Leading to Reading Kits
The Stratford Library Children’s Department has several kits based on a variety of themes. These Leading to Reading bags are available for parents, caretakers, and teachers to enjoy with preschoolers ages three to five, although older children may also enjoy them. The kits were made possible by an LSTA grant administered by the Connecticut State Library.
Leading to Reading kits incorporate the 5 early literacy skills endorsed by Every Child Ready to Read, a research and teaching initiative of the Public Library Association. These skills encourage parents and caregivers’ active participation in their children’s education.
• READING to children expands their knowledge and vocabulary.
• TALKING about the stories and pictures teaches them to think and express their ideas.
• SINGING and chanting rhymes helps them to identify the sounds of language.
• PLAYING allows children to explore their world and learn problem-solving techniques.
• WRITING, tracing, and drawing foster creativity and reinforce language skills.
Each kit contains a variety of books, toys, and suggested activities. Help us keep these materials in good condition by teaching your children to treat the books and toys gently. Gather all the items into the bag when you are finished using them so they do not get lost.
Leading to Reading kits must be checked out at the Children’s Department desk with an adult library card. A librarian will go over the contents with you. Only one bag may be borrowed at a time, for three weeks. The due date will be noted on the checklist inside the folder. Kits may be renewed if there is no one else waiting for them and you may reserve a bag if it is checked out. The kits are not available for interlibrary loan, but out-of-town patrons may check them out with a library card that has been entered into Stratford Library’s computer system.
Kits must be returned to the Children’s Department. Please do not place them in the book drop or bring them to the Lobby Check-out Desk. We ask you to be patient as we look through the bag to make sure all the contents are present. If any items are missing, we will check in the kit so you will not incur overdue fines. If the item is not found, you will be charged the replacement cost, which must be paid before another kit may be checked out.
Overdue fines for the bags are $1.00 a day, up to a maximum of $25.00. If you need more time, please call the Children’s Department to renew the bag before the due date. If you should lose a bag with all its contents, the replacement cost is $200.00.
We hope you and your child enjoy using the materials included in the kit. Please talk to a Children’s Librarian to learn about other opportunities at the Stratford Library to stimulate your child’s imagination and encourage a love for learning.
For more information, email childrens [at] stratfordlibrary.org or call 203-385-4165.
Happy reading!
LEADING TO READING KIT THEMES
Kits are located above the Easy Reader books.
Please bring your selection to the Children’s desk to check it out.
Adoption
Animals
Apples
Art
Baby
Bathtime
Bears
Bedtime
Birds
Birthday
Blankets
Body
Brothers
Bugs
Building 1 & 2
Cats
Chickens
Clothes
Cookies
Cows
Dance
Dinosaurs
Dogs 1 & 2
Ducks
Fall
Families
Fantasy Characters
Farms
Fathers
Feelings
Food 1 & 2
Friends
Gardens
Grandparents
Hats
Health
Horses
Kindergarten
Manners
Monsters
Mothers
Music
Multicultural
Nursery Rhymes
Opposites
Our Community
Pets
Pirates
Preschool
Princess
Rescue Workers
Safety
School
Sea
Seasons
Sharing
Shoes
Sisters
Sports
Spring
Summer
Superheroes
Teeth
Things That Go
Time
Toilet Training
Trains
Trucks
Weather
Winter