City of Grapevine, Texas > Individual Departments > Library > Children's Services

Storytime Programs and Guidelines
Tips for Reading to Your Child
Live Homework Help

STORYTIME PROGRAMS AND GUIDELINES

MY FIRST STORYTIME is a one-on-one program for babies (birth to 18 months) and their caregivers. This program runs in six-week sessions as announced. Registration is required, space is limited, and preference is given to Grapevine Public Library cardholders. For more information, please call 817-410-3406.

TERRIFIC TODDLERS for children 18 to 36 months, is planned specifically with a toddler's interests and attention span in mind. The program is offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:15 - 10:35. It consists of short books, rhymes, fingerplays, and songs. Themes change weekly.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME is for 3 to 5 year old children. The program is offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:45 - 11:15. It is a wonderful opportunity for your child to develop socialization skills for kindergarten. The activities include longer books, flannelboard stories, and songs that generate an excitement about books and the library. Themes change weekly.

FAMILY EVENING STORYTIME is a multi-age program with an assortment of books and activities that the whole family can enjoy! Family storytime concludes with a coloring time related to the storytime theme. This program is offered on Thursdays at 7:00pm. Make it a part of your special family time!

SPANISH STORYTIME is offered select Wednesdays at 6:30pm during the school year.

GUIDELINES FOR STORYTIME

Discuss storytime with your child so he or she will know what to expect.

Arrive on time so your child can benefit from the entire program.

Stay with younger children and participate together.

Model good listening behavior for your child.

Step outside momentarily if your child becomes restless or upset.

Turn off cell phones so the program may continue without interruption.

Supervise your child before and after the program so that you may both enjoy the library in a safe manner.

As always, no food or drink is permitted in the library.

TO FURTHER ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDS LOVE OF BOOKS, WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS:

Check out books to enjoy at home.

Ask the children's librarians for suggested reading.

Read with your child for at least twenty minutes a day.

Let your child see you enjoying books.

Enroll in the Summer Reading Club. There are programs for readers and listeners so that everyone may participate.

Give books as presents-they cost less than toys, last longer, and can give more pleasure.

Make the library a part of your life.

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TIPS FOR READING TO YOUR CHILD

Read a newspaper story you are reading. It's the sounds that are important.

Introduce simple pictures and stories as the baby grows. Shapes, colors and sounds will delight.

Visit the library often. Let the children select their own books.

Make a special time for reading aloud: after dinner, before bed . . . anytime, anywhere, anyplace.

Try lots of books. There's a book for everyone.

Read more about people, places and things you see on television.

Have older children read aloud while you do household chores.

Keep plenty of reading materials around the house. Put children's books on low shelves.

Let children see you read. Talk about what you read.

Give books as gifts. Let children know you think books are special, and reading is important.

SELECTING BOOKS FOR YOUR CHILD
While it is impossible to develop the perfect, age-specific reading list, there are certain book characteristics to look for as you select materials to read to your developing child.

INFANTS
Simple and repetitive songs and poems

Classic nursery rhymes

Hand and finger games

Sturdy books made from cloth, cardboard, and plastic that the child can handle and chew on

Old magazines and catalogs to examine and tear

TODDLERS
Books about daily life and the toddler's world

Simple predictable plots with repetitive phrases

Books that invite chatting, chanting, humming, and dancing

Illustrations that include objects the toddler can identify -- "point and say books."

PRE-SCHOOLERS
Traditional folk, fairytales, and fables

Wordless picture books that allow pre-schoolers to develop their own stories

Books about first experiences, achievement, and problem solving

Increasingly complex plot lines

Easy-to-read books with controlled vocabularies

And remember . . .

It is the language and social interaction that surround the reading, not just the words and pictures of the book itself, that foster literacy development. So, have fun with books! Re-read old favorites again and again. Share a wide variety of books with your child -- storybooks, concept books, information books, poetry books, books about people like you and about people who are different.

READ! READ! READ! Just 20 minutes a day can make all the difference in your child's life!

Prepared by the Texas Library Association Children's Round Table and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission

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LIVE HOMEWORK HELP POWERED BY TUTOR.COM

Live Homework Help connects 4th-12th graders and college intro students to expert tutors in the areas of math, science, social studies and English. The program is available on the Library computers and is accessible remotely from home through our website. Accessing the program from the library computers is as easy as clicking the Live Homework Help icon on the computer desktop. If you have questions or difficulties our librarians are available to assist you with this program. To access the program from home click on the Live Homework Help Icon Below.

Live Homework Help is available Every Day from 3:00pm - 10:00pm and En Espanol from Sunday through Thursday, 3:00pm - 9:00pm (Espanol for Math and Science only)

If you have questions about the program you can call 817-410-3405 to talk to one of our childrens librarians or email children@grapevine.lib.tx.us

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