Pilot Programs

Pilot Programs

About the Pilot Programs

Hatchlings programs were piloted and evaluated for three years with selected library systems across the state of Maryland. Hatchlings began two pilot years with Carroll, Prince George, Calvert, and Howard county libraries; year three expanded to include a partnership among libraries and Judy Centers in seven additional counties across the state.

Originally envisioned by Carrie Saunders, Youth Services Coordinator at the Maryland State Library Agency and developed by Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen, founder of Mother Goose on the Loose, LLC, the MGOL Hatchlings materials were developed for the Maryland State Library Agency with funds from the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood, as part of the PDG Birth-5 funds through Grant Number 90TP0032-01-00, from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Please enjoy some photos of our wonderful Pilot 1 and 2 facilitators below!

Kirsten Grunberg
Kirsten Grünberg, former Family Literacy Specialist for the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System
Pamela Hamlin
Pamela Hamlin, current Family Literacy Specialist for the Prince George’s County Memorial Library
Emily Trovato from Howard County Library System holds a Ready to Hatch session
Emily Trovato, Children's Instructor & Research Specialist, Howard County Library System, Elkridge Branch
Emily Trovato doing a fingerplay during a Hatchlings session
Emily Trovato doing a fingerplay during a Hatchlings session
Sylvia Hennessie shows a book
Sylvia Hennessie, Children's Instructor & Research Specialist, Howard County Library System, Miller Branch
Sylvia Hennessie
Sylvia Hennessie
Participants with Denise Laird in Carroll County.
Participants with Denise Laird in Carroll County.
Pilot 1 facilitator, Denise Laird, from Carroll County.
Pilot 1 facilitator, Denise Laird, from Carroll County.
Maya Huchla at an In the nest session
Maya Huchla, Mobile Services Librarian, Calvert Library, Prince Frederick, MD

Here's a gallery of photos from the 2023 Hatchlings pilot programs

Parents at a Howard County In the Nest program
Parents at a Howard County In the Nest program
Parents try out Tummy Timmy at a Montgomery County Library Hatchlings’ session.
Parents try out Tummy Timmy at a Montgomery County Library Hatchlings’ session.
FJC Program
Reading to an infant
Hatchlings program
Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen, librarian Jenny Gallagher, Judy Center staff, a Spanish language translator, and parent participants at a Hatchlings Program held at a Judy Center in Queen Anne’s County.
Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen, librarian Jenny Gallagher, Judy Center staff, a Spanish language translator, and parent participants at a Hatchlings Program held at a Judy Center in Queen Anne’s County.
Handing out MGOL Tote bags at the Queen Anne’s County Judy Center Hatchlings’ program.
Handing out MGOL Tote bags at the Queen Anne’s County Judy Center Hatchlings’ program.
Librarians Elaine Conway (l) and Jenny Gallagher (r) from Queen Anne's County
Adult participants joyfully hold their babies after a Hatchlings program in Frederick County.
Adult participants joyfully hold their babies after a Hatchlings program in Frederick County.
A baby joyfully experiences a picture book at a session in Kent County, MD.
A baby joyfully experiences a picture book at a session in Kent County, MD.
Cecil County Librarian Summer Rosswog uses her hands to demonstrate how learning takes place in the brain, while the parents attending her Hatchlings program make their hands into neurons, too!
Cecil County Librarian Summer Rosswog uses her hands to demonstrate how learning takes place in the brain, while the parents attending her Hatchlings program make their hands into neurons, too!
Judy Center staff and Library Staff work together at a Cecil County Hatchlings’ program.
Judy Center staff and Library Staff work together at a Cecil County Hatchlings’ program.

Return to the Hatchlings Home Page

The Mother Goose on the Loose: Hatchlings program by Betsy Diamant-Cohen is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0