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Every Child Ready to Read

You can help your child succeed at reading long before they are ever ready to sound out words on their own. Building your child's early literacy skills will set them on the path to success! The skills are:

Print Awareness:
Noticing print everywhere
Phonological Awareness:
Knowing sounds
Narrative Skills:
Knowing how stories work
Letter Knowledge:
Naming letters and their sounds
Vocabulary:
Knowing lots of words
Background Knowledge:
Knowing about the world all around


How do you build these skills? Here are five fun, free, and easy ways:

Every Child Ready to Read Practices Logo: TalkingEvery Child Read to Read Practices Logo: SingingEvery Child Read to Read Practices Logo: ReadingEvery Child Read to Read Practices Logo: WritingEvery Child Read to Read Practices Logo: Playing

Click each to learn more! 

We also recommend signing up for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and Imagination Library, two LCPL initiatives that reward young readers!

This Month's Featured Reads!

LCPL staff have selected these books because kids love them and they help build important pre-reading skills. Check them out today!

Want more hand-picked kids' books? You can request a surprise bag of kids' books for curbside pickup! 

book cover Title:
Invisible Things by Andy J. Pizza & Sophie Miller

Skills:
• Vocabulary
• Background Knowledge

Practices:
• Talking

Extend the book with a pair of special binoculars

Book Cover Title:
The Rainbow Snail by Karin Åkesson

Skills:
• Background Knowledge
• Vocabulary

Practices:
• Playing
• Talking

Extend the book with a rocking rainbow snail
Preschool Events
Wed, Mar 20, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Mar 21, 10:15am - 10:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Mar 21, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, Mar 21, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Mar 21, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room
This event is full

Thu, Mar 21, 11:15am - 11:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Mar 21, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Thu, Mar 21, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Mar 25, 1:00pm - 1:40pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 26, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Mar 26, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Mar 26, 10:30am - 11:15am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 26, 10:30am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Mar 26, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Mar 26, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 26, 11:30am - 11:50am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Mar 26, 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Munster - Children's Program Room

Tue, Mar 26, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Wed, Mar 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Mar 28, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Mar 28, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room
This event is full

Thu, Mar 28, 2:30pm - 3:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Mar 28, 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 02, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 02, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Children's Program Room

Tue, Apr 02, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 02, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 02, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Apr 02, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 02, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 02, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Apr 03, 5:00pm - 5:30pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Apr 04, 10:15am - 10:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Apr 04, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Apr 04, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Apr 04, 11:15am - 11:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Apr 04, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Apr 04, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster Branch Library - Children's Area

Sat, Apr 06, 10:00am - 10:45am
St. John - Children's Program Room

Mon, Apr 08, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Apr 08, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Apr 08, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Munster Branch Library - North Parking Lot

Mon, Apr 08, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 09, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Apr 09, 10:30am - 11:15am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Apr 09, 10:30am - 11:15am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 09, 10:30am - 11:30am
Hobart - Programming Room

Tue, Apr 09, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 09, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 09, 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Munster - Children's Program Room

Tue, Apr 09, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Hobart - Programming Room

Tue, Apr 09, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Apr 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Apr 10, 12:30pm - 8:00pm
St. John Branch Library - Circulation

Wed, Apr 10, 2:30pm - 3:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Wed, Apr 10, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville Library - Children's Department

Thu, Apr 11, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Sat, Apr 13, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Sat, Apr 13, 11:00am - 11:40am
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Apr 15, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 16, 10:15am - 10:45am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 16, 10:15am - 11:00am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dyer-Schererville - Children's Programming Room
This event is full

Tue, Apr 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Tue, Apr 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Tue, Apr 16, 11:00am - 11:30am
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Tue, Apr 16, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 16, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Apr 18, 10:15am - 10:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Apr 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Lake Station-New Chicago - Children's Program Room

Thu, Apr 18, 10:30am - 11:15am
Highland - Children's Programming Room

Thu, Apr 18, 11:00am - 11:30am
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Thu, Apr 18, 11:15am - 11:45am
St. John - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Apr 18, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Family Events
Thu, Mar 21, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room
This event is full

Tue, Mar 26, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lake Station-New Chicago - Large Meeting Room

Wed, Mar 27, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Mar 27, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Hobart - Large Meeting Room

Thu, Mar 28, 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 02, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Apr 03, 5:00pm - 5:30pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Sat, Apr 06, 10:00am - 10:45am
St. John - Children's Program Room

Sat, Apr 06, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Hobart - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Apr 08, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Griffith-Calumet Twp - Children's Programming Room

Mon, Apr 08, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Munster - Large Meeting Room

Mon, Apr 08, 1:45pm - 2:30pm
St. John - Patio

Mon, Apr 08, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Cedar Lake - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Apr 10, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Apr 10, 12:30pm - 8:00pm
St. John Branch Library - Circulation

Wed, Apr 10, 2:30pm - 3:00pm
Hobart - Children's Program Room

Sat, Apr 13, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Tue, Apr 16, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Children's Programming Room

Wed, Apr 17, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Highland - Children's Programming Room