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Read Early, Read Aloud – Support Child Literacy Month!

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November is Child Literacy Month! First 5 LA wants parents to know that reading aloud to young children builds a strong vocabulary and a love for reading that prepares children to succeed in school. And choosing books as gifts this holiday season teaches them that books are special and important!

Every year, 35 percent of American children start kindergarten without the language skills they need to learn to read. In fact, studies of individual families show that supporting literacy in the home is more important to a child’s success in school than family income or education level.

To share the joy of reading with all of Los Angeles County’s young children, First 5 LA is partnering with Barnes & Noble to sponsor a special post-Thanksgiving Book Fair. And we’re asking for your help.

Simply click here to print a Barnes & Noble/First 5 LA Book Fair voucher. Then come to participating Barnes & Noble locations on the Friday, Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 23rd – Nov. 25th, to make your holiday book purchases. A percentage of the net sale will be used to put books into the hands of children in L.A. County.

Here are five easy tips for reading aloud to young children:
  1. Read to your child every day, for at least 30 minutes in total.
  2. Try reading for a few minutes at a time, children may only sit for a short time for a story.
  3. Make the story come alive – create voices for the characters or sing about the pictures.
  4. Ask questions about the story and let your child ask questions too.
  5. For infants, choose simple and colorful cloth and vinyl books. For preschoolers, choose books with repetition and rhyme.

To find more tips, click on the link below to visit the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) “Leading to Reading” Web site and for a list of recommended reading for children ages five and under click here.