How public libraries instill literacy in littles

Wondering where exemplary literacy programming for preschoolers, toddlers, and even infants is taking place? Visit any public library in any Michigan county. Three fine examples are Kent District Library (KDL), Detroit Public Library (DPL), and Battle Creek’s Willard Library.

“We are an important resource because we are a free resource, and we are an accessible resource,” says Vernadette McAllister, DPL coordinator of major activity-children’s services.

Jackie Bos, youth librarian at the KDL Wyoming Branch agrees.

“The library is one of the last free places that you can go where you’re not expected to spend money,” she says, “There’s a lot of young parents who are home with their kids, looking for a place to go to do something fun. And it’s a safe place.”

“What other place can you go that’s so welcoming, accessible, and free with all these resources and people that are there who truly want to help you,” adds Tynisha Dungey, Willard Library director of youth services and community outreach.

These libraries offer children’s programming evenings or weekends to accommodate parents’ work schedules. Free online programs provide young families even more opportunities to build their kids’ literacy skills.

“We try to eliminate as many barriers as possible, so families can come in and take advantage of everything that we have to offer,” McAllister says. “Not only do we provide these services for our children, but we are also providing services for the parents, as well.”   

A complement or alternative to preschool

All of KDL’s 22 branches offer ongoing Storytime events for children ages 0 – 5 and their parents or caregivers. More than reading a picture book, Storytimes help the littles develop literacy and numeracy skills along with the fine- and gross-motor skills that support these skills. Songs, rhymes, and movement introduce letters, letter sounds, and numbers. Craft activities with child-safe scissors, paint brushes, and Play-Doh^® build finger muscles used for writing. 

“It’s like being in preschool in a way,” Bos says. “The kids learn to sit as a group and follow a teacher and how to play together, take turns, and share. We sing the song, and we point to the letters, and practice the sounds. We do counting, poems, colors and shapes, building early familiarity with rhyme, rhythm, and language patterns.”

Both Willard’s main library and Helen Warner Branch Storytimes include standard Storytime for ages 0 to 5 as well as Music and Movement Storytime — for kids who need to get their wiggles out in order to pay attention, Kindergarten Readiness Storytime, and Babytime for infants and toddlers.

“That’s pretty much lap time,” Dungey says. “The program includes talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing. At 0 to 2 years old, they’re not actually writing, but we’re having them touch their nose or touch their toes, raise their hands, or clap to build those motor skills.”

Willard Library also includes a social emotional learning (SEL) component in their Storytimes.

“We knew that we were doing well with language and literacy. But one of the elements that we were missing was the social emotional piece,” Dungey says. “Now we ask, ‘How do you think that action made the character feel in the story?’ or ‘If you see this person’s face, what emotion are they feeling?” 

For parents who can’t make it to Storytime, Willard has put together early literacy kits for parents to check out like a book .

“There are 19 of them, and they’re based on the science of reading — beginning sounds, letter identification, reading comprehension, and writing,” Dungey says.

Like KDL and Willard, DPL offers Storytimes throughout the week along with craft activities and playtimes. The Main Library offers Storytimes several days a week. DPL’s 23 locations throughout the city mean Storytimes are within walking distance for  many Detroit families. 

“The Storytimes are meant to provide our families and children with literature that helps to build their language skills and vocabulary,” McAllister says. “Also, this is a way of easing some parents into coming to the library where they feel comfortable. Sometimes, parents are intimidated to come to a library.”

The staff working with young children at each of these libraries brings extensive education experience and additional professional early education training. For example, Bos has degrees in early education and music education, taught fourth grade for many years, and turned to substitute teaching after her own children were born. She also cites her experience as a mom.

“I took my own kids to story times when they were little, seeing the different styles, seeing what they enjoyed and what they would participate in. I saw it from both sides,” she says.

And while literacy is the focus, McAllister sees Storytimes as a way for parents to get to know their library, relax, and learn about new books, authors, and different genres to read to their children — and check out the featured books when they head home.

“We’re trying to encourage families and parents to read to their children at home, as well,” McAllister says. “With the child sitting there next to the parent, they’re sharing the book. It’s altogether a soothing atmosphere. It continues to build that child’s vocabulary and their literacy skills by sitting there with the parent. Parents might not realize that this is important. They might see it as having an enjoyable time, but it’s also teaching time.”

DPL also offers Detroit families free access to ABCmouse, an online early literacy tool that otherwise costs families $14.99 a month. To extend its reach even further, the library partners with local organizations focused on early literacy like PBS Detroit, Detroit PBS Kids, and Universal Prevention Services, which provides parents information on developmental milestones and age-appropriate toys that support literacy and motor skills. 

“For some of our families, this could be some of the only toys that a child has in their home,” McAllister says.

To reach infants, toddlers, and preschoolers of working parents, DPL librarians bring Storytimes to preschools and daycare centers. KDL libraries offer Storytimes during the day and evening so working parents can participate with their children.

“Of course, there’s the books”

Public library children’s programming goes beyond kindergarten readiness. Introducing littles to books early on helps them build relationships with books and a love for reading that will serve them the rest of their lives.

“Of course, there’s the books,” Bos says. “How does a book work? We talk about the illustrators, the authors, the end pages and learning how to read the left to right. And learning to love reading.”

Bos wants the children she engages to see reading a feel-good experience not a chore or a punishment. 

“They’ll want to learn how to read so they can read these books on their own.” she says. “We try to do books about all different kinds of things. In the summertime, we do themes like bugs, dinosaurs, and going to the beach. We throw in some nonfiction for those kids who love to learn all their facts and information to inspire them to go check out more books.” 

Like a majority of libraries across the state, KDL, DPL, and Willard offer the online 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, which is funded in part by the Library of Michigan Ready to Read initiative. Willard Library also connects families with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which mails free books to children birth through age five. To remain accessible to all, DPL and KDL do not charge overdue fines — and Willard does not charge fines on children’s materials. By 2024, 58% of Michigan’s libraries had stopped charging overdue fines.

“What’s special about the library is it’s free. There are no barriers. Anybody is allowed to come. We have so many good resources, and they are available to everyone,” Bos concludes. “There are so many early education opportunities here. If parents can’t afford daycare or preschool, they get all those skills at Storytime.”

Photos by Tommy Allen.
Bernadette McAllister and Tynisha Dungey photos courtesy subjects.

Early Education Matters shares how Michigan parents, childcare providers, and early childhood educators are working together to create more early education opportunities for all little Michiganders. It is made possible with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.