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Dublin City Libraries are delighted to present a new range of sensory and assistive resources available for use in branch libraries citywide. 

Children who are encouraged to read, are most likely to enjoy reading later in life, but also develop several skills that will help them improve their personality and build a healthier brain. The key to encouraging reading habits in kids is reading with them at home from a young age.By reading together often, your child will learn first hand the joys reading can bring, helping him or her develop a motivation to read. There are several ways to inculcate reading habits, which includes going to a local library. The library plays an important role in the community and offers equal access to information and education.Make reading a daily habit.Read in front of your child.Create a reading space.Take trips to the library.Let your child pick what to read.Find reading moments in everyday life.Re-read favorite books.Learn more about how kids read.Making reading funTeach your child that reading is more than just for books. Practice reading menus, movie names, road signs, game instructions, and more—show your child reading is everywhere. Make connections between reading and real life. Act as a role model and read in front of your child. Watching you reading magazines, newspapers, and books shows your child that reading is important. Encourage your child to join you with his or her own book while you are reading.Keep reading materials in the house.  Make an area for your child to read in with his or her help. Grab a bean bag chair, fun accessories, a variety of books, and your child will have his or her own cozy reading corner.Join your local library. Making reading fun can be easy with a library card. Take advantage of the selection at your local public library by letting your child pick out a book that catches his or her attention. Talk about what your child is reading. Give your child easy access to books and other reading materials at home. This helps him or her understand that reading doesn’t only happen at school—it can happen anywhere.After your child has finished a book, talk about what happened and ask what his or her favourite part was. This will enhance your child’s comprehension skills, and make reading a family activity. Find a book that interests your child. Explore different genres like mystery, science-fiction, comic books, and more. The more interested your child is in a subject, the more he or she will be excited to read!Make reading part of your child’s night-time routine. This habit helps your child learn to associate reading with relaxation. Read each night.

Dublin City Libraries is delighted to partner with the Irish Deaf Society in the ISL StorySign Project, a national project to produce filmed stories for children, signed in Irish Sign Language.

As part of Creative Ireland's Cruinniú na Óg programme, we are delighted to have this online workshop "An introduction to anime style drawing" with illustrator Amy Louise O'Callaghan.

We're here to help by offering Early Learning Centres a wide range of information, resources, activities, and events.

One thing that has become really clear from talking to children is the huge role that reading plays in fostering their interest in history. Often reading historical fiction is a kind of gateway into exploring a particular historical period or topic. In response to this, I co-designed with a group of very dedicated young readers of history, a monthly history book group for children.

This week, we are going to take a look at TumbleBooks, an online resource especially designed for the little ones in your life. TumbleBooks are animated, talking picture books which teach children the joy of reading in a format they'll love. TumbleBooks are created by taking existing picture books, and then adding animation, sound, music and narration to produce an electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you. This resource also includes National Geographic videos and games.(Example of National Geographic Videos)Available on TumbleBooks:Story Books: This option features animated, talking picture books for the younger reader. The reader has the option to automatically or manually turn the pages.  Chapter Books/Read-Alongs: While this option does not include animation, the ebooks are narrated. They also include Chapter menus so that you can jump chapters, and a bookmarks and notes feature which are cookied onto your computer. Chapter Books also allow readers to change the colors of the background and text, as well as the font style, size, and line spacing. This helps to make the ebooks even more accessible to a wider range of readers. Videos are from the world renowned National Geographic! Simply click on "Watch Online" to watch the 2-5 minute clips on various topics. Most of these videos have been paired with ebooks as a way to introduce a topic! Featured is where teachers, librarians, parents, students, and TumbleBooks staff can recommended a book! It's a quick and easy way to find books on those rainy days! Puzzles & Games accompany each book and reinforce concepts from the books, allowing for a fun and educational learning experience. Language Learning is an easy way to access our French and Spanish titles! Non-Fiction contains a growing collection of non-fiction titles in subjects such as health, science, astronomy, biology, and nature.Playlist allows you to access the pre-loaded playlist. The eBooks play back-to-back just like a music playlist! In addition, you can create your own playlist! Simply click on the "Add to Playlist" button below a TumbleBook to create your own!(Example of Foreign Language eBooks)Access How:Website; Follow link below. To register; select the "My Cloud" tab, click where it says "Register" and enter your library card number and pin as your username and password.App; Select "Library" tab, in country box fill in "Ireland" (Note; state is NOT required), select Dublin City Council Public Library and enter your library card number. In main menu select "View by Detail" to add your favourite books to "My Favourites."URL: http://www.tumblebooklibrary.com/autologin.aspx?UserID=08Hezhy7Lfgp480vNdjp%2bw%3d%3d 

