Reading aloud is the foundation for literacy development. It is the single most important activity for reading success." (Bredekamp, Coople & Neuman, 2000)
 

Literacy programs are in bloom!

May Save the Dates (click HERE for the full calendar)

Save the dates:

• Saturday, 5/4 - Mental Health Awareness Month Kickoff Event: Breathe & Read SEL Extravaganza
• Monday, 5/20 - Supercharged Storytime Playgroup Field Trip
• Wednesday, 5/22 - Wednesday Workshop: Bright Beads Jewelry Making
• Thursday, 5/23 & 5/30 - Store Tours 
• Thursday, 5/23 - Reading and Recipes

Saturday, May 4th - Mental Health Awareness Month Kickoff: Breathe & Read SEL Extravaganza

12:00 - 3:00 pm (THIS EVENT IS FULL) Downtown Library, CCC Room, 500 Main Street (enter on Arch Street)

Did you know fostering appropriate social-emotional learning (SEL) in young children is the gateway to well-balanced mental health in later years? Throw on your comfy clothing and sneakers to join us for a wonderful afternoon.
Join us for a read-along with guest author Reesa Shayne, where each participant will receive an autographed book. Plus, enjoy a family yoga session with A Little Yoga LLC, receive a bag of yoga goodies, enter raffles, get your face painted, indulge in healthy snacks, and more!

Monday, May 20th - Supercharged Storytime Playgroup: Field Trip

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 pm

Bus stop: HPL Albany Library, 1250 Albany Avenue

Join us for a special Supercharged Storytime Playgroup: Field Trip. We will explore the Lutz Children's Museum in Manchester, CT. Enjoy free play, a story, snack, meet and pet creatures, and view animals that live at the museum.

Wednesday, May 22nd - Wednesday Workshop: Bright Beads Jewelry Making

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Zoom

Jackie Bright will join the Leap into Learning FCCP for a fun virtual introduction to jewelry-making. Each provider will receive a kit and showcase their new jewelry-making skills to create statement piece necklaces. 

Our ASL coaching session will be held from 2-2:30.

Reading & Recipes Store Tours 

Thursday, May 23, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m

Store Tour, ShopRite East Hartford

Think you know everything about your grocery store? There’s more to it than products on the shelf. Join us for an informative tour with the store’s dietician to learn about the numerous, nutrition benefits offered. This program has a limited group size of 8 attendees. Participants receive a $20 ShopRite gift card. 

Plus, on 5/23 - Reading and Recipes Session 5 

6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Zoom

In session 5, our UConn Nutritionist will engage families in an interactive nutrition education and food demonstration. Together we will make a tasty summer salad. Our recipe is Strawberry Pepper Salad.

June save the date: Year End Program Celebration

Saturday, June 15th 

1:00 - 4:00 p.m. 

The Story Barn in Somers, CT

Rain date: June 22nd.

Leap Into Learning Literacy Program For Childcare Providers 

Are you a Hartford home daycare provider looking for new and exciting ways to engage the children and families you serve in literacy? Look no further! The Hartford Public Library is pleased to offer the Leap Into Learning literacy program.

This service is for children ages birth through five, along with their parents and caregivers, to ensure all children in Hartford are well prepared and enter kindergarten ready to learn.

This interactive, immersive literacy program will offer support to home daycare providers in the form of:

• Early literacy resources and training
• Books, activities and materials
• Story time home visits
• HPL teacher cards
• Library cards for children and families

Interested? Complete this online form or send an email to Leap Into Learning Program Coordinator Nichole Hawkins at nhawkins@hplct.org.

Patricipating providers who care for children ages birth to five will receive access to good quality early literacy resources and enjoy special literacy events, plus beneficial training for providers and parents. Providers can also apply for an HPL teacher card which allows providers to:

• Borrow books and materials for up to 4 weeks with two-week renewals and no fines
• Request book selections from branch librarians
• Help children and families obtain a library card of their own

Providers and parents are encouraged to join us at Hartford Public Library's Summer Learning kickoff event on Saturday, June 18th at the Downtown Library (500 Main St.) to learn more.

Leap Into Learning is sponsored by the Gawlicki Family Foundation.

Meet Program Coordinator Nichole Hawkins

Nichole is a Hartford resident with decades of experience in early childhood education. She ran a home daycare for 10 years, worked for ECHN as a family support provider and during the pandemic launched Legacy Lineage, a virtual preschool classroom to support families in homeschooling. She is excited to share the Supercharged Storytime framework and the beneficial strategies she's mastered to empower the participants of the Leap Into Learning program on all levels.