Children love to see storybook characters come to life onstage.

But in recent years the arts have been increasingly eliminated from school curricula and family life. To address this issue and introduce youngsters to the performing arts, State Theatre New Jersey created the Early Childhood Arts & Literacy Program.

The Early Childhood Arts & Literacy Program uses performance as a tool for developing reading skills in kids aged five and under, providing early arts exposure that underserved youngsters would be unlikely to experience otherwise.

STNJ presents a performance featuring literary adaptations of beloved children’s tales for local pre-K and kindergarten students. We also provide each classroom with the books on which these delightful performances are based, all free of charge. The program was built upon and inspired by research showing that engaging young children with lively, colorful stories boosts comprehension, vocabulary, and interest.

First launched in 2016, the Early Childhood Arts & Literacy Program has featured such favorites as Guess How Much I Love You, The Gruffalo, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Rainbow Fish, The Man Who Planted Trees, and Lilah Tov by Latin Grammy® Award-winning artist, author, activist, and educator Mister G. The program serves local pre-K and kindergarten students, including students from local Puerto Rican Action Board (PRAB) and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) preschools.

2025 Literacy Program Performance

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia performs enchanting adaptation of two beloved “rabbit tales” by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd. Goodnight Moon is a celebration of familiar nighttime rituals, while The Runaway Bunny reassures young children that there’s no place like home. Whimsical puppetry and evocative original music bring a new sense of magic to stories that have delighted generations.

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Support Arts Education

If you would like to make an impact through the power of live performance, please make a contribution here or contact Randy Walker at rwalker@stnj.org.

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The Early Childhood Arts & Literacy program is made possible in part by NJM Insurance Group, Plymouth Rock Assurance, PNC Bank, and PSEG.