Children’s Activity Calendar: November 2018
There’s so much to be thankful for this November! Make it a month to remember in your library with fun children’s activities, book suggestions, craft projects and more!
Storytime
Children’s Activity Calendar: October 2018
This October, scare up some tasty fun in your library with this children’s activity calendar from Matthew Winner. Get ideas for delicious celebrations like National Pizza Month and National Cookie Month, including book suggestions, craft projects, and more!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: October 2018
Give parents a treat this October with early literacy activities they can do at home with their little ones. Celebrate fun days like Homemade Cookies Day and Color Day with crafts, math and science activities, books, songs and more!
Children’s Activity Calendar: September 2018
The September calendar features fun children’s activity and book ideas to kick the school year off right in your library. Celebrate International Literacy Month, Library Card Sign-up Month and more!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: September 2018
Give parents easy early literacy activities that they can do at home with their little ones this autumn. Get fun ideas for crafts, math and science activities, books, songs and more!
Children’s Activity Calendar: August 2018
Not only is August Back to School Month, it’s also Family Fun Month and National Sandwich Month. And days like Friendship Day and National Book Lovers Day offer even more opportunities for fun library activities for kids!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: August 2018
Summer may be winding down, but you can still help parents and caregivers keep kids entertained this August with simple and fun early literacy activities that celebrate Friendship Day, National S’mores Day, National Dog Day and more!
Children’s Activity Calendar: July 2018
Matthew Winner shares book suggestions and children’s activity ideas for a deliciously fun July at your library! Not only is it National Ice Cream Month, but it’s also National Hot Dog Month, National Blueberry Month, and National Picnic Month. Is your stomach growling yet?
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: July 2018
Give parents simple early literacy activities they can use to keep their kids learning this summer. The July calendar offers craft ideas, math and science activities, book suggestions, songs and fun celebration ideas for National Ice Cream Day, National Dance Day and more!
6+ Ways to Celebrate Dr. Seuss
Oh, the places kids can go in the library! Bring the simple joy of whimsical rhyming adventures to your library this summer with these Dr. Seuss activities, passive programs, decorations and much more.
Children’s Activity Calendar: June 2018
Ready to have a great summer at your library? The June calendar is full of fun activities for kids and book ideas for summery celebrations like Great Outdoors Month, Great American Picnic Day and more!
Early Literacy Activities Calendar: June 2018
Help parents build early literacy skills at home this summer! You’ll find ideas like celebrating Best Friends Day along with craft activities, math and science projects, books and more!
Children’s Activity Calendar: May 2018
Grab a book that makes you grin – May is Get Caught Reading Month and National Smile Month! So gather your favorite books and get ready to get caught at the library!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: May 2018
Give parents fun and easy ways to build early literacy skills at home. The May calendar is filled with crafts, math and science activities, book suggestions, songs and more!
Children’s Activity Calendar: April 2018
We dare you to try to keep a straight face this April — it’s National Humor Month! Get ready to laugh it up at your library with a full calendar of engaging spring activities for kids.
Women’s History Month: Celebrating the Accomplishments of All Women
Share the inspirational stories and amazing accomplishments of notable women this March — and all year round!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: April 2018
Make parents and little ones smile with lots of early literacy activities they can do together at home to celebrate April Fools’ Day, National Pet Day, National Superhero Day and more!
Children’s Activity Calendar: March 2018
Encourage students to let their artistic sides shine with March activities that celebrate Youth Art Month, Music in Our Schools Month and more!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: March 2018
Brighten parents’ days with a month of springtime early literacy activities, crafts, books and more they can share at home with their little ones.
Children’s Activity Calendar: February 2018
February is the month of hearts and valentines — but it’s also the time to celebrate Library Lovers’ Month with books, crafts and engaging activities that kids will adore.
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: February 2018
Help parents capture their little ones’ hearts with a month of early literacy activities they can do at home together in February.
Children’s Activity Calendar: January 2018
Usher in 2018 with engaging January activities, fun celebrations and book suggestions that will get the new year off to an inspired start!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: January 2018
Help parents get 2018 off to a great start with a month of early literacy activities, including math and science activities, art projects and more!
Children’s Activity Calendar: December 2017
The holiday spirit is in the air — and in your library! It’s Read a New Book Month, so grab a brand new book and a tasty treat, and get ready for a sweet December!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: December 2017
Help parents bring winter cheer into their homes with a month of early literacy activities, crafts and books they can share with their little ones in December.
