Idaho Commission for Libraries

The National Research Council recommends that children enter school with specific early literacy skills that serve as the foundation for learning to read and write. Children who enter school with more of these skills are better able to benefit from the reading instruction they receive when they arrive at school. The following handouts were created by the Idaho Commission for Libraries' Read to Me project and may be reproduced for educational use. Idaho libraries may customize the Word documents.

• Narrative Skills
  • Now Available in Spanish
• Letter Knowledge
  • Now Available in Spanish
• Print Awareness
  • Now Available in Spanish
• Vocabulary
  • Now Available in Spanish
• Print Motivation
  • Now Available in Spanish
• Phonological Awareness
  • Now Available in Spanish

This information was adapted as part of the Every Child Ready to Read @ your library.® a joint project of the Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children. More reproducible handouts and information about early literacy skills can be found at their site, http://www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaissues/earlylit/earlyliteracy.htm. The site also has scripts to use for workshops for parents and caregivers.

Read to Me newsletters

The following handouts were created by the Read to Me project for our First Book sites. Each newsletter contains a Book of the Month and has related activities and information for parents. These may be reproduced for educational use. Several libraries are using them for storyhour handouts or sending them home with school newsletters.

PDF Newsletters for the 6-8 age range:

This Read to Me News features The Story of Ferdinand and related activities.

Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser is the featured book in this Read to Me News and the focus of the activities. An article about building vocabulary is included.

Focusing on friendships, this Read to Me News features Fox and His Friends, by Edward Marshall as the book of the month.

The Name Jar is the featured book in this Read to Me News and the articles and activities are all about children's names.

This Read to Me News features Curious George and tips on raising a curious reader. It's appropriate for all ages.

Fall Read to Me News features Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert, an article on Children and Nonfiction Books, Leaf Activities and Fun Books for Fall.

This Read to Me News focuses on moon activities and songs with The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons.

This Read to Me News features the book Yoko by Rosemary Wells, reading tips for parents and fun facts about sushi.

This one-page Read to Me News features Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman.

PDF Newsletters for the 3-5 age range:

This newsletter features Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z, by Lois Ehlert along with great activities, an article on building vocabulary, fingerplays and songs.

This Read to Me News focuses on friendship and features Margaret and Margarita: Margarita y Margaret, by Lynn Reiser.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and letter knowledge are the focus of this Read to Me News.

This Read to Me News features Curious George and and tips on raising a curious reader. It's appropriate for all ages.

Fall Read to Me News for 3-5 years features I Am a Leaf by Jean Marzollo, an article on Print Awareness & Young Children and Fall Action Rhymes.

This Read to Me News features Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon and bat songs and activities.

This Read to Me News features Mouse Mess by Linnea Riley, information about environmental print, and fun mouse rhymes.

PDF Newsletters for the 0-2 age range:

This Read to Me News focuses on "First Friends" and features the book Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney. An article on building baby's brains, song and fingerplay are also included.

This Fall Read to Me News for 0-2 years features Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, and articles titled "It's Never Too Early" and "Music for Babies." This Read to Me News contains the same articles, but features the book On Mother's Lap by Ann Herbert Scott.

The Winter Read to Me News for 0-2-year-olds (this one is fine for children up to age four) features The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Activities to do with young children in the winter, an article on "Developing a Love of Reading," more great winter reads, and rhymes and fingerplays are also featured.

Shapes is the theme for this Read to Me News featuring My First ABC Board Book.

All Fall Down by Helen Oxenbury is the book of the month is this Read to Me News for 0-2 years. Ten good reasons to read to babies and a word about board books are also included.

Other reproducible handouts

These "Literacy on the GO!" handouts contain 10 pages of fun games and activities that also help build children’s literacy skills and prevent boredom. The handouts were created by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and are available in Word or PDF formats for libraries to use.

More resources

The Idaho Commission for Libraries also has free educational displays and support materials available for library programs and workshops. A handout on best practices in youth services can be found here.

See our information on brain development and ideas for creating a home literacy environment.

Early Words - A child is always listening. This site from Multnomah County Library has tips and information about their Early Words initiative.

The America Reads Challenge: Ready*Set*Read for Families site has tips for families as their children's first teacher, activities for young babies, crawlers and walkers, toddlers and preschoolers, a suggested book list, and more resources.

I Am Your Child. Contains information about brain research, developmental information on children age 0 - 3, resources and much more.

Idaho Early Childhood Information Clearinghouse. This site provides information about young children, birth to age three, including links to Idaho programs and worldwide information, current practice and research, and child development information.

Making Connections: How Children Learn. A summary of recent brain research written as part of the America Reads Challenge.

Zero to Three. Another information-rich source of information for parents and professionals. Contains research and information on physical, cognitive and social development of children from birth to age three.

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