Sign language, music part of Vernon Area library early reading program

Young children learned sign language as they communicated with parents and grandparents in Tuesday's "Blast Off With Books" program at the Vernon Area Public Library.

Youth Services Librarian Sarah Okner used stories, music and dance to help 2- and 3-year-olds improve their reading skills in the drop-in program at the Lincolnshire library.

"We do lots of really fun early literacy programs. Developmentally, we try to gear each of these story times specifically to what each age group needs," Okner said. "We incorporate sign language in because it is really good for fine motor skills and communication and it's a great way for parents and caregivers to spend time with their kids."

This week's session focused on the letter "V" as more than 20 children, parents, grandparents, and caregivers danced and sang songs such as "Shake My Sillies Out," "Zoom, Zoom, Zoom" and "If Your Happy and You Know It."

"This is awesome. This is really nice way to take children out, introduce children how to read and enjoy books," Chang Jung of Long Grove said after she danced with her grandchildren, Dominic, Gabriel and Isabella Park. "This is a good way to get kids interested in books and the library."

To learn more about the early literacy programs, go to www.vapld.info.