Shaker
Library
Taking Baby Steps to
Becoming a Lifelong Reader
It’s never too early to instill a love of
reading in a child, and attending a Library
story time is a good way to start. Story
time is actually an early literacy class that
provides a special opportunity for babies,
preschoolers, parents, and caregivers to
share books, rhymes, and music, and to
connect with others in a fun, engaging way.
Children’s librarians use strategies
based on current research to foster
important early literacy skills, and they
22 SHAKERONLINE.COM | FALL 2017
match stories to the attention spans
and developmental levels of their young
audiences. These classes include singing,
talking, reading, writing, and playing – all
of which work together to build vocabulary
and letter recognition that children must
master before they begin to read. Children
also acquire the social skills of learning to
listen in a group setting.
Children’s librarians are particular
about the books they choose and select
ones that will capture a child’s imagination
and draw the little listener into the story.
Colorful illustrations and engaging text are
key. Books that are sung, that rhyme, or
are just plain silly have a special appeal to
little ones. They want their young listeners
to discover that books are much more than
words on a page. They are dynamic stories
that come to life when the words are read
aloud and teach youngsters how to
interact with them.
Story times involve using all the
senses and are designed to appeal to a
variety of learning styles. Whether it’s
singing, making music with rhythm
instruments, or dancing with scarves,
there are many ways to enjoy books
and stories.
Fall Story Times
Through December 7:
Nestlings - Birth to 15 months
with a grown-up:
10 am Mondays at Main Library
10 am Tuesdays at Woods Branch
Fledglings - 15 to 24 months
with an adult:
11 am Mondays at Main Library
11 am Tuesdays at Woods Branch
Terrific Twos - 2-year-olds
with an adult:
10 am Tuesdays at Main Library
10 am Thursdays at Woods Branch
Stories for 3, 4, and 5-year-olds
with an adult:
11 am Tuesdays at Main Library
1:30 pm Thursdays at Woods Branch
Stay Informed:
For the latest news and information
about Shaker Heights Public Library,
visit our website at shakerlibrary.org.
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at ShakerHeightsPublicLibrary
and on Twitter @ShakerLibrary.