This diploma thesis deals with the international project Bookstart and its potential for further development in the Czech Republic. The first part is devoted to terminology and definitions of pre-reading literacy, reading literacy and functional literacy. In addition, selected Czech and foreign projects promoting reading literacy are presented. At the end of the theoretical part of the thesis, attention is paid to the introduction of the project Bookstart, the experience with its course abroad, and mapping the pilot year of the project in the Czech Republic. The practical part of the thesis presents qualitative research in the form of two semi-structured interviews, and quantitative research conducted using an online questionnaire. Keywords Bookstart, children's reading, reading literacy, pre-reading literacy, literacy development, libraries

The Malý čtenář (The Little Reader) magazine was published between the years of 1882 and 1941. At that time, this was one of the most significant Czech magazines for children and young people. The magazine altered during its existence. Poetry, fiction, nonfiction articles, games, jokes and puzzles remained its constant theme. The magazine was founded by teachers from Poděbrady. Its original role was to present school teaching through more fun and entertainment. Nonfiction articles played a significant role in the early years of the magazine. A big change for the existence of the magazine meant a transition to J. R. Vilímek publishing in 1888. In the 90s of the 19th century, the magazine became a more serious publication, primarily due to its incorporation of high quality poetry. Among the authors of the poems appears Josef Vaclav Sládek, who is regarded as the founder of Czech poetry for children. In these years, the magazine also aimed to appeal to a new target group of readers: adolescent school boys. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the ratio between poetry and prose in Malý čtenář gradually balanced. A key figure in the magazine, František Serafínský Procházka, took the main role in poetry. Prose came with longer serial stories with elements of realism; more fairy tales also appeared....

The aim of this diploma thesis is characterization and evaluation of programs and projects, which are proceeding in United States of America to support children's reading skills. The first part is devoted to reading to children from birth to six years, impact of books to children, and to factors, which are influencing the beginning of reading. In other chapters are presented projects of American Library Association and its division Association for Library Services to Children. In the following, the programs of selected libraries and non-profit organization are mentioned (for example Mother Goose on the Loose, Birth to six or Reach out and Read). In the last part is described the situation in Czech Republic. There are presented projects like Celé Česko čte dětem, Rosteme s knihou, Poprvé do školy - Poprvé do knihovny, and also cooperation of libraries and kindergartens.

The master thesis deals with the importance of the book in evolution of the children's imagination. The first part includes short introduction to problems of children's imagination. The second part is engaged in ontogeny of child from prenatal period to the middle childhood and in progress of key competences. It analyzes selected psychological approaches, which had the imagination as a subject of the research. The thesis explains and defines basic terms and processes of the imagination. It deals with a specific phenomenon of the children's imagination and with the evolution of the imagination. The third part introduces typical children's literature, directs on the traditional fairytale and it specifies problems of the literary characters too. It describes the historical development of the Czech book illustration, importance of the illustration in books for children and it also describes children's drawings. The fourth part applies all of previous pieces of knowledges into the work experience in kindergarten. It also describes relations between child and school or child and book. The final part of the master thesis includes summary of the information. [Author's abstract].

The goal of my thesis is to describe which campaigns and projects support reader and which are suitable for work with children in the kindergarten's heterogeneous classes. As part of the thesis, project is created base of the studied literature which should support reading literacy in a kindergarten's heterogeneous class and cooperate on its implementation with other subjects. I define the terms closely related to the given topic in the theoretical part, namely literacy and numeracy, reading literacy (in relation to RVP PV). Focus is on the role of kindergarten and the necessity of developing a child in reading literacy with the emphasis on the heterogeneous classes. I also emphasize the role of the family in reading literacy. Finally, I describe specific campaigns and projects in the Czech Republic that support readership and reading literacy. I devote myself to the implementation of the project itself in the maternal Schools with heterogeneous classes in the practical part. In more detail, I focus on the Celé Česko čte dětem, Noc s Andersenem and Listování. While the Celé Česko čte dětem a whole range of uses, Listování and Noc s Andersenem serves as a mere addition to the development of reading literacy. I value positively the cooperation with the city's library and parents.

The thesis deals with a support of children's reading. The work is aimed to factors and actors influencing reading education. The first part solves theoretical definition and the meaning of reading. Primarily there are explained two important terms related to the topic - reading and a reader. Further it is proceeding by attention given to different phases of reading education before and during school attendance. Primarily three environments influencing reading literacy were observed. These include family, school and public library. Furthermore, national representative projects supporting reading primarily in libraries are shortly presented at this thesis as well. The second part is focused on the Municipal Library of Prague, specifically Smichov branch and its activities. In this part are charted various programmes for children. Repeated activities for parents with children or for children alone are observed. Also, events for groups of preschool and school children are described. The important part of presented work deals with survey of cooperation between Smichov branch and local schools. The research results are to determine practical experience of teachers from these schools in activities of Smichov branch and in their cooperation with this library.