Read Early, Read Aloud!

"She woke up this morning and said, ‘Let's go to the library, we need books,'" said Jane's grandfather, Miguel Jeromin, who, along with his wife, is Jane's primary caregiver. "She's always liked books." But, he added, this was the first time they brought the kindergartner there. Jeromin said he had only discovered how great it was himself a few months before when he had some time to spare.

Jeromin said they read to Jane everyday, and were thrilled to find out she was paying attention when she started asking questions. "I thought I was reading to myself," he added with a laugh.

Gail Tweedt, a children's librarian at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library in Long Beach, said the best thing a caregiver can do for a child to help them become successful and happy is to read to them everyday. "At first, they will notice the pictures, and soon they will notice that words mean something, too," Tweedt said. "In addition, talk to your children, sing to them, and read or recite nursery rhymes."

This month, First 5 LA is partnering with the other First 5 Commissions in Southern California to promote early literacy with the 4th annual Read Early, Read Aloud campaign. Throughout November, county and local libraries will present story times with performances by theatre group Flights of Fantasy, giveaways, free library card sign-ups and more. In addition, First 5 LA is giving away four home libraries of books in our Share a Moment in Reading contest. For information about the events or the contest, and more tips on early literacy, visit the Read Early, Read Aloud section of the Ready. Set. Grow! website. Visit the First 5 Proposition 10 Commissions of Southern California for more tips, resources and games.