Early Literacy Information from The Smithtown Library Children's Department

Experts know that the development of language and literacy skills begins at birth.  A child’s early experiences with  books and reading lay the foundation for success in learning to read.  The most beneficial thing you can do to foster early literacy is to provide an environment that is fun and stimulating with plenty of opportunity for conversation and book sharing among other activities.  For more information about early literacy and ideas of how you can incorporate it into your family’s life take a look at the following recently published books.

Up, Down, Move Around--Math and Literacy : Active Learning for Preschoolers written  by Deborah Kayton Michals.

By connecting physical activity with learning, this book provides preschoolers with educational enrichment as they explore, inquire, experiment, and discover. It is filled with simple, stimulating games that will have kids jumping, shaking, rolling, dancing, and clapping as they learn. Useful for parents, caregivers, and childcare workers, the books contain fun activities that can be carried out easily and with minimal equipment.

Literacy Beginnings: A Prekindergarten Handbook written by Gay Su Pinnell and Irene C. Fountas.

For pre-kindergarten children language and play are the major tools for learning about the world, and they are also the most important tools for early literacy learning.  Young children make no distinction between play and reading and writing. It all involves curiosity, learning, discovery, and excitement. Literacy Beginnings is not about math, science, open-ended art, or music and movement- it is about best practices in early literacy instruction for the 21st Century.

Art Across the Alphabet: over 100 Art Experiences that Enrich Early Literacy written by Kelly Justus Campbell, illustrated by Kathy Dobbs.

 is filled with art-centered activities for children that reinforce letter recognition, build phonemic awareness and pre-reading skills, and associate reading with fun. The book links art and literacy seamlessly, it explores the magic of language and offers unique opportunities to create readers while creating art -- from Airplane wings to Zany Zoo Animals!

Read, Rhyme, and Romp: Early Literacy Skills and Activities for Librarians, Teachers, and Parents written by Heather McNeil.

This book explores the six basic pre-literacy skills that experts agree are necessary for a young child to be ready to learn to read. Special sections within each chapter are dedicated to the specific needs of preschool teachers, parents, and librarians, making the content relevant to different settings. Recommended book lists, personal anecdotes, and literacy-rich activities combine to create an effective and accessible plan for implementing an early literacy program.

To request any of these titles please call us at 631-265-2072 ext. 240 or visit our website http://smithlib.org/children