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Early Literacy and Language Resources

1. Early Literacy and Language Products
   Sign Language is an extremely valuable tool for children as they learn to read. Signing Time offers a variety of products specifically focused to "jump start" early literacy skills for all ages--from babies and toddlers to school-age children. 
   
   
2. Help Your Child Become a Reader 
   Includes information about why and how to use language skills (talking, listening, and reading together.) Posted by the U.S. Department of Education.
   
   
3. Dolly Parton Imagination Library
   Children enrolled in the Imagination Library receive a free book in the mail every month for the first five years of life. Check your area’s availability and register today!
   
   
4. Learning Through Play
   An article explaining what rhyming games like pat-a-cake teach and how to play them. A quick game is teaching your baby or toddler more about language than you might think!
   
   
5. Fingerspelling Babies
   One mom’s account of how Signing Time helped encourage and develop her 2 year old’s fascination with letters and spelling! “We knew he was learning some letters, reading-wise (he loves finding Os in books in particular), but we had no idea that fingerspelling could sink in with just one casual viewing.”
   
   
6. Zero to Three 
   A national non-profit organization that informs, trains and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. Find early language and literacy tips and tools on their website. 
   
   
7. Grosse Pointe Public Library 
   Offers a variety of youth services and programs, including lap sit story times, movie and film festivals. 
   
   
8. Detroit Public Library 
   Offers a variety of services including a program called “Detroit Reads!” which services all ages and abilities. Nearly half of Detroit’s adult population is classified as “functionally illiterate.” The Detroit Public Library’s vision is to erase illiteracy from the city of Detroit.