Local library programs introduce children to reading at a very early age
When you think of all the time you spent at the library as a child or young adult, you probably recall the rows and rows of books with small desks hidden throughout where you could stop and read a bit as you chose your next fantasy. It was quiet, maybe even felt like very serious business.
But, Friday morning at the Healdsburg Library, young children toted in by their parents find a spot on the floor and begin to play. It gets loud with the noise of Healdsburg’s littlest residents — babies and toddlers at the library ready for story time.
It’s called “Wee Read” and it’s led by Children’s Librarian Charity Anderson. They sing songs to puppets, narrate poems to little felt storybook cutouts, dance with scarves, and yes, even sit quietly and listen to a story.
Rows of board books (as opposed to paper books, which wouldn’t last long with this age bracket) line the table tops, and are available for the children and parents to browse.
“The attention span of children this age is very small so it is important to switch it up and to make it fun so patrons keep returning,” Anderson said. “Also, Wee Read is a way of sharing and modeling for the parents the types of things they can do at home with their children. We use music to introduce children to classic children’s songs as well as new contemporary songs, but this is also an important piece in developing early literacy skills.”
The librarians aren’t babysitters, said Sebastopol Children’s Librarian Tiffany Bronzan, parents play an active role in engaging their children with reading at a young age and introducing their children to the language.
“There are three most important things: Reading to them, talking to them and singing to them,” said Bronzan.
“I feel like it’s my job, with storytime, to show parents that it’s okay, you should be singing. Part of the reason why we do the same songs every single week, is that kids love repetition, but also because the parents are learning it and they can go home and do it with their children at home.”
Bronzan said it’s important that children be introduced to reading at a very young age, before they can read or even talk.
“It’s okay to read Dr. Seuss and stop halfway because it’s too long or skip pages. It’s important to let babies try to turn the pages, that’s why we have really sturdy board books. It’s important when reading to point things out and ask questions, way before they can even answer. It’s learning a part of language — ask a question, pause, then answer for them if they are too young to answer.”
The importance of reading to children is something the librarians are very passionate about.
“Children who are read to from the beginning when they are babies not only will develop a strong vocabulary, but will develop other skills, such as listening and comprehension,” Anderson said. “The baby will develop a familiarity with words and rhyme patterns which will later help them communicate as they begin to imitate these words and patterns. Reading will also help them learn more about the world around them, begin to develop their imagination, and begin to develop their early literacy skills. This will also instill the love of reading and create lifelong readers.
Both Bronzan and Anderson said that while they have many, many favorite books, the age old classic Mother Goose tops their lists.
“Mother Goose introduces the rhythm of the language,” Bronzan said. “It’s really important and people aren’t reading it any more.”
“Hickory, Dickory, Dock,” “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “Little Miss Muffet” and “Old Mother Hubbard” are just a few of the Mother Goose classics the librarians would like to see children reading.
Both Anderson and Bronzan have young children themselves and have honed their craft with their own kids.
“I am really lucky to have a 14-month-old baby girl and a 3-and-a-half wild little boy who loves books. It is the one thing that calms him down. When he is having a meltdown or is totally over the top, books will bring him back to the planet,” Anderson said. “I started reading to him when he was days old. What is great, is that I get to test out books on both of them and find out what works and what does not, although all children are different and like different types of books. My knowledge of board books and picture books has grown tremendously since having children.”
Libraries throughout Sonoma County have children’s programs. Many offer the Wee Read program weekly, a preschool storytime and for beginning readers, an opportunity to read to a dog where “children come in and read to a therapy-trained dog so they can practice their reading skills out loud to someone who’s not going to judge them,” Bronzan said.
This summer, libraries will also offer programs while school is out to encourage children to keep reading.
“We have our summer reading program that runs from June 4th – July 28th. There is a younger program that is called the Rubber Ducky Club and is specifically for children ages 0-3. Parents are given simple tasks to do with their children centered around early literacy skills. The children receive a rubber ducky and board books. Our regular summer reading programs are for kids and teens. There are lots of special programs and prizes to encourage children to keep reading over the summer. Our theme this summer is Dig into Reading,” Anderson said.
More information about each of the programs the library offers can be found on the regional library branch websites, which can be found by going to www.sonomalibrary.org.
“We have a vibrant library,” Bronzan said of the Sebastopol branch. “A library is no longer a quiet place to study, it’s a community building where families come together, share stories, see their friends and see other parents come in and recommend books to each other.”
