Read from the Start – Current Month

by Brittany Hall

Read from the Start

Leer en español

 

Read from the Start – Quality Start LA has teamed up with the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) System, the LA County Library (LACL) System,  the Pasadena Public Library and Sesame Street in Communities to bring you “Read from the Start.”

Each month, QSLA and your local library systems will work together to develop a themed booklist, reading tips, and family activities all designed for families with children ages birth to five. Click on the Read from the Start booklists below to download a PDF of the list.

 

October 2021: Feelings and Mindfulness

Monthly Booklist: To print out and share!

Click on the the images below to download the PDF of the booklists, or scroll to the bottom of the page to find every book at your local Los Angeles Public, LA County Library, and Pasadena Public Library.

Monthly Activity: See, Show, Share

Children are not born knowing how to express their feelings. However, with practice and the help of supportive caregivers, children can build their feeling vocabularies. Being able to state their feelings helps children feel less frustrated and more in control of their emotions. Follow these steps below to help your little one learn to use emotion words: 

  • See it: Show your child family photos, a children’s magazine, or picture book. Point to a person or character and say, ” How do you think he/she is feeling?” If your child says, “happy”, you can agree and then share a similar new word, such as “ecstatic” or “excited”.
  • Show it: Children are more likely to remember a new word if they experience it. Make up a movement or face for each new word you learn. For example, if the word is “exhausted”, give a big yawn and pretend to fall asleep.
  • Share it: Use feeling and emotion words every day. Encourage your little ones to describe their feelings as they talk about their day. You can model by using feeling words as well. For example, you can ask “How did you feel when you ______________?”
This activity is inspired by Sesame Street in Communities’ activity, “Seeing, Showing, Sharing”

 

For more activities related to literacy, click on the links below to further engage children in stories and keep their little minds and bodies active.

25 Reading and Writing Activities

Click the links below for more books available for read aloud:

Reading is Fundamental: Some of your favorite stories available for children pre-k through 6th grade!

ASL(American Sign Language) Stories and Activities

Storyline Online: Watch as some of your favorite actors and actresses read their stories aloud to your little ones!

Read Conmigo: Free bilingual children’s books and literacy resources for children in preschool through fifth grade.

Monthly Family Reading Tip: Keep Books Nearby

Make sure you always have a book nearby: in the car, in your backpack or purse, in the kitchen, in the living room. Whether you’re on the go or at home, give your child the gift of a book for entertainment. It will encourage them to use their imagination, learn the shapes of letters, visit new places and meet new friends. When you read with your little one, it helps build their vocabularies and creates a loving connection to reading.

Check these books out at your local library!

Find this month’s books available for digital download at your local library or for read-aloud on YouTube.

Access more Booklists from our Read from the Start Archive

Looking for more great resources?

Browse Quality Start LA’s collection of booklists, QSLA & LA libreria partner booklists, child-friendly activities, coronavirus resources, and holiday activities guides.