Idaho Commission for Libraries

Check out the following links to some of the best web sites with information on early literacy.

The America Reads Challenge

This site calls on all Americans to support teachers and help ensure that every American child can read well and independently by the end of 3rd grade. The site contains several good publications. www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/

• Play on Paper
• Read With Me
• Read*Write*Now! Reading Partner Program (Grades K-6)
• Ready*Set*Read! Early Childhood Reading Readiness Program (Grades Pre-K - 3)
• Simple Things You Can Do To Help All Children Read Well and Independently
  Interactive activities for parent and child to nurture early literacy

Annie E. Casey Foundation

The Annie E. Casey Foundation site contains Kids Count Data Books and other demographic information. www.aecf.org/

Between the Lions

This is an award-winning PBS children's series designed to help young children learn to read. The site includes games and materials from the show including the literacy curriculum aimed at children ages 4-7. http://pbskids.org/lions/

Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site

Created by Carol Otis Hurst and Rebecca Otis. Contains lists of great books for kids with reviews, activities, and much more. www.carolhurst.com/

Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement (CIERA).

A national center for research on early reading. This site contains research-based articles and information. www.ciera.org/

Checklist for Upgrading School & Public Library Services for Youth.

Upgraded school and public library services are essential for all American youth from infancy to age eighteen. The checklist was designed to help librarians assess specific gaps in meeting the needs of children and young adults in school and public libraries and to prepare for the White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services II. The checklist is still a useful assessment tool. http://www.ala.org/alsc/checklist.html

A Child Becomes a Reader: Birth to Preschool

A booklet produced in 2002 by the National Reading Panel for the U. S. Department of Education. It provides a summary of reading research and hands on reading activities that parents and caregivers can do with young children before they enter school. www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/pdf/low_res_child_reader_B-K.pdf

Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature

Compiled and indexed by librarian Lisa Bartle, this site allows you to search award-winning books by age of reader, historical period, gender of protagonist and other customized specifications. www.dawcl.com

Dinner and a Book

Information about Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Marilyn Howard's initiative to encourage families to spend 40 minutes a day connecting through conversation and reading. http://www.sde.idaho.gov/DinnerandaBook/

The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)

ERIC is a national information system designed to connect users to an extensive body of education-related literature. The ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education (ERIC/EECE) is funded by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), U.S. Department of Education. ERIC clearinghouses identify and select documents and journal articles and then prepare entries describing the documents and articles to be incorporated in the ERIC database. Clearinghouses also publish digests, monographs, and other publications; answer questions; and disseminate information on the Internet. http://ericeece.org/

Every Child Ready to Read initiative

Current research on early literacy and brain development indicates that it is never too early to prepare children for success as readers. Parents of newborns, toddlers and preschoolers must be informed of their critical role as their children's first teacher. The Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children have incorporated the latest research into a series of parent and caregiver workshops to provide public libraries with vital tools to help prepare parents for their critical role as their child's first teacher. These tools were developed by Dr. Grover C. Whitehurst and Dr. Christopher Lonigan, well-known researchers in emergent literacy, and have been tested and refined by library demonstrations sites around the country. Resources, handouts and information are available. http://www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaissues/earlylit/earlyliteracy.htm

Good books

Librarians at the Westlake Porter Public Library have put together lists of good books. www.westlakelibrary.org/goodbks.htm

I Am Your Child

Contains information about brain research, developmental information for children age 0 - 3, resources, and more. www.iamyourchild.org/

Idaho Early Childhood Information Clearinghouse

This site provides information about young children, including links to Idaho programs and worldwide information, current practice and research, and child development information. www.idahochild.org

Idaho Public Television

Idaho Public Television is a partner in the Idaho Read to Me project. Of particular interest to parents, caregivers and librarians is their Parents Page (www.idahoptv.org/kids/parents.html) page which contains information on making good TV better for young children, a list of available workshops, along with other useful information. www.idahoptv.org/

Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Plan

This plan and resulting legislation has and continues to shape the way reading is taught in Idaho schools. www.sde.state.id.us/instruct/reading/plan.htm

Idaho Reading Indicator

Scores, parent guides and teacher workbooks are located at www.sde.state.id.us/IRI/.

International Reading Association

The site contains featured articles from Reading Today and the Reading Teacher, information on pending reading legislation, and IRA projects. The Choices booklists are great resources. www.reading.org/

National Center for Family Literacy

The National Center for Family Literacy supports family literacy services through programming, training, research, advocacy and dissemination. The web site has statistical indicators and research findings related to literacy. www.famlit.org/

National Children’s Literacy Web Site

This web site is part of the Soho Center, a nonprofit organization promoting quality child care and education. Find reading tips, ways to incorporate reading aloud into day care setting, and suggestions for learning activities. www.child2000.org/lit-tips.htm

National Commission on Libraries and Information Science's

Resolution in Recognition of The Important Role of Libraries in the Lives of America's Children is located at www.nclis.gov/info/childres.html

Reach Out and Read (ROR)

This is a medically based literacy program, administered through pediatric primary care providers. Their web site has information on early literacy and resources for parents. www.reachoutandread.org/

Read Across America

Read Across America is sponsored by the National Education Association. Celebrate reading on March 2, Dr. Seuss's birthday. nea.org/readacross

Reading is Fundamental

The nation's oldest and largest nonprofit children's literacy organization. Their site has reading lists, tips and activity calendars. www.rif.org

Reading Rockets

One of our favorite web sites. It is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Jam-packed with great information. www.readingrockets.org

Start Early, Finish Strong: How to Help Every Child Become a Reader

Created by the U.S. Department of Education, this publication provides the latest research and recommendations to help all children succeed in reading. http://www.ed.gov/pubs/startearly/

Storyplace: The Children's Digital Library

Storyplace contains online stories and games, booklists and take home activities in English and Spanish. Produced by the Public Library of Charlotte & Mechlenburg County NC. Also by the same public library is Bookhive, (www.bookhive.org) a wonderful resource with great booklists, including multicultural, read alouds and more. www.storyplace.org/

Smart Start

North Carolina’s nationally recognized and award-winning early childhood initiative, Smart Start, is designed to ensure that young children enter school healthy and ready to succeed. Find information for parents on child development, brain development and school readiness. www.smartstart-nc.org/parents/main.htm

U.S. Department of Education

This site houses research, publications and education information. http://www.ed.gov/

Webbing into Literacy

This is a downloadable program designed to provide rural Head Start teachers with materials and instruction. We especially like the list of 101 Best Books. http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/wil/home.html

ZERO TO THREE: National Center For Infants, Toddlers & Families

Concentrates exclusively on the first years of life - the critical period when a child undergoes the greatest human growth and development. Their mission is to help children best navigate their first three years of life in order to develop a solid intellectual, emotional and social foundation. For parents and professionals alike. Drain development as it relates to early literacy is located at www.zerotothree.org/brainwonders/.

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