Welcome to Winter Reading!

February 1-28, 2011

This reading program is to encourage early literacy, so all the materials provide information for reading stages of young children, Infant to Kindergarten. The reading stages include print motivation and awareness, phonological awareness, letter knowledge and vocabulary and narrative skills.

Each library location will have materials to use throughout the month to encourage and enhance emerging reading skills. Pick up a calendar of activities called Book Boosters (in Spanish and English) and Reading Success skill cards (also available in Spanish and English).

The Winter Reading Program launches with the Bowman Bill library program at Bowman Library, Wednesday, February 2 at 11:00 a.m. Our resident groundhog, Bowman Bill, will emerge during the program to predict the weather. Will he see his shadow and jump back inside his hole for 6 more weeks of Winter? Or will he stay outside and welcome Spring right around the corner? Games, activities, songs, stories and ice cream are included in the program.

All young children with their parents should register in the reading program featuring Hedgie the Hedgehog.

At registration the children will receive:

• a book log for writing down book titles (folded with lines for writing)

• a Hedgie sticker sheet to attach snowflake stickers for each book read.

• a Winter Reading program bookmark.

The children should return to the library frequently to receive a snowflake for each book that is shared.

Certificates are available for all participants when they return for the snowflakes.

The Winter Reading Program concludes with the Hedgie Hideaway program at Handley Library in Winchester, VA on Saturday, February 26 at 1:00 p.m.