Playgroups Plus! >> Families and Books

They say that to be successful in school, every young child need to have 1000 books read to her or him before kindergarten.  Where do you find the right books?  How do make books fun and interesting for young children - and for you?

Public Libraries
There are 17 wonderful public libraries across Chittenden County, each offering a free library card that enables you to borrow books, movies, tapes and more.    They also offer free family programs.   If you have a library card from any ONE of the sixteen libraries (outside of Burlington) your library card can be used at ALL sixteen! 

Download a complete list of public libraries in the county

Free Literacy Programs for parents

Call Building Bright Futures of Chittenden County office at 652-5138 to get the latest information on Free Literacy Programs for Parents. 
To learn more about the Mother Goose programs visit www.mothergooseprograms.org

Across Chittenden County local communities also offer free workshops with free books, for parents and grandparents to help them develop the love of reading in young children.  Chittenden County has teamed up with the Vermont Center for the Book and private foundations, to offer these programs to families with children birth to seven.  Each series of literacy workshops gives participants free, high quality children’s books and an activity guide to take home.  At the workshops families learn to share the joys and benefits of books and start the reading habit.   Topics include how to find the right books for your child, how to use books to support and expand your child’s love of reading, and how to link literacy to your world.  Some of the workshops include free child care.

This year special populations are also being targeted to participate in literacy programs.  They include fathers, families learning English, grandparents as parents, teen parents, and families experiencing homelessness.

The following FREE literacy programs will take place at various times across the county:

1. Beginning with Mother Goose: for parents of children birth - 3 years
2. Growing with Mother Goose:  for parents of children 3-5 years

These two programs focus on the developmental issues and early literacy skills of a certain age group.   Using great children's literature, parents are introduced to what makes a good book for their young child, the fun of reading with children and how to connect and expand the book to other parts of the child’s day.   Each Family receives 9 to 11 new books, one audio tape and an activity guide.

1. Mother Goose Asks "Why?": for parents of children ages 4-7
   
   this programs introduces parents of preschool and kindergarten children to science using great children's literature linked to hands-on activities.  Each family gets 8 new books, a science activity kit and activity guide.
   
   
2. You Can Count on Mother Goose: for parents of children ages 4-7
   
   This program introduces parents of preschool and kindergarten children to math ideas, using great children's literature and hands-on activities.  Fun even for those who hated math!  Each family gets 8 new books, an activity kit and activity guide.
   
   
3. Especially for Dads: for fathers (uncles, older brothers, grandfathers…)  of young  children ages birth to six.
   
   This program introduces the important men in the child’s life to the love of literacy, how to link great children’s literature to the child’s development and use literacy to expand the child’s world.   Each family gets 10 new books, and an activity guide.