Ready to Read at Lake County Public Library

Collection of books, activities, and more designed to help your child develop important pre-reading skills. These skills will help them not only in reading, but in lifelong learning! Brought to you by Lake County Public Library (Indiana).

[gettingready2read]

I Love You, Honey Bunny by Ksenia Valkhanovich, illustrated by Mary Koless

Bunny and Mommy have so many fun times together from Winter to Summer. From making snow angels to watering the carrots in the garden. Every day is special because they get spend time together.

Skills

Narrative skills

Print Motivation

Practices

Talking

Playing

Extend this book by making a paper plate bunny mask. Inspiration for this craft came from Learning 4 Kids, but we made ours a little simpler, and made it look like Bunny from the book!

You will need:

Paper plate

white, pink and black paper

glue stick and/or stapler

scissors

crayons

Directions:

Cut out circle from center of paper plate.

Cut out ears (white), inside of ears (pink), whiskers (black).

Assemble with glue stick or stapler.

Check out I Love You Honey Bunny!

[gettingready2read]

Astronauts Zoom! An Astronaut Alphabet by Deborah Lee Rose

See how actual astronauts live and work at the International Space Station as you go through the alphabet from A to Z.

Skills

Print awareness

Narrative skills

Vocabulary

Practices

Reading

Talking

Extend this book with a video of a real astronaut reading the book from the International Space Station. Story Time from Space features different astronauts reading space themed books from space.

You will need: Computer/ device and internet.

Check out Astronauts Zoom!

[gettingready2read]

Have a Look, Says Book by Richard Jackson

This book allows you to explore descriptive words and fun rhymes so you can imagine how all the items in the book feel.

Reading this book with your child will help them build phonological awareness and letter knowledge. This book and the craft can also help them practice reading and writing.

Make a Texture Book of Your Own!

You will need:

Paper for the book cover and pages

Glue

Textured things, such as fabric, yarn, craft sticks, felt, ribbon, foam, feathers, etc

Crayon, marker, or pencil

Steps:

Fold paper in half

Glue bits of fabric, yarn, craft sticks, felt, ribbon, foam, feathers (or anything textured you have on hand) to each half page.

Label each page with descriptive word

Repeat to make more pages

Fold paper in half and write your title for the front

Combine all pages inside each other to create your texture book.

Check out Have a Look, Says Book

[gettingready2read]

Some Pets by Angela DiTerlizzi

This book combines fun vocabulary and collage-style illustrations to describe all the things our pets do.

Reading this book with your child will help them build vocabulary and background knowledge. This book, with the craft, can help them practice talking, playing, and writing!

Extend the book with a paper collage of a pet!

You will need paper, scissors, and glue. Crayons optional!

Cut scraps of paper into any shapes

Glue scraps of paper together to collage your pet

Add details with crayons if desired

Check out Some Pets

[gettingready2read]

The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk by Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal, Illustrated by Jess Golden

The Wheels On The Tuk Tuk is a fun twist on the traditional song “The Wheels on the Bus” and takes us on a tour of a small town in India that is preparing for a Diwali celebration.

This book is full of vocabulary that you and your children might be unfamiliar with but the context and images make understanding effortless. There is also a helpful glossary in the back of the book.

This book beautifully showcases Indian culture and takes readers on a fun adventure with surprises around every corner.

Practices:

Sing

Play

Skills:

Background Knowledge

Vocabulary

Activity: Popsicle Stick Fireworks

The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk ends with Diwali fireworks, so let's make some fireworks with a few simple supplies.

You will need:

construction paper

washable paints

popsicle sticks

(optional) glitter

Pour paint onto a plate in a long straight line. Dip the side of your popsicle stick into the paint and stamp the paint onto your paper.

Use as many colors as you like to make a sky full of beautiful fireworks. Optionally, sprinkle some glitter over your fireworks before they dry to make them really shine!

Check out The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk

[gettingready2read]

I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont

Give your kids a boost of self-confidence with this silly rhyming picture book about loving ourselves unconditionally! Colorful, quirky images and a catchy rhyme scheme make this book one that your kids will want to read again and again and adults will love the message too.

Rhyming books build phonological awareness, while opposite words help bring attention to vocabulary.

I like me wild/ I like me tame. I like me different/ and the same.

This book will help your child practice their talking, reading, and writing skills. Start a conversation with your child by asking them what they love most about themself.

Extend the book with affirmations!

