The theme of "Will You Be My Valentine?" kicks off the Southern Pines Public Library's Read to Your Bunny Storytime Program on Feb. 13.

The program is for children ages birth to 5 years and their parents or caregivers, and takes place Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m.

Library staff lead an interactive session with stories, songs and activities, then everyone is invited to stay for playtime after the stories are over.

Beyond fun, the program focuses on early literacy techniques as taught by "Every Child Ready to Read," focusing on bringing into storytime the talking, singing, reading, writing and playing aspects of early learning.

Parents with questions about improving their reading time skills can talk with staff afterward and pick up some information focusing on literacy when reading with their children.

Later in the month, the "Read to Your Bunny" storytime themes will include "Mice are Nice!" (Feb. 20), and "What Shape Are You In?" (Feb. 27).

The program supports the initiatives of "Southern Pines Grows Great Readers Campaign for Grade Level Reading."

"Children, even infants, soak up words, rhymes, songs and images. These help build vocabulary that is so important for being ready to learn to read when they reach school age," says a library spokesperson.

The Southern Pines Public Library is located at 170 West Connecticut Ave. and can be reached by phone at (910) 692-8235 or on their website, www. sppl.net. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.