Family Literacy Programs at the Providence Community Library

With literacy skills playing such a key role in school readiness, Ready to Learn Providence’s partnership with the Providence Community Library has proven one of its most important. Activities sponsored by R2LP and held at neighborhood library branches have introduced the magic of books to hundreds of young children and families in Providence.

Cradle to Crayons

Cradle to Crayons is a free nine-week program offered at most Providence Community Library branches for children ages 1-3 and their parents or caregivers.

The program is designed to introduce young families to the library in a comfortable setting and to develop early literacy skills through songs, rhymes, storytelling and play. Library staff members offer tips that can be used at home or in child-care settings to encourage an early interest in reading and learning. Community resource specialists attend some sessions to share information on child development, health and safety.

Bilingual staff (English/Spanish) attend most sessions, and materials are available in both languages. Twice during the nine-week session each child receives a free book through Reading is Fundamental.

For information and a schedule of upcoming sessions, call or visit the children's room at your local branch, or go to http://www.provcomlib.org.

Para información en español, llame a Carolina Briones al 274-4145, extención 5.  

Cradle to Crayons is also offered at the Providence Public Library, Central branch. For information, call the children's room at 455-8025.

Beginning with Mother Goose

Beginning with Mother Goose is a free literature-based program held at Providence library branches. It teaches adults how to share children’s books, rhymes and songs with infants and toddlers.

The three-hour program is offered in both Spanish and English for parents and child-care providers. The program is offered either as one three-hour session or as a one-hour weekly program for three weeks.

The kits include ten pieces of quality children’s literature, such as The Snowy Day, I Went Walking and Goodnight Moon. A parent guide, which provides interactive activities related to the books, and a tape of original children’s music are also part of the kit. 

After each session, parents and caregivers leave with activities to do with their children, such as making a touch-and-feel book, playing with rhyming words, and tapping out the syllables of a song.

The Beginning with Mother Goose program was developed by the Vermont Center for the Book.

For information and a schedule of upcoming sessions, call or visit the children's room at your local branch, or go to http://www.provcomlib.org.

Para información en español, llame a Carolina Briones al 274-4145, extención 5.  

Learning and Reading Kits (LARK Kits)

Ready to Learn Providence partnered with the Providence Public Library to create 80 LARK kits for use by preschool child-care providers and educators.  Sixty of the kits contain bilingual (English/Spanish) books and materials for use with preschool age children.  An additional 20 kits were created for use with toddlers. LARK kits are currently available through Providence library branches.

Each LARK is bursting with 10 books, music, visual aides such as puppets and flannel boards, and a wealth of hands-on fun, such as games and puzzles. The activity folder in each kit offers a choice of activities, helping educators to teach thematic curriculum units in a developmentally appropriate way.

LARK Kits may be checked out from and returned to any Providence library branch.

For information about borrowing LARKs, call Bonnie Lilienthal in the Providence Public Library children's room at 455-8042 or Carolina Briones of Providence Community Library at 274-4145 ext. 5.