Children’s Activity Calendar: November 2017
This calendar is full of November activities for kids, plus ideas for celebrations such as Dia de los muertos, King Tut Day, Sandwich Day and more!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: November 2017
Give parents and caregivers an exciting month full of early literacy activities to share with children at home during the month of November!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: October 2017
Candy corn and pumpkins galore — fall is in full swing and the early literacy development opportunities for parents and caregivers are bountiful!
Spreading Kindness Activity Guide
Use these kindness activities to help students (and adults!) find ways to spread some joy around their library, their school and their community.
Children’s Activity Calendar: September 2017
Welcome autumn and Library Card Sign-up Month with a full month of September activities and book suggestions that will keep kids coming back to the library!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: September 2017
Inspire parents to have fun with little ones this month with fun early literacy activities like going on nature walks, celebrating Teddy Bear Day and more!
Children’s Activity Calendar: August 2017
Get ready to celebrate Back to School Month and Family Fun Month, plus a host of holidays like Book Lovers Day and S’mores Day, with fun library activities!
5 Ways to Inspire Creativity With Pete the Cat
Get the wheels of creativity turning in your young learners’ minds with Pete the Cat activities that get them thinking, writing, movin’ and groovin’!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: July 2017
Summer is in full swing, and it’s the perfect time to give parents a month’s worth of fun early literacy activities they can share with their kids at home!
3 Easy Ways to Promote Early Literacy and Brain Development in Your Library
Too Small to Fail’s campaign “Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing” provides you with early literacy resources to help you further your goals of empowering parents and enriching the lives of young children.
10 Ways to Fight for Social Justice in Storytime
Libraries are a welcoming and safe place for everyone and you can help ensure this message gets across to your patrons from the very beginning. Learn ways you can practice inclusivity in storytime and throughout your library.
10 Diverse Children’s Books for Your Library Storytime
Head of Youth Services and #weneeddiversebooks advocate Angie Manfredi gives you 10 children’s book picks to diversify your storytimes.
Children’s Activity Calendar: June 2017
Celebrate the beginning of summer with June activities and books that will get kids excited to spend vacation time at the library!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: June 2017
Send parents home with a myriad of creative ideas they can do with their kids to build early literacy skills all through the month of June.
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: May 2017
Support learning at home with this free early literacy resource! Kids and parents will love making spring crafts, doing simple science experiments and more.
Children’s Activity Calendar: May 2017
Get caught having fun at the library this May with book suggestions and spring activities to celebrate Children’s Book Week, Star Wars Day and more!
5 Earth Day Activities for the Library
Celebrate our planet and promote conservation with fun Earth Day activities that will have your whole classroom or library thinking green!
Children’s Activity Calendar: April 2017
This month’s calendar is jam-packed with April activities and book suggestions that will get kids excited to visit the library!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: April 2017
Give parents a full month of fun and simple early literacy activities that they can share with their kids to boost learning at home.
Mo Willems Writing Activity: Thank-you Notes
Combine this fun writing activity with Mo Willems’ “The Thank You Book” and you’ve got the perfect way to encourage children to express gratitude.
Children’s Activity Calendar: March 2017
March is the month to welcome warmer weather and celebrate Women’s History Month and Youth Art Month with engaging children’s activities, books and crafts.
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: March 2017
Parents and kids will love celebrating days like St. Patrick’s Day and Puppy Day with simple early literacy activities they can do at home together every day.
Connecting Schools and Public Libraries Through Data
Measuring the impact of programs and services is a challenge, but it can be done. Learn how a library partnership and data sharing can get you started.
Children’s Activity Calendar: February 2017
Show the love in your library this February with heartwarming books, feel-good crafts and fun library activities from Matthew Winner!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: February 2017
February is filled to the brim with early literacy activities and books inspired by Valentine’s Day and more. Spread the love!
Children’s Activity Calendar: January 2017
Matthew Winner of All the Wonders is here to help you get ready to ring in the new year at your library with January activities and books that are sure to put big smiles on kids’ faces!
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: December 2016
Kids and parents will love getting cozy and sharing simple early literacy activities like wintery crafts, heart-warming reads and delicious treats!
4 Steps to Evaluating Your Collection for Diverse Books + Book Suggestions
Learn how to evaluate your collection for diversity! Get diverse books and multicultural author suggestions, plus activities to help create a culture of inclusivity.
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: November 2016
Send parents home filled with gratitude for these simple early literacy activities they can do with their kids every day of the month!
Children’s Activity Calendar: November 2016
There’s something to be thankful for every day of the month! Get your fill of November activities and books for Thanksgiving, Family Stories Month and more.
5 Election Activities for Your Library
Vote for Pete! During this presidential election season, use these 5 engaging activities to help your students understand how the election process works.