An affirmation is a positive statement you will say to yourself every day.

Watch The Affirmations Song on the Doggyland YouTube Channel to hear some examples of affirmations:

Choose an affirmation from the song, or create your own. Write your affirmation on an index card and decorate it with crayons or markers.

Hang your affirmation card somewhere you will look at it every day, like on your bathroom mirror. Repeat this affirmation to yourself frequently to encourage confidence.

Check out I Like Myself from the library!

[gettingready2read]

Let's Read Animal Words by Ji Lee

Publisher's Summary: Meet four-legged, two-finned, and webbed-toe friends in this word-as-image introduction to the animal world, chock-full of interesting facts. In what looks like a simple image, there lies a fully formed word (and vice versa) for kids to read! As they giggle and make their best guess, tiny readers will discover new favorite creatures in this delightful interaction between image, shape, and letters.

This book helps build:

Vocabulary and Background knowledge: Children who already know the animal will find it easier to “read” the word-image and understand new facts.

Letter Knowledge: readers can pick out the letters they know from the images.

This book helps kids practice:

Reading: Readers can more easily sound out the letters when they already know the word they are reading.

Writing: Drawing animal pictures builds finger dexterity which helps with writing.

Talking: Ask questions about the animals listed and discuss the facts.

Extend the book by:

Making art out of words, just like the illustrations.

Compare the different ways the same letter can be drawn.

Name a letter and see if they can find it within the illustration.

Try to find letter shapes in everyday objects.

Check out Let's Read Animal Words

[gettingready2read]

Go and Get with Rex by David LaRochelle

Publisher's summary: Jack, Jill, and Rex are excited to play a game of Go and Get! The rules are simple: on the count of three, each player must go and get something that begins with a certain letter. While Jack's and Jill's picks always fit the bill (What starts with F? Frog! Fish!), Rex keeps getting it wrong (a duck?)-- or does he?

This book helps build:

Vocabulary: Dog shows us a concept that matches the letter rather than a tangible item, which builds vocabulary knowledge.

Background Knowledge: Dog shows us abstract examples of a word rather than a physical example, which gives a deeper understanding of the world around us.

Letter Knowledge: The requested letter is highlighted in a different color making it easy to spot on the page and practices recognition.

This book helps kids practice:

Reading: Readers can easily spot the highlighted letter which emphasizes the importance of the letter's meaning when pronounced. Have them say the letter and sound when pointing to it.

Playing: Have readers go and find their own things that begin with the requested letter.

Talking: Ask what other things begin with the requested letter.

Extend the Book:

Have your readers name the objects that are brought or guess the object using clues on the page.

Using flashcards or letter shapes, have readers:

Play their own game of Go and Get

Practice matching objects to their letter

See who can name the letter first

Check out Go and Get with Rex

[gettingready2read]

My New Friend is So Fun! by Mo Willems

My New Friend is So Fun is part of the wonderful and wildly popular Elephant and Piggie series. This adventure finds Gerald the elephant in a new predicament: Piggie has a new friend! Read, discover, and discuss what it means to make new friends but keep the old.

This book helps kids build:

Vocabulary

Narrative Skills

Print Motivation

And will help kids practice:

Talking

Reading

Extend the book by making a friendship bracelet!

Instead of using your typical pony beads, you can take paper straws of all colors (plastic will work as well) and cut them up to use as beads. They are super easy for little ones to string onto their bracelet.

You can use elastic string which provides stretch to take the bracelet on and off, or you can use whatever yarn or string you have lying around the house.

Check out My New Friend is So Fun!

[gettingready2read]

Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo by E.S. Redmond

Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo is the perfect book for the cold and flu season! Felicity Floo is a sick little girl who decides to visit and pet each of the animals in the zoo, leaving behind a path of green, gloppy destruction in her wake. It is great fun to have little ones point out all of the gooey hand prints Felicity leaves behind.

This book helps kids build:

Vocabulary

Print Awareness

Print Motivation

And will help kids practice:

Talking

Reading

Extend the book by learning a hand washing song!

After reading the book, this is an excellent time to talk to kids about their own hygiene habits and how important it is to wash our hands frequently. The wonderful ladies at Jbrary posted “The Handwashing Song,” which can help:

This quick, familiar tune will encourage children to not only wash their hands but also make sure it is thorough and fun.

Video description: Two people sit on a couch and go through the motions described in the lyrics. For the "Now we're clean" line, they hold their hands up palms out and wave them back and forth in time with the song.

