Checking Out Children’s Literature

With many schools and public libraries closed, access to free books is more important than ever. The Navarro County Early Childhood Coalition (co-chaired by Rachel Gillespie, director of PCHAS’ Growing Together program), is installing 14 book-sharing boxes, called Little Free Libraries, to encourage literacy and quality time with family.

The Coalition held ribbon-cutting ceremonies in Frost, Texas for their first two Little Free Libraries. One is at the Frost Community Center, which hosts a weekly food pantry, and the other is in a public park with a new gazebo, the site of “story time” readings each Saturday in October.

“Our Coalition began to discuss it after all of our schools shut down because of COVID. Parents were struggling to find enough activities to do indoors,” says Gillespie. “We realized that there are many rural parts of the county without public libraries, so this was a way to encourage parents to read to their children.

Research shows that reading to children at young ages helps them to develop language and cognitive skills. It also strengthens the emotional bond between the caregiver and child. Most of the books placed in these libraries are either board books or children's short books, but the project also includes children's chapter books for older readers. Each Little Free Library also has a dispenser of hand sanitizer inside.

“Several families attended the openings on the 12^th,” Gillespie says, “and they were excited to take books home with them. People in the community are looking forward to using our other little libraries by the end of the year.”

PCHAS has programs in three states to build parenting skills and develop healthy family relationships. Read more or contact us online.