The Library of Michigan is excited to launch the Ready to Read Michigan (RTRM) program!  RTRM is a program for public librarians to access resources and training for storytimes and outreach, to further develop early literacy skills, and to model to parents and caregivers the five practices of early literacy from Public Library Association’s Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR); Talk, Read, Play, Sing, Write.

The Past: From 2016-2017 the Library of Michigan, thanks to funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, offered a series of webinars, workshops and newsletters from Early Literacy Specialist Sue McCleaf Nespeca.  We are in the planing process to offer additional training over the coming years.

Short Term: 2018 is the launch of the RTRM book program (see article below for details) and we begin the process of building a website that will host early literacy information, printable resources and more!

Big Picture: The Library of Michigan plans to continue to offer public library staff professional development, book and print resources, opportunities to exchange ideas, and tools to engage families and caregivers of the very young.  Your input is very important to the Library of Michigan, so please take a moment to complete our brief RTRM Big Picture feedback form.

RTRM is sending a kit for public libraries designed to help their staff model early literacy skills directly to families and caregivers. Public library staff is encouraged to use the kit in storytimes and for outreach shaped around the five practices of early literacy from Public Library Association’s Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR); Talk, Read, Play, Sing, Write.

The 2018 book selection is I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Frank Morrison.  For complete details, go to www.mi.gov/readytoread. 

All public library locations in Michigan will be receiving their kits in early February. If you are not a public library but interested in requesting a kit if we have any extras, pleae complete the RTRM Kit Request form for your organization. Please be mindful that this is not the Michigan Reads program and kits do not get mailed to schools, Great Start or Head Start programs automatically. Any extra kits will be mailed in the order the request was received, while supplies last, in late Febraury/early March.

Support for Ready to Read Michigan is provided by the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) via the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan, part of the Michigan Department of Education. Additional support provided by Consumers Energy Foundation, Macmillan Publishers and the Library of Michigan Foundation.

Early Literacy Play Space
Thinking of creating an early literacy space in your library?  Perhaps just looking to update an already existing space?  Check out this article from ALSC on "Updating Your Early Literacy Space."

Cultural Poverty & Libraries
Toronto's Star published an article demonstrating that "Libraries are one of the major tools we have, like education, that allow the underprivileged to overcome their condition," entitled I Am Proof Libraries Are Critical to Solving Cultural Poverty. 

Ducks Away! by Mem Fox.
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781338185669
A fun, cheery counting book for the young. Large colorful but simple spreads by illustrator Judy Horacek. 

My Family Four Floors Up by Caroline Stutson. Sleeping Bear Press, 2018. ISBN 9781585369911.
A recommended read-aloud for storytimes, this picture book has a playful, rhythmic, feel as a child, her father, cat, and dog move throughout an "ordinary day" in the city.

Snow Scene by Richard Jackson. Porter/Roaring Brook, 2017.  ISBN 9781626726802.
A very simple, almost wordless picture book illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger.  A page-turner (close in the art) for a storytime on the four seasons.

For additional information on the Ready to Read Michigan program, please go to www.mi.gov/readytoread or contact Cathy Lancaster, Youth Services Coordinator at the Library of Michigan: LancasterC5@michigan.gov.