Every Child Ready to Read  

The ABC Libraries want every child in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County to develop a life-long love of reading and learning.

Children who are strong readers have a much greater chance of success at school, and research shows that children get ready to read years before they start school.

To help children and families develop these critical early literacy skills, ABC Libraries has adopted Every Child Ready to Read®, an early childhood literacy program developed by the American Library Association.   

All of our storytimes incorporate elements of the Every Child Ready to Read® program.

We also have one-hour long Every Child Ready to Read® workshops that provide parents, grandparents, and caregivers tips on how to give young children a head start on a life of learning. Come learn how you can help your child develop early literacy skills through Talking, Reading Writing, Singing, and Playing . . . simple activities you probably do already! Guaranteed to be fun!  Great handouts and free books too!

The Every Child Ready to Read® workshops will take place at various locations throughout the City of Albuquerque. To request a workshop at your location, please call Kathy Barco at (505) 768-5103. 

Early Literacy Centers and Literacy Kits

Early Literacy Centers have recently been established at four branches of ABC Library:  Main, San Pedro, South Valley, and Juan Tabo. These centers give children and parents a welcoming spot to explore the components of Every Child Ready to Read®, providing an opportunity to share special books, puzzles, puppets and educational toys.

In addition, children and their families can extend their enjoyment by checking out a Literacy Kit to take home. Kits are designed to engage children and families in various ways, and each one is based on one of the components of the ECRR program: Reading, Writing, Talking, Singing/Rhyming, and Playing.

The Literacy Kits are currently offered only at the Literacy Centers at the Main, San Pedro, South Valley, and Juan Tabo Libraries. Literacy Kits may be checked out by Adult (and/or Teacher) cardholders with full access accounts, in good standing. Literacy Kits check out for three weeks and may not be renewed. Only one Literacy Kit at a time may be checked out by a cardholder.

May Birthdays
Here are some popular children's authors who have birthdays in May: 5th - Leo Lionni, Swimmy and more; 10th - Christopher Paul Curtis, Bud, not Buddy and more; 16th - Margret Rey, the Curious George books; 18th - Lillian Hoban, Bread and Jam for Frances and more; 20th - Mary Pope Osborne, the MagicTree House books and more; 22nd - Arnold Lobel, the  Frog and Toad books and more; 23rd - Margaret Wise Brown, Goodnight Moon and more; 24th - Candace Fleming, Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! and more..

The Gift of Reading
Give books: Give a book for birthdays, holidays, or any special occasion. It doesn't have to be new — you can share one of your favorite books or look for a special old book from a used bookstore! If relatives are looking for birthday gift ideas for your child, ask them to give a book this year.
Get the Tooth Fairy Involved! Instead of $$$$$, she could leave a book under the pillow, perhaps with a short inscription on the inside front cover including the date and some details about how that tooth was lost . . .

Every Child Ready to Read® is sponsored by the following:  The Stocker Foundation, the Friends for the Public Library, and Lockheed Martin/Sandia National Laboratories.

Alamosa Library
ECRR Preschool Storytime (ages 3 - 5)
Wednesdays, 10:15 a.m.
Ends May 22, resumes September 4

Cherry Hills Library
ECRR Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5)
Wednesdays, 10:15 a.m.
Thursdays, 10:15 a.m.
ECRR Baby Storytime (ages 0-2)
Wednesdays, 11 a.m.
Thursdays, 11 a.m.

East Mountain
ECRR Pre-school Storytime (ages 3-5)
Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
On break July and January

Erna Fergusson
ECRR Baby Storytime (ages 0-2)
Tuesdays 10:15 a.m.
ECRR Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5)
Wednesdays 10:15 a.m.
Music & Movement Storytime (all ages)
Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. 
Music & Movement Storytime (all ages)
Thursdays 10:15 a.m.
Will be on break June 6 - August 1
PJ Storytime the following Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.:
June 13, July 11, August 8
Wear your pajamas, bring your favorite stuffed animal, and join us for bedtime stories!

Ernie Pyle
Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
May 16 - October 10

Juan Tabo Library
Music & Movement Storytime
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:15 a.m. (ages 0-5)
ECRR Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5)
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.

Lomas Tramway Library
ECRR Family Storytime
Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
On break; Resumes September 5

Los Griegos Library
ECRR Toddler Storytime (ages 0 - 3)
Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m.
ECRR Pre-K Storytime (ages 3-5)
Thursdays, 11:15 a.m.
On break during remodeling

Main Library
Music & Movement Storytime
Mondays, 10:30 a.m.
ECRR Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5)
Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
ECRR Toddler/Baby Storytime
(ages 0-2)
Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
Saturday Specials
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.

North Valley Library
ECRR Storytime
Wednesdays, 11 a.m.
Ends May 8; will resume in September 

San Pedro Library
ECRR Storytime
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.
Ends May 18; will resume in September

South Broadway
ECRR Storytime (ages 3-5)
Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
On break after May 29
Will resume September 4

South Valley Library
ECRR Storytime
Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
On break; will resume August 14

Taylor Ranch Library
ECRR Family Storytime
Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m & 1 p.m.
On break; will resume in September
ECRR Baby Storytime (ages 0-2)
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.
On break; will resume in September

Tony Hillerman Library
ECRR Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5)
Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
Movement & Music Storytime
(ages 0-5)
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.

Westgate Library
ECRR Storytime
Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.