How One School Strengthened Family Engagement—and Literacy Skills—with Raising a Reader

At Maria L. Varisco-Rogers Charter School in Newark, New Jersey, family engagement and literacy are at the heart of student success. Serving a diverse community, the school sought a proven, turnkey program that would strengthen reading at home while supporting classroom learning.

They chose Raising a Reader to help every family become an active part of their child’s reading journey.

“Raising a Reader aligns perfectly with our mission to promote reading at home and encourage a love for books,” the team shared. “It engages families, supports language development, and enhances learning both inside and outside the classroom.”

The Results They’re Working Toward

By integrating Raising a Reader, the school is:

• Building literacy confidence and reading joy in every student.
• Engaging parents and caregivers through simple, ready-to-use family activities.
• Strengthening home–school connections with tools teachers can easily integrate.
• Celebrating  stories that reflect students’ lives and broaden their perspectives.

“The program reinforces our mission to build strong partnerships with families and support every child’s educational journey.”

Why It Works

Raising a Reader’s proven model makes it easy for schools and early learning programs to:

• Implement quickly with turnkey materials, training, and ongoing support.
• Fits within existing literacy plans – Seamlessly integrates into the goals and frameworks partners already use to strengthen reading outcomes for children.
• Flexible for any community – The program can be tailored to fit each organization’s schedule, structure, and community needs.
• Proven and trusted – Many partners come to Raising a Reader because they’ve heard strong recommendations—or experienced firsthand—the positive parent feedback and visible results.

“Raising a Reader cultivates a love for reading by actively involving families in their children’s literacy development—creating lasting, positive impacts on both academic achievement and family engagement.”

Interested in bringing Raising a Reader to your school or organization?
Connect with us today!

Across the country, educators and organizations are finding new ways to support families—whether through book-sharing programs, nudges and text reminders, or home libraries that last a lifetime. These strategies remind us that reading is not a solitary act; it’s a shared experience that strengthens relationships and builds a foundation for lifelong learning. 
 

We’re proud to lead with programs that meet families where they are, from our Classic Red Book Bag Program to our Home Library Programs. Each bright red bag and every forever book represents more than a story—it’s an opportunity for a child to see themselves in a book, for a parent to find joy in reading aloud, and for families to create routines that foster both literacy and love. 

Raising a Reader makes this possible through two proven models:

• Classic Red Book Bag Program – weekly rotations of diverse, high-quality books to spark family reading routines.
• Home Library Programs – lasting collections build home libraries.

How to Fund Literacy Programs Like Raising a Reader

The good news? Schools don’t need to find new money to fund Raising a Reader. Many existing resources can be used to support literacy and family engagement, including:

• Title I (family engagement and literacy support)
• Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) funds
• Additional federal funding streams that prioritize literacy and parent engagement
• State literacy and family engagement grants
• PTA, local, or community funds

These funding opportunities are designed to help schools improve reading outcomes, expand access to books, and build family-school partnerships—the exact results Raising a Reader delivers.

Raising a Reader… 

• Builds joyful reading routines at home
• Increases family engagement  in literacy activities
• Improves early literacy skills and school readiness
• Provides turnkey implementation and support for educators

Learn how to fund Raising a Reader in your school and start building stronger readers today!

Whether you’re supporting toddlers, preschoolers, or early elementary students, our programs build home literacy routines that nurture a love of reading and a strong start in school.

Why Early Literacy and Family Engagement Matter

Children who are strong readers by third grade are more likely to graduate, thrive in school, and succeed long-term. But reading skills begin long before third grade—and they’re strongest when supported at home.

Today, only 41% of children under 5 are frequently read to. That’s why family reading programs are more important than ever.

What Makes Raising a Reader the Best Choice

Weekly take-home books that build home libraries
Guidance for parents and caregivers to make reading joyful
Aligned with early learning and literacy standards
Ideal for preschool literacy programs, elementary reading programs, and child care centers
Proven to strengthen family engagement and student outcomes

A Program for Every Setting: From Toddlers to 2nd Grade

Raising a Reader works across settings—at home, in schools, and in community programs. Whether you’re implementing a reading program for toddlers or an elementary reading program to reinforce classroom learning, we support the full 0–8 early learning journey.

Our Classic Red Book Bag and Home Library programs are easy to implement and backed by decades of impact.

 Explore Raising a Reader’s Early Literacy Programs

1. Pick the Right Time—And Make it Consistent
Routine is everything. Choose a time that works best for your family—before bed, after dinner, or even after school—and stick to it. Even just 10 minutes a day adds up.

2. Let Your Child Choose the Book
Giving children a say in what they read boosts engagement and builds confidence. Whether it’s a picture book, comic, or favorite reread, let them lead.

3. Use the Book to Spark Conversation
Reading isn’t just about the words on the page. Ask open-ended questions, make predictions, or talk about how the characters feel. This builds comprehension and connection.

4. Celebrate Small Wins
Create a sticker chart or start a family book log. Recognizing progress helps children feel proud and excited to keep going.

5. Bring Books Into Everyday Life
Keep books in the car, in every room, even in your bag for waiting rooms. The more accessible books are, the more likely you are to read them.

Bonus Tip: Use a Program Like one from Raising a Reader
Our two program models equip families with tools, books, and guidance to build lifelong reading routines at home. They are simple, fun, and designed to fit into your daily life.

 Learn more about our Programs

As both a parent and the CEO of Raising a Reader, this hits home. Because I know what the research shows—and I also know how hard it can feel to make reading part of an already full day.

