LIS 629 Early Children's Literature

What did I learn?

In LIS 629, I explored children’s early literature, focusing on its role in literacy development, cultural representation, and engagement strategies for young learners. We learned to critically evaluate classic and contemporary works across genres, formats, and media, with attention to developmental appropriateness, thematic depth, and artistic quality. The course also examines current trends and best practices in story time programming, including interactive read-alouds, multimodal storytelling, and inclusive approaches that reflect diverse family structures and cultural backgrounds.

Through the lens of ALSC competencies, I learned:

  • To analyze literature in relation to early childhood developmental benchmarks, including language acquisition, emotional growth, and cognitive readiness.
  • Design and evaluate storytime experiences that foster early literacy skills, including phonological awareness, vocabulary development, and narrative comprehension.
  • Explore literacy trends in libraries and educational settings, including digital storytelling, bilingual programming, and sensory-friendly formats.
  • Promote cultural competency and responsiveness by selecting and presenting literature that reflects diverse identities and lived experiences.
  • Build community and caregiver engagement through collaborative programming and outreach that supports family literacy.

Why this is important?

LIS 629 enriched my understanding of early childhood literature and its critical role in literacy development, cultural representation, and engagement. Through the lens of ALSC competencies, I gained practical tools to evaluate literature for developmental appropriateness and to design inclusive story time experiences that support language acquisition, emotional growth, and cognitive readiness.

This knowledge directly informs my work in youth services, where I strive to create welcoming, responsive environments that foster early literacy and family engagement. I now approach programming with greater intentionality, curating diverse materials, integrating multimodal storytelling, and advocating for equitable access to resources. The course strengthened my ability to support young learners and their caregivers through meaningful, developmentally aligned library services.