Reading Buddies eNews
Information and resources for Imagination Library families
January 2016
Reading Buddies Events
Learn the importance of reading with your children from birth!

 
Reading Buddies Event with
The Erie Playhouse
Saturday, January 16 | 11:00 am -12:30 pm
Blasco Memorial Library | 160 E Front Street, Erie 16507

Join the cast of the Erie Playhouse Youtheatre Production of The Snow Queen. The characters will do activities with the kids while parents and other caring adults participate in a Reading Buddies training. Everyone will come together at the end for a performance of a song from The Snow Queen. All participating families will receive up to 4 free tickets to see the play and a free lunch is provided!

Limited space is available - please RSVP by 4:00 pm on January 12 to reserve your spot.

T o find out about other family friendly events this month, check out the

Continue to practice the Reading Buddies techniques to help your child develop language, communication, and reading comprehension skills!
New Reading Nook Now Open!
United Way of Erie County, in collaboration with the Salvation Army and the American Tinning & Galvanizing (ATG) Family Endowment commemorated the continued success of the Imagination Library in Erie County by cutting the ribbon for a second Imagination Library Reading Nook located inside the Salvation Army, 1022 Liberty Street.

The Nook was generously sponsored by the ATG Family Endowment. United Way representatives worked with Robin Scheppner,  president of ATG and a longtime Imagination Library advocate, to select the Salvation Army as the recipient of the Reading Nook, which is intended as a quiet place for parents and caregivers to read to their children.

Check it out with your family today!
On Your Lap, In Your Heart

Grandparents often play a special role in the lives of their grandchildren. While many grandparents provide occasional care for their young grandchildren, more and more are serving as the primary source of daycare for the little ones in their family. This means that grandparents are an important part of the learning that happens from birth to age 5. Reading to your grandchild every day can help to ensure they will be successful in school and will develop a love of reading that will last a lifetime.

Here are some fun ways you can share your love of reading with your grandchild:
  • Take a trip to your local library and spend time choosing a few books to take home with you
  • Find a special spot in your home to set up a reading nook - put a basket of books near a comfy armchair, place some pillows in a cozy corner, or make a blanket fort to cuddle up in
  • Act out the scenes from your favorite stories with your grandchild
Check out this site for additional grandparenting resources that include information on supporting healthy child development, as well as tools for addressing some of the common challenges that may arise when dealing with young children.
Talking Starts with Reading!

Reading to children at an early age is crucial to the development of their language skills.  Take time to make the most of reading time with your child.

Read to your young children early and frequently . It is never too  early  to start reading to children and that is why the Imagination Library begins at birth! 
 
Reading with babies and young children helps in many ways, including how many words they know, how they talk and how they learn to read. Research finds that reading to your child often helps to ensure that they will be successful in school and in life. Parents should try to read to their children  every day .


Download our newly updated   Read Aloud Matters guide .
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READING TIP OF THE MONTH

Make sure reading is a special time for you and your child. Think about good places to read, and set aside a time every day to read together.

 

For more reading tips, check out Tools & Tips for Reading with Children.
READING GUIDE
Download a Reading Guide for the Im agination Library book  "Love, Mouserella" by Davis Ezra Stein
NOT RECEIVING BOOKS?
If you are not receiving the books from the Imagination Library contact  Joanna Peters  at 814.456.2937  or [email protected].
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Photo Contest

 

Take a photo of you and your child enjoying your favorite Imagination Library books.  S hare the photo and a caption on our Facebook page or via Twitter between January 5th and 25th to be entered to win a $25 gift card.  You can also email photos to Joelyn Bush, via email at
for a chance to win.


 
FEATURED APP
Learner Mosaic

Learner Mosaic is a free iPhone app that offers personalized tips to nurture your preschooler in smart, playful ways. The app was designed by early learning experts and allows you as a parent to:
  • Turn daily interactions with your preschooler into meaningful learning moments
  • Get personalized, research based tips and activity suggestions to help your learner thrive
Learner Mosaic is available as an  app  for the iPhone.
Get started with Learner Mosaic. Download on the App Store, Google Play, or the Amazon App Store.
Reading Buddies is an early childhood literacy program of United Way of Erie County

United Way of Erie County