But here’s the truth: reading together doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.

Reading isn’t just about words on a page or hitting a milestone—it’s about building connection. Even five minutes before bedtime or while waiting for the bus can spark joy, boost brain development, and strengthen your relationship with your child.

Reframing Reading as Connection, Not a Chore

At Raising a Reader, we believe in bringing joy back to reading. We do this by helping families create simple, sustainable routines through our Classic Red Book Bag and Home Library programs. Each week, families receive high-quality books they can share at home, helping to create joyful moments that build resilience and early literacy skills.

And it works. Families tell us that the program doesn’t just help their children learn to love books—it helps them fall in love with reading together.

The Ask: Let’s Change the Narrative

Instead of seeing reading aloud as something you have to get right—or something to check off a list—what if we saw it as a chance to connect?

• A time to laugh at silly characters
• A quiet moment to wind down before bed
• A shared adventure into a new world

That’s the heart of Raising a Reader’s work: helping families build joyful reading habits that stick.

 Read the full article in Education Week

 Learn how Raising a Reader supports joyful reading routines

At Raising a Reader, we make it easy for families to build joyful reading routines at home. Our Classic Red Book Bag Program is simple, effective, and proven to support early literacy. Here’s how it works:

1. Take Home a Red Book Bag

Each week, children bring home a bright red book bag filled with high-quality, award-winning books. Every title is carefully chosen to spark curiosity and connection.

2.  Read Together at Home

Families read together throughout the week—no pressure, just joy. We provide simple tips to help caregivers turn storytime into quality time. Connections matter!

3. Return and Repeat

Children return their bag and receive a new one the next week. This weekly exchange keeps reading fresh and builds consistent reading routines that stick.

With every book bag, we’re helping families create a love of reading that lasts a lifetime.

 Learn more about the Classic Red Book Bag Program

This year’s report highlights our growing reach, with 34,000 additional children and families served and new partnerships with organizations like Stanford IMPACT, Utah Foster Care, and Save the Children to expand reading access nationwide. We also piloted Read Together, Grow Together and early math initiatives, ensuring a whole-child approach to learning.

Most importantly, the data speaks volumes:

• 92% of families established a shared reading routine (up from 64%).
• 91% of parents feel confident supporting their child’s learning at home.
• 87% of families believe their child is school-ready (compared to just 45% before Raising a Reader).

These achievements wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated partners, educators, and supporters. Together, we’re making a difference!

Read the full report and see the impact we’ve made together:
https://raisingareader.org/2024-impact-report/

The latest national assessment of educational progress results reveal a sobering reality: American children’s reading skills have reached new lows with little sign of post pandemic recovery. 

As reported in The New York Times, 40% of 4th graders and 33% of 8th graders now perform at a below basic level in reading and dash the highest percentages in decades. The implications of this literacy crisis are profound impacting students academic success future job prospects and overall well-being 

At Raising a Reader, we see this as a call to action for over 25 years we have worked to support families educators and those serving young children in fostering early literacy skills helping children build the foundation they need to become strong readers while experts continue to debate the cause behind declining reading scores—screen time absenteeism and instructional methods—one thing remains clear: literacy begins at home and engaging families in shared reading is one of the most powerful interventions we have 
 

The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results reveal a sobering reality: American children’s reading skills have reached new lows, with little sign of post-pandemic recovery.  

40% of fourth graders and 33% of eighth graders now perform at a “below basic” level in reading—the highest percentages in decades. The implications of this literacy crisis are profound, impacting students’ academic success, future job prospects, and overall well-being. 

The Power of Early Reading Routines 

Research tells us that early consistent exposure to books and reading can significantly improve literacy outcomes yet for many families access to high quality books and support for at home reading routines remains a challenge raising a reader bridges this gap by partnering with early childhood programs, schools, libraries, and community organizations to provide families with award-winning diverse and developmentally appropriate books along with guidance on interactive reading practices. 

A Family Engagement Approach to Literacy 

At Raising a Reader we believe that building strong literacy skills requires more than classroom instructional alone. Our programs support families by: 

• Providing Access to Books: Our Classic Red Book Bag Program circulates high-quality, diverse books into homes, ensuring that children have opportunities to build reading routines. 

• Encouraging Shared Reading Habits: We equip families and caregivers with simple, research-backed strategies to make reading interactive, fun, and a consistent part of daily life, just like brushing teeth. 

• Building Partnerships: We collaborate with educators, pediatricians, and community organizations to reinforce the message that reading together is fundamental to a child’s development. 
   

What We Must Do Next 

The national decline in reading scores is alarming but reversible. We must act now to ensure every child gains the literacy skills they need to succeed. This means prioritizing family engagement, expanding access to diverse books at home, and promoting daily reading routines. Families are key partners in early literacy, and we must invest in programs that support them. 

The NAEP results are a wake-up call and an opportunity to strengthen what works. Raising a Reader is committed to equipping children with the tools to thrive in school, work, and life. We invite families, educators, and partners to join us—because when we read together, we grow together. 

Get Involved 

To learn more about Raising a Reader’s programs and how you can support early literacy in your community, visit www.raisingareader.org. 

Why Family Connections Matter

Studies show that when families feel confident and engaged in their child’s educational journey, children are more likely to develop strong reading skills. In fact, 100% of Raising a Reader partners reported an increase in parents’ confidence in sharing books with their children, and 98% observed an increase in parents’ knowledge of shared reading techniques.

