Print Resources

Early Litereacy Storytimes @yourLibrary, by Saroj Nadkarni From a a librarian or story time presenter's perspective, the book Early Literacy Storytimes @ Your Library: Partnering with Caregivers for Success by Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting, Pamela Martin-Díaz, Pamela Martin-diaz is probably the single most important source to understand and nurture early literacy skills. It is comprehensive, well-documented, and explains in detail how to share the "best practices" taught in American Library Association approved library media programs.

We highly recommend that caregivers and parents obtain a copy from their local library (or interlibrary loan). Why not take a look at how highly trained the professionals work with children and share these skills.

Books

Adams, M., B. Foorman, I. Lundberg, & T. Heeler. 1998. Phonemic Awareness in Young Children: A Classroom Curriculum. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
Baker, R. Lynn (2017) Creating Literacy-Based Programs for Children: Lesson plans and Printable Resources for K-5
Campana, Kathleen. 2016. Supercharged Storytimes: An Early Literacy Planning and Assessment Guide
Cleaver, Samantha. (2019). Read With Me: Engaging Your Young Child in Cctive Reading
Dickinson, Davie, ed. 2001. Beginning Literacy with Language: Young Children Learning at Home and at School. P.H. Brookes Publishing.
Fox, Mem. 2001. Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. Harcourt.
Haas, Monty and Laurie Joy. 2000. Read It Aloud: A Parent's Guide to Sharing Books With Young Children. The Reading Railroad.
Hauser, Jill Frankel. 2000. Wow! I'm Reading!: Fun Activities to Make Reading Happen. Williamson Publishing.
Hohmann, M. 2002. Fee, Fie, Phonemic Awareness: 130 PrereadingActivitiesfor Preschoolers. Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope Press
MacMillan, Kathy, 2016). More Storytime Magic
Maddigan, Beth. 2003. The Big Book of Stories, Songs, and Sing-alongs: Programs for Babies, Toddlers, and Families. Libraries Unlimited.
Morrow, L., & L. Gambrell. 2004. Using Children's Literature in Preschool: Comprehending and Enjoying Books. Newirk, DE: International Reading Association
Opitz, M. 2000. Rhymes & Reasons: Literature and Language Play for Phonological Awareness. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Owocki, G. 1999. Literacy Through Play. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Raines, S., & R. Canady. 1989. Story Stretchers: Activities to Expand Children's Favorite Books. Mt. Rainier, MD: Gryphon House, Inc.
Parlakian, Rebecca. 2003. Before the ABCs: Promoting School Readiness in Infants and Toddlers.
Robb, L. 2003. Literacy Links: Practical Strategies to Develop the Emergent Literacy At. Risk Children Need. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Roskos, K., P. Tabors, & L. Lenhart. 2004. Oral Language and Early Literacy in Preschool: Talking, Reading, and Writing. Newirk, DE: International Reading Association.
Schickedanz, J. 1999. Much More than the ARCs; The Early Stages of Reading and Writing. Washington DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Schickedanz, J ., & R. Casbergue. 2004. Writing in Preschool: Learning to Orchestrate Meaning and Marks. Newirk, DE: International Reading Association. Smith, M.& D.
Dickinson. 2002. Early Language & Literacy Classroom Observation (ELLCO) Toolkit. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
Shore, Penny A., et.al. 2002. How Your Baby & Child Learns: From Newborn to Age 3. Parent Kit Corp.
Strickland, D., & J. Schickedanz. 2004. Learning About Print in Preschool: Working with Letters, Words, and Beginning Links with Phonemic Awareness. Newirk, DE: International Reading Association.
Vukelich, C. , & J. Christie. 2004. Building a F oundation for Preschool Literacy: Effective Instructionfor Children's Reading and Writing Development. Newirk, DE International Reading Association.

