The state's public libraries are preparing to launch a massive outreach campaign this fall aimed at parents of children 1 to 5 years old to help them better prepare their youngsters to read and write.

The "Every Child Ready to Read at Your Library" program is a national model that's being transplanted to the state by way of $300 kits at the libraries that offer guidelines to train parents. Children's librarians are being trained in groups to use the kits by Janet Yap, youth services librarian at the new Kapolei Library, and outreach to parents will begin in the next few months.

"Research shows that children get ready to read years before they start school," said Yap, who already has tested a kit with a group of parents from Kalaeloa to get their feedback.

The program is considered an important tool to improve reading readiness in a state where half the kindergarten teachers say their children are starting school unprepared. Under federal No Child Left Behind guidelines the state is committed to having all children reading at their grade level by the end of third grade.

National studies have shown that children who don't meet this benchmark are vulnerable to falling farther and farther behind their peers.

Longtime teacher Lisa Asano, who teaches kindergarten and first grade at Kamaile Elementary School in Wai'anae, says that many of her children come to school without knowing how to hold a book, or where to look at the words.

"They don't have basic book skills and even (with) word usage they have a hard time," said Asano. She was enthusiastic about the new program and said it would be good for many families.

"If there's a program at the library, then the kids will be listening to stories and hearing language so that would be a really good way to increase their vocabulary," she said. "They're sharing the language and that's what they need."

The hope is to sign up parents at libraries and schedule groups of 30 to 35 parents for the hour-long training. They could be held at the neighborhood libraries or even a nearby school. Parents are encouraged to inquire at their local library to see when such training will be offered over the next few months.

Yap said part of the plan is to contact preschools and offer the outreach workshops to their parents, as well as contacting schools that also have preschools.

Brian Poppinga said the program would interest him even though he has been bringing his two daughters to the public library since they were toddlers.

"It's totally a good idea," he said, scanning the latest children's movies at the Manoa library the other day, with his 3-year-old and 6-year-old discovering books they wanted to read.

"Gosh, we were listening to music and reading to them while they were in Mommy's belly," he said.

The family always reads together, said Poppinga, a teacher at Kaimuki Middle School, with the younger one bringing him her favorite books so he can read them to her.

"The thing about outreach, I'm all over it — it sounds like good fun," he said.

The family participated in the summer reading program, with his 6-year-old delightedly listing all the books she has read and winning prizes.

"We jumped all over that," said Poppinga, who brings the children to the library at least once a week. "This is our place."

Susan Nakata, section head of Library Development Services, said parents and grandparents already attending storytime sessions with their little ones likely will be the first participants in the new program.

"They may look at those audiences as their first round of people to try and train," she said. "Hundreds of parents will be reached. I would love to say thousands."

Nakata said 10 to 30 families attend storytime sessions, depending on the library. But at the State Library downtown, as many as 100 people have attended at times.

Waikiki librarian Gayle Goto said summer is a good time for families to come together to the library to keep sharpening their reading skills.

"The more you read, the better you get at it," Goto said. "With reading it's practice, practice, practice."

The first set of 27 kits was purchased through funding from the Jeannette and Harry Weinberg Foundation, but state librarian Jo Ann Schindler was so impressed by their value she intends to supply the remaining libraries with them. The kits include explanatory videos as well as book lists and tips for parents.

"We're hoping this will be a service not only to our children, but also to the parents in helping them realize the things they may not have known," Yap said.