Raising a Reader is working to ensure that all families—regardless of time, resources, language or literacy level—can be part of their child’s learning journey in a way that feels natural and supportive.

Family connections are at the heart of Raising a Reader’s mission.

Together, we can ensure that all children have the support, encouragement, and resources they need to develop a lifelong love of reading. Because when families connect, children thrive.

While students enjoy snow days and cozy reading indoors, educators, schools, and libraries can take steps to ensure every child has access to books at home when school is out.

Super Summer Learning Adventures (SSLA) makes it easy to build home libraries that keep children engaged, learning, and ready for the next school year.

Each SSLA set includes:

 High-quality, diverse books to build literacy skills
 Fun, interactive activities that make learning fun

 Family-friendly guides to support building reading routines at home

By planning now, you can guarantee your students have books in hand when summer arrives—helping them avoid the summer slide and establishing a home library that supports lifelong learning.

Even though there may be snow on the ground, let’s set students up for success this summer. 

Order Your Super Summer Learning Adventures Program Today: https://raisingareader.org/super-summer-learning-adventures/

Questions? We’d love to connect!

#SuperSummerLearning #HomeLibraries #PreventSummerSlide #RaisingaReader

When families use reading time at home to talk about numbers, shapes, patterns, and measurements, they help children build foundational math skills that can support later success in school. 

Math is everywhere in stories—from counting objects in illustrations to exploring shapes in the environment—and these everyday moments offer the perfect opportunity to make math come alive for young children. 

Tips for Incorporating Math into Storytime 

Here are some simple tips to help families bring math to life during shared reading: 

Choose Math-Themed Books 
Books that focus on counting, shapes, patterns, comparisons, money and problem solving naturally lend themselves to math talk. Look for stories where characters use math in real-life situations, like measuring ingredients or counting toys, to spark conversations about math concepts like: Quack and Count by Keith Baker; Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell; and, Who Eats First? by Ae-hae Yoon.  

Spot Math Concepts in Pictures 
As you turn the pages, pause to point out numbers, shapes, or patterns in the pictures. Ask questions like, “How many trees are there?” or “Do you see any circles on this page?” These questions can help children practice identifying and understanding math in the world around them.  

Ask Math-Related Questions 
Encourage math exploration by asking open-ended questions during the story. Questions like, “What happens if we add one more apple to the basket?” or “Can you find something that is taller than this character?” make math fun and interactive. 

Consider Gender, Culture, and Language 
Be mindful of the diversity in the math stories you choose. Look for books that reflect different cultures, languages, and experiences to ensure all children see themselves in the math world. This shows that math is for everyone! 
 

Happy reading—and happy counting! 

At the recent event in Concord, NC, children at Save the Children Head Start Cabarrus Academy received the bright red bags filled with diverse, award-winning books to take home and read together with their family. Each week, the students will receive new books to rotate in the home,  fostering a love of reading and bonding time with their families. As Dr. Olivia Givens, Senior Program Director for Save the Children Head Start in NC, shared, “We know that when children read together as a family, they are more likely to succeed in kindergarten and life.”

A similar launch event took place in Farmington, NM, where the community gathered at Apache Elementary School to kick off the program. Both communities are part of Raising a Reader’s broader mission to serve children across the US, supporting early learning and family engagement in partnership with local organizations and partners.

This collaboration demonstrates the power of radical collaboration in helping young children develop critical literacy skills and fostering meaningful family connections. As Raising a Reader celebrates its 25th anniversary, the launch of partnerships like these in Farmington and Concord demonstrates our continued dedication to supporting early learning and family engagement across the country. Through this collaboration, we’re ensuring that children in rural communities have the tools they need for success in school and life.

Read more about the program launch in Concord, NC.

As a personal touch, the beloved stuffed toy is from Michelle’s son, a tradition they’ve shared since he was little. Even now, at 13, he asks her to take it on her business trips, a sweet way to stay connected and share in the mission of supporting children and families across the country.

Raising a Reader CEO, Michelle Torgerson, shares more in this interview with CapRadio. You can also watch this clip from ABC News and, click the image below to read the full article from the West Sacramento – News Ledger. 

If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry—you can watch it here!

Here are some of the resources mentioned in the webinar:

• First Book
  • Sign up with First Book for FREE and Receive $25 Off Your Next Order, with promo code NPPFALL2024
• Bob McKinnon
  • To learn more about Bob’s work in general, please visit www.movingupusa.com or email him at bob@galewill.com
  • To bring Bob to your school or community contact Allyson@bookedauthors.com
  • To Sign up for Bob’s Newsletter, visit: https://movingup.substack.com/
  • To receive a Welcome Wagon for your school or organization!
    • Submit this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UgsdvzOfF08p4UJlptMYGViboes1LU0BFNXNiTPjofQ/edit 
• AmazeWorks
  • America’s Dreaming Lesson for Educators and Caregivers by AmazeWorks
  • AmazeWorks book lessons from the webinar
  • Elementary Guidelines for Respectful Discussion
  • Early Childhood Guidelines for Respectful Discussion
  • Responding to Children’s Bias handout

1. Content and Themes: 
We choose books that explore a wide range of feelings, challenges, and social situations that children encounter in everyday life. The stories we select are relatable, featuring plots that engage young readers, allowing them to connect with the characters and the experiences they share. Through these connections, children learn to empathize and better understand their own feelings and those of others. 
 

