About This Site
I created this website as part of my graduate coursework in Library and Information Sciences at the University of Denver. I created this site as a way to compile a list of resources for early childhood literacy as well as wonderful books and activities that support the development of early literacy skills. Early childhood is defined as birth to 5 years old, yes, you can (and should) read, sing and talk to newborn babies! I chose to categorize these resources by the 6 early literacy skills. Most of these resources support all of the 6 skills, I placed them with the skills I feel they best support. I discovered many of these resources while attending storytimes at local libraries, during the years I spent teaching preschool and elementary school, in my current graduate work, recommendations from friends and colleagues and from reading countless picture books.
The 6 Early Literacy Skills
Early literacy can be defined as what children know about reading and writing before they actually can read and write. Even before children can read and write, they are learning skills to help them become readers and writers. The Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children identified the following six skills as essential for helping children prepare to learn how to read and write and to be successful when they enter school. Click on the title of each skill below to go to the resource page for that specific skill. The lists are arranged with books that are great for babies listed first, then moving into books for toddlers and preschoolers, although most books are good for a range of ages.
Print Motivation
Print motivation means learning to love books and being excited about reading and learning to read.
Print Awareness
Print Awareness is realizing that the black squiggles in books actually mean something. It also includes knowing how to hold a book the right way and how to turn the pages and realizing that letters and words are everywhere in environmental print.
Phonological Awareness
Phonological Awareness means understanding that letters make sounds and having the ability to hear those sounds in words.
Letter Knowledge
Letter Knowledge is understanding that words are made up of letters and that each letter has a different name and different sound.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary is knowing lots of words and knowing the names of things.
Narrative Skills
Telling stories, making predictions, describing things and knowing the order of events in a story are all part of narrative skills.
Concepts
Some books focus on concepts such as numbers, colors and opposites.
Resources for Parents and Caregivers
This page includes resources about early literacy intended for adults.