Kolderup
Most kids learn to read around the time they start going to school, but years of educational research demonstrate that the groundwork for reading success is laid long before the school years start – from birth onward.
If you are a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or otherwise have young children in your life, this may sound intimidating. But the good news is there are lots of easy, fun ways to get your kiddo ready to read. We call these concepts early literacy, and here at Johnson County Public Library — and libraries all over the country — we support early literacy with a passion.
All of our baby, toddler and preschool programs incorporate the early literacy concepts outlined by the Every Child Ready to Read framework. Every Child Ready to Read outlines five different practices – singing, talking, reading, writing and playing – that help develop early literacy skills. Kids who attend our programs benefit from these activities and caregivers actively learn practices they can incorporate into play and learning activities.
At JCPL, we love early literacy fun so much that we planned a whole festival around it. We hope preschool and early elementary students and their families join us on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the new Clark Pleasant Branch Library in Whiteland for our first Read to Me Jamboree. This fun-filled free event starts at 10 a.m. and features nationally-renowned entertainers, giveaways, refreshments and of course, lots of opportunities to learn and enjoy helpful early literacy practices.
Oge Mora, award-winning children’s book author and illustrator, will join us. Her books have received the Caldecott Honor and the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award. Multigenerational families will love her picture book Saturday which follows a child spending the day with her grandmother. She will lead activities and sign books at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The first 50 families at each of Oge Mora’s appearances will receive one of her books.
We’ll also be joined by Jim Gill, the family-favorite musician. Jim’s seven award-winning CDs have been staples of library storytime and family dance parties for years, and his expertise in child development and special needs make his concerts a truly joyous occasion for all ages. Don’t miss Jim’s performance at 3 p.m.
For some kids, the biggest celebrity of the day will be Daniel Tiger who will visit for photo opportunities throughout the day courtesy of our friends at WFYI. Kids have been loving and learning from Daniel Tiger for ten years on his popular PBS Kids program Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Many of us grew up with Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the show whose “Neighborhood of Make-Believe” inspired Daniel Tiger’s show, which is a worthy successor.
This wonderful event would not be possible without the support of 100+ Women Who Care and the Rotary Clubs of Johnson County. Their generosity and participation are so greatly appreciated. The Rotary Clubs’ support is also funding upcoming enhancements to the Clark Pleasant Branch’s nature trail; watch for the installation of fun children’s interactive features along the trail later this fall.
There’s so much else going on at the Read to Me Jamboree, but we don’t have room to tell you about all of it. Visit PageAfterPage.org/jamboree to see the full schedule of events. We’ll see you and your family at the library on Sept. 17.
Christina Kolderup is the Children’s Services Manager, White River Branch of Johnson County Public Library. JCPL staff members share in writing this bi-monthly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
