“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.” – Dr. Seuss
Reading without access to books…
It’s hard to get new books for your littles when public libraries and schools are closed due to Covid-19. Social distancing means more parents at home searching for resources to keep students occupied for the next three weeks, and with paychecks in short supply due to closures, those resources have to be free.
Enter social media. Free resources, lesson plans and even YouTube math channel links are popping up all over these sharing sites.
Here are a few free resources to check out.
As a Library advocate, our local library in Michigan, Presque Isle District Library, has been filming Storytime with Mr. Don, our youth services librarian, during shutdown. These FREE Storytime sessions, are available on the Presque Isle District Library Facebook page. There are also 3-minute children’s music sessions with songs to get your kiddos up and moving by doing animal impressions and exercises. More of these fun activities are posted each week.
The PIDL Facebook page also shares information on available FREE resources for parents to access other storytime recordings, TumbleBooks, and local resources for those around Presque Isle County affected by the Covid-19 closings.
Libraries aren’t the only storytime recordings available. Many celebrities have jumped in on the reading fun and are reading for children online.
#SaveWithStories
Hollywood starts Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams joined with Scholastic to start the #SaveWithStories initiative, where celebs are recording themselves reading children’s stories. This initiative will benefit Save the Children and No Kid Hungry and offers a $10 donation text number on each story post. The reading advocates also launched Coronavirus and Kids, which has free resources for parents.
#SaveWithStories currently has 31 videos on its Facebook hashtag, all posted by celebs. There are also stories available on Instagram. I’ve watched several with my little. They are Fire. My girl loves them. Keep reading with those littles and Happy March is Reading Month! P.S. (<- this link takes you to the Michigan March is Reading Month online resources provided by the Michigan Department of Education).
Listen to Dolly Parton read from her Imagination Library…
Dolly is such an advocate for children’s literature and literacy. Her Imagination Library has been getting books in the hands of kids for years, and now you can enjoy some of those stories read during “Goodnight with Dolly”.
Each week for the next 10, she will read a story and include activity sheets and parent tips to go along with it. These begin April 2, at 7PM on her Imagination Library website and on her Youtube channel.
And don’t forget to check out your local library’s Libby and Overdrive Apps to search for all kinds of books and audiobooks to enjoy during these distance days.