Read with Me: A Special Storytime Series for Babies and Toddlers
Board Book Sets in Storytime Pre-COVID
Pre-COVID, our youth services department would often utilize our in-house collection of board book book sets in storytime. For example, we’d pass out a set of 10 copies of I Kissed the Baby! to parents/caregivers at storytime to read with their children as a lapsit story. As I read the story aloud, children could hold the book in their hands, and their grown-ups could guide them through. This is a special experience that was lost as COVID times set in. Since we were separated by a screen, it didn’t cross my mind for some time as something that was possible.
Taking Board Book Sets Virtual
Then, I got an idea: what if I just purchased a copy of a book for everyone stuck at home? For many patrons with varying levels of safety standards, they were not even visiting the library, to err on the side of not bringing home germs. To be able to provide a new book in the household seemed like a great idea to get more books into homes during this difficult, isolated time. Plus, it would give us a new, fun way to connect and engage with patrons virtually. I called this new storytime Read with Me and aimed it towards toddlers ages 18-36 months old.
I was able to purchase 10 board books at a discounted price through the vendor that we purchase books for the collection from. Patrons who registered for my Read with Me storytime were then able to pick up the book at the library the week before the storytime using our contactless pick-up system.
I started by purchasing 10 copies of a board book that had tactile features and fun flaps to lift — elements that would make the books especially engaging! Our first book was Making Tracks: Snow by Cocoretto. See the images below to see how lovely the tactile features in this book are.
How it Went
When I logged on for storytime, I realized that every. single. person. picked up their book! We had a fantastic group and the kids were so excited to see me reading the same book that they had in front of them. We spent a lot of extra time on each page than I normally would in a storytime. We examined the landscape, and the tracks that were hidden. We looked for clues in the scenery as to who could have possibly made such tracks! We felt the tracks and traced them with our fingers. Then we slowly, slowly opened the flap to reveal who left the tracks! Again, we traced the tracks, talked about the person or animal on the page, what they’re wearing, etc. Examining every little detail together and really experiencing the book in a very intimate way together!
During Read with Me, we spend so much time on reading and exploring the book that we easily fill up most of the storytime. We also sing one song related to the theme of the book, and our hello and goodbye songs. The whole storytime tends to last between 20-30 minutes.
The first Read with Me storytime was so successful that I decided to put on another by popular demand. In March, I upped the registration number to 20 and no problem filling it up. This time, we read another Cocoretto book, Wheels at Work: Construction. I love Cocoretto books for the flaps, the tactile elements, and the bold, bright illustrations with high-contrast for young developing eyes.
The Future of Read with Me
I have another Read with Me scheduled for this spring, which I’ll be doing as a bedtime story on a Friday night. I haven’t yet chose a book yet, but I’m looking for a bedtime board book that features lots of tactile elements. I hope to continue this special storytime series over the summer, and as long as we offer virtual programming!
