Family Play Festival Five Practices: READ

"It's never too early to start reading with your baby! In fact, reading is a perfect way to bond and help build your baby's language skills. You are your baby's best reader: read wherever and whenever works for you. A sweet, simple story featuring photographs of diverse families reading with their infants during the formative first months of life. These were guided by community-based research led by pediatricians exploring concerns and hopes regarding...

A quiet child in a boisterous family, Emma Wen dreams of a world that is peaceful and silent. When she reads about the blue whale – with a heart so big her father could stand in it – she has an idea. She fashions a boat out of household objects and sails from her bedroom into the mouth of a whale, where she settles in happily. Emma has finally found her peace and quiet. That is until another child, Owen Tang, arrives inside the whale and is...

"Children's literacy advocate John Schu and Caldecott Honor recipient Lauren Castillo celebrate the power of finding the perfect book--in a story that's more relevant than ever. With a sea-horse kite in hand, a child heads out with Dad to the library. On the way they stop at a park, joining lots of people, some of whom are flying kites, too. At the library, a person toting a big pile of books hands over a story on a favorite subject: the sea horse....

"Espeluznantes criaturas del folclore peruano quieren asustar a Benita. ¿Podrá leer su libro en paz?"--Page 4 of cover.

Sam is not ready for naptime. Momma says he has ants in his pants and that he must calm down, but Sam says "NOOOOOO!" and flies off to his bedroom. He flips open his favorite book--African Wildlife--and out jumps a herd of gazelles...followed by a pride of lions...and then a zeal of zebras. And that's just the beginning! How can Sam ever be expected to take a nap?!

It's cleaning day, but the family cat will do anything to avoid getting a bath. So instead of mopping the floor or feeding the fish, the family is soon busy rocking the rug, vacuuming the lawn, and sweeping the dishes. Bouncy rhyme carries the story headlong into the growing hilarity, until finally Dad restores some kind of order -- but will the family cat avoid getting his whiskers wet? The cat keeps scrambling the list of chores with hilarious effects....

Two houses, with a fence between. On one side lives a dog, and on the other side lives a girl. Each alone...

"In what other place can a child 'sail their dreams' and 'surf the rainbow' without ever leaving the room? This ode to libraries is a celebration for everyone who loves stories, from seasoned readers to those just learning to love words, and it will have kids and parents alike imagining where their library can take them. This inspiring read-aloud includes stunning illustrations and a note from Nikki Giovanni about the importance of libraries in her...

"Jake, a reluctant reader, becomes a book lover when the new librarian finds Jake a book about woodworking." --

When Book was new, it had many exciting adventures but over time, it leaves the library less and less often until, at last, it is given away and begins again.