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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:
Doris by Lo Cole

Skills:
• Vocabulary
• Narrative Skills
• Background Knowledge

Practices:
• Talking
• Reading

Extend the book with tissue paper flower collage!

Book Cover Title:
Thank You by Jarvis

Skills:
• Phonological Awareness
• Print Awareness
• Vocabulary

Practices:
• Talking
• Playing

Extend the book with a gratitude mini journal!
Preschool Events
Tue, Apr 22, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Apr 22, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Apr 22, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Apr 22, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 22, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 22, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Apr 23, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, Apr 24, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Munster - Children's Program Room
This event is full

Fri, Apr 25, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Hobart Branch Library - Children's Area

Sat, Apr 26, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Sat, Apr 26, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 29, 10:15am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Apr 29, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, May 01, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, May 01, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, May 01, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, May 01, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, May 01, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster Branch Library - Children's Area

Tue, May 06, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, May 06, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, May 06, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, May 06, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, May 06, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, May 06, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, May 06, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, May 06, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Thu, May 08, 2:00pm - 3:15pm
Munster - Children's Program Room

Sat, May 10, 9:00am - 9:30am
Woodland Park - 1215 E 45th Ave

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

Mon, May 12, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, May 12, 1:00pm - 1:50pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Mon, May 12, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, May 13, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, May 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, May 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, May 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, May 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, May 13, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, May 13, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, May 13, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, May 14, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, May 14, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Wed, May 14, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Section

Thu, May 15, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

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

Thu, May 15, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Sat, May 17, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, May 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, May 19, 10:30am - 11:30am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, May 20, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, May 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, May 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, May 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, May 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, May 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, May 20, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, May 20, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, May 20, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Family Events
Wed, Apr 23, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Wed, Apr 23, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Apr 26, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room A

Sat, Apr 26, 11:00am - 12:00pm
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Sat, Apr 26, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Sat, May 03, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Meeting Room

Tue, May 06, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, May 06, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, May 10, 9:00am - 9:30am
Woodland Park - 1215 E 45th Ave

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

Mon, May 12, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Wed, May 14, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, May 14, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, May 17, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, May 17, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Dyer-Schererville Branch Library - Children's Area

Tue, May 20, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room