2. Representation: 
Diversity is a cornerstone of our book selection process. We seek out stories that offer both “window and mirror” experiences — books that serve as a mirror by reflecting the reader’s own life and experiences, and as a window into the lives of others. This approach not only fosters a sense of belonging and self-acceptance but also highlights the importance of embracing inclusivity and understanding different perspectives. 
 

3. Meaningful Text: 
We prioritize books that are well-written and thoughtfully crafted, engaging young readers through language that sparks their imagination and curiosity. Meaningful texts not only capture attention but also encourage children to ask questions and explore their emotions. 
 

4. Illustrations: 
Visual storytelling is crucial in children’s books, and we pay close attention to illustrations. We look for artwork that complements the story, representing diverse characters and content in an accurate and respectful manner. Illustrations should captivate young readers, adding depth to the story and helping children visualize and emotionally engage with the content. 

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. I currently live in Buffalo, New York.  

Let us know a fun fact about you? 

As a true New Yorker, I finally learned how to drive and got my driver’s license at the age of 29.  

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  

I enjoy traveling, listening to music, and DIY projects.  

Best part about working for RAR?  

Seeing the impact RAR programs has nationally, the RAR Team, and our Book Collection. 

What is something you are most proud of?  

Being a first-generation college graduate and my commitment to always show up for my friends and family.  

At Raising a Reader, we are committed to supporting families and educators in this critical transition. With 25 years of experience and evidence-based programs, we provide the tools and resources that ensure children are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.  

Below are some practical tips that you can share with the families you work with, to help their children start the school year off strong. 

1. Build Early Literacy Skills 

One of the most important ways to prepare your child for kindergarten is by building early literacy skills. Reading together every day helps your child builds bonds, improves vocabulary, and enhances comprehension skills. 

2. Establish a Routine 

Establishing a daily routine that includes regular reading, playtime, and other educational activities helps children feel safe, secure and ready for school. 

3. Encourage Independence 

Kindergarten is a time for children to develop independence. Encourage your child to take on small responsibilities, such as packing their own backpack or choosing their clothes for the day. These activities build confidence and self-sufficiency, which are important for success in school. 

4. Social and Emotional Readiness 

In addition to academic skills, social and emotional readiness is crucial for kindergarten success. Help your child develop social skills by arranging playdates and encouraging them to share and take turns. Choose books that give you the opportunity to talk about their feelings and how to express them appropriately. 

Learn more about Raising a Reader, our programs, impact and more.  

Preparándose para el Kínder: Preparando a tu hijo (a) para un año escolar exitoso.

Como educadores y facilitadores, debes entender sobre el enorme valor que tiene una preparación temprana en el camino educativo de un niño (a). La transición hacia el kínder es un momento de pivoteo, no solamente para los niños (as) sino que también para sus familias. Este momento especial edifica el fundamento para el éxito académico en el futuro y un aprendizaje de por vida.

En Criando un Lector, estamos comprometidos con apoyar a las familias y a los educadores en esta transición critica. Con más de 23 años de experiencia y basados en programas de evidencia, proveemos las herramientas y los recursos que aseguran que los niños (as) están bien equipados con las habilidades que necesitan para salir adelante en el kínder y más allá.

Abajo encontrarás algunos consejos prácticos que puedes compartir con las familias con quienes trabajas, para ayudar a sus niños (as) a que empiecen el año escolar de la mejor manera.

1. Construye habilidades de Alfabetización Temprana

 Una de las maneras más importantes para preparar a su hijo (a) para el kínder es    construyendo habilidades de alfabetización temprana. Leer juntos cada día ayuda a que tu hijo (a) construya vínculos, a que mejore el vocabulario, y a que aumente las habilidades de comprensión.

2. Establece una Rutina

El establecer una rutina diaria que incluya lecturas regulares, tiempo para jugar, y otras actividades educativas ayuda a que los niños (as) se sientan a salvo, seguros y listos para la escuela.

3. Fomenta la Independencia

El kínder es un tiempo adonde los niños (as) desarrollan un sentido de independencia. Motiva a tu hijo (a) para que esté a cargo de responsabilidades pequeñas, como, arreglar su propia mochila o elegir su propia ropa para el día. Estas actividades ayudan para construir una mejor confianza y auto suficiencia, las cuales son muy importantes para obtener el éxito en la escuela. 

4. Preparación Social y Emocional

En adición a las habilidades académicas, la preparación social y emocional es crucial para tener éxito en el kínder. Ayuda a que tu hijo (a) desarrolle estas habilidades sociales preparando momentos en que los niños puedan jugar con otros niños, y anímalos a compartir y que tomen turnos en los juegos. Escoge libros que brinden la oportunidad de hablar sobre sus sentimientos, y en como expresarlos apropiadamente.

Aprende más sobre Criando un Lector, nuestros programas, el impacto y más.

I’m from San Jose. Born, raised and I still live here! 

Let us know a fun fact about you?   

I’m afraid of flying. I’ve only been on a few flights and it was only to LA. 

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  

I enjoy hiking, video games, reading, listening to music, watching shows and movies. 

Best part about working for RAR?  

Seeing all the different types of books we have in the RAR library for children to read with their families and packing them with love as we send them off for families to enjoy together.  

What is something you are most proud of?  

My parents! 

I am from Metro Detroit, Michigan and I currently live in San Jose, California.  

Let us know a fun fact about you?   

Go Blue! – University of Michigan Alum!  

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  

Camping, hiking, reading, biking, baking!  

Best part about working for RAR? 

The Team AND the Books! 

What is something you are most proud of?  

RAR’s growing footprint. 

