1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge is a library program that encourages all families and caregivers to read at least 1000 books with their young children before they enter kindergarten. Reading to preschool-age children builds vocabulary and language skills and helps prepare them with the skills they need for kindergarten. Read more.
Parents & Preschoolers
Storytimes
We offer a variety of storytimes for your child to enjoy. Please visit our Events Calendar page for dates, times, and location.
Book Bundles
We offer ready-to-go bundles of books and music CDs based on a variety of themes. Check out as you would individual books and enjoy with your child!
Children’s Kits
We have 32 kits that cover a variety of themes, including gross and fine motor skills, math, colors, music, animals, and more. We are excited to have them available to check-out and take home! Check out all the kits here, or visit the Youth Services Department in person. *Limit 1 kit per household at a time.
Parenting Kits
We have 12 Parenting kits that cover a variety of themes, including potty training, homeschooling, ADHD, dyslexia, baby’s first year, and more. We are excited to have them available to check-out and take home! Check out all the Parenting kits here, or visit the Youth Services Department in person. *Limit 1 kit per household at a time.
My First Library Card
You’ve taken the first step in supporting your baby’s early literacy development. Your new baby’s library card can be used to checkout books, ebooks, music and all other materials available at the library.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge
Five Activities to Help Raise a Reader
The American Library Association recommends five simple activities caregivers can use to help young children develop language skills:
- Sing to or with a child in any language to help them learn word sounds
- Read (and re-read) to a child to help them learn to love stories and enrich their vocabulary
- Write with a child to help them create and see words and symbols on a page
- Talk with a child to help them learn to communicate and build their vocabulary
- Play with a child to help spark their imagination and use words to express themselves.
Online Learning
ABCMouse.com (Only Accessible in the Library!)
ABCmouse.com helps kids learn to read through phonics, and teaches lessons in math, social studies, art, music, and much more. For kids aged 2-6.
World Book Online for Kids
Specially designed for younger patrons. Offers articles, games, activities and science projects.
Useful Links for Parents
Talking is Teaching
Provides strategies and advice for parents to support their child’s early literacy development.
Zero to Three
Presents information that will help parents support their children from birth through the toddler stage.
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets provides reading resources to help young and struggling readers develop vocabulary and fluency and improve reading comprehension.
Reading Is Fundamental
A nonprofit organization that helps motivate children to read by providing resources to underserved children and families. Their web site offers much information on choosing books and cultivating a literacy-rich home for your child.
Colorín Colorado
A bilingual website for families and educators of young English language learners.
Parents
This is the ultimate parenting website with resources and information for parents of children birth through the teenage years.
Families Managing Media
This resource supports parents in learning about how to help their children manage the influx of media in their lives.
InfoAboutKids
This source provides science-based information about youth for their adult caregivers, with a focus on healthy development.
PBS for Parents
This is the Parents page of the PBS website. Parents can access articles, parenting advice, crafts, printables, and online games and apps related to individual PBS shows for their kids.
Illinois Early Learning Project
Pre-K – The Illinois Early Learning Project website is a source of evidence-based, reliable information on early care and education for families, caregivers, and teachers of young children.
Harris Loans from the Field Museum
The Field Museum in Chicago has in-depth educational materials including exhibit cases, audiovisual materials, and even “experience boxes” to enhance a classroom or home-schooling experience. The website describes how to become a borrower and allows you to search its catalog for materials.
Home EDucator Resource Directory
Find global and local resources and support for home educators.
Homeschooling A to Z
This site offers comprehensive resources for all philosophies of homeschool education.
Illinois H.O.U.S.E.
H.O.U.S.E. stands for Home Oriented Unique Schooling Experience. This is a statewide network of support groups for homeschoolers. Tips for new homeschoolers, information about laws and regulations, legislation, and homeschooling styles are available.
The Homeschool Mom
A website that provides helpful articles, lesson plans, curriculum reviews, and homeschooling advice.
Homeschooling Adventures
This website offers links to handouts, activities, lesson plans by subject, support groups, book recommendations for grade ranges, tips for beginning homeschooling, and much more for the homeschooling parent.
One Day Enrichment
One Day Enrichment (ODE) is a one day a week educational program designed for homeschooled children. Classes offers science (hands-on experiments), art, music/theater, PE, literature, and a unit class that varies from session to session.
HSLDA: Illinois
The Home School Legal Defense Association provides resources for parents, including information on Illinois’ state laws pertaining to homeschooling.
Illinois State Board of Education
Illinois State Board of Education’s webpage on homeschooling, where you will find information on registration, requirements, resources, and more.
American Sign Language University
Lesson plans, learning tools, and other resources are available on this website for teaching and learning American Sign Language (ASL).
Aspire Chicago
Aspire Children’s Services, a metro Chicago organization that provides early intervention services, offers resources and services to help children up to three years old reach important developmental milestones.
The Autism Program of Illinois
This website is a large network of organizations and services for families and children with autism.
Cerebral Palsy Guide
A national organization that provides families with information on cerebral palsy causes, symptoms, and support options.
Early Intervention
The Illinois Department of Human Services website, with information on services to help children three years old and under with disabilities or developmental delays.
Family Resource Center on Disabilities
Providing Parents of Children with Disabilities with Information, Training, and Assistance.
Food Allergy Network
Find resources for education, advocacy, and research on many specific food allergies.
LD Online
A website with topics and advice on learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
National Center for Learning Disabilities
Find information on a child’s rights and options in education and employment.
Stuttering Foundation
An organization that supports those who stutter with free online resources. Information is available for parents, teachers, kids, and teens.
West Suburban Special Recreation Association
An organization that provides recreation programs for adults and children who have a physical impairment, a mental disability, or any other type of disability.