Early literacy is the foundation of future success.
City’s First Readers engages parents, caregivers, and communities across New York City to ensure all children develop critical early literacy skills.
About
City’s First Readers
City’s First Readers, an initiative of the New York City Council, is a collaboration of nonprofits and libraries that work together to create opportunities for community driven early literacy programs that benefit children and families from all New York City neighborhoods.
Featured Neighborhood Events
Find free events to learn, play, and discover in your neighborhood
05 Dec, 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Virtual Saturday Storytime
Join us for Virtual Saturday Storytime on Saratoga’s Facebook page at 10 am !
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05 Dec, 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Virtual Saturday Storytime
Join us each Saturday to hear new stories and favorite tales read aloud, interspersed with songs and rhymes. All ages welcome! **Registration required! We’re hoping to connect with our storytime crowd, so instead of broadcasting from the Macon Library Facebook Page, we’re going to ask you to sign up, and then we’ll meet on Zoom, so that we can read, play, and sing together. You will need either a computer with audio and webcam or a telephone in order to participate. A link to access the Zoom meeting will be sent to registrants prior to the meeting, so please keep an eye out for the email (and check your spam folder if you don’t see it!)
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05 Dec, 1:00 am – 11:00 pm
Holiday Virtual StoryTime. Books for the public to choose
Holiday Virtual StoryTime. If you want to see the FaceBook post Go to https://www.facebook.com/ConeyIslandLibrary/. Click on. POSTS on the left side of the page. Go to Holiday Virtual StoryTime Please choose your favorite books from this Holiday List of books for Virtual StoryTime. Two StoryTimes will feature books with the highest count of choices/votes. The first StoryTime will feature books for Christmas and Hanakkah (12/12-15). The second StoryTime will feature books for Christmas and Kwanzaa (12/21-24). Please submit your votes by December 10, 2020 to: stidwell@bklynlibrary.org. with a subject titled “Holiday Virtual StoryTime.” Suggestions are welcome! Christmas (J 226.052 B )The first Christmas : the King James version 2014 (J 394.2663 D) Tomie DePaola’s Christmas tree book. DePaola, Tomie, 1934-2020, 2019 (J 398.2094 C) Babushka : a Christmas tale. Casey, Dawn, 1975- 2016 (J 811 R) ‘Twas the night b’fore Christmas : an African-American version. Rosales, Melodye. 1996 (J-E BROWN). Christmas in the Barn. Brown, Margaret Wise 1910-1952. 1952 (J-E CABRERA) The 12 days of Christmas Cabrera, Jane, 2013 (J-E Corderoy) Christmas Extravaganza Hotel, Tracey Corderoy 2018 (J-E FOSTER) Jane Foster’s Christmas. Foster, Jane, 1970- 2018 (J-E JEFFERS) Jingle bells Jeffers, Susan, 2017 (J-E) Waddell, Martin. Room for a little one : a Christmas tale 2004 J E Van Allsburg, Chris. The Polar Express 1985 (J-E MOORE) Moore, Clement Clarke. ‘Twas the night before Christmas 2019 KWANZAA (J-E KATZ) My first Kwanzaa. Katz, Karen. 2003 (J-E Thomas). Santa’s Kwanzaa. Thomas, Garen Eileen. 2004 (J 394.2612 M) Kwanzaa . Murray, Julie, 1969- . 2019 (J 394.261 G) Kwanzaa : seven days of African-American pride Gnojewski, Carol. 2004 (J-E WASHINGTON) Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa. Washington, Donna L., 1967- 2010 (J-E WILLIAMS) A Kwanzaa celebration : pop-up book Williams, Nancy. 