Early literacy is a key element of helping children enter school ready to learn to read. According to the organization Zero to Three, the definition of early literacy is what children know about communication, verbal and nonverbal language, reading, and writing before they can actually read and write. Early literacy encompasses the child's totality of experiences with conversation, oral and written stories, books, and print.

Public libraries continue to position themselves to support families, child care providers, and communities to help every child enter school ready to learn to read. This website brings together key resources and activities that support early literacy. It draws from information from the Every Child Ready to Read @ your library® initiative, from the Public Library Association, and from the Association for Library Service to Children of the American Library Association. It also includes the Storytime Share blog which has tips for parents so that library staff can transform traditional storytimes into early literacy enhanced storytimes.

Saroj Ghoting, an early childhood literacy consultant, offers trainings and workshops on early literacy for library staff and at national, state, and local conferences.

Permission granted for personal and educational use of documents with www.earlylit.net noted on document. Questions to Saroj Ghoting at sghoting@surfbest.net

Saroj is co-author of two books from ALA Editions with two more forthcoming.

Storytimes for Everyone!
Developing Young Children's Language and Literacy
COMING WINTER 2012/13

For more information and to order book.

The Early Literacy Kit:
A Handbook and Tip Cards

For more information and to order book.

For more information and to order book.