Did you know that it is never too early to prepare your child for success as a reader?  As a parent or caregiver of a newborn, toddler or preschooler, you are your child's first teacher.

Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write.  Research has shown that children get ready to read years before they start school.

Every Child Ready to Read, an early literacy program developed by the American Library Association (ALA), identifies six pre-reading skills that children should have in order to learn to read.  Click on each skill to learn more.

Narrative Skills

The ability to describe things and events and to retell stories.

Print Awareness

Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and how to follow the words on a page.

Print Motivation

A child's interest and enjoyment in books.

Phonological Awareness

The ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.

Vocabulary

Knowing the names of things.

Letter Knowledge

Learning the sounds of letters, the names of letters and the ability to

recognize them everywhere.

For more information, download the Every Child Ready To Read Parent Guide or go to the Every Child Ready to Read website.