Early Literacy Classes

Storytimes help foster a lifelong love of books and reading in children. Storytime is not only fun for children, but also informative and engaging for the adults who attend with them. Different storytimes focus on different age groups, but every storytime helps children and caretakers bond by participating in healthy, enriching activities together. Joining storytime is a fun way to introduce children to the Library and to teach Early Literacy Skills. We also incorporate words and songs in Spanish when our storyteller is bilingual. 

Check our Event Calendar for virtual classes and events in the park.

• Preschool: Helps pre-readers improve their literacy skills needed for their upcoming kindergarten year. This storytime features longer books accompanied by a variety of activities, including interactive songs and rhymes. This class is designed for preschoolers ages 3 - 5 years. Please join us on Zoom. When you register on our calendar, you will be sent a link to the online meeting. This is a chance to connect and spend time learning together, even when we are not together in person! 
• Baby and Me in the Park: focuses on developing babies pre-literacy skills. In this thirty minute program, our storyteller will lead the group in songs, rhymes, group reading, and sensory play time to develop language skills, social skills, motor skills, and community building. This class is designed for babies 0 - 14 months and their caregivers. 
• Music and Movement in the Park: all-singing, all-dancing morning of stories and fun! In this class, children and their caregivers learn how to develop early literacy skills through music, dancing, and creative play. These sessions are designed for children ages 2 - 5, but children of all ages are welcome. 
• STORYWALK in the Park: Join us outside to enjoy a picture book and learning activities with children. The pages of the book and activities are printed on large standing signs, ready to follow along a path. When you're finished, take home a free activity kit. Drop-in, no registration required.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

It’s never too early to start reading with your little ones. The Santa Barbara Public Library invites children ages 0-5 and their families to join the free "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program". By reading just one book a night, families can reach the 1,000-book goal and ensure that children begin life with essential pre-reading skills.

How It Works

• No registration needed - All you need is the first reading log to get started 
• This program is for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who have not yet entered Kindergarten
• Books can be from home, from the library, at the doctor’s office, in audio or eBook format…any book in any language is fine
• Yes, you can read a book more than once!
• Siblings, grandparents, caregivers, and even library storytellers can all count as “readers”    
• If you read just one book a night, that’s 365 books in a year - You’ll complete the program in 3 years
• The program may take anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on your family.
• Keep going! All of the logs up to 1000 are available below. We hope you enjoy seeing your progress!

Why Read 1,000 Books?

Research shows that children introduced to reading early on tend to read earlier and excel in school compared to children who are not exposed to language and books at a young age. Children who are read to improve their vocabulary, listening and language skills, and have increased attention spans. Children also develop positive associations with reading when spending quality time with parents or caregivers as they read.

Mix it up! Experiment with different ways to read

• Participate in one of the Library's Early Literacy Classes. 
• Read a wordless book or talk about the pictures when you read. Find them in our catalog by typing "stories without words" in the keyword search box.  
• Try a read-aloud on OverDrive or other online story sites. 
• Let a bigger brother, sister, cousin or neighbor be the storyteller.
• Give an especially wiggly listener a board book to hold while you read.    
• Try nursery rhymes or books based on songs.    
• Use puppets or props that your child can play with while you read.    
• If it’s not fun, stop and read again later.

 Print Your Reading Logs