[kids-lib] Youth Librarians' Favorite Websites

[Katie Anderson]

About a month of so ago I sent out an email asking you to send me your favorite websites.  I had less than a dozen people respond, but I think their input has created a great list of about 14 websites.  There was only one duplicate, two people reported using Zero to Three.  I have attached the list, and cut and paste it in the body of this email.  The text of the list was written by those of the people who responded to my email, I did not edit the reponses.  Hopefully you will find something new and helpful on one of these websites!  

Katie Anderson
Youth Services Consultant
Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator
Library Development
Oregon State Library
503-378-2528
katie.anderson at state.or.us


Favorite Websites
These are the websites Oregon children's librarians report using most frequently.
 
The Best Kids Books
www.thebestkidsbooksite.com 
Storytimes arranged by theme with book suggestions, songs, fingerplays, craft and activity ideas.  Perfect for the busy daycare provider, preschool teacher, and children's librarian.
 
Born Learning
http://www.bornlearning.org/
Born Learning is a public engagement campaign that helps parents, grandparents, and caregivers explore ways to turn everyday experiences into fun learning opportunities. 
 
Colorín Colorado 
http://www.colorincolorado.org/
This is a bilingual site for families and educators of English language learners -has great bilingual handouts that you can print and use.   
 
Get Ready to Read!
www.getreadytoread.org 
This is also one of my favorite sites for their Home Literacy Environment checklist. There is also one for childcare centers. 
 
Get Set 4 Kindergarten:  A Service of the Public Library of Charlotte &Mecklenburg County
http://www.getset4k.org/ 
Public Library of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's Kindergarten Readiness site is pretty good. I like the month-by-month guide on early learning and other skills.
 
Hennepin County Library; Birth to Six
http://www.hclib.org/BirthTo6/
I receive the 6 times a year Newsletter, I also use their booklists which are quite extensive and give me lots of ideas for storytime books I wouldn't have thought of. It also gives succinct tips on early literacy for parents including appropriate books and songs. There are a lot of older books in their lists.
 
Idaho Commission for Libraries:  Early Literacy Skills
http://libraries.idaho.gov/early-literacy-skills 
One page handouts for each of the six early literacy skills, in English AND Spanish! (English available in Word and PDF; Spanish in Word only.)Highly suitable for handing out to parents and care-givers.
 
Juvenile Series and Sequels
www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/readers/series/juv
One of my favorite websites is the Juvenile Series and Sequels database for YA, Juvenile, and Juvenile Easy books.  I have yet to search for a series that they do not have.  It can be searched by Book title, Series title, author, or subject...for those young patrons who are sketchy on the details.
 
Reach Out and Read
http://www.reachoutandread.org
Their developmental milestones of early literacy chart is fabulous for sharing with parents and caregivers. It helps them understand what to expect at each stage of development (for instance, that chewing on books or learning to turn the book around the "right way" for reading are important developmental steps.). 
 
Reading is Fundamental
http://www.rif.org/  
This is the largest literacy organization in the US.  Has great bilingual info you can print as well.
 
Six Skills Poster
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/library/libraries/projects/pdf/ColorCircles.pdf 
A one page "poster", in color, with each skill listed in a large circle that includes a brief explanation of the skill. Highly suitable for handing out to parents and care-givers.
 
Talaris Research Institute
www.talaris.org
For the links to research, spotlight videos on early learning (especially social/emotional development) and getting school ready. 
 
Washington Learning Systems
www.walearning.com
The parent handouts and video online are wonderful. 
 
Zero to Three 
http://www.zerotothree.org 
In their Parents section, they have a variety of publications that I've either used or referred parents to that help with understanding children, literacy, and how to incorporate literacy ideas into everyday activities and interactions with babies and toddlers. I also love their interactive baby brain map. Several of their resources require you to login, but this is free. Of course, many of their publications also have a cost associated with them.
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