March is National Reading Month. During this month schools across the nation are encouraging children to read, every day. Reading opens the doors to so many other things and is an essential skill for children to gain.  Even if your children are not able to read to themselves yet, I encourage you to read to them yourself, every day.

Early Literacy Skills

Research findings outlined in a recent report of the National Early Literacy Panel highlight the fact that literacy skills begin to develop at birth. The panel identified a number of early skills that are related to—and may even help predict—a child’s later success with reading and writing. These skills include things like:

Alphabet knowledge—the ability to name letters and the sounds they make
Phonological awareness—the ability to hear and manipulate the sounds of spoken language (such as hear the beginning sound of a word)
Rapid letter or number naming—the ability to quickly name letters or numbers
Rapid object or color naming—the ability to quickly name random series of colors or objects
Phonological memory—the ability to remember spoken information for a short period of time
Writing letters or one’s own name—the ability to write single letters in isolation, or write their own name

{You can see the rest of this information at Celebrate National Reading Month…even if your child can’t read yet.}

Using the Library

Throughout our years of homeschooling we are used hundreds, maybe even thousands of books! If I had to purchase each and every one, I never would have been able to expose my children to so many awesome books. Using the library has been a great resource for endless amounts of book choices, without the large cost of purchasing them.

In honor of National Reading Month, I would like to celebrate the library. Your local library, and mine. Libraries offer an invaluable resource to everyone in their community. In honor of the library I am sharing with you books about the library. These books show imagination and whimsy, and encourage your children to love, explore, and use the library for themselves!

Books About The Library

1. Library Lily

Library Lily by Gillian Shields tells the story of Lily, who loves to read. She is fascinated by the stories in her books, and reads wherever she goes—through summer, autumn, winter, and spring. But one day, Lily meets a girl who hates reading. Milly invites Lily to have adventures of her own—outside the pages of a book. Together the two friends help each other discover the joy of both backyards and books—and find on the way that adventures are best with a friend along.

2. Homer, the Library Cat

Homer, the Library Cat by Reeve Lindbergh. Homer is a very quiet cat. He lives in a very quiet house with a very quiet lady. But one day, while the lady is away, Homer hears a very loud sound, and out the window he goes! Poor Homer just wants to find a spot where he can curl up and be quiet, but his hometown is a surprisingly loud place. Will Homer find a bit of calm in all the noise?

3. Thomas Jefferson Builds A Library

Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock. This original and lyrical picture-book biography tells the story of how Jefferson’s vast book collections helped to create the world’s largest library, the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

4. Our Library

Our Library by Eve Bunting tells the tale of a library that is to close and the animals that use books to help them save it. From repairing the roof to having a bake sale to raise money, they use books to help them solve the problems ailing their library on their quest to keep it open.

5. The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians

The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris tells the story of Melvin, who goes to the library every day after school. When something interests Melvin, his librarian friends help him find lots and lots of books on the subject. As the years pass, Melvin can always find the answers to his questions–and a lot of fun–in the library. Then one day he goes off to college to learn new things and read new books. Will he leave the library and his friends behind forever?

6. Let’s Meet a Librarian

Let’s Meet a Librarian by Gina Bellisario is a book in the “Let’s Meet a”, which is series dedicated to introducing children to community helpers. In this case, Mr. Field is a librarian. He knows how to find information about all kinds of cool things. He shows the students in Mrs. Ríos’s class how to use the library.

7. Our Librarian Won’t Tell Us Anything

Our Librarian Won’t Tell Us Anything! by Toni Buzzeo is one of a few stories about Mrs. Skorupski, the Liberty Elementary School librarian. In this tale it is reported that she won’t help the students. Instead it is that she won’t give them the answers, but teaches them how to find them using the resources in the library!

8. Please Bury Me in the Library

Please Bury Me in the Library by J. Patrick Lewis is a collection of original poems about books and reading that range from sweet to silly to laugh out loud funny.

9.  The Library

The Library by Sarah Stewart tells the story of Elizabeth Brown and her enormous collection of books.  Delight in the story of how she solves the problem of them taking over her house!

10. Library Mouse

Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk is the first in a delightful series about Sam, a library mouse. He lives in a little hole in the wall in the children’s reference books section of the library.

11. Dewey: There’s A Cat in the Library

Dewey: There’s a Cat in the Library! by Vicki Myron is based on the true story of Dewey the celebrated library cat who is found abandoned in the library box return.

Find Tons of Other Kids Books & Read Alouds

To find tons of picture book and read aloud lists, activities, and more, check out my Pinterest Board – Picture Books & Read Alouds

Other Articles in Honor of National Reading Month

This is a blog hop so enter for your chance to win a Kindle Fire HD 6″ and then hop over to check out these awesome reading related articles for National Reading Month from some of my fellow iHomeschool Network bloggers.

• Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus: Homeschooled Kids Who Read – Pastime Pleasure or Professional Prerequisite?
• The Heart of Michelle: 5 Ways to Encourage Reading in a Reluctant Reader
• Our Journey Westward: 11 Tips for Raising Readers
• Life’s Hidden Treasures: Family Favorites and a Kindle Fire Giveaway for National Reading Month

Ideas for Things to Do at the Library