The Importance of Early Literacy 

Early literacy is the foundation of a child’s education. Research shows that children who develop strong reading skills early on are more likely to succeed academically and later in life. However, many children enter school without the necessary literacy skills, creating a significant achievement gap. 

The Classic Red Book Bag Program 

Our Classic Red Book Bag Program addresses this issue by providing families with a rotating collection of high-quality, age-appropriate, diverse books. Each week, children take home a red bag filled with books to read with their families, fostering a love of reading and improving literacy skills. 

Family Engagement 

Family engagement is a key component of our program. When families read together, they not only enhance their child’s literacy skills but also strengthen family bonds. Our program encourages parents to be active participants in their child’s learning, creating a supportive and enriching environment. 

We’ve seen incredible success stories from families who have participated in the Classic Red Book Bag Program. For example, one parent shared how their child’s reading skills improved dramatically after just a few months in the program. Another family described how the program brought them closer together through their shared love of reading. 

Together, we can bridge early literacy gaps and ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. Join us in making a difference this school year by fostering a love of reading and increasing family engagement. Contact us at hello@raisingareader.org for more information or visit us here.  

• The First Book Moment – Witnessing a child’s joy when they open their red or blue bag and pull out their first book from Raising a Reader—there’s nothing quite like it! 

• Family Engagement – Seeing families reading together and making it a cherished family routine. 

• Our Amazing Affiliates – Celebrating the strength and dedication of our amazing affiliates and dedicated coordinators who drive our program’s impact. 

• Our Awesome RAR National Team – Our team’s unwavering commitment and passion for changing lives through early literacy. We have had wonderful colleagues over our 25 years, and many still stay in close touch with the RAR family.  

• Diverse Books – Offering books that reflect the wonderful diversity of our world. 

• Seeing Long-term Impact – Meeting adults who were once in the program and now share it with their children or children in their community. 

• Our National Footprint – Reaching children and families in bustling urban centers, expansive suburbs, vibrant rural towns, and inspiring tribal communities across the United States. 

• Radical Collaborations and Partnerships – Working side-by-side with amazing partners, educators, and organizations who are as passionate about early literacy and family engagement as we are. 

• Thoughtful Innovations – Listening to the needs of communities to adapt and scale impact. 

• Heartwarming Feedback – Every note we receive sharing how our books have sparked a child’s imagination. 

• Program Growth – Watching our program expand from a few sites in the San Francisco Bay Area to thousands across the country. 

• Iconic Red Book Bags – Our signature red book bags that kids love and carry proudly. 

• Evidence of Success – The gratifying data showing how much young children are benefitting from our programs. 

• Supporting Libraries – Strengthening the bridge between families and libraries, a critical resource for lifelong learning. 

• Funding Partners – The generosity of our donors and sponsors who believe in our mission and support our growth. 

• Joyful Book Collection – Carefully curated book collection, ensuring every title sparks curiosity, joy, and a love for reading and where all children feel seen.  

• Professional Development – Offering ongoing professional development opportunities, building a community of support for those implementing one of our programs.  

• Dedicated Coaching – Providing hands-on training and support to our Affiliates, ensuring they have the tools and confidence needed to succeed. 

• Supportive Workshops – Giving parents the tools they need to be part of their child’s reading journey. 

• Creating Lifelong Readers – The pride in knowing we help foster lifelong learners. 

• Cultural Celebrations – Incorporating books that celebrate different cultures, traditions, and languages, fostering inclusivity and understanding. 

• Family Testimonials – Hearing stories from families about how Raising a Reader has positively impacted their reading routines. 

• Dedicated Board Members – Celebrating the commitment, generosity, and guidance of our board members who provide strategic direction and support to our mission. 

• Our Visionary Founders – We love to shout out Sterling Speirn and Carol Gray, as key members of the founding team, along with founding partners like San Mateo County Library.  

• Ready Freddy – Celebrating our lovable bulldog mascot, Ready Freddy, who brings smiles, excitement, and a love of reading to children everywhere! 

Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey. Here’s to continuing our shared story of making reading a part of every child’s life! 

Here, we share some of the key takeaways and resources to help educators, parents, and caregivers foster a love for STEM in young learners. 

 
Practical Tips for Using Diverse Books in STEM Education 

1. Utilize Expository Nonfiction: Expository nonfiction books present factual information in engaging ways, making complex STEM concepts accessible to young readers. These books are essential for providing a well-rounded understanding of STEM subjects. 

Tip: 

• Look for nonfiction books that combine interesting facts with captivating visuals and clear explanations. This can help children develop a deeper interest in subjects like science, technology, engineering, and math 
   

2. Promote STEM Engagement at Home: Encourage families to use diverse STEM books to spark curiosity and initiate STEM-related conversations with their children. This helps make learning a part of everyday life. 

Tip: 

• Create a reading routine that includes diverse STEM books. Discuss the content and encourage children to ask questions and explore further. This can turn reading time into a fun and educational experience. 
   

3. Integrate Books into Classroom Activities: Teachers can use diverse books to introduce and explain STEM concepts in relatable ways, helping students see themselves in the stories and subjects they are learning about. 

Tip: 

• Incorporate books into hands-on STEM activities. For example, after reading a book about space, engage students in a simple rocket-building project or a star-gazing activity. This reinforces the concepts in a practical and memorable way. 
   

4. Balance Storytelling with Education: Authors and educators can create engaging narratives that weave in educational content, making STEM concepts more relatable and enjoyable for young readers. 
 