Lyrics:

Tune: Frere Jacques

Tops and bottoms, tops and bottoms

In between, in between

Scrub them all together, scrub them all together

Now we’re clean, squeaky clean

Check out Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo

[gettingready2read]

Can You Do This? by Megan Roy

Kids are asked if they can do a series of physical activities that gets them up and moving. The kids will laugh as they act out the playful challenges. The book ends with taking some deep breaths and sitting quietly.

This book will help your child build:

Narrative skills

Print Motivation

And it will help them practice:

Talking

Playing

Extend this book by joining your child in all the activities like hopping and reaching for the sky!

Check out Can You Do This?

[gettingready2read]

Go, Sled! Go! by James Yang

What could be better than a sled ride in the snow? Maybe being joined by some unexpected creatures along the way! Before you know it there is a bunny, snowman, a moose joining in the fun.

This book will help your child build pre-reading skills:

Print awareness

Narrative skills

Vocabulary

And will help them practice:

Reading

Talking

Extend this book with a snowman & bunny snowflake!

We found this great video tutorial for a craft that's perfect for Go, Sled! Go! Check it out:

You will need:

square piece of paper

scissors

markers or crayons

Directions:

Fold the square paper twice, then fold into a triangle.

Draw half a snowman and half a bunny and cut it out.

Color the snowmen and bunnies!

Check out Go, Sled! Go!

[gettingready2read]

We're Going on a Pumpkin Hunt by Goldie Hawk

While hunting for a pumpkin, children dressed in costumes must go through some fun, not-too-scary things to get to it. A bright Halloween version of the song, “We're Going On Bear Hunt.”

This book helps build:

Phonological Awareness: This book contains onomatopoeia (words that describe sounds). The text can be sung.

Narrative Skills: Repetitive text helps support narrative skills

Print Awareness: The onomatopoeia words are large and bold, drawing your child's attention to them.

This book helps children practice:

Singing: Sing the repeated refrain together.

Reading: Have your child meow with the cats, flap their wings (arms) like the bats, etc. Being actively involved in the reading of a book helps them enjoy it more and helps foster a love of reading.

Extend the book by making a Jack-O-Lantern Windsock!

You will need:

Orange, yellow and green (or brown) construction paper

Crepe paper streamers or construction paper cut into strips

Scissors

Hole punch

Glue

18-24 inch piece of yarn

Directions:

Cut a sheet of orange construction paper in half lengthwise.

Glue streamers or strips of construction paper along the bottom.

Turn over

Cut a stem out of the green or brown construction paper

Cut eyes and mouth out of the yellow construction paper.

Glue eyes, mouth and stem to craft.

Roll and glue the craft together.

Use a hole punch to make a hole on each side of the Jack-o-lantern.

Tie one end of the yarn through one hole and the other end through the 2nd hole.

Hang your windsock!

Check out We're Going on a Pumpkin Hunt

[gettingready2read]

See You Later, Alligator by Sally Hopgood

Before setting off on an adventure, Tortoise tells each of his animal friends goodbye in this charmingly illustrated and very engaging book.

This book helps to build:

Phonological Awareness: There is rhyming text throughout the book.

Print Awareness: This book has a large font, and the animal names are especially large and bold. The words float across each page in relation to the picture. All of which draw your child's attention to the print, helping them learn that print has meaning.

Vocabulary: There are many words the children may not be familiar with, such as “timid,” “squawking”, and “marshy bog.”

This book helps children practice:

Talking - As you read the book, talk about the illustrations, the unfamiliar words, and goodbyes. Be sure to note the animal that Tortoise refers to as a Unicorn (but is indeed not.) Help your child identify the words that rhyme on each page.

Reading – Have your child predict what animal Tortoise will visit next.

Extend the book with a Paper Plate Tortoise craft!

You will need:

A small paper plate

Green and brown construction paper

Scissors

Glue

Pencil

Optional: Markers or crayons

Directions:

Trace an upside down paper plate in the middle of a sheet of green construction paper (tortoise body).

Draw a head and four legs on the body.

Draw eyes on the tortoise head.

Cut out your drawing.

Optional: color the back of the paper plate.

Cut small shapes/pieces out of the brown construction paper.

Glue brown shapes/pieces to back of paper plate.

Glue paper plate to the cut out tortoise.

Check out See You Later, Alligator

[gettingready2read]

Sour Apple by Linda Lu

The apple picking season is always an exciting time for everyone, including the apples!

