Dial-a-Story
Phones – we spend so much time on them these days. If we’re not calling someone, we’re texting, playing games, or searching online. Why not add Toronto Public Library’s Dial-a-Story to the list of possibilities and bring wonderful stories into your home?
Dial-a-Story is a free service, easily reached by calling 416-395-5400 any time of the day or night year round. Children and families will hear storytellers share stories in 16 languages: English, French, Cantonese, Gujarati, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Tagalog, and Urdu.
Stories are for younger children (ages 7 and under), and older children (up to 12 years). Adults also use the service to hear languages spoken, or to just enjoy hearing someone else tell a tale. Read about one child who immigrated to Toronto from Vietnam and used the service to help him learn English.
I have been using Dial-a-Story throughout my daughter’s childhood, and I am happy that:
She is occupied without the use of screens. She listens on speakerphone while I prepare meals – usually breakfast. She hears a story while she waits and I like that she’s not playing on a device or watching TV.
Her vocabulary is expanding. She is learning new words that she doesn’t hear in daily conversations.
She is learning how a story is structured. She’s become a good storyteller and understands how to shape a story, which is helpful as she writes stories for school.
She hears old and new stories. With limited reading time at the end of the work and school day, it is reassuring to know that she hears a range of stories, from traditional fairy tales to popular picture books.
As the school year ends, remember Dial-a-Story. It's a great use for your phone this summer, with many benefits for you and your family.
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