The Last Word: A Celebration of Storytimes

J. Elizabeth Mills, Kathleen Campana, and Saroj Ghoting

Our new book, Supercharged Storytimes: An Early Literacy Planning and Assessment Guide, translates the research findings of Project VIEWS21 into easy-to-follow tips and explanations on how to enhance storytimes and contribute to the early learning development of the children who attend. Enjoy this excerpt and celebrate the magic and fun of storytimes.

We’ve seen many kinds of storytimes in big, medium, and small libraries all over Washington State. We’ve learned from all of these incredible storytime providers, whose patience, inspiration, and dedication show through in the children they serve and the programs they deliver. Each provider had his or her own style, personality, and approach, but they all had the common goal of helping children be better citizens of the world and lifelong learners. We wanted to share . . . the magic that makes up the incredible variety, creativity, and sheer fun of early literacy storytimes for young children.

You brought stories to life and led kids in lively dancing, and engaging conversations. Singing at the top of their lungs, kids wriggled and chatted and played. Parents and caregivers guided and learned along with their children in storytime after storytime after storytime. There were so many different and distinct styles and personalities in the storytimes we observed—all with the common goal of helping children and their families be better citizens of the world and become lifelong learners.

Supercharged storytimes come from supercharged storytime providers—that’s you! &

Reference

1. Project VIEWS2 was a four-year, IMLS-funded National Leadership Research grant that demonstrated the impact of early literacy storytimes on the children who attended. Find out more at views2.ischool.uw.edu.