Best Practices for Sharing Digital Picture Books With Young Children
Have you ever wondered what to tell parents and caregivers when they ask “Is it ok to share digital picture books with my child?” Early childhood expert Elizabeth Stilwell helps answer this question and shares advice and resources for librarians and caregivers.
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: October 2016
Give this October calendar full of simple, fun ideas to parents for an at-home literacy resource to share with their little goblins — all treats, no tricks!
How a Librarian and Elephant & Piggie Changed My Life + Mo Willems Library Activities
Engaging a reluctant reader can be a challenge, but Mo Willems is here to help! Supplement his engaging books with these Elephant and Piggie activities.
Are You Helping to Spread This Important Early Literacy Message in Your Library?
Reading aloud every day can have a big impact on a child’s future success. Join Read Aloud 15 MINUTES and share this literacy program with your community.
Children’s Activity Calendar: September 2016
Welcome fall with a bushel of exciting September activities! This month is Library Card Sign-up Month, the perfect time to show off all your library has to offer.
Early Literacy Activity Calendar: September 2016
Hand this September calendar full of early literacy activities to parents and you’re giving them a valuable tool for sharing learning with their kids every day.
Here’s a Library Program That’s Helping to Boost Literacy Skills and Self-confidence
Support young patrons’ literacy development and confidence through artistic expression with The Picture Show — an easy program for any library or classroom to implement.
Deliver Diverse Storytimes With Multicultural Activities From the Experts
Kendra Jones and Cory Eckert, creators of Storytime Underground, share multicultural activities, books, songs, rhymes and resources for creating diverse storytimes.
Helping Teen Parents Teach Early Literacy Skills With The Very Ready Reading Program
Four County Career Center has found the perfect tool for supporting teen parents in teaching early literacy skills — The Very Ready Reading Program.
How Iowa’s Libraries Are Getting Kids Ready for Kindergarten
The State Library and Iowa Library Association work hard to provide continuing early literacy education and resources for librarians to support Iowa’s youngest learners.
How Reach Out and Read and Libraries Can Team Up to Boost Early Literacy
By collaborating with Reach Out and Read clinics to improve early literacy from birth, your library can have a greater impact on the lives of the children in your community.
How to Get Started With Bilingual Storytimes
Want to create a bilingual storytime, but aren’t sure where to start? Use these tips, songs, books and apps to reach diverse populations in your community — even if you’re not bilingual!
Books Build Better Brains: How Promoting Literacy Is Key to Early Brain & Child Development
Human relationships and interactions play a key role during the first thousand days of a child’s life. Learn from Dr. Navsaria, founding medical director of Reach Out and Read Wisconsin, about the importance of early literacy, how toxic stress and early adversity can lead to lifelong issues and some key concepts about literacy development.
Children’s Activity Calendar: February 2016
There’s something for everyone to love at the library this month — share February activities surrounding Valentine’s Day, Black History Month and more!
Children’s Activity Calendar: January 2016
Ring in 2016 with educational, inspirational and tasty January activities and event ideas — there’s something for everyone in the library this month!
Dancing Off the Page: Adding Movement to Storytime
Get moving! Promote multimodal literacy skills with movement in your storytimes and set little learners up for reading success.
Children’s Activity Calendar: December 2015
Prepare for a flurry of fun to wrap up 2015! Enjoy plenty of engaging (and delicious!) December activities to draw the crowds into your library.
6 Myths About Diversity in Early Childhood Storytimes (and How We Can Read Diverse Books in Our Library’s Storytime Now)
Our population is becoming more and more diverse, with the youngest generation leading the way. We owe it to all our readers to offer diverse books during storytime, deepening the connections we are making and furthering our goal of building a solid reading foundation.
Children’s Activity Calendar: November 2015
We’re not talking turkey! There are plenty of creative November activities you can play up to encourage more people to check out your library. Have a look.
How Will You Make Your Mark on International Dot Day?
International Dot Day celebrates mentorship and its power to foster self-discovery, creativity and courage. How will you inspire and encourage this year?
Get Ready for Back-to-school
It’s time for some back-to-school cool. See essential back-to-school supplies, products and programming ideas chosen especially for libraries.
How to Get Ready for Back-to-school
It’s time for some back-to-school cool. Get great new ideas on collaboration, programming and essential back-to-school supplies.
Children’s Activity Calendar: September 2015
You’re in the fall swing of things and now is a great time to showcase your library’s many colors and programs. Get ideas for September activities, holidays and observances.
