Sarasota County Libraries Youth Programs

TO HEAR A STORY READ TO YOU!  (941) 486-2330 Ask an adult if you can call the Dial-A-Story number. You will hear a 2-4 minute story. These stories might be fairy tales, legends, holiday stories, or fables. These are some of the stories you might hear while listening on the phone: Thumbelina, Henny Penny, How the Rhinocerus Got His Skin, The Golden Touch, The Coyote and the Woodpecker, The Story of the Three Bears, Sleeping Beauty, Five Peas in a Pod, The Pied Piper, Billy Goats Gruff, Johnny-Cake, The Caterpillar’s Surprise, Lazy Jack, The Pancake, The Night Before Christmas, Teeny Tiny, Rapunzel, Life on Mount Olympus, The Fox and the Grapes, Beauty and the Beast, The Fox and the Rooster, The Village Blacksmith, The North Wind and the Sun, The Mouse’s Wedding, The Proud Rooster, The Legend of the Dipper, The Pueblo Indians, The Stars in the Sky, The Princess and the Pea, George Washington and the Colt. Program funding is provided by the Kiwanis Club of South Sarasota (953-4644) and Sarasota County Library System Friends groups. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME Introduces the library and books to young children and engages them in pre-literacy activities. Children are encouraged to attend “on their own”. A variety of activities, usually based on a theme, are included in the program to complement the age-appropriate stories. Programs may include flannel board stories, action rhymes or finger plays, poetry, audience participation, songs and music, films, art and craft activities, or community guests. TODDLER PROGRAMS Introduction to books, language, and music in a group setting. Toddler programs are offered for the child and caregiver together. Very short stories are read aloud and may be complemented with the flannel board, songs, movement activities, puppets, action rhymes, finger plays and simple crafts. An informal play time and parent interaction session is included at the end of the program at most libraries. The toddler program offers routine and a more flexible structure than the preschool story time. INFANT PROGRAMS The infant or lapsit program is offered for babies and a caregiver together. Simple stories, songs, and bounce or action rhymes are presented. Programs focus on critical early brain development. FAMILY PROGRAMS Story or film programs which the family can attend together. SUMMER READING PROGRAM - FLORIDA LIBRARY YOUTH PROGRAM (FLYP) For children ages 5-11 (K-5th grade). Thematic, literature based programs offered weekly during the summer. Programs encourage children to read so that they retain and reinforce their reading skills while school is not in session. Reading logs are provided for children to keep track of daily reading. Stories read aloud are complemented by audience participation, creative dramatics, poetry, puppetry, songs and music, jokes and riddles, games or crafts, book talks and discussion. Throughout the summer, special guests or professional entertainers may be invited to inform, encourage reading, or provide cultural entertainment.

 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Humane Society offers DOGGY TALES Share a special time with man’s best friend and improve your literacy skills by reading to certified pet therapy dogs from the local Humane Society. Readers can come at any time during the session. Follow-up activities provided at some libraries. Forty Carrots offers PARTNERS IN PLAY A grant funded, unique play-based parenting education program in which Forty Carrots Parenting Center (Sarasota) educators provide information on child development, positive discipline strategies and variety of parenting issues while the children play. Limited to 12 families. Some libraries require registration the morning of the program. Community Youth Development of Sarasota offers TheLookup941.org A web site provding information on all activities available to youth in Sarasota County during non-school hours.