Reaching Preschoolers Through Picture Books
On January 14, 2012, Brian Wilson, the Children’s picture book buyer at the Evanston Public Library, will be the featured speaker at Ann’s Book Club. The event takes place at 10:30 a.m. until noon in the Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room of the Evanston Public Library. Wilson’s presentation, Best Picture Book Read Alouds of 2011, will cover the best books to read aloud to infants and preschool children that were published last year. The event is designed for Evanston early childhood educators and home providers to teach preschoolers the joys of reading, learning and exploring.
Evanston Public Library has hosted this series of monthly early childhood book discussions called Ann’s Book Club (ABC) since September, 2010, with support from the Evanston Community Foundation. The program attracts 10-to-25 early childhood professionals to the library once a month to discuss their favorite children’s books and suggestions on how to effectively use the books in the classroom or daycare home. Recent topics have included: Handling Emotions with Children, Best New Picture Books of 2010, Multicultural Themes, and Developing Narrative Skills in Children.
Ann’s Book Club is named after Ann Rappelt, a long time educator at The Childcare Center of Evanston who suggested the idea. Ann said, “I am absolutely overwhelmed with the number of new books I have learned about from Ann’s Book Club. The sharing of information, the networking of people, and the new friendships have made this experience so rewarding.”
For more information, contact Martha Meyer msmeyer@cityofevanston.org.
If you are a preschool teacher or home provider and interested in registering for Ann’s Book Club, email Laura Antolin at lantolin@cityofevanston.org or call Rick Kinnebrew at 847-448-8613. Advance registration is helpful, but not necessary.