Racing to Read: An Early Literacy Program

Last Thursday, I had a blast attending Pajama Storytime at the Harrisonville library. It was an early literacy program all about the sense of touch. This storytime was filled with fun, interactive stories like Don’t Push the Button by Bill Cotter and exciting ways to use their senses by playing with spaghetti noodles and guessing what was in a paper bag. There was even a family that was attending Pajama Storytime for the first time and they were able to take a Pete the Cat book home with them to keep!

Some may wonder why pajama storytime looks different this year? It’s because it is part of a whole new early literacy program funded by the Missouri State Library!

Racing to Read is a program that educates parents on early literacy skills in fun and interactive ways. Pajama Storytime has become a Racing to Read program that incorporates these early literacy skills. Beyond storytime, our children’s specialist, Ms. Sara Steinmetz, is going out and promoting early literacy in the community. She will be visiting Harrisonville Head Start and Thunderbird Apartments later on this month.

Our hope is that the early literacy skills incorporated in our programs will inspire you to include them into your child’s everyday life, and make literacy an important part of your child’s development.

Happy Reading!

– Davette Dean, Youth Services Coordinator