Dear Parents of Young Children,

Did you know that language and literacy skills begin developing at birth? At Prince George's County Memorial Library System, we firmly believe that all parents have the ability to be their child's first and best teacher. The loving time spent reading, talking, singing and laughing during a child's preschool years will lead to reading success later.

Research has conclusively demonstrated that by surrounding your child with books and by reading together with them, beginning at birth, you nurture and develop the skills that your child will need when it is time to begin learning to read. A child's ability to recognize that letters and their sounds combine to form words, and words to form a story, is the essence of early literacy.

Reading Ever After® is an early literacy program that provides parent and child resources, outreach, community education, training, and information about story programs and other events. Please view the information in our Reading Ever After® site and visit us in our branch libraries to learn how you can help your child get ready to read before he or she starts school.