Tip: 

• Look for books that tell compelling stories while introducing STEM principles. Books that combine fictional narratives with factual information can capture children’s imaginations while educating them. 
   

Resources for Diverse STEM Books 

To support your efforts in advancing early STEM learning with diverse books, choose books that represent a wide range of cultures, identities, and abilities, ensuring all children see themselves reflected in STEM literature. This promotes a sense of belonging and encourages all students to explore STEM fields. Additional resources include: 

• Melissa Stewart’s Nonfiction Reading Resources: Explore Melissa Stewart’s extensive collection of nonfiction books and resources tailored for young learners. Visit Melissa Stewart’s Website 
   
• Teresa Robeson’s Author Website: Discover Teresa Robeson’s award-winning books and her approach to integrating diverse people and STEM concepts. Visit Teresa Robeson’s Website 
   
• National Council of Teachers of English Position Statement: Read the NCTE’s position statement on the role of nonfiction literature in education. Read More 
   
• Thematic Reading Lists: Room to Read offers thematic reading lists that include diverse and inclusive books for various subjects, including STEM. Explore Reading Lists 

• Best STEM Books K–12 2024 | NSTA 

Watch the Webinar Recording 

If you missed the webinar or would like to revisit the discussions, you can watch the full recording here through the end of June. An edited version will be available ongoing.  

We are committed to fostering early literacy and STEM education through diverse books. By utilizing these practical tips and resources, you can help create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment for young learners.  

What strategies have you found effective in promoting STEM learning with diverse books?  

Share your thoughts and experiences on social media – click one of the links below.  

The Brain’s Remarkable Growth

The early years are a period of rapid brain development. From birth to age three, a child’s brain grows to 80% of its adult size, forming more than a million neural connections every second. This growth sets the stage for lifelong learning and emotional health.

The Power of Early Experiences

Research tells us that early experiences significantly influence brain development. Positive interactions, such as reading together, talking, and playing, help build strong neural pathways that are crucial for cognitive, social, and emotional development. 

Social-Emotional Development: The Heart of Learning

Social-emotional development is as critical as cognitive development in early childhood. Babies and toddlers learn about emotions and relationships through their interactions with caregivers. Consistent, nurturing relationships provide a safe and secure foundation, allowing children to explore their environment, develop empathy, and build resilience.

The Role of Reading in Early Development

Reading with children from an early age offers many benefits. It fosters a love of books, strengthens the parent-child bond, and supports emotional regulation and understanding. Through stories, children learn to recognize and manage emotions, develop problem-solving skills, and build a sense of identity and empathy.

Supporting Early Literacy and Family Engagement 

At Raising a Reader, we understand the critical role early experiences play in a child’s development. Our programs are designed to empower families with the tools and knowledge to create enriching, literacy-rich environments. By sharing books and reading together, families can support their children’s cognitive and social-emotional growth, laying a strong foundation for future success.

Join Us in Celebrating 25 Years of Raising a Reader

This year, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we invite you to join us in our mission. #We’reStrongerTogether

“The summer months offer an opportunity to reinforce and build upon the learning that occurs during the school year,” said Michelle Sioson Hyman, Senior Vice President, Program and Partnerships at Raising a Reader. “However, without resources and learning activities, children can experience significant setbacks in their educational progress, commonly referred to as the ‘summer slide.'” 
 

The Importance of Summer Learning 

Research indicates that students can lose up to two months of reading and math skills if they are not actively learning over the summer. This loss is more pronounced among students from families navigating strategic barriers, who may have less access to educational resources during the break.  

Key Strategies for Effective Summer Learning 
 

• Establish a Reading Routine: Make reading together with children a daily habit. Set aside a specific time each day for reading. Consistency helps children incorporate reading into their daily life and maintains their literacy skills. 

• Embrace Reading Anywhere: Turn every environment into a reading opportunity. Long drives can be perfect for books and family discussions about a currently reading book. Short trips around town can become interactive lessons where children read road signs, shop names, and menus. This approach helps integrate reading with daily activities, making it a regular part of children’s lives. 

• Access to a Variety of Reading Materials: Ensure children have access to diverse books that capture their interest. Libraries are excellent resources for exploring.  

• Rhyme Time: Engage in rhyming games and activities. Rhymes are fun and help young children develop an ear for language, which is essential for reading readiness. 

• Letter Recognition Games: Play games that involve spotting letters in the environment, like on signs or in books. You can also create homemade letter cards and have your child match them or arrange them in alphabetical order. 

• Cooking Together: Involve children in simple cooking activities. Cooking involves reading recipes, measuring ingredients, and following steps, which are all educational. 

• Involve Parents in Reading: Reading together as a family builds brains, strengthens bonds and resilience, and enhances children’s academic success by exposing them to richer vocabularies and complex narrative structures, crucial for developing strong reading and comprehension skills.  

” We know that by providing families resources to incorporate fun ways of learning at home throughout the summer, we can help students return to school ready to learn and succeed,” added Sioson Hyman. “Our Super Summer Learning Adventures Program is designed to make learning a fun and integral part of the summer for every child and their family.” 

Shared reading is a powerful tool. It not only promotes literacy but also strengthens the bonds between caregivers and children. Through reading together, families create a safe space for emotional expression and understanding. This  allows both adults and children to talk about emotions, and fosters a sense of connection and empathy. 

For adults, shared reading offers a moment of calm and connection. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate empathy, patience, and problem-solving skills in a natural and engaging way. Adults who enhance their own emotional intelligence are better equipped to guide children through their emotional development.

