Baby Storytime Magic: Active Early Literacy Through Bounces, Rhymes, Tickles and More

This guide features stories, rhymes, songs, and activities as well as library storytime management tips. Pros and cons of age groupings versus developmental groupings are considered, as is the need to accommodate older siblings. Information about an infant's developing brain and the acquisition of literacy skills is discussed in introductory chapters. Each activity or book is introduced with an informational "literacy bit" to be shared with caregivers. Most of the rhymes and songs are original and are sometimes set to the tune of traditional songs or chants. The focus of the content is on babies' familiar, daily activities. Adults are encouraged to use their own voices rather than musical recordings, and suggestions for props and flannel boards accompany the activities. American Sign Language drawings are added to many activities, but no textual description of the signs is provided. Drawings for flannel and magnetic boards are pictured in black-and-white illustrations that can be photocopied.—Jackie Gropman, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, VA