Week of the Young Child (April 2-8)
Since 1971, Week of the Young Child has been celebrated by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and early childhood educators around the country. This weeklong event is a time for communities to learn more about the hard work being done to help educate and prepare young children (birth through age 8) for success in school and life.
At the library, we affirm the importance of these formative years and strive to support our littlest library users and their families. Here are some ways we can support reading and learning with the little ones in your life:
Storytimes
We offer a wide range of storytimes for babies, toddlers, and preschool-age children. Our storytimes are designed to encourage quality adult-child interactions. Early childhood experts tell us that these interactions are key to the development of early learning. To view upcoming storytimes, visit our Storytime Calendar.
And if you can’t make it to Storytime, bring Storytime home to you with Storyline! This service offers recorded stories over the phone, and is geared toward preschool and early elementary children and their families. Call to tune in! The library will offer newly recorded stories each week.
RVA Basics
This regional early learning initiative focuses on five essential aspects of a child’s development. Learn more about each Basic here:
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
This book challenge is a great opportunity for families to introduce the habit of reading into the life of their young child. Participants can earn prizes as they log more books. And thanks to the Friends of Henrico County Public Library, we now have 100 book kits in our branches! Each kit contains 10 unique books perfect for readers from birth to age five. Learn more about how to participate on our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten page and explore available book kits through our catalog.
Staff Recommendations
In case you have ever wondered what our children’s services staff consider their favorite books for young children, here is a great big list. We hope you will find some new (and old) books to add to your child’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten TBR (to be read) pile:
- Beautifully Me by Nabela Noor
- Favorite of: Beth (Fairfield Library)
- Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd (illustrated by Nneka Myers)
- Favorite of: Nideria (Sandston Library)
- The Dark by Lemony Snicket (illustrated by Jon Klassen)
- Favorite of: Barbra (Fairfield Library)
- How Do You Wokka-Wokka? by Elizabeth Bluemle (illustrated by Randy Cecil)
- Favorite of: Brian (Varina Library)
- Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
- Favorite of: Haven (Gayton Library)
- Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups by Tadgh Bentley
- Favorite of: Marie (Fairfield Library)
- Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton
- Favorite of: Alicia (Library Administration)
- Octopus Opposites by Stella Blackstone (illustrated by Stephanie Bauer)
- Favorite of: Kathryn (Tuckahoe Library)
- Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel
- Favorite of: Rick (Library Administration)
- Owl Babies by Martin Waddell (illustrated by Patrick Benson)
- Favorite of Courtney (North Park Library) and Jodi (Glen Allen Library)
- Press Here by Hervé Tullet
- Favorite of: Gay Lynn (Twin Hickory Library)
- Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton
- Favorite of: Erin (Tuckahoe Library)
- Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
- Favorite of: Bunny (Twin Hickory Library)
- Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox (illustrated by Helen Oxenbury)
- Favorite of: Amy (Tuckahoe Library)
- The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
- Favorite of: Cammy (Varina Library)
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- Favorite of: Kathi (Twin Hickory Library)
If you need more recommendations, please fill out a My Next Read for Kids form and our children’s services staff will dig deeper into our collection for even more book ideas.
We hope this information helps you and the little ones in your life as they become lifelong readers and library users. Happy Week of the Young Child!
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