The benefits of shared reading extend beyond emotional health. It supports cognitive development and academic success, as children who feel emotionally secure are more ready to learn. Connections matter! They are vital for both social and academic growth.

At Raising a Reader, we are committed to promoting connections through our programs. The Classic Red Book Bag Program, Family Shared Reading Program, and Super Summer Learning Adventures Program are all designed to support families in building strong, resilient relationships through share reading.

Research underscores the impact of the summer slide, with students potentially losing up to three months of reading progress. According to this article from Brookings, summer reading programs have been found to significantly raise reading test scores, especially when they blend academic learning with recreational activities, suggesting a more comprehensive approach to literacy development. Programs focusing on reading comprehension and fluency, showed the most substantial positive impacts, equivalent to boosting students from the 50th to the 65th percentile​​.

Engaging in summer reading also cultivates a broader vocabulary, crucial for academic success and personal growth. A daily reading routine exposes students to a significantly larger array of words, with a child reading twenty minutes a day at home encountering an average of 1.8 million words per year. Developing vocabulary is directly linked to literacy levels and the ability to comprehend complex texts​​.

Learn more about Raising a Reader’s Super Summer Learning Adventures Program:    https://raisingareader.org/super-summer-learning-adventures/

As highlighted by Torgerson, through exposure to diverse titles, characters, and perspectives, children gain empathy, expand their language abilities, and learn to express themselves.   

She also provided tips on how to engage in family-shared reading, such as   

reading aloud together, identifying books that inspire and excite children, creating habits that support a reading routine, and providing access to books through resources in the community.   

Raising a Reader is a longtime supporter of Brilliant Detroit and couldn’t be prouder to be featured on the Brilliant Together Podcast debut season. RAR is honored to contribute to this important conversation and to join a community of champions for children and families.  

Listen here. The podcast is also available on Apple and Spotify.  

Implementation and Instructional Quality 

The variance in instructional quality observed within and across sites in the study highlights the importance of consistent, high-quality programming. Raising a Reader’s model, which emphasizes the role of parents and caregivers in building early literacy skills through shared reading experiences, can be a vital component in ensuring uniformity in quality. By equipping families with the tools, resources and strategies to support reading together at home, Raising a Reader’s Super Summer Learning Adventures (SSLA) Program helps maintain a high standard of learning engagement that complements formal educational programs. 

Attendance and Participation 

Raising a Reader’s SSLA Program’s emphasis on fostering a love for reading through a variety of culturally relevant books and materials can increase enthusiasm for continued participation. By making reading enjoyable and by involving families in the learning process, Raising a Reader’s SSLA Program can ensure more consistent engagement over the summer months. 
 

Academic and Social-Emotional Outcomes 

While the research did not find specific evidence of benefits in language arts and social-emotional outcomes from the summer programs studied, Raising a Reader’s SSLA approach—integrating early literacy with social-emotional learning through stories that reflect diverse experiences—can address this gap. By encouraging discussions, in the home, around books, SSLA not only builds early literacy skills but also supports the development of empathy, emotional regulation, and social skills in the student and families.  

SSLA is designed to activate summer learning in the home and help prepare children for the school year ahead. Through supporting families in reading together over the summer, SSLA directly addresses the critical issue of the “summer slide,” where students lose academic gains made during the school year due to extended breaks from formal education.  

By investing in proven strategies such as comprehensive afterschool and summer enrichment, the Administration not only acknowledges but also financially supports efforts to mitigate learning loss caused by the pandemic and traditional summer breaks. 

Super Summer Learning Adventures complements the federal focus by providing a targeted approach to early literacy and engagement between families and children. It builds home libraries and leverages the out-of-school time to foster a love for reading and continuous learning, which are essential components of the Administration’s broader educational objectives.  

By encouraging routine reading habits and providing access to books and literacy resources, SSLA works to bridge the gap in educational opportunities over the summer, ensuring students return to school ready to learn and succeed. 

The connection between the Administration’s agenda and Raising a Reader’s SSLA program underscores a shared commitment to enhancing educational outcomes through collaboration between government initiatives and community-based organizations. It highlights how strategic investments and support for evidence-based programs can create synergistic effects, amplifying the impact on student achievement and addressing educational disparities exacerbated by the summer slide. This partnership model serves as a blueprint for leveraging federal resources to support and scale local initiatives, thereby accelerating academic recovery and enrichment for children across the nation. 

For more info:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/17/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-improving-student-achievement-agenda-in-2024/

Kristof rightly points out that our children are suffering due to a lack of systemic support, from inadequate childcare and education systems to insufficient health care and safety measures. The statistics he shares, such as the alarming mortality rate of children in the U.S. compared to other wealthy nations, are a stark reminder of the work that lies ahead. 

At Raising a Reader, we believe that literacy is the foundation of all learning and a critical component of any pro-child agenda. Literacy empowers children, giving them the tools to thrive in school and life. It is imperative that we not only focus on childcare and poverty reduction but also ensure that every child has access to quality early education, emotional learning, healthy family relationships, learning skills and resources needed to thrive in school and beyond. 

Integral to our mission is our radical collaboration with hundreds of peer organizations, who we work alongside to support thousands of children and families. By working together with these partners, we amplify our impact, ensuring that our elected officials make decisions in support of our young children.  

Kristof’s call for a “million child march” on Washington and the push for candidates to address child welfare issues in this election year align with our mission. We must hold our elected leaders accountable and ensure that children’s well-being is at the forefront of their agendas. 

