By Rebecca M. Giles & Jeannette Fresne
Public libraries have a longstanding tradition of supporting families, childcare providers, preschool teachers, and communities to help every child enter school ready to learn to read. PLA’s and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)’s Every Child Ready to Read1 (ECRR) initiative clearly defines the role of public libraries in supporting parents and caregivers in developing the early literacy skills of children from birth to age five. Educating parents on the importance of early literacy and showing them how to nurture pre-reading skills at home has become a primary focus of storytime at many libraries. Incorporating movement and music into picture book read-alouds provides the perfect opportunity to facilitate the development of early literacy skills through enjoyable, engaging experiences that also instill a love for books and reading.