What is Bringing Books to Life?

Bringing Books to Life! (BBTL) is a free preschool literacy program created by the Nashville Public Library together with early childhood educators.  Developed around the Library’s literature-based marionette shows, BBTL is committed to promoting a whole-child approach to learning—one that is age appropriate and offered to the widest possible audience.  BBTL seeks to foster children’s reading readiness by incorporating tools and activities for teachers, preschool children, and their families.

Who May Participate in the Program?

Any child care center in Davidson County that enrolls children ages 3 to 5 in a full-time preschool or pre-kindergarten program may participate.  Child care providers or teachers at participating centers are eligible to receive up to 6 professional development hours.

Program Components

For Teachers
In-service #1:  Introduction to BBTL’s puppet show theme, study of whole-child learning theories and read aloud techniques for preschool children. (90 minutes).

In-service #2:  Sharing ideas on incorporating literature into all classroom disciplines, demonstrations of appropriate classroom activities, and coaching in applying learned techniques (90 minutes).

For Children
Story time:  BBTL staff provide a fun-filled story time in the classroom.  Children receive the benefit of a rollicking read-aloud with music and movement—and teachers see read-aloud techniques in action (1 hour).

Puppet Truck: The Library’s performing artists present a marionette show at the child care center to enhance BBTL’s literary theme (1 hour).

For Families
Family Literacy Celebration:  Families are invited to a branch library for dinner, a family-oriented story time given by BBTL staff, and a celebration of BBTL’s partnership with the child care center.  Each family receives books for their home libraries and information on the importance of reading aloud to children. (90 minutes)

Fantastic 4 cards:  Each child receives a Fantastic 4 card to bring to the library to embark on a lifetime of reading.  After 4 visits, the child receives a free book in the mail.

Loving & Learning Family Literacy Workshops: Each center may opt to host a Loving & Learning workshop for its families.  These workshops support parents and help them encourage early literacy skills in the home.  Each family receives a book and Family Literacy Kit.  Workshops are available in Spanish or English and are held at a time and place convenient for families (1 hour).

Thank you!

BBTL was created with the assistance of:
Bethlehem Centers of Nashville
The Mayor’s Office of Children and Youth
Martha O’Bryan Center
McNeilly Center for Children
Nashville Area Association for the Education of Young Children
Read to Succeed, United Way of Metropolitan Nashville
St. Luke’s Community House
TPAC’s Wolftrap Early Learning through the Arts
Tennessee State University
University of Colorado
United Way of Middle Tennessee
Vanderbilt University

BBTL is made possible through generous contributions to Nashville Public Library Foundation by
Dollar General Literacy Foundation
Gaylord Entertainment Foundation
HCA Foundation
Kroger Foundation
Literary Award Gala Proceeds
Publix Supermarket Charities
Regions Bank
Tennessee Arts Commission
David Tune

Special thanks to Book’Em