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The Myrna Chelko Early Literacy Initiative is open to children ages 4 and under. Participating in this initative will help build the habits that foster early literacy development and lifelong learning. Literacy and language development are closely linked to a baby's earliest positive experiences with parents and caregivers.
Visit WPPL's Beanstack site to sign up for the initiative and track your child's progress. Or use a printed log available in Youth Services or for download here as a PDF.
Register for the WPPL 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Program and log your first 50 books.
Reading together before your child starts school builds a solid foundation for learning.
This fun program has now gone digital via Beanstack, where you can log your books and earn digital badges for prizes. Set up an account today at westlakelibrary.beanstack.org. There are even apps available at the Apple App Store and Google Play!
Enroll in the Ohio Governor's Imagination Library Program.
The Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library is starting a new chapter in early childhood literacy across Ohio. Through a partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, this program is working to send every child in Ohio from birth to age five a new book each month. Enroll online to receive monthly updates on book delivery as well as reading tips to help your child get the most out of their Imagination Library membership. You can ensure that your student enters kindergarten ready to succeed!
Check out a Sprout Early Literacy Backpack.
Each themed backpack includes books and activities with easy-to-follow activity guides that make learning fun! All materials are developmentally appropriate for young children and reinforce early literacy concepts needed for school success. Search the catalog for Sprout Early Learning!
Complete 3 Kindergarten Readiness Activities.
Check out our Early Literacy blog posts, print or pick up an Early Literacy Activity calendar, or contact Youth Services for suggestions to complete the challenge.
Each month print out a bright and colorful activity-packed calendar page to share with your family. Based on the Every Child Ready to Read® practices of reading, writing, singing, talking, playing, and counting, each PDF contains a month's worth of learning activities, book lists, nursery rhymes, and more. One page is a calendar with a fun skills-building activity for each day and the other contains supplementary content like nursery rhymes, early literacy tips, song lyrics, or suggested reading material.
In addition to a fun and creative beginning to a lifetime of learning, every participant who completes the challenge receives a mini Suma the Puma to continue taking on their adventures!
Suma is featured in storytimes and videos created by WPPL staff. When she's not exploring, she can be found on her perch above Youth Services.
Myrna Chelko was a wonderful person and supporter of public libraries. She served on WPPL's Board of Trustees and was instrumental in the creation of the Friends of Porter Public Library and the Westlake Porter Library Foundation.
The Myrna Chelko Early Literacy Initiative is made possible by a generous donation in her honor.
