Author: kparrott

EBOOKS

Looking for eBooks that you can borrow from Darien Library? You will need to have your Darien Library Member card or Non-Resident Member card available and a free Adobe Digital Editions account in order to access and view your eBooks through the OverDrive Media Console, a free download from the iTunes App Store.
Visit our digital catalog at digital.darienlibrary.org to see what titles we have available. Once there, click on MY HELP! or take the Guided Tour for download instructions.
We have hundreds of picture books, early readers and favorite chapter books for children of all ages! You can read books (EPUB, PDF) or listen to books (WMA, MP3) on your iPad—for free!
Some of our favorites include:
Curious George books
Picture books by Amy Krous Rosenthal, Tad Hills & Sean Bryan
Magic Tree House series
Classics like Mr. Popper’s Penguins and The Phantom Tollbooth

OverDrive's app for iPhone and iPad gives you direct access to our Library's EPUB eBook and MP3 audiobook catalog. Find Darien Library's catalog by using the app's "Get Books" feature, then browse for titles, check out with your Library card, and download directly to the device. The eBook and audiobook titles from the Library automatically expire in the app, so there is never a late fee!

Where to Find New Apps:

Best Kids Apps - http://www.bestkidsapps.com/
Children’s technology Review (the Children’s Library has subscription access to their review database) - http://childrenstech.com
Common Sense Media, App Reviews - http://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews
Digital Storytime (iPad Kids Books Reviews) - http://digital-storytime.com/
Lunchbox Reviews - http://www.lunchboxreviews.com/
Moms with Apps - http://momswithapps.com/

Other Favorite Apps for Kids:

Bunny Fun: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (Fourth Story Media, $.99) - this song comes to life in four languages using Rosemary Well’s famous bunny art. You can even record yourself singing the ditty!
iDiary for Kids (TipTap Inc, $1.99) - beautifully designed, this app will get your older kids reading AND writing in a 21st century journal!
ToonTastic (Launchpad Toys, $1.99) - create your own cartoon in this simply structured storytelling app that also promotes cultural literacy through it’s global storytelling network, ToonTube.
Up with a Fish (Oceanhouse Media, $.99) - a fast-paced stacking game tilting your device to capture falling objects that are balanced on the Cat in the Hat’s head.

Early Literacy iPad

1441 Post Road
Darien, CT 06820
darienlibrary.org

1441 Post Road
Darien, CT 06820
darienlibrary.org

EARLY LITERACY

iPADS

APPS

What is Early Literacy?

Early Literacy is what a child knows about reading and writing before he or she can read and write.
It has been determined that developing the Six Early Literacy skills is the building block to reading and writing success later in school.

The Six Early Literacy Skills

These 6 pre-literacy skills have been identified as the building blocks to reading instruction, and the mastering of them is essential to reading preparedness:
Print Awareness: Understanding and recognizing that print has meaning, and that it is present in our everyday lives.
Print Motivation: An interest in, and an overall enjoyment of, books.
Vocabulary: Knowing the names for things. This includes objects as well as emotions.
Letter Knowledge: The ability to comprehend that each letter is unique, and that they each have individual names and sounds.
Phonological Awareness: Hearing and identifying the smaller sounds in words. Also the ability to recognize rhyme, syllables, and alliteration.
Narrative Skills: The ability to describe events and tell stories. This skill promotes dialogic reading, a strategy of encouraging involvement and conversation in the act of reading. Dialogic reading helps to develop a child’s expressive language skills.

How do iPads support Early Literacy?

Research has determined that children require a wide variety of skills that prepare them to read and write.
Technology can also help promote Early Literacy and enhance the learning experience for pre-readers. iPads offer a multi-sensory tool for engaging a child, and create a collaborative learning environment for both caregiver and child.
Touchscreen technology allows children to hear and manipulate letter sounds for learning. It also:
Engages the child on a multi-sensory level.
Involves Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic modalities.
Helps to develop Fine Motor, Language, Cognitive, and Social skills.
Promotes an enjoyment of learning through interaction. and collaborative play.

What makes a great Early Literacy app?

With thousands of apps available for download, how do you know which ones are best for young children? For children ages 2 to 5…..
A great early literacy app should:
Be easy and intuitive to use and navigate.
Encourage the development of multiple literacies. (For example: print, visual, and computer literacy.)
Inspire active (rather than passive) participation.
Strike a balance between interactive features and opportunities for children to simply “get lost in the story.”

Some of our favorite
Early Literacy Apps:

ABC Pocket Phonics: a simply-designed app that reinforces letter knowledge. Children are encouraged to trace letter shapes and repeat the sounds.
Goosed-Up Rhymes: Not only will these Mother Goose nursery rhymes help young children develop phonological awareness, a key early literacy skill, but they are hilarious and entertaining for grown-ups, too.
Head2Toes: Rosemary Wells created the featured bunny in this entertaining, multilingual app. Children can sing along to Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes in English, French, Spanish, and Japanese.
Cat in the Hat: Dr. Seuss’ classic book is brought to life in this interactive app that reinforces print awareness and vocabulary-building.
eliasMATCH: A well-designed app that boosts memory and thinking skills, while also developing letter knowledge, number recognition, and vocabulary.
PopOut! Peter Rabbit: One of our very favorite book-based apps. Children can listen to the narrator read this classic tale while also engaging with the interactive pop-up style illustrations.
Moo Baa La La La: A hilarious iPad adaptation of the best-selling board book by author/illustrator Sandra Boynton. Children can read or be read to while learning animal sounds, and discovering hidden interactive features in this barnyard romp.