The online resources featured in this week’s blog are ‘Who Else Writes Like…?’ and ‘Who Next…?’Both resources are compiled by two professional librarians of long experience, drawing on contributions from other librarians.To access either one of these resources, all you need is your Dublin City Public Libraries card.Just log in with your library card number at the links below, and then select Dublin City Public Libraries.  ‘Who Else Writes Like…?’“I’ve read everything written by my favourite authors, what shall I read next?”Sound familiar? Well this online resource helps answer that dilemma. ‘Who Else Writes Like…?’ is an established reference web resource and reading promotion tool. It is designed to help anyone who enjoys reading fiction to expand the number of writers they read.With the click of a mouse, youi can browse by genre or go straight to an author of interest, check up on characters and series or the latest prize-winning writers, and follow the links to authors' websites for additional information.So click on 'Browse authors' to get started and discover a whole new world of fiction writers based on your favourite authors.https://www.whoelsewriteslike.com/   ‘Who Next...?’ is specially designed to help parents, teachers and librarians in encouraging children and young people to explore the world of reading. When children ask: “Who can I read next?” or “Who writes like my favourite author?”, the answers are here in ‘Who Next…?’  Writers of children’s fiction are listed with suggestions of other authors who write in a similar way, together with key book and series titles.You can browse:Four age groups: 5-7, 8-11, 12-14 and 14+Genre and themeGraphic novels, read out loud titles, short stories and titles for dyslexic or struggling readersPrize-winning children’s booksCountry of birth of authorsOther useful linksThis is an invaluable tool for parents, teachers and librarians to help children explore the world of reading. As the award winning author, Alan Gibbons, says “A reading child is a successful child”.https://www.whonextguide.com 

Here is a small selection of stories available for young children to borrow at your local Library.  If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please ask a staff member.  Check this page for regular updates.ColoursTales from Acorn Wood: Colours (Based on the Tales from Acorn Wood books by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler)My First Mr Men ColoursAlphabetABC by Kim SeboldCountingEaster Counting by Barbara Barbieri McGrathHugless Douglas Numbers by David MellingTales from Acorn Wood: Counting (Based on the Tales from Acorn Wood books by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler)ShapesMr Men Shapes by Roger HargreavesLife ExperiencesFeedingHow to Feed Your Cheeky Monkey by Jane ClarkeThis is me, EATING! by Neal LaytonBedtimeWhiffy Wilson, The Wolf Who Wouldn’t Go to Bed by Caryl Hart and Leonie LordBedtime by Nicola Lathey and Tracey BlakeSpot Says Goodnight by Eric HillBig Enough For a Bed by Sesame StreetBath TimeWhiffy Wilson, The Wolf Who Wouldn’t Wash by Caryl Hart and Leonie LordTime for a Bath by Phyllis Gershator and David WalkerPotty TrainingPirate Pete’s Potty: A Ladybird Potty Training Book by Andrea Pinnington and Jo Dixon (for boys)Princess Polly’s Potty: A Ladybird Potty Training Book by Andrea Pinnington and Jo Dixon (for girls)It’s Potty Time by Tracey CorderoyIt Hurts When I Poop! A Story for Children Who are Scared to Use the Potty by Howard J. Bennett and M.S. WeberKnock! Knock! Who’s There? by Nick Pierce and ElissamburaNappy Duck and Potty Piggy by Bernette Ford and Sam WilliamsGetting DressedGeorge by Nicola SmeeFeeling SickBetsy Goes to the Doctor by Helen StephensGet Well Soon, Spot by Eric HillPrincess Polly’s Potty: A Ladybird Potty Training Book by Andrea Pinnington and Jo Dixon (for girls)Teaching MannersPirate Pete and Princess Polly Please and Thank You by Andrea Pinnington and Jo DixonThe Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson and Axel SchefflerSharing is Caring published by Dorling KindersleyGoing to SchoolHugless Douglas Goes to Little School by David MellingWhiffy Wilson, The Wolf Who Wouldn’t Go To School by Caryl Hart and Leonie LordHolidaysMaisy Goes by Plane by Lucy Cousins List compiled by Maria Sheahan (Librarian, Ballymun Library)19th May 2017 See Also: Check out the full list of books read by Ballymun Library Baby Book Club and books read by Ballymun Library Toddler Book Club.Ballymun Library Book Clubs for Babies and Toddlers.

It’s never too early to introduce your child to a love of books. Dublin City Libraries holds a vast array of books suitable for all ages, even newborns!