Early Literacy & Preschool

Early Literacy is everything that children learn about reading and writing before they can actually read and write. Reading aloud and bringing books into daily life is the key to encouraging and developing a young child’s ability to read. By reading, talking, singing, playing, and writing with your child – you give them the foundation for literacy and success! Literacy development begins at birth and is closely linked to a baby’s earliest experiences with books and stories. Babies learn language through social literacy experiences – parents interacting with them using books. These experiences also serve to associate books with parental affection, attention, and approval.

Young children need a variety of skills to become successful readers. Reading experts have determined that five specific literacy skills become the building blocks for later reading and writing. Research indicates that children who enter school with more of these skills are better able to benefit from reading instruction they receive. From day one, a child’s brain begins forming connections very quickly—connections which build the foundation for all learning he or she will do later in life. In fact 90% of children’s critical brain development occurs by age 5. Children who are read to, sung to, and talked to from a young age develop bigger vocabularies, become better readers, and are more likely to succeed in school. Research indicates that when children are reached with high quality early learning experiences, they are 40% less likely to fall behind in school and 70% more likely to graduate from high school.

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Storytime
Storytime meets on Thursdays at 10 AM!
September 10 – November 19
Ages 0 – 5
Stories, songs, and crafts focusing on a new theme each week.
Oct. 29 – Wear your spookiest attire or costume!
Dec. 3 – Santa Storytime – Wear your favorite Christmas pajamas!

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Fancy Nancy Tea Party
Saturday, October 3 from 10 AM – Noon
Preschool – 5th Grade
Join us at the library for a fabulously fancy celebration inspired by Fancy Nancy! Young princes and princesses are invited to step into a world of sparkle, imagination, and creativity. Enjoy making your very own dazzling DIY crowns, sipping on delightful “tea,” and sampling sweet treats fit for royalty. There will be plenty of fun, laughter, and fancy surprises along the way!
Guests are encouraged to dress in their most glamorous royal attire—tiaras, bow ties, gowns, and capes! This event is open to children of all ages through 5th grade, and everyone is welcome – boys and girls alike.
Come ready to be fancy, fabulous, and full of fun!

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Scavenger Hunt Month
All December Long
Where is Dewey the Elf hiding?
Our library elf, Dewey, is hiding in a new spot every few days in the children’s section—and getting into mischief!
Can you find him? But don’t touch! He’ll lose his magic and won’t be able to fly back to the North Pole for Christmas. Tell the front desk where you found him and what he was doing to earn a special prize.

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Elf For A Day
Saturday, December 12 from 10 AM – Noon
Step into the magic of the North Pole at our Elf Training Day!
Children are invited to become elves for the day and take part in a fun, hands-on training experience. Young participants will rotate through interactive stations like the Build-a-Toy Workshop, gift wrapping practice, reindeer games, and North Pole kitchen creations as they learn what it takes to help Santa prepare for the big day.

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Tiny Michigan Art Gallery
Pick up a tiny canvas when you sign up to create a Michigan masterpiece. Bring it to life using any medium — paint, mixed media, clay, and more. Capture Michigan’s charm through what inspires you.

There are six age groups (Preschool, Kindergarten–2nd Grade, 3rd–5th Grade, Middle School, High School, and Adult) and two prize categories (Best in Show and Most Creative). Patrons vote in November, and winners are selected for each group and category. Artwork should be picked up the first week of December; unclaimed pieces will be discarded after January 1, 2027.

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1000 Books Before Kindgergarten

The Otsego District Library is excited to offer 1000 Books Before Kindergarten to local preschool aged children along with ten other Allegan County Libraries! The Allegan County Library Association has partnered with the Allegan County United Way and Volunteer Center, who has given a $7000 grant to fund supplies for the children of Allegan County for five years! Sign up at the library for our easy, fun, FREE, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers! Any child that has not started kindergarten is eligible to participate. Anyone in Allegan County can sign up at their home library for this program. Click HERE to register your child today!