Event to be live-streamed at 11 a.m.
On Monday, Sept. 28, the Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources Department staff will launch Little Otter’s Big Reading Adventure, department staff has announced.
“The new early literacy initiative” encourages children up to age 6, and their families, “to read together, build early literacy skills and celebrate milestones along the way,” a news release points out.
To celebrate the launch, a live otter demonstration will be live-streamed from Mote Marine Laboratory at 11 a.m., the release adds. “During the demonstration, the otters will choose their favorite books, and a biologist will share facts about the two otters,” the release notes.
“Families may watch the demonstration at participating Sarasota County libraries, including the Osprey Library and the Shannon Staub Library in North Port, or they may join the livestream on Zoom, the release says.
Additional events and viewing opportunities are available through the library event calendar, the release points out.
“Little Otter’s Big Reading Adventure will replace 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten with a new format designed to make participation easier to track and progress more fun to celebrate,” the release explains, referring to an earlier program of the county libraries.
“Families can share books and complete enriching early literacy activities as they make their way through 20 reading logs,” the release points out of Little Otter’s Big Reading Adventure. “Young readers will earn a prize for each completed log,” the release says; “those who complete the full adventure will receive a book and certificate.”
Families may register young readers for Little Otter’s Big Reading Adventure at any Sarasota County library, the release notes. “Children registered by the end of the day on Sept. 28 will be entered to win a prize,” it adds.
“Reading together at an early age helps families create meaningful connections while building skills children will carry with them as they grow,” said Renée Di Pilato, director of the Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources Department, in the news release. “Little Otter’s Big Reading Adventure gives families a fun, encouraging way to make reading and learning part of their everyday lives.”
For more information, visit SarasotaCountyLibraries.org/littles, or call 311 or 941-861-5000.