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Snuggle with a book

Winter Reading Program encourages reading with young children

Reading aloud to children will be highlighted in February. The Newport News Public Library System is promoting early literacy with the “Snuggle with a Book” winter reading program for children from birth through first grade.

Reading aloud to children will be highlighted in February. The Newport News Public Library System is promoting early literacy with the “Snuggle with a Book” winter reading program for children from birth through first grade.

Reading aloud to young children is not only one of the best activities to stimulate language and cognitive skills, but it also builds motivation, curiosity and memory, according to Reach Out and Read, a national organization that prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. The nurturing and one-on-one attention from parents during reading aloud encourages children to form a positive association with books and reading later in life, the organization says.

Adults and caregivers are encouraged to visit any Newport News Public Library to sign up for the winter reading program beginning Feb. 1. After signup, children and adults will receive bookmarks, reading logs and activity sheets to help make reading a part of every day. Children will receive a sticker sheet to display snowflake stickers for each book read aloud together. At the close of the program on March 2, all children who sign up will receive a certificate of participation and their choice of a book to keep.

Daycare and preschool teachers and caregivers can pick up bookmarks, reading logs and activity sheets for their classes and keep track of books read aloud each day. At the end of the program, caregivers will receive a certificate for their class and a book for their classroom library.

In addition, local storyteller Via Goode of Goode Stories will present a special storytime for children ages 0-6 at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Pearl Bailey Library; 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Main Street Library, and 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 3, at Grissom Library. A member of the Virginia Storytelling Alliance, Goode performs folktales, nursery rhymes and original stories with props, voices and song. Children are encouraged to become a part of the stories.

“Snuggle with a Book” is sponsored by the Library of Virginia with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Smart Beginnings.

For more information, please contact the respective library:

• Grissom Library, 366 DeShazor Drive, Newport News, VA 23608, 757-369-3190
• Main Street Library, Bookmobile, 110 Main Street, Newport News, VA 23601, 757-591-4858
• Pearl Bailey Library, 2510 Wickham Ave., Newport News, VA 23607, 757-247-8677

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