Age Range: 3-10 (Pre-K through Elementary School)
This website, provided by the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, offers free, online, multi-media stories along with terrific printable activity kits.
The Elementary Library contains 6 online stories. When you get to the site you’ll see the menu where you can click on and watch/listen to the “Topsy-Turvy Tale,” print out the matching “Print-out Activity,” and get a “Suggested Reading” list of other books themed around the story’s topic.
Because the library is focused on early literacy, The Preschool Library is a much more extensive resource. There are 15 online stories accompanied by “Online Activities,” printable “Take-Home Activities,” a “Suggested Reading List” of other books themed around the story topic, and a printable “Parent’s Activity” to help mom and dad extend the learning.
Not only that, the library offers early literacy take-home kits to its patrons that contain picture books, activities, and other fun items like puppets or puzzles. While you can’t get the kit unless you’re a patron of the library, you can get the FREE Printable Activity Resource Booklets for over 30 themes from Boats to Zoos here.
Just click on the theme of your choice and a new page opens explaining the “Kit Contents” – making it easy for you to assemble your own. Plus, it includes all kinds of poems, fingerplays, snack ideas, activities, and arts and crafts instructions to create a fun reading experience for your child.