Early Literacy

Talk

Children are listening. They are learning about language through every conversation. When you talk with them, describe things that you see and explain what you are doing. The more words they hear, the more words they will learn and understand. This helps them learn to read and tell their own stories.

Sing

Singing is a fun way for children to learn about language. The rhythms and rhymes of songs help them hear new words and the smaller sounds that make up those words, because singing naturally slows down language. This helps children sound out words when they are learning to read.

Read

Reading together is the single, most important way to help children become readers. When you share a love of reading with children and create an enjoyable experience, it makes an impact that will last a lifetime.

Write

Scribble, color, draw, write, trace, paint, cut, and glue with your child. The possibilities are endless when it comes to building the hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills needed to be ready to write letters, words, and sentences.

Play

Have fun together. Playing is a natural way for children to learn about the world around them. Through each playful interaction with you, they are learning and using language. This helps them to be able to express themselves and become ready to learn to read.

Children listen and learn about language in every conversation. When you talk with them, describe what you see and do. The more words they hear, the more words they will understand. This helps them learn to read and tell their own stories.

The rhythms and rhymes of songs help children hear new words and the smaller sounds that make up those words, because singing naturally slows down language. This helps children sound out words when they are learning to read.

Reading together is the single, most important way to help children become readers. Share a love of reading with children and create an enjoyable experience. It makes an impact that will last a lifetime.

Scribble, color, draw, write, trace, paint, cut, and glue with your child. This builds the hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills needed to be ready to write letters, words, and sentences.

Play is a natural way for children to learn about the world around them. Through each playful interaction with you, they learn and use language. This helps them express themselves and become ready to learn to read.

Raising Readers with the New Orleans Public Library

Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they learn to read and write. It’s the foundation that newborns to 5-year-olds need to become readers.

The New Orleans Public Library believes in helping parents and caregivers raise readers together. We are committed to providing support from the very beginning of children’s early learning to years beyond. Our programs and resources can help them become ready to read and prepare them to be lifelong learners.

Recommended Reads: Celebrating Black History Month

The New Children's Resource Center: Welcome to Our Neighborhood

The New Orleans Public Library believes in helping parents and caregivers raise readers together. To better achieve this goal, we are repairing, refreshing, and renewing the 117-year-old Children’s Resource Center Library into a dedicated early literacy center. The reimagined Children’s Resource Center will serve as the central point for providing consistent and carefully curated early literacy programming, resources, and collections.

The reimagined Center will include the following and more:

  • An interactive play area designed specifically for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers
  • A carefully curated collection of materials that supports the needs of early learners and their caregivers as they develop early literacy and school-readiness skills
  • An intentional focus on a child’s early years of development, learning, and social interactions
  • A design that offers early literacy experiences in a nurturing and engaging learning environment

We welcome community input on the new Children’s Resource Center, and we’d love to hear from you. If you use the New Orleans Public Library, especially for early learning, please fill out the survey linked below.

Take Community Input Survey

Early Literacy Events

Storytime

While storytime takes a break through the end of February, stop by DIY Storytime to read and play together at your own pace.

Find DIY Storytime at a Library Near You
Playtime

Imagine and play with a cafe-inspired toys for children to brew, bake, scoop and serve. This event is for children ages 2 – 5 and their families.

Find Playtime at a Library Near You
Prime Time Preschool Reading: Free meal and book, read-alouds, and hands-on activities for ages 3 - 5.
A musical story hour with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
Blue House Music: Build language skills through singing and storytelling.
Want more early literacy events? Visit our events calendar.

Sensory Kits

Sensory Kits Available At All library Locations

The Library welcomes families with neurodivergence and children with sensory needs. Sensory kits are now available for in-library use at all Library locations. Just ask at the circulation desk.

Sensory kits include:

  • Noise canceling headphones
  • Plush infinity flipper fidget toy
  • Liquid motion bubbler

Sensory kits are not available to be checked out or taken home at this time.

For more sensory offerings at the Library, check out our sensory programs, including storytime and playtime.

Sensory Programs
An early literacy librarian holds up a sensory kit, available for in-library use at all locations.

e-Resources for Early Literacy

ABCMouse
Bookflix
Britannica Library Young Children

Partner Spotlight

A mother and her children play at the WePLAY Center in Treme.
We Play logo

We PLAY Center at East New Orleans Regional Library

While East New Orleans Regional Library is temporarily closed, visit We PLAY's flagship location at the Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center, 2200 Lafitte Ave.

Play and learn together at the We PLAY Center by TrainingGrounds. This free, safe neighborhood learning space is focused on PLAY. It supports parents and caregivers in creating nurturing bonds and fostering healthy brain development, language, and social and emotional skills while playing with their infants and toddlers. 

Play sessions are Wednesdays and Fridays 10am - 12pm at East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Boulevard.

WePLAY Center Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary at LibraryLearn about TrainingGrounds