Monday, August 19, children and their caregivers visited the Silver Bay Public Library for Silver Bay’s last LOTS (Learning Opportunities Through Stories) program of the summer. Toddlers from the local daycare held hands as they navigated the automatic doors and found their way to the pond rug in the children’s area. LOTS, a free, evidence-based early childhood family literacy program offered during the summer months in Lake and Cook counties, featured seven sessions each themed around a chosen picture book and board book.
This summer, Silver Bay began with the books Ten Wriggly, Wiggly Caterpillars and The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Favorite Words on June 3. After reading and interacting with the books, children and caregivers made crafts to reinforce concepts, interact with one another, and explore new skills. Thanks to the generous grant for this program, an extra special treat was purchased for the families of Finland and Silver Bay. Two sets of caterpillars were purchased to help enhance the awe and wonder of books coming to life through watching their caterpillars grow, become chrysalises, and, by the fourth and fifth weeks of LOTS, become painted lady butterflies.
June led in July with the books Clark the Shark: Tooth Trouble and Bear’s Loose Tooth and the theme of teeth and tooth care, complete with an oversized model of teeth and toothbrush on loan from Silver Bay Family Dental. Bright Baby Touch and Feel Perfect Pets and “What is That?” Said the Cat led to kittens, a turtle, and a rabbit visiting. Hattie and the Fox and First 100 Padded: First 100 Words heard sounds of children happily making accompanying animal sounds above the sound of the “oh so cool” dirt diggers outside. One grandpa treated the children to seeing real live chicks. The Princess and the Pea and Sleepy ABC Board Book came next. A box, camping cot mattresses, and a tennis ball magically became a real life “Princess and the Pea” story that week.
August led in with the theme of empathy. The Selfish Crocodile Anniversary Edition and Kiss Baby’s Boo-Boo were used as jumping off points for how to help others “feel better.” A visit from Dr. Bob’s giant teeth came back for one last visit that week, and a special treat was provided from Just Kids Dental of Two Harbors. Children and families excitedly took home “their very own tooth brush” and supplies.
The final theme of the summer was fall/autumn. Children helped read the book Bright Baby Touch and Feel Fall, and excitedly picture read and discussed What if You Had Animal Hair? amongst themselves and their caregivers. The timing of the last LOTS and the theme of fall was apropos as children discussed changes they are seeing on their walk to LOTS and how some of them are about to embark on their next sign of fall by riding the school bus.
Founded in 2009 by the North Shore Collaborative (NSC), a children’s mental health and family services collaborative, LOTS utilizes a curriculum designed by early childhood expert Sandy Taenzer, as well as the expertise of local early childhood teachers. Now, after 15 years, and due to decreasing funding and the rising cost of the LOTS program, the NSC will pivot next summer from LOTS to providing funding to the Two Harbors, Silver Bay, and Grand Marais Public Libraries to “enhance their current reading programs.” “The Collaborative Board feels they can better serve children and families by making this change,” Trisha Scamehorn, coordinator for the NSC, shared.
What exactly will be enhanced by this change? Funds from the NSC will provide for libraries to purchase books for children to take home, support library activities, promote the library through advertising, and possibly extend the length of the summer programming. The NSC will also work to promote the summer reading programming and assist where they can be of service.
Thank you to all the LOTS teachers throughout the years who have made summer reading fun for numerous children! Here’s to another 15 years of supporting summer reading!
