March is National Reading Month, a celebration dedicated to the joy of reading and encouraging everyone to explore books of all kinds. Throughout March, people of all ages are invited to dive into new genres, rediscover beloved classics, and share the magic of reading with others. Children everywhere will engage in read-alouds, book clubs, and classroom activities designed to inspire a love for literature and encourage young readers to explore new worlds through the pages of a book. Here at the Cape Girardeau Public Library, we love all things reading and storytelling and want to draw attention to its importance, especially through our weekly storytimes! Each week, the youth librarians perform six private storytimes for over 12 different preschool classes. They also host three storytimes open to the public every week:
- Tuesdays @ 11 - Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5)
- Wednesdays @11 - Babybook (ages 0-1)
- Thursdays @11 - Toddler Time (ages 1-2)
Can’t make it to one of our storytimes? No problem! Hosting your own personal storytime at home is a great way to expose your children to new stories, promote early literacy, and foster bonding through shared experiences. The easiest way to start is by reading a few picture books aloud before bedtime, but if you’re ready to elevate your storytime game, I have some expert advice that might help.
Here are my top 5 (semi) professional tips for taking your at-home storytimes to the next level:
5. Pick themes your child enjoys
Picking and sticking with a theme is absolutely not necessary when reading together at home, but it can add a fun and exciting element for your child to look forward to. Consider planning a themed storytime once a week and letting your little one know what exciting topics are coming up in the month ahead!
4. Ask questions to keep listeners engaged
Asking questions during read-alouds helps develop critical thinking, improves language processing, and teaches children to listen more actively. Next time you read together, try asking questions like, “How do you think this character is feeling? What makes you think that?”, “What do you predict will happen at the end of the story?”, or “What would you have done differently if you were this character?” These open-ended questions go beyond simple yes-or-no answers, encouraging your child to engage more deeply with the story.
3. Find your character's voices
One of the simplest ways to make your read-alouds more engaging is by using different voices for each character. Give your grouchy black bear a deep growl, while your fairy princess sings in a light, airy falsetto. It might seem daunting, but don’t worry! The beauty of reading to your kids is that your voices don’t need to be perfect—at all. Sometimes, my characters end up with four or five different voices by the end of the story. My accents might not be spot-on, and I might forget what everyone’s supposed to sound like. But as long as you’re making an effort to make each character distinct and keeping it fun, your kids will absolutely love it.
2. Choose fun, age-appropriate books
Nothing kills a storytime faster than a book that is long and boring. Personally, I try to stick with books that are about 30 words or less per page. Sometimes, especially in books about real-world things, there is additional information about whatever you’re reading to enhance the educational value. In this case, I either summarize the information or skip it entirely if it's not essential to the plot. Storytimes with a smaller audience, like bedtime read-alouds, can work well with these longer, more informative picture books. Be sure to experiment with different lengths, themes, and types of books to see what resonates best. And if you’re looking for specific recommendations, don’t hesitate to visit the youth services desk and ask the librarians for their top picks!
1. Don’t be afraid to get silly!
This goes beyond just finding your characters' voices—it’s about fully immersing yourself in the story. Get creative with goofy sound effects, make funny faces, and exaggerate your reactions! Pretend that a pigeon driving a bus is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard. Actually laugh out loud when Gerald spills Piggie’s ice cream everywhere. Act starstruck when Pete the Cat shows off his groovy moves. The more energy and enthusiasm you put into the story, the more captivated your child will be.
Finally, to make your at-home storytimes even easier, here are some of my favorite storytime books to get you started:
On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex
Improbable, ridiculous remedies accumulate when there is gum stuck in your hair.
Let's Sing a Lullaby With the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
Brave Cowboy tries to sing his young calf pals to sleep on a dark, dark night, with humorous results.
Bing, Bop, Bam: Time to Jam! by Valerie Bolling
"This upbeat picture book--a companion to Ride, Roll, Run: Time for Fun!--follows the nine children from the first book as they help plan a big, musical block party. Author and educator Valerie Bolling's rhyming text makes for a rollicking read-aloud and features instruments from all around the world including the agogô, banjo, daegeum, djembe drums, double bass, erhu, maracas, piano, steel drums, and trumpet. Sabrena Khadija's stunning illustrations depict the joy of dancing, playing music, and feasting with neighbors and friends. Readers will clamor to plan jam sessions of their own!"
I’m Hungry! ¡Tengo Hambre! by Angela Dominguez
When a bluebird comes upon a dinosaur who's down in the dumps, he asks what's wrong. ¡Tengo hambre! says the dinosaur. I'm hungry! Does the dinosaur want a banana? ¿Plátano? No. Fish? ¿Pescado? No, gracias. Nothing seems to do the trick! What does dinosaur want to eat? This delightful bilingual picture book is about finding just the right food -- and just the right friend.
Mister Kitty is Lost! by Greg Pizzoli
Mister Kitty is missing somewhere inside this book! Will you help us find him? Join the hunt for five yellow spots, four orange paws, three purple bells, and more, exploring numbers and colors along the way in an interactive countdown. Cutouts interacting with Greg Pizzoli's vivid artwork reveal a surprise after each page turn, all leading up to the BIGGEST twist of all at the end! -
I’m a Unicorn by Helen Yoon
"See?" cries the calf. "Uni means one, and corn means horn!" Even their baby picture proves it: they were born with one horn! But as the eager little calf continues their research, a budding identity crisis arises when they realize they don't quite check all the boxes - should a certain lack of moonlight sparkle or silky mane or rainbow poop decide the issue. Perhaps some unexpected encouragement from a pack of "real" unicorns might be just the assurance they need?