Early Literacy
CHPL is dedicated to help every child build strong literacy skills and foster a lifelong love of reading, starting from birth!
Early literacy skills form the foundation for all learning, empowering kids with the confidence and critical thinking skills they need to thrive in school and beyond.
Science of Reading Newsletter
Pick up the Library's quarterly Science of Reading newsletter to find tips, tricks, and resources related to youth literacy. The newsletter is in partnership with Jennifer Naegele of Mount St. Joseph University's The Center for Reading Science.
Find the newsletter at one of our 41 Library locations.
Storytime at the Library
Storytime at the Library is a great way to introduce new concepts and skills to kids.
Storytime Events
What is Science of Reading?
The ReadOhio Initiative helps schools use research-based reading instruction to strengthen literacy outcomes for kids.
The Science of Reading refers to a decades‑long collection of interdisciplinary research that helps inform how children learn to read by practicing these five skills:
- Phonological awareness — hearing and playing with sounds in words
- Phonics — connecting letters to sounds
- Fluency — reading with accuracy, speed, and expression
- Vocabulary — understanding the meaning of words
- Comprehension — making sense of what they read
The Library supports youth and educators through resources and programming grounded in the Science of Reading.
Support Reading at Home
Support and develop essential literacy skills at home with help from the Library.
Talk
Talking with children helps them learn oral language, one of the most critical early literacy skills. Children learn about language by listening to parents talk and joining in the conversation.
Sing
Singing develops language skills. Slows down language so children can hear the different sounds in words. Helps children learn new words and information.
Read
Reading together develops vocabulary and comprehension, nurtures a love for reading, and motivates children to want to learn to read.
Play
Play is one of the best ways for children to learn language and literacy skills. They learn about language through playing as the activities help them put thoughts into words and talk about what they are doing.
Write
Children become aware that printed letters stand for spoken words as they see print used in their daily lives.
Early Literacy Books
Alphabet Books
Books to Encourage Play
Books to Sing
Books in Conversation
Library Resources for Building Literacy
Science of Reading Resources
ABCmouse
Freegal Music
World Book Early World of Learning
Libby
Ohio Imagination Library
All Ohio families with children under 5 can get a free book each month with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, opens a new window.
Imagination Library is available in all Ohio zip codes. Seventy percent of Ohio households with children under five are currently participating.
Community Resources for Building Literacy
Looking for early literacy resources? Check out these organizations and initiatives aimed at helping build your child's literacy skills and foster their love of reading.
- Thrive by Five Cincy: A project of All Children Thrive that was created to support parents and caregivers of young children with simple, fun, and meaningful ways to help little ones learn and grow.
- Read Works: A free website for children, caregivers, and educators with reading passages on a variety of grade-level topics. Decodable texts are offered as well as texts that provide ELL Spanish support. Passages come with vocabulary and comprehension lessons/questions.
- Reading Universe: You'll find ready-to-use teaching strategies, in-classroom videos, interviews with teachers and reading experts, and quick, concrete answers to common questions about teaching reading and writing. And it's all free!
- Reading Rockets: An online library of evidence-based classroom strategies to help young children become skilled readers.