Early Learning

Understanding the racist roots of nursery rhymes can help librarians and early childhood educators decide what is appropriate to share with children—and what should be left behind.

Everyone wins when public libraries collaborate with these preschool programs, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and implemented through local agencies.

At story hours or in more casual settings, readers will come away from these two charming books about family and baking hungry. In each, family and friends—woodland animals or human dear ones—gather, and beautiful loaves of challah are enjoyed by all.

Singsong language is good for infant brains, according to new research. 

During the pandemic, many families relied on Mo Willems’s playful, calm, and supportive “Lunch Doodle” videos, sponsored by the ­Kennedy Center, on YouTube. The Mo Willems Workshop channel has expanded its content. Here's SLJ's review.

Early chapter books? Easy readers? Whatever you call them, transitional books are key for young students, librarians say.

Offer registration help to caregivers, add voting activities to engage children and adults, and share these age-appropriate books about civic engagement. 

These books nurture literacy, empathy, and understanding.

Incorporating interactive features, engaging text, and delightful rhymes, these board books encourage the magic of a shared reading experience that no screen, app, or video can replicate.