First Posted: 4/15/2014

For the ninth consecutive year, Pennsylvania’s One Book, Every Young Child program will lead the way and highlight the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers ages 3 to 6.

The Back Mountain Memorial Library will once again take part in this endeavor by presenting a special One Book program at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7 in the Children’s Room of the library.

Jean Grube, of Trucksville, will read and explain the Pa One Book to the children and then lead them in songs, fingerplays and games. Grube is the director of the youth choirs at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lehman. She was featured as an artist in residence at Dallas Elementary School fourth grade and currently teaches music and voice in the area.

Assisting with the program will be Grube’s daughter, Clara, an Education major at Lycoming College and Olivia Marquart, an early childhood specialist and graduate student of Salve Regina University, RI.

The title chosen for the 2014 Pennsylvania One Book, Every Young Child program is “Stripes of All Types” written and illustrated by Susan Stockdale. Published in 2013 by Peachtree Publishers, “Stripes of All Types” explores how animals around the world benefit from their stripes through engaging rhymes and bright, bold images. Each striped creature is described in action in its natural habitat: “Prowling the prairie, perched on a peak, crawling on cactus and camped by a creek.”

The One Book, Every Young Child program goes far beyond giving parents and caregivers a book to read to preschoolers. The program’s design is based on studies showing that simply reading a book is not enough. Adults must find ways to engage children in activities like talking about a book’s cover and illustrations, discussing the action in the book and favorite parts, pretend play related to the book and more.

Through this program, adults with preschoolers in their lives will learn how they can support the development of literacy in preschool children. Because it is important for children to be prepared for school, One Book, Every Young Child will provide opportunities for adults to read aloud and share books, stories and related activities with preschoolers. These activities have been shown to be crucial to early learning.

Call the library to register for this very important yet fun-filled program. Each family will receive a paperback copy of the book, bookmarks, stickers and a family fun and activity guide.