Downloadable, Printable Resources (.pdf)

Bibliography: Early Literacy - A Gift That Lasts a Lifetime. Want to learn more about early literacy, its impact on success in school, and education reform? Here are some of the published works that Bill Breitsprecher used to put together he presentation, "Early Literacy: A Gift That Lasts a Lifetime" for UW-Whitewater's 2008 Early Childhood Conference.
A Child Becomes a Reader: Birth Through Preschool (35 pages). When does a child learn to read? Many people might say, “in kindergarten or first grade.” But researchers have told us something very important. Learning to read and write can start at home, long before children go to school. Children can start down the road to becoming readers from the day they are born.
Baby Storytime Bibliography (13 pages). Great collection of suggested books for different types of early literacy storytime activites and fun with babies.
Books Recommendations (Elmhurst Public Library). Great set of handouts, each one explains what to look for when choosing books for each age-group, provides tips for reading to children, and suggests additional resources for children and parents.

Babies: 0-11 Months (2 pages)
One-Year-Olds (4 pages)
Two-Year-Olds (4 pages)
Three-Year-Olds (4 pages)
Four-Year-Olds (4 pages)
Five-Year-Olds (4 pages)

Children's Readiness for School and School's Readiness for Children (33 pages). This comprehensive set of resources includes references to Web pages and online studies about Promising Practices and Model Programs, Federal School Readiness and Resource Programs, and Research and Reports on School Readiness.
Dads and Early Literacy (2 pages). Educators, social service workers, and family service professionals frequently look for new ways to aid in the educational achievement of young children. According to Dr. Glen Palm, “Fathers are an important and understudied resource for promoting literacy with young children.” The following list describes 10 steps for helping fathers to become stronger advocates and role-models for the literacy development of their young children.
Developmental Milestones of Early Literacy (1 page). Here's a quick review of motor and cognitive skills that help develop early literacy along with suggestions on how parents can help.
Early Learning Initiative for Wisconsin Public Libraries (243 pages). Developed in response to Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster’s challenge to identify ways that all divisions in the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction can help implement her New Wisconsin Promise. (The full text of the Promise is included as Appendix 1 of this document.) The intended outcome of this initiative is not to get children reading, writing and doing math “early” or “faster.” Rather the outcome is to help assure that all children start school ready to learn.
Early Literacy: An Introduction (1 page). Early literacy skills are what a child needs to know before he/she learns to read and write. The goals of early literacy are to increase the frequency and intention with which parents and caregivers: talk to their children, share books with their children, and bring their children to the library
Early Literacy Checklist (19 pages). Here is a a reflective self-assessment enabling programs and specialists working with young children evaluate to what extent they support literacy in young children support literacy within families.
Early Literacy Checklist: Classroom (2 pages). This chart identifies some of the traits and practices seen in high-quality early childhood environments. Early Literacy Checklist: Home. This chart identifies some of the traits and practices seen in high-quality early childhood environments at home.
Early Literacy Experiences in the Home (2 pages). Family participation in literacy activities provides valuable developmental experiences for young children. In addition to developing an interest in reading, children who are read to, told stories, and visit the library may start school better prepared to learn. Engaging young children in literacy activities at home also enables parents and other family members to become active participants in their children ís education at an early age.
Early Literacy Learning: A Professional Development Imperative (16 pages). One of the most important things that the…training does is to help providers to see that books are not just for story time anymore. They begin to understand the connection between early literacy and other developmental processes and come to realize that books can enhance every component of the early childhood curriculum.”
Early Literacy Outcomes and Parent Involvement (100 pages). This study examined parental involvement of their child’s early literacy skill development in settings of child care centers and preschools. Do parent involvement interventions related to early literacy influence child early literacy outcomes? This intervention study provided parents of preschool children with early literacy knowledge to enhance their child’s early literacy skill development.
Early Literacy Profile: An Assessment Instrument (46 pages). The Early Literacy Profile is an assessment designed to provide information about students' progress in various aspects of literacy development—reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It is organized around the four purposes of language use outlined in the Learning Standards for English Language Arts (New York): 1. Information and understanding, 2. Literary response and expression, 3. Critical analysis and evaluation, and 4. Social interaction.
Early Literacy: www.zerotothree.org (2 pages). Early language and literacy (reading and writing) development begins in the first three years of life and is closely linked to a child's earliest experiences with books and stories. The interactions that young children have with such literacy materials as books, paper, and crayons, and with the adults in their lives are the building blocks for language, reading and writing development.
