Storytime FAQs:
 Unless otherwise noted, the answers to the following questions apply to all storytimes at the HPL.
 Frequently asked question #1: Is my child the right age for Early Literacy Storytime?
 Hewitt Public Library’s Early Literacy Storytime (Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 AM) is designed to appeal to and be developmentally appropriate for ages 3, 4, and 5. Our primary goal for this preschool storytime is reading readiness. We will focus on six key skills that children need to be ready for reading: print motivation, print awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary, letter knowledge, and phonological awareness. Most of the activities that we do during storytime, even the super-duper fun ones, are actually a way to practice these skills. We want each child who attends storytime to be ready to read when he or she begins kindergarten! Younger or older siblings are always welcome at storytime, but our main focus for this hour will be the three to five year olds.

On Tuesday at Wednesday mornings at 9:30 AM, we offer a Toddler Time for children aged 1 to 3 years and their caregivers. This storytime is shorter and is designed to appeal to and be developmentally appropriate for these slightly younger library patrons. There is an overlap at age 3 between toddler storytime and Preschool storytime because we recognize that children develop and grow differently! Some children may be ready for preschool storytime at age 3, while some children may be perfectly suited to stay in Toddler Storytime for a while longer. Please ask a librarian if you have additional questions about which program would be the best fit for your child.

 Frequently asked question #2: What should parents/caregivers do during storytime?
 Our storytimes are all designed to be something that caregivers and children experience together. Young children will participate in and enjoy storytime the most when the adults who brought them participate in and enjoy storytime. So please sing, rhyme, clap, snap, dance, and read right along with us!

Frequently asked question #3: Can our family have a library card if we don’t live in the city of Hewitt?
 Absolutely! All we need you to bring is a state-issued picture I. D. and a piece of mail. The piece of mail must have been sent to you, at your current address, within the last 30 days. If you have those two pieces of documentation, it only takes about 5 minutes to sign up for a library card.