Rotary Clubs of Ames Early Literacy Project

Step Into Storybooks Event

Thisannualeventprovidesfunliteracy-richexperiencesdesignedtoinspirefamiliestoenjoyreadingathomeandnurturetheirchildren’scomprehensivedevelopmentinthefirstfiveyears.Why:Earlyrelationshipsandexperiencesinfluencehowchildren’sbrainsdevelop.Parentsaretheirchildren’sfirstteachers.Toooften,parentsandcaregiversdon’tknowthemosteffectivewaystosharebookswithchildrenages0-5orhowtoprovideexperiencesthathelptheirchildrenlearn.Somefamiliesdon’thavegoodqualitychildren’sbooksathome.Childrenwhoenterschoolbehindtheirpeersinbasicliteracyarelikelytofallfurtherbehindingradelevelreadinginsuccessiveyears.What:StepIntoStorybooksisafreecommunityevent.Thepurposeistoinspirefamiliestoreadandtalkregularlywithyoungchildrenandtoprovidestimulatingliteracy-richenvironmentsathome.Eachyearathemefocusesonanareaofearlychildhooddevelopment.Interactivestationsfeatureage-appropriatechildren’sbooksandencouragefamiliestoexploreactivitiesrelatedtothestorytogether.Volunteers,manyinstorybookcostumes,greetandinteractwithguests.Eachchildcanselectabooktotakehomeandenjoywiththeirfamilies.When:ForsixyearsStepIntoStorybookshasbeenheldinAmesonaSaturdaymorninginthespringbecauseAprilistheMonthoftheYoungChild.Thehoursarejust10amtonoonsofamiliescangohomeforlunchandnaptimes. Where:StepIntoStorybookswasheldatthehighschoolcafeteriaforfouryearsandthemiddleschoolgymnasiumsoneyear.OnMarch29,2014,itwasheldinthenewlyrenovatedAmesCommunityPreschoolCenterwith19science-relatedstationslocatedintheclassrooms,lunchroom,gym,andRaisingReadersRoom.Allthesesitesaccommodated1,000participantsandallowedspaceformanystrollerstomaneuver.Indoorspaceisneededifweatherisbad. Who:AmesMorningRotarylaunchedthefirstStepIntoStorybooksin2009withsupportfromaDistrict6000grant.Everyoneiswelcome.Concertedeffortsaremadetoreachfamilieslivinginlow-incomeneighborhoodsandwithdiverseethnicbackgrounds.Rotariansvolunteeronthedayoftheevent,alongwithawidevarietyofcommunityfolks,suchasmembersofservicegroups,agencies,andbusinesses,retirededucators,andhighschoolanduniversitystudents.How:TheplanningteamincludesmembersofRotaryClubofAmesMorning,RotaryClubofAmes,RaisingReaders,andAmesPublicLibraryaswellasindividualswithexpertiseinthetheme.Invitationsareemailedtofamilies.Fliersaredistributedbythelibrary,humanserviceagencies,preschools,childcareproviders,andlow-incomeneighborhoods.SignsonCyRidebusespromotereadingtochildren.AmesMorningRotaryandotherlocalsponsorsprovidefundsfortheme-relatedbooks,stationmaterials,andpublicity.

Ames 2014 Step Into Storybooks Event