One special apple has ripened and is ready to be picked. Unfortunately, this little green apple was not selected from the bunch. As it wonders why it wasn't chosen, readers are invited to reflect on the idea that each apple may have its own unique and meaningful purpose.

Your child will have the opportunity to further develop their vocabulary by exploring new words, such as understanding the difference between bitter cider and juice.

Additionally, this can be a wonderful chance to support their storytelling and narrative skills by asking gentle questions like, "How do apples grow?", "What is your favorite apple?", “What color apple is the main character?” 

Reading the story together, along with the illustrations, can also be a meaningful way to foster their print awareness.

This book will also help your child practice:

Writing - Practice the letter A for Apples.

Reading the story to find out what happens to the sour green apple

Talking - Ask questions throughout the story to gauge their understanding

Extend the Book with a Coffee Filter Apple

You Will Need

Coffee filters

Markers (green, yellow green, red)

brown construction paper

green construction paper (optional)

glue stick

paper towel

water

Directions

Choose what color markers you'd like for your apple.

Use the markers to color on the coffee filter. It does not need to be completely colored.

Wet the paper towel with the water and dab the coffee filter to spread the color around

Let it dry for 10 to 15 minutes

cut the brown construction paper into a small rectangle for a stem.

Glue the stem to the back of the filter.

optional: You can add a little leaf by cutting the green paper. It does not have to be perfect!

Bonus: Love apple crafts? This month, our Busy Bag at Hobart Branch is an apple stacked on books! Stop by and pick one up while supplies last.

Check out Sour Apple

[gettingready2read]

Old MacDonald Had a Farm E-I-UFO by Zach von Zonk

This charming story offers a delightful twist on the classic Old MacDonald tale. In this story, Old MacMartian inadvertently welcomes some farm animals onto his UFO! What will happen next? It’s a lively and entertaining adventure that captures the imagination of all ages. We invite you to join in and sing along as you enjoy this fun new interpretation of Old MacDonald!

This story offers a wonderful opportunity for your child to develop their phonological awareness through playful sounds like “gloop glop” and “zerp zap.”

They may find delight in the whimsical illustrations and the words that drift across the pages, which can support their print awareness.

Sharing and discussing the story with your little one about what might happen to poor Old Mac Martian can also encourage the development of their narrative skills and ability to describe events.

This book can also help build important pre-reading practices:

Singing: Sing along with the story!

Reading: Read to your child and have them follow the whimsical text

Playing: Play with the craft below and practice identifying the animals!

Extend the book with a UFO craft and activity!

You will need:

Brown paper lunch bag

Construction paper (gray, white, and yellow or green)

Scissors

Glue

Crayons or Markers

Animal Flashcards (You can find free printables online (we made ours in Canva), or you can use little stuffed animals from home!)

Directions:

- Take the gray construction paper and cut out an oval for the body of the UFO.

- Take the white construction paper and cut out a half oval for the bubble the alien will sit in.

- Take the yellow construction paper and cut out a triangle.

- Take your paper lunch bag and turn it sideways. Glue the gray oval to the center of the bag. Try not to put the glue at the end of the gray oval so that the yellow triangle can fit under it.

- Lastly, take the white half oval and glue it to the top of the gray oval.

- For detail, you can add the legs of the UFO and draw in an alien onto the white half oval.

- Use the flash cards to help your child identify either the animal or the animal sounds. You can either have your child name them as you pull them out of the bag (as though they were on the UFO), or add them to the bag (as though they are boarding the ship) after your child identifies them!

Check out E-I-UFO

[gettingready2read]

Who Am I? by Jeffrey Turner

In the story, rabbit is trying to figure out who they are! Rabbit tries to be many animals but ultimately realizes that it is ok to be rabbit and not be like any other animal!

This book encourages talking, reading, and playing as the animals make many sounds! Reading this book with your child will help them build print motivation, narrative skills, and phonological awareness - which will help them get ready to read on their own.

Extend the book by making an animal silhouette!

Supplies:

Paint

Paint brush

white construction paper

black construction paper

scissors

The book is also filled with silhouette illustrations. This can be turned into a craft. Children can use black construction paper to make the shape of an animal, then paint a background on the white paper and paste the black silhouette on!

We cut out a dolphin shape, then painted a blue ocean and used several stripes of color to show a sunset. Finally, we pasted the dolphin onto the painting.

Check out Who Am I?