By investing in our children’s future, we invest in the future of our country. Let’s work together to ensure that every child can thrive and reach their full potential. 

Let us know a fun fact about you?           
I was in Tiger Band at Louisiana State University! 

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  
Tennis, running, skiing, and cooking!  

Best part about working for RAR?  
The team, and the careful curation of our inclusive and diverse books which are so important to kiddos across the country. 

What is something you are most proud of?  
Being a really good aunt to my niece and nephew and bonus aunt for my friend’s kiddos. And being a really great dog mom to my 2 perfect seniors and 1 insane poodle pup. 

I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio and I currently live in Salt Lake City, Utah.  

Let us know a fun fact about you?   

I used to be a birth doula. 

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  

I love to be outdoors — hiking, climbing, walking the dog and traveling!  

Best part about working for RAR?  

The RAR team!!  

What is something you are most proud of?  

My two kids — Cecelia, age 14 and Elisha age 12.

School districts have had and continue to have the herculean task of identifying strategies that can support recovery from the learning loss that occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This school year, school districts have a better understanding of just how much educational progress in reading has been lost since 2020 and recognize that a child’s recovery from learning loss can only happen if there is a true partnership between home and school to ensure literacy and learning continues to be supported outside the classroom walls. However, meaningful school-home connections requires time and funding. Luckily, there are several public funding streams that school districts can tap into that include parent involvement and family engagement as an allowable expense, such as pandemic relief dollars and Title 1 funds.  
 

ESSER Funding 

In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act., which created a specific fund, Education Stabilization Fund, to pay for relief and recovery efforts specifically for schools. Additional funds have continued to be allocated to the ESF, which the US Department of Education manages and distributes through several emergency relief programs. One of these programs is the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). Several Raising a Reader Affiliates and partners have specifically been able to use the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) to implement all three of our programs as they align with the following allowable expenses: 

• Needs associated with children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English Learners, marginalized groups, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth 
• Family engagement opportunities (to assist parents and families in effectively supporting students) 
• Resources and academic supports for early childhood (Pre-K to 2nd) 
• Summer enrichment programs  
• And more! 

Title 1 Funding 

Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA) provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. Each LEA and school assisted with Title  funds is required to ensure effective involvement of parents and family members to support a partnership between school and home. Raising a Reader maps to several of the requirements, including: 

• Provide materials and training to help parents to work with their children to improve their children’s achievement, such as literacy training, to foster parent involvement 
• Educate teachers and other staff the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school 
• Provide necessary literacy training from funds received under Title I, Part A if the LEA has exhausted all other reasonably available sources of funding for such training; 

• Adopt and implement model approaches to improving parental involvement 

Join us for our upcoming ESSER Webinar: Funding Success for Early Literacy and Family Engagement: ESSR and RAR Programs 

Date: Wednesday, November 29^th  

Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm  PT | 2:00pm – 3:00pm ET 

Description: Learn how Raising a Reader programs align seamlessly with ESSER funding opportunities for schools and organizations. Discover the keys to securing the support you need to bring Raising a Reader to your school or organization.  

Register here 

Before we look ahead to an exciting new year full of possibilities, let’s pause to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have helped build brighter futures for so many young children and families all across the US. 

Children and Families: At the heart of our mission are the children and families we serve. We are grateful to be part of your journey building routines around reading together daily.  

Teachers, Implementers, and Affiliates: Your unwavering commitment to young children, engaging families and building early literacy skills is a driving force behind our shared successes.  

Funders and Partners: Your generous contributions have allowed us to reach more children and families, making a lasting impact on their lives.  

RAR Board and Staff: You are the heart and soul of Raising a Reader. Your commitment, passion, and dedication drive our success. Thank you for making it all happen. 

Here’s to our continued journey together! 

Where are you from originally? Where are you currently located? 

I’m from Soquel, CA (Santa Cruz area), and now live in San Jose, CA (Silicon Valley).  

Let us know a fun fact about you?   

Before getting into accounting, I used to work in Journalism and I worked at a few radio stations. 

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  

I enjoy reading, walking, spending time with family, and playing games.  

Best part about working for RAR?            

The team and our book collection!  

What is something you are most proud of?  

Working at Raising a Reader. 

Caption: Worldreader’s BookSmart app and the Raising a Reader organization are helping to virtually fill the shelves of little libraries in “Kinder Ready” pediatric clinics.

By Kristen Walter, Director of US Programs, Worldreader

Every clinic waiting room has one: the frazzled adult with several kids in tow, carrying an overstuffed bag filled with Kleenex, crayons, and cracker crumbs. Maybe you’ve even been that adult who hands the kids a screen in a last-ditch attempt to keep them from ransacking the stack of intake forms or emptying the hand sanitizer bottle on the rug. 

Don’t worry. Help is on the way. 

Worldreader has partnered with the Raising a Reader organization and several pediatric clinics in the Bay Area of California, leveraging technology to connect waiting families with high-quality books. This is accomplished with Worldreader’s BookSmart app, providing young readers ages 3 through 12 with free and instant access to hundreds of digital books in multiple languages.

The intent of the partnership goes far beyond simply providing families with a diversion. Raising a Reader’s Senior Vice President of Programs and Partnerships, Michelle Siosin Hyman, said her organization is founded with a belief in strengthening families. “We believe that early literacy is the cornerstone in equity for all,” she said. “We want reading to be in places like housing agencies, medical clinics and home visiting programs. We want families to have access to diverse books in all