1995 (J-E Saint James) It’s Kwanzaa time! : a lift-the-flap story Saint James, Synthia. 2001 (J 394.268 P) Seven candles for Kwanzaa. Pinkney, Andrea Davis. 1993 (J 782.42 C) The seven days of Kwanzaa Cooper, Melrose. 2007 (J-E MEDEARIS)Medearis, Angela Shelf. – .Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story. 2000 HANUKKAH (J-E SCHOTTER)Schotter, Roni. Hanukkah! 2014 (J-E KIMMEL) Kimmel, Eric A. Hanukkah bear 2013 (J FIC KIMMEL) Kimmel, Eric A. Hershel and the Hanukkah goblins . 2014 (J-E PINKWATER) Beautiful Yetta’s Hanukkah kitten Pinkwater, Daniel Manus, 1941- 2014 (J-E BARASH Is it Hanukkah yet? Barash, Chris. 2015 (J-E JENKINS) All-of-a-kind family Hanukkah. Jenkins, Emily, 1967— 2018 (J-E ALKO) Daddy Christmas & Hanukkah Mama Alko, Selina. 2012 (J-E STEIN) A Hanu 2016 (J-E BROWN) Hanukkah in Alaska Brown, Barbara, 1964- 2013 (J-E FISMAN) Nonna’s Hanukkah surprise. Fisman, Karen. 2015 J-E EHRENBERG) Queen of the Hanukkah dosas. Ehrenberg, Pamela, 2017 (J-E EVERIN)Kugel for Hanukkah? Everin, Gretchen M., 2019 (J-E KROLL) The Hanukkah mice. Kroll, Steven. 2012 (J-E)Kropf. It’s Hanukkah time! Kropf, Latifa Berry. 2004 (J-E DA COSTA) Hanukkah moon da Costa, Deborah. 2007 (J-E LEHMAN-WILZIG). Nathan blows out the Hanukkah candles Lehman-Wilzig, Tami. 2011 . (J-E HYDE) Emanuel and the Hanukkah rescue. Hyde, Heidi Smith. 2012 (J-EGlaser). Mrs. Greenberg’s messy Hanukkah Glaser, Linda. 2004 (J-E BERLIN)The kvetch who stole Hanukkah. Berlin, Bill. 2010 (J-E KOSTER) Little Red Ruthie : a Hanukkah tale. Koster, Gloria. 2017 (J-E PENN) . The Miracle Jar : a Hanukkah story Penn, Audrey, 1947- 2008 (J-E YACOWITZ) I know an old lady who swallowed a dreidel Yacowitz, Caryn, | 2014
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06 Dec, 1:00 am – 11:00 pm
Holiday Virtual StoryTime. Books for the public to choose
Holiday Virtual StoryTime. If you want to see the FaceBook post Go to https://www.facebook.com/ConeyIslandLibrary/. Click on. POSTS on the left side of the page. Go to Holiday Virtual StoryTime Please choose your favorite books from this Holiday List of books for Virtual StoryTime. Two StoryTimes will feature books with the highest count of choices/votes. The first StoryTime will feature books for Christmas and Hanakkah (12/12-15). The second StoryTime will feature books for Christmas and Kwanzaa (12/21-24). Please submit your votes by December 10, 2020 to: stidwell@bklynlibrary.org. with a subject titled “Holiday Virtual StoryTime.” Suggestions are welcome! Christmas (J 226.052 B )The first Christmas : the King James version 2014 (J 394.2663 D) Tomie DePaola’s Christmas tree book. DePaola, Tomie, 1934-2020, 2019 (J 398.2094 C) Babushka : a Christmas tale. Casey, Dawn, 1975- 2016 (J 811 R) ‘Twas the night b’fore Christmas : an African-American version. Rosales, Melodye. 1996 (J-E BROWN). Christmas in the Barn. Brown, Margaret Wise 1910-1952. 1952 (J-E CABRERA) The 12 days of Christmas Cabrera, Jane, 2013 (J-E Corderoy) Christmas Extravaganza Hotel, Tracey Corderoy 2018 (J-E FOSTER) Jane Foster’s Christmas. Foster, Jane, 1970- 2018 (J-E JEFFERS) Jingle bells Jeffers, Susan, 2017 (J-E) Waddell, Martin. Room for a little one : a Christmas tale 2004 J E Van Allsburg, Chris. The Polar Express 1985 (J-E MOORE) Moore, Clement Clarke. ‘Twas the night before Christmas 2019 KWANZAA (J-E KATZ) My first Kwanzaa. Katz, Karen. 2003 (J-E Thomas). Santa’s Kwanzaa. Thomas, Garen Eileen. 2004 (J 394.2612 M) Kwanzaa . Murray, Julie, 1969- . 2019 (J 394.261 G) Kwanzaa : seven days of African-American pride Gnojewski, Carol. 