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STORYTIME PLANNING RESOURCES

On this page you will find general storytime planning information, resources for specific age-level programming: early talkers (birth to age 2), talkers (ages 2 - 3) and pre-readers (ages 4 - 5), and additional materials/books to assist with storytime sessions.

General Planning Information
Public Library Association's Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library Storytime Applications - Page linking to early literacy storytime information, from general to specific.

What Can I Say? (pdf format) - Gives examples of storytime activities in support of specific literacy skills and how to communicate the skill to parents/caregivers.

Every Child Ready to Read bookmarks (pdf format) - Handouts for the adults attending the storytime programs.

Graphic of early literacy terms (pdf format) - Visual of the six pre-reading skills that children must learn to be able to learn to read.

Links - To public library early literacy websites, helpful for bibliographic information and for learning how "others" do it.

Planning for Specific Age Levels

~Early-Talkers (Ages Birth - 2 years)

• Storytime planning checklist (pdf format)

• How to use the storytime planning checklist

• Link to MHLS Youth Services "Lapsit Program Ideas" page
  
  

• MHLS Mother Goose Time kits - may be borrowed by MHLS member libraries only. Email the Youth Services Department.
  

• Comprehensive storytime early literacy observation checklist (pdf)

~Talkers (Ages 2 - 3 years)

• Storytime planning checklist (pdf format) - scroll to "Talkers" sheet

• How to use the storytime early literacy observation checklist

• MHLS Toddler Time kits, Ideas, and Websites - kits may be borrowed by MHLS member libraries only. Email the Youth Services Department.
  
  

• Comprehensive storytime early literacy observation checklist (pdf)

~Pre-Readers (Ages 4 - 5 years)

• Storytime planning checklist (pdf format) - scroll to "Pre-Readers" sheet

• How to use the storytime early literacy observation checklist

• Thematic Book kits - kits may be borrowed by MHLS member libraries only. Email the Youth Services Department.
  
  
• Comprehensive storytime early literacy observation checklist (pdf)

Additional Materials to Support Early Literacy Storytimes

• MHLS Library Programming page - see "Program Support" section

• Craft ideas - list of MHLS craft books, storytelling books and related websites.
  
  

• Recommended books for librarians - titles to assist with children's services and programming: available through the MHLS professional collection.

• Recommended books for children - suggested reading lists of books for children; includes lists for ages birth to kindergarten.
  

• Collection/materials development - materials purchased for MHLS Raising A Reader participating libraries; ordering and library borrowing information included.