Storytelling in initial literacy processes within library programmes

Abstract

The study examined the activities of a program designed to promote children’ reading (9 months-7 years) and examined the possible contribution of the program for creating appropriate conditions to the future literacy learning of the children. Based on different works about the idea of emergent literacy, various reading sessions of the reading promotion program have been analyzed. Using video recordings and surveys, we registered the work that the specialized librarians carried out with participants in the group reading sessions and the effects over the families. The qualitative study analyzes variables as the time dedicated to the group storybook reading, the participants’ actions during the group storybook reading, the media and hardware they used during the reading activity or the effects over participants. Results reveal the importance of the maturity factors to explain the storybook reading practices. Also, results distinguish between different narrative patterns along the group story reading activity, emphasize the importance of certain features of the context as multiple resources and varied story formats availability and emphasize also the positive effects over parents and children.