Early Childhood & Arts Literacy Program

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 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.