Our Grow a Reader program, classes, and storytimes are designed for children between the ages of 0-5. The librarians leading these classes and storytimes specialize in reading and other skills that babies and toddlers need before entering school. Browse resources for your growing reader below, along with the full schedule of classes and storytimes offered.
Board Books
Board Books are usually created from hard cardboard that can (mostly) withstand babies and toddler's curious minds. Most are short in length and are easier for tiny hands to hold.
Picture Books
Picture books are filled with visual representations of imaginative worlds with sometimes surprises and important lessons that your young reader will soak up. Plus, it's mostly pictures.
Beginning Readers
Beginning Readers are for children who are showing interest or beginning to read on their own. Sometimes there are different steps or levels to the books, indicating the reading difficulty.
Happy New Year for Children
Ring in the New Year
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Holiday Stories & Traditions
Happy New Year for Children
Ring in the New Year
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Holiday Stories & Traditions
Building Skills with Grow a Reader
Help develop your growing readers with these blogs on building reading, talking, and writing skills.
Building Skills Row 1
Grow a Reader Skill: Reading
Grow a Reader Skill: Print Awareness
Grow a Reader Skill: Print Motivation
Building Skills Row 2
Grow a Reader Skill: Letter Knowledge
Grow a Reader Skill: Vocabulary
Grow a Reader Skill: Phonological Awareness
Building Skills Row 3
Grow a Reader Skill: Playing
Grow a Reader Skill: Singing
Grow a Reader Skill: Narrative Skills
Grow a Reader Skill: Talking
Grow a Reader Skill: Writing
Library of Things Learning Kits
Check out the Grow a Reader and Early & Emerging Reader Learning Kits from the Library of Things collection. They include books and activity resources that you can enjoy with your growing reader.
Visit a Learn & Play Room!
Gone are the libraries with librarians shushing children for the slightest noise. Now we have libraries that encourage play and having fun, all while getting children ready to read.
At Fredericksburg, Howell, Salem Church, and Porter branches, CRRL has Grow a Reader Learn and Play Rooms where children and their caregivers are encouraged to explore. Each of these branches has toys, blocks, letters, and interactive panels that enhance a child’s library experience all while teaching early reading skills through play and self-discovery. What if you don't go to those locations? Never fear! While our smaller branches do not have separate rooms, children and caregivers can still join in the fun with toys in the children's department to encourage play.
But why encourage play? We're a library - not a play center! Actually, we're both. Playing has multiple benefits that help children gain the skills needed to get ready to read. When children play, they often are telling or acting out stories. These may be stories they've made up, or they may be ones they've heard at home, on the television, or in one of our Grow a Reader classes. This not only teaches children that reading and stories can be fun but also gives them a chance to practice narrative skills, which is simply the ability to describe things and events in order to tell a story. Being able to act out a story demonstrates that a child understands what is going on in the book or show. Additionally, observing children playing gives caregivers an opportunity to talk to them and ask questions. Talking, asking questions, and stretching conversations are how children learn new information, including vocabulary.
So, come on in and explore your library’s Grow a Reader Learn and Play Room, and go ahead and make some noise while you’re at it.
