Storytime and Beyond: Having Fun with Early Literacy

This practical guide helps librarians develop storytimes and add early literacy elements to other programming. Barco and Borski-Howard incorporate practices from the Every Child Ready To Read (ECRR) program into the text. Music plays a big role in many of the storytimes. The chapter on ABC books is especially creative—the authors choose a theme for each letter of the alphabet ("A Is for Art"; "B Is for Beasts") and offer noteworthy alphabet books for each one. They also recommend ways to extend a book display for many months with minimal changes—a wonderful example of sustainability. The authors discuss implementing outreach storytimes at women's shelters, recreation centers, and even children's birthday parties. They offer whimsical "literacy doodads," or props such as alphabet magnets. Most activities are either free or very low cost (there are lots of Dollar Store suggestions).