Learn the Secrets to Successful Sensory Storytimes
Children with developmental disabilities can struggle in traditional storytimes. As a result, their caretakers may avoid bringing them to library programs. Find out how you can help all families feel welcome and address children’s learning needs with sensory storytimes.
Children’s Activity Calendar: May 2015
May is the perfect time to flex your reading muscles and reach even more readers with great new ideas, displays and resources! Catch up on all the holidays happening in May 2015.
Children’s Activity Calendar: March 2015
Let your creativity blossom as you celebrate March holidays and observances in your library. Get great ideas for Dr. Seuss’ birthday, Youth Art Month, National Craft Month and more.
Secrets to Selecting High-quality Storytime Books
With countless classic tales and tens of thousands of new children’s books published each year, selecting books for storytime can seem overwhelming. We’ve got just the fix. Gain helpful hints for choosing read-aloud books for your next storytime.
4 Ways Art in Storytime Makes Kids Smarter
From encouraging fine motor movement to expanding vocabularies, art plays an important role in strengthening the skills our children need to succeed in the 21st century. Learn more about the benefits of incorporating art into storytimes and get 10 tips for talking to kids about art.
Children’s Activity Calendar: April 2015
Spring is in the air! Get crowd-pleasing and library-friendly ideas for April Fools’ Day, National Library Week and more. You may even learn about holidays and observances you didn’t know existed!
Children’s Activity Calendar: February 2015
February is known for Valentine’s Day, but there’s so much more to do this month! Get great ideas for your library programming, such as celebrating Library Lovers Month, Black History Month and more.
8 Tips for Planning Successful Mixed-age Storytimes
In an ideal world, libraries would be able to offer an array of storytimes designed to meet the varying developmental needs of young children at different ages and stages. But, this isn’t always the case. Get tips on creating successful mixed-age storytimes for kids.
How Using Apps in Storytime Can Be a Good Thing
Children today are born as digital natives, surrounded by cell phones, televisions, tablets, computers and other media. See how one Youth Services Librarian is using storytimes to help parents find and use the best apps for early literacy learning.
Why You Should be Promoting Playtime at Your Library
According to researchers, children’s participation in unstructured playtime is crucial to laying a foundation for literacy success. Learn how to maximize the positive effects of play through storytimes and parent involvement.
Children’s Activity Calendar: January 2015
Did you know that there is an Appreciate a Dragon Day in January? You do now. View the January calendar for more fun kids activities and programming ideas.
Raising Healthy Readers
Raise healthy readers! See how one doctor uses well-child visits to build early literacy skills, providing books to children and encouraging parents to be active in their children’s learning.
Boost Early Literacy Skills Through Storytimes
See how librarians can promote early literacy skills through enriched storytimes. During these storytimes, librarians model activities that parents and caregivers can practice at home with their children to boost reading readiness.
Children’s Activity Calendar: December 2014
Celebrate the season and December’s many special days with book suggestions and holiday activities for kids. You won’t believe all the ideas that await you.
4 Simple Storytelling Tips to Teach Parents
Learn about the benefits of sharing stories and how you can model best practices for caregivers. Plus — get our caregiver handout, “10 Tips for Sharing Stories.”
Children’s Activity Calendar: November 2014
Fall into some great ideas for kids, teens and adults alike with our November activity calendar! You’ll benefit from new angles to engage readers and your community with your library.
Want to Take a Powerful Approach to Storytime?
Sue McCleaf Nespeca, a youth services librarian and early childhood education expert, has traveled across the country to train librarians in research-based best practices for early literacy learning. During her travels, she heard a common plea: How could librarians incorporate best practices into storytimes? Learn more about how Sue turned research into action with The Very Ready Reading Program.
The New Storytime for Kids: Putting Research into Action
Sound familiar? Crucial need for family literacy services. Limited resources. See how a new storytime for kids approach was the solution for a Washington library.
Enriching Early Literacy Storytimes: Small Steps, Big Results
Did you know the #1 determinant of successful language and literacy development is parental involvement? Learn what small steps you and parents can take to yield big results for children.
The Very Ready Reading Program
Looking for a research-based early literacy solution? Hear about the science behind The Very Ready Program, how to maximize children’s brain development and 7 ways to easily get parents involved.
A New Approach to Early Literacy
Sharing books and language with children is critical to preparing them for reading success. Through purposeful daily interactions, parents have a tremendous impact on their child’s reading readiness.
A Library Refresh Supports New Ways of Learning
Hawthorne Elementary’s library was only 10 years old when they realized that if they wanted to stay relevant amidst rapid change, they needed to take a good look at their space, resources and what their students and faculty needed. It was time to refresh their space.