St. Cloud, MN, February 2015: In March and April the Great River Regional Library (GRRL) is offering a variety of events and activities as part of a statewide Once Upon a Reader program that brings focus to early literacy.
Once Upon a Reader is a one-book program designed for pre-kindergarten children to promote early literacy skills. Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they learn how to read and write, such as an awareness of how to hold a book and turn the pages. The focus of Once Upon a Reader is to encourage young children and their parents to read together. The program will be featured in public libraries throughout Minnesota.
“This is a statewide collaboration which fits perfectly within the purpose of public libraries,” said GRRL’s Interim Director Karen Pundsack. “Once Upon a Reader creates opportunities for parents and children to enjoy reading together, and when children and families associate reading with fun, it’s more likely to become a habit. Establishing the reading habit in early childhood is a vital part of ensuring reading success when a child starts school.”
The book chosen for 2015 is “Moo!” written by David LaRochelle and illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, which won the 2014 Minnesota Book Award in Children’s Literature. As part of Once Upon a Reader, a copy of “Moo!” will be given to each Head Start student in Minnesota. LaRochelle and Wohnoutka will travel throughout the state doing a ‘Trunk Show’ with a story reading, original music, drawing demonstration, Q & A and other activities.
The Once Upon a Reader: Moo! Traveling Trunk Show will visit these GRRL locations:
Staples Public Library, Monday, March 2, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Melrose Public Library, Monday, March 2, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Elk River Public Library, Tuesday, March 3, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
St. Michael Public Library, Tuesday, March 3, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Other scheduled “Moo!” programs and activities at GRRL locations include:
Moo Storytimes with stories, crafts and activities for ages 3 to 6.
Foley Public Library, Thursday, March 12, 4:00 to 4:45 p.m.
Grey Eagle Public Library, Saturday, March 21, 11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
Pierz Public Library, Thursday, April 2, 11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
Richmond Public Library, Monday, April 20, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Cold Spring Public Library, Thursday, April 23, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Drive In Mooovie Night for toddlers and preschoolers with a supervising adult. Parents and children will create their very own car for the showing of “Moo!” and treats will be provided by the Kimball Friends of the Library.
Kimball Public Library, Wednesday, March 11, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Annandale Public Library, Wednesday, March 11, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Cow’s Scavenger Hunt to find animals in the library. For ages 3 to 6.
Waite Park Public Library, March and April during library open hours.
Long Prairie Public Library, April during library open hours.
Sauk Centre Public Library, Monday, April 6 to Thursday, April 30 during library open hours.
Moo! Animal Guessing Game for ages 0 to 6.
Howard Lake Public Library, March during library open hours.
St. Cloud Public Library, March and April during library open hours.
Delano Public Library, April during library open hours.
Once Upon a Reader Activities for toddlers and preschoolers.
Kimball Public Library, Monday, March 2 to Saturday, March 14 during library open hours.
Annandale Public Library, Monday, March 2 to Saturday, March 14 during library open hours.
In addition to copies of “Moo!” GRRL also has two other Once Upon a Reader items on its catalog available for checkout. One is “Cow’s Vacation Scrapbook,” a kit including “Moo!” and a stuffed cow with other items. The other is a “Take-home Play Kit,” including a cow puppet, cowbell, police hat, “Moo!” and other items.
Once Upon a Reader is sponsored by the Council of Regional Public Library System Administrators and funded from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
GRRL provides library services at 32 public libraries in Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Wright Counties. It provides Central Minnesota residents with nearly 1 million books, CDs and DVDs, 250 public computers, programming and information services.
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