Learning Opportunities Through Stories (LOTS)

For over 25 years, the North Shore Collaborative has hosted Learning Opportunities Through Stories (LOTS), an early literacy program. In 2025 we transitioned to partnering with the Two Harbors and Silver Bay Public Libraries and Cook County Community Education to provide LOTS. We are happy to announce that over 100 children were served and over 1,000 books were distributed in 2025. Some of the books that we read over the summer were Caping Day, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Bedtime Hullabaloo, and When You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Participants said the following of the LOTS program:

• Monday’s were my family’s child care kids’ favorite day of the week! We were greeted with love and energy by the wonderful library staff. We listened to stories, had a themed craft/activity, and a playtime. Exposing children to libraries on a regular basis is SO vital to their future learning. Reading is knowledge, and knowledge is key to a bright future for these growing minds! Programs like this ensure those little ones are being drawn into the library! We really cherish story time at the library, and thank you for your funding!
• We love the opportunity to participate in this program. Each Monday when the kids go home the parents express gratitude for the books the kids take home. As staff we love that our kids get to meet other children in the community. There is a great mix of reading stories, dancing to music and having exploratory activity stations for the kids to engage with. This is a great opportunity for our kids and we are grateful it is available.
• My kids are very shy. It is so good to have a safe and supportive environment for us to come to, to meet and interact with other kids their age. Over the course of the summer I saw my older child open up and interact with other kids and staff in a positive way. I am so happy to have story time at the library. We also love getting the books each week. Thank you to the library and the funders.

The North Shore Collaborative remains dedicated to the LOTS program in 2026 and the positive impact it has on children’s lives.

LOTS is a program of the North Shore Collaborative