Book Clubs for Kids: Building Brain Power

At the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning, book clubs are not just for adults. For the past decade, the Center has offered book clubs for pre-kindergartners.

This meets a vital community educational need because Lexington, like most everywhere else in America, has no publicly supported preschool education.

In Fayette County schools, for example, only 51.3% of incoming students last fall met kindergarten readiness benchmarks.

Reading to a child is the most beneficial way to feed that child’s brain.

“The most important thing we can do for our children is read to them and that starts the day they are born” said Jessica Mohler, the Center’s Head of Communications and Marketing.

“Reading to your children directly impacts their brain development. It’s part of cultivating a child’s language skills and is essential for school readiness and their commitment to lifelong learning.”

The Center this year has added a new club, for girls 6-8 years old called Girl Power: A Book Club for Girls Who Will Change the World.

“The books will build self-esteem and increase social and emotional confidence,” Mohler said. “We want to empower young girls.”

All book clubs are free and are for a child with a grown-up. The instructors are trained professionals.

The clubs are sponsored by the PNC Foundation. Here is the fall schedule:

Click Clack Moo:

Birth to 2 years old. Melissa Johnson-Farris.
Tuesdays. Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22. 10:15-11 a.m.

Toddler Book Club:

2-year-olds. Instructor: Glenna Holloway.
Saturdays. Sept. 14, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Dec. 7. 10:15-11:15 a.m.

Early Learner Book Club:

3-5 years old. Instructor: Glenna Holloway.
Saturdays. Sept. 14, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Dec. 7. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Girl Power: A Book Club for Girls Who Will Change the World.

Girls 6-8 years old. Instructor: Cierra Spaulding.
Saturdays. Sept. 7, Oct. 12, Oct. 26, Nov. 9, Nov. 23. 10:30-noon.