 21, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville Library - Children's Area

Mon, Dec 23, 5:30pm - 7:15pm
Hobart - Large Meeting Room

Sat, Dec 28, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Dec 31, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Jan 02, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Jan 02, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster Branch Library - Children's Area