2004 (J-E WASHINGTON) Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa. Washington, Donna L., 1967- 2010 (J-E WILLIAMS) A Kwanzaa celebration : pop-up book Williams, Nancy. 1995 (J-E Saint James) It’s Kwanzaa time! : a lift-the-flap story Saint James, Synthia. 2001 (J 394.268 P) Seven candles for Kwanzaa. Pinkney, Andrea Davis. 1993 (J 782.42 C) The seven days of Kwanzaa Cooper, Melrose. 2007 (J-E MEDEARIS)Medearis, Angela Shelf. – .Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story. 2000 HANUKKAH (J-E SCHOTTER)Schotter, Roni. Hanukkah! 2014 (J-E KIMMEL) Kimmel, Eric A. Hanukkah bear 2013 (J FIC KIMMEL) Kimmel, Eric A. Hershel and the Hanukkah goblins . 2014 (J-E PINKWATER) Beautiful Yetta’s Hanukkah kitten Pinkwater, Daniel Manus, 1941- 2014 (J-E BARASH Is it Hanukkah yet? Barash, Chris. 2015 (J-E JENKINS) All-of-a-kind family Hanukkah. Jenkins, Emily, 1967— 2018 (J-E ALKO) Daddy Christmas & Hanukkah Mama Alko, Selina. 2012 (J-E STEIN) A Hanu 2016 (J-E BROWN) Hanukkah in Alaska Brown, Barbara, 1964- 2013 (J-E FISMAN) Nonna’s Hanukkah surprise. Fisman, Karen. 2015 J-E EHRENBERG) Queen of the Hanukkah dosas. Ehrenberg, Pamela, 2017 (J-E EVERIN)Kugel for Hanukkah? Everin, Gretchen M., 2019 (J-E KROLL) The Hanukkah mice. Kroll, Steven. 2012 (J-E)Kropf. It’s Hanukkah time! Kropf, Latifa Berry. 2004 (J-E DA COSTA) Hanukkah moon da Costa, Deborah. 2007 (J-E LEHMAN-WILZIG). Nathan blows out the Hanukkah candles Lehman-Wilzig, Tami. 2011 . (J-E HYDE) Emanuel and the Hanukkah rescue. Hyde, Heidi Smith. 2012 (J-EGlaser). Mrs. Greenberg’s messy Hanukkah Glaser, Linda. 2004 (J-E BERLIN)The kvetch who stole Hanukkah. Berlin, Bill. 2010 (J-E KOSTER) Little Red Ruthie : a Hanukkah tale. Koster, Gloria. 2017 (J-E PENN) . The Miracle Jar : a Hanukkah story Penn, Audrey, 1947- 2008 (J-E YACOWITZ) I know an old lady who swallowed a dreidel Yacowitz, Caryn, | 2014
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Resources for Parents
Get tips, advice, and resources for supporting early literacy skills
City’s First Readers
Preschoolers 3 – 5 Years Old
Parents, you are your child’s first, and most influential teacher! City’s First Readers has a number of resources to help you build strong literacy skills with your children. It’s much easier than you think, and we give you ideas to make learning fun for the entire family.
City’s First Readers
Toddlers 2 – 3 Years Old
Parents, you are your child’s first, and most influential teacher! City’s First Readers has a number of resources to help you build strong literacy skills with your children. It’s much easier than you think, and we give you ideas to make learning fun for the entire family.
City’s First Readers
Babies 0 – 2 Years Old
Parents, you are your child’s first, and most influential teacher! City’s First Readers has a number of resources to help you build strong literacy skills with your children. It’s much easier than you think, and we give you ideas to make learning fun for the entire family.
Latest News
Read news, press, and updates from City’s First Readers Partners
LINC’s Letter to the New York Times
A response to the article School Reforms Fail to Lift U.S. On Global Test, published on December 3rd, 2019
Our Children Deserve Excellence
LINC empowers parents to lead change in their communities so that all children can grow up reading. Read about Silvia’s leadership in action
Daddy and Me
For the seventh year, LINC led community programs for Dads Take Your Child to School Day
LINC’s Response to Ocasio-Cortez’s Anti-Poverty Initiative “A Just Society”
If we are going to address the systems that are the root causes of poverty, we cannot ignore literacy