“Love Them Out Loud helps parents boost their baby’s brain development and ability to learn language in fun and bonding ways. It’s the gift of early literacy.”
- Kathleen Moore, Early Literacy Librarian, Dayton Metro Library
Developed by our early literacy experts, the program offers parents/caregivers an easy-to-use kits to take advantage of the critical period of development from birth through pre-K. The kits include fully illustrated books, along with activities targeting age specific literacy building skills.
Individuals and organizations can purchase Love Them Out Loud kits, through the Foundation, to bring these early literacy resources into their own homes.
Baby Kits -- Cost: $10 per kit + shipping
THIS KIT CONTAINS
New parents are eager to give their babies the best start in life, and parents are their child’s first (and best) teacher. Love Them Out Loud supports parents by showing them how reading, playing, singing, and talking are the foundation for developing a lifetime of learning.
Toddler Kits -- Cost: $12 per kit + shipping
THIS KIT CONTAINS
After the great success of the first Love Them Out Loud kit, Dayton Metro Library was dedicated to continue the learning by creating a resource for toddlers, Love Them Out Loud, On the Go! The toddler stage is a great time to reinforce the active things in everyday life that are teachable moments.
Preschool Kits -- Cost: $10 per kit + shipping
THIS KIT CONTAINS
Preschool Kits complete the bridge, helping each child develop independence and "Super Hearts and Super Smarts." The book features positive behaviors such as listening, persistence, empathy, patience, problem-solving and routines.
From birth through third grade, children learn to read. Then the focus of education changes, and from fourth grade onward, children read to learn. This shift means that reading proficiency by the end of third grade is vital. In fact, studies have shown that third-grade reading proficiency is the single greatest indicator in determining high school graduation success.
Felix and Fiona first appeared in 2015 when DML launched the First Club, a campaign to ensure that first graders received library cards. Felix & Fiona are the stars of DML's fully illustrated picture book called The Awesome, Amazing, Wonderful Book of First Grade Firsts. Our protagonists again appear in the follow-up book, The Awesome, Amazing, Wonderful First Trip to the Library. To date, nearly 11,300 first graders have received DML library cards through First Club, meeting Felix and Fiona along the way.
Now Felix and Fiona are aged up to third grade. By depicting familiar characters in different stages of development, DML is building a foundation for lifelong reading and learning. In 2019 when the 3rd Grade Reading project was developed it was done ambitiously as a multi-faceted project including not just the book, but a fully staged, traveling musical performance with a full score and cast. You can learn more about this project here.
Felix & Fiona Books -- $10 each + Shipping
Felix & Fiona's The BIG Stink and Other Adventures follows best friends Felix and Fiona as they navigate the friendships, fun, challenges, and triumphs of third grade. Five illustrated chapters depict our protagonists getting ready for a talent show, getting a new puppy, cheering up a classmate with new braces, rehearsing for a school play, and trying to figure out the source of a particularly pungent odor at school. The book is designed to delight third graders, meeting educational standards that blend into the third grade curriculum. Recommended activities and discussion questions are included, to continue the fun and encourage ongoing learning; an audiobook and accompanying musical score are available for online streaming.
“The staff and families are loving the new library resource. We are so grateful to have the resource and want to do whatever we can to help make them successful and more available.”
~ Pam Albers from Help Me Grow/Brighter Futures
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Rotary Club of Dayton and the PNC Foundation.
