Developing language and literacy through storytimes

CHICAGO — Recognizing that informed, caring adults are critical to supporting early literacy development, “Storytimes for Everyone! Developing Young Children’s Language and Literacy,” published by ALA Editions, builds on the concepts introduced in the second edition of the Every Child Ready to Read® initiative to offer practical suggestions for incorporating early literacy information and strategies into the storytime setting. Early literacy experts Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting and Pamela Martin-Díaz, coauthors of the best-selling ”Early Literacy Storytimes @ your library®: Partnering with Caregivers for Success,” demonstrate how parents and caregivers, children with their eyes and minds wide open and the storytime presenter can come together to create a storytime that is informative and, most of all, fun. Presenting a variety of songs, projects and activities, their book:

• Explains how young children develop knowledge critical for reading comprehension;
• Discusses five vital storytime practices (singing, talking, reading, writing and playing) that adults can be taught to use at home;
• Presents dozens of storytimes for babies/toddlers, twos and preschoolers that engage adults while keeping their children in focus;
• Addresses how young bilingual children acquire language, the use of science and math in storytimes, and other current research.

Ghoting is an early childhood literacy consultant. A children's librarian for more than 30 years, she is one of the national trainers for the Every Child Ready to Read @ your library program, an early literacy initiative co-sponsored by the Public Library Association (PLA) and the Association for Library Service to Children (ASCLA). Her website is earlylit.net.

Martin-Díaz is a branch manager and early literacy coordinator at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Ind. She conducts storytimes in child-care centers and works with community groups to help get the word out about the importance of having all of our children enter school ready to learn. As a trustee of the Fort Wayne Community Schools Board from 2006 to 2010, she became keenly aware of the key role that early literacy plays in positive outcomes for children.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5418 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.

Related Links

"Storytimes for Everyone! Developing Young Children’s Language and Literacy"

"Early Literacy Storytimes @ your library®: Partnering with Caregivers for Success"

"Every Child Ready for School: Helping Adults Inspire Young Children to Learn"