Attn: Public Library Youth Services Staff -

In the coming days your library branch location will be receiving the 2019 Ready to Read Michigan programming kit! The Ready to Read Michigan kit is designed to assist your library in engaging early childhood centers, daycares, Great Start, or Head Start programs with interactive storytime opportunities.

The public library program kit contains the following:

1 book for storytime use both in and outside the library (please add to circulating collection when you retire the storytime program).
4 books for outreach efforts with local school libraries/classrooms/child care facilities that the public librarian visits and conducts an outreach storytime for in March.
1 page of cut-outs for laminating and use as a flannel story (New this year!)
5 posters to promote the program.
300 Bookmarks providing Ready to Read Michigan tips for parents and caregivers.
100 Ready to Read Michigan stickers to give out to youth. (back by popular demand)
Programming Guide – online only at www.michigan.gov/readytoread the programming guide offers downloadable/printable book lists, activities, crafts, songs, and rhymes all built out around the 5 Practices of Every Child Ready to Read to pair with “Touch the Brightest Star.”

I am hopeful you will use this kit to its fullest capacity as you reach out to the very young in your community for “March is Reading Month!” Do not forget, we have a special webinar around this program in February, so register now to attend Touch the Brightest Star: Ready to Read Michigan’s 2019 Children’s Book with Jenifer Strauss. All 648 public library locations in the state are receiving the kit, but feel free to be creative in your community on how you use/distribute the books. A survey link is included in the kit for you to complete after “March is Reading Month” wraps up.

Lastly, please be aware that this is not the former “Michigan Reads” book program, which ended in 2017, and titles do not go to schools. Great Starts, Headstarts and schools with young 5’s/kindergarten inquires for the book are being referred right back to their local library to schedule a visit. Programming for this book is aimed specifically at the 0-5 age group, but you are welcome to use it with older children as you see fit.

This program is brought to you with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services,
with additional support from the Consumers Energy Foundation and the Library of Michigan Foundation.

#MiLibraries
#ReadytoReadMI

Thank you,

Cathy Lancaster

Youth Services Coordinator

Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48915

LancasterC5@michigan.gov | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan