Resources

Covid-19 Early Literacy Resource Toolkit

This is a stressful time for parents and uncertain for children, but it can still be an opportunity to engage with your child in at-home early learning and literacy activities that will help them grow, progress, and discover the joys of reading. Here are useful resources for parents, caregivers and educators:

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Free Resources for Families

Literacy Resources

 

E-Books for Children
  • Association of Library Services for Children: A list of where to find free children’s e-books
  • Coronavirus: A Book for Children: Helpful children’s free downloadable e-book, activities, discussion guides, educational materials, videos, and more!
  • First Book: Their Open e-books gives kids from low-income families access to a digital library of thousands of popular and award-winning eBooks for free.
  • Make Way for Books App: Unlimited access to high-quality books to share with your child and online story times (bilingual)
  • Storyline Online: Award-winning website streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books.
  • Unite for Literacy: Digital books that provide audio narrations in more than 40 languages

 

Online Story time & Activities

 

Apps
  • Common Sense Media: Apps range from skills essential to life and traditional academic subjects
  • ChatterPix Kids: Children can create cards with voice messages to send to their families and friends
  • Khan Academy Kids: Fun educational learning and discovery for children ages two to seven
  • Special Needs Students: Apps for Special Needs Students compiled by National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement
  • Vroom: Everyday learning activities and tips appropriate for all ages

 

ELL Resources
  • ¡Colorín Colorado!: Offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs)
  • Common Sense Media Latino: Family engagement resources with articles, videos, and ready-made presentations in Spanish​
  • StoryPlace: Provides children with the virtual experience of going to the Library and participating in the same types of activities the Library offers at its physical locations
  • Abriendo Puertas: Expansive list of resources in Spanish

 

COVID-19 Crisis Support

 

Social Media
  • Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems: Follow on Facebook each day at 1pm ET. Mo invites us in to his studio, grab some paper a pencils and learn, draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing.
  • Read Aloud with Melinda: Read aloud and activities from Melinda Long, author of “How I Became a Pirate”
  • Operation Story time: (#OperationStorytime!) favorite authors and celebrities recording themselves reading
  • Pete the Cat: Join Instagram Live each day at 12pm ET @Petethecatofficial for a reading and drawing tutorial with Pete the Cat creator, James Dean
  • Tempe Pre Facebook Page: familiar songs and activities for preschool age children