Effective Elements of Early Literacy: Kenny’s Story (19 pages). A fictional account of a young African American boy who attends kindergarten in a large, urban public school, this account describes the nature and content of some of his early literacy experiences, beginning with a “picture” of Kenny and his friends engaging in typical emergent literacy behaviors during free play in their classroom.
Emergent Literacy: Books and Materials for Babies, Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers (22 pages). A comprehensive set of resources - carefully selected by the Library of Michigan.
Essentials of Early Literacy Instruction: Great Expectations (8 pages). The cumulative and growing research on literacy development in young children is rapidly becoming a body of knowledge that can serve as the basis for the everyday practice of early literacy education.
Every Child Ready to Read: Six Pre-Reading Skills (2 pages). Your child can start learning from birth! Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write. Research shows that children get ready to read years before they start school. You can help your baby and toddler learn important skills now so they can become good readers.
Helping Your Child Become a Reader (72 pages). Years of research show clearly that children are more likely to succeed in learning when their families actively support them. When you and other family members read with your children, help them with homework, talk with their teachers, and participate in school or other learning activities, you give your children a tremendous advantage.
How to Read to Young Children (2 pages). When you read to your child, his brain cells are turned on and begin to make connections. As he looks at the picture on the page and hears the words you are reading, his brain is hard at work. And if you can talk about how the story is like something in your child’s life, that’s even better. Hearing favorite stories over and over also helps strengthen brain connections. Research shows how you share books with a child is even more important than how often you do it.
Improving Early Literacy of Preschool Children: A Handbook for Prekindergarten Educators (24 pages). This handbook arose from the Texas Instruments Foundation’s experience in carrying out the dream of TI’s late CEO, Jerry Junkins, to create effective early intervention programs for young children.
Latino Early Literacy Development: National Council of La Raza (88 pages). Researchers, analysts, and activists from all points of the political and ideological spectrum recognize that increasing the educational achievement of Latino students is the single most important thing we can do to improve the socioeconomic status of Hispanics. Here's a comprehensive report about key issues and strategies for success.
Learning to Read (210 pages). This is a book that describes the process of learning to talk, read and write. It explores activities to develop these important life-skills. This is a photocopy, and it is the best quality scan available.
Preschool Picks: Books for Reading Aloud to your Children (43 pages). A great set of suggestion books and reading tips too. Compiles by Partnerships for Inclusion, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Read, Speak, Sing to Your Baby: How Parents Can Promote Literacy From Birth (2 pages). Learning to read starts from birth. Newborn babies learn how to read signals all around them by listening to voices, watching faces and reading body language. Babies need to hear and use sounds, sound patterns and spoken language. This helps prepare them to eventually learn to read printed words.
Research in Early Literacy (72 pages). This document is a fairly complete survey of some important research on early literacy and child development.
Singing and Songwriting Supports Early Literacy (4 pages). Kids love to sing and you can have a lot of fun writing songs with them. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Six Skills Your Child Needs to Learn to Read Starting at Birth (1 page). Here is a colorful bubble diagram that summarizes early literacy skills.
Steps of Early Literacy (2 pages). This colorful chart identifies each step of a child's development in terms of motor and cognitive skills and provides helpful suggestions for parents to nurture early literacy.
Storytime Early Literacy Observation Checklists

Early Talkers (0 - 2 years)
Talkers (2 - 3 years)
Pre-Readers (4 - 5 years)

Storytime Planning Sheets

Babies (0 - 1 1/2 years)
Toddlers (1 - 3 years)
Pre-Readers/Early Readers (3-6 years)

Storytimes and Early Literacy (4 pages).
Ways Technology Supports Early Literacy (2 pages). There are many benefits to using technology as a tool to support early literacy. The use of technology should be based on the instructional objective(s) being taught and should enhance children’s learning. Using developmentally appropriate software and Internet resources that support instructional outcomes will provide opportunities to develop higher-level reasoning and problem solving skills.
Understanding Early Literacy (4 pages). Literacy has its beginnings when a child is born and develops through the uncounted experiences of everyday life. From the earliest interactions with others, a child hears and absorbs language. Babies respond to the tone of words spoken by their parents and others who cuddle and care for them. Language development is closely tied to the individual relationships and early experiences of the child and the emotional quality these experiences carry.
Ways to Build Early Literacy (1 page). This simple list identifies some simple ways to help a child get ready to read.