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

Summer Fun Literacy Programs!

May Save the Dates (click HERE for full calendar)

• 6/1 - HPL 250 Celebration: Summer Reading Parade & Kickoff
• 6/8 - Meet Me At the Wadsworth for Juneteenth
• 6/10 - Reading & Recipes Store Tour, ShopRite East Hartford
• 6/12 - Wednesday Workshop: Positive Interactions and Brain Development in Early Learning
• 6/15 - LiL Participation Celebration at The Story Barn RAIN DATE: 6/22
• 6/20 - Reading & Recipes Session 6

Saturday, June 1 - Hartford Public Library: Summer Reading Parade and Kickoff

12 noon - 3 p.m., 500 Main Street

Come dressed as your favorite literary character and enjoy family friendly activities, live music, performances, mascots, ice cream, and more. Parade participants must arrive at 11:30 a.m. 

Saturday, June 8 - Meet Me at The Wadsworth for Juneteenth

12 noon - 2 p.m., 600 Main Street

Second Saturdays for Families are always FREE. This month the Wadsworth celebrates Juneteenth. Enjoy family-friendly crafts and explore the museum. The first (10) participants who RSVP and attend will receive a special Juneteenth board book.

Monday, June 10 - Reading & Recipes Store Tour ShopRite of East Hartford

1 - 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 - 8 p.m., 31 Main Street, 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. Participants receive a $20 ShopRite gift card.

Wednesday, June 12 - Wednesday Workshop: Positive Interactions and Brain Development in Early Learning 

1- 2:30 p.m., Zoom

Did you know joining us for literacy events, read-aloud, and sharing books with children promotes bonding with them and positively boosts their brain development? This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of the importance of these positive interactions and how they promote proper brain development in early learning.

Saturday, June 15 - Leap into Learning Participation Celebration 

1 - 4 p.m., The Story Barn

Join us at The Story Barn to celebrate Leap into Learning. We will enjoy a fun-filled afternoon. The FREE festivities include lunch, a music and movement session, a scavenger hunt, storytime, s’mores, and MORE! Providers will receive their program incentives package and participation certificate!

RAIN DATE: Saturday, June 22

Saturday, June 20 - Reading & Recipes Session 6 

6:30 - 8 p.m., Zoom

In session 6, our UConn Nutritionist will engage families in an interactive nutrition education and food demonstration. Previous Reading and Recipes participants will receive literacy resources and ingredients. Together we will make Cucumber Watermelon Salad and Watermelon Shaved Ice.

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.