Here are some fun books to celebrate the joy of reading:
Leo Loves Baby Time by Anna McQuinn (Infant, Toddler)
Even the littlest of children can find something fun to do at the library. In Leo Loves Baby Time, Leo and his grown-up go to the library for a special Baby Time, sharing songs, stories, and play time with scarves! Get it at the Library
Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn (Preschool)
For bigger kids, follow Leo’s older sister Lola on her trip to the public library where she gets to listen to a storytime and check out her very own books to take home and enjoy. Get it at the Library
The Book that Did Not Want to Be Read by David Sundi (Preschool, School Age)
This book pulls out all the tricks it can think of to stop you from reading it, with text that shrinks and grows, becoming fill-in-the-blank, and even switching letters around in words. Should you attempt to read this book, we recommend cuddling up on the couch together and reading it out loud. Can you make it to the end for your good night? Get it at the Library
No Buddy Like a Book by Allan Wolf (Preschool)
Books are magical. Inside their covers, those little inky squiggles contain all kinds of new and interesting information, things, and places to discover and a multitude of worlds to explore. This book in particular hopes to inspire you to discover something new at your local library and to keep reading and learning every day. Get it at the Library
This Book is Not for You by Shannon Hale (Preschool)
It’s bookmobile day, hooray! But the bookmobile volunteer is new today and he won’t let Stanley check out the book he wants because it’s about a girl. “Girl books” are for girls, the man says, just like cat books are for cats and robot books are for robots. But after Stanley sees a dinosaur successfully demand a book about ponies from the bookmobile, Stanley finds a way to ask for the book he really wants and inspires everyone to enjoy a good book of their choosing. Get it at the Library
A Library by Nikki Giovanni (Toddler, Preschool)
A library is a special place where children can become all kinds of things, trying new things, seeing what fits and what doesn’t, on their journey to adulthood. You can be free, be quick and smart, surf the rainbow, and sail your dreams. It is a place to be, away from your everyday life. But you don’t have to take my word for it – come into your local library and see for yourself! Get it at the Library
Rectangle Time by Pamela Paul (Preschool, School Age)
Your pet loves being part of family rituals, and this family’s cat is no different. Each day cat joins the man and child for “rectangle time”, when the man does quite a lot of talking, but it’s pretty chill, so cat can still receive plenty of scratches as the people look at colorful pictures in the rectangle. But over time, cat notices that the rectangle is getting smaller, and the child is talking a lot more. And suddenly, the child is all by themselves with a very small rectangle with no pictures at all! And it’s gotten quiet… too quiet. What is a cat to do? Get it at the Library
These resources were recommended by Samantha Blanquart, Early Literacy Outreach Librarian with the Anchorage Public Library. Visit their website for more info about early literacy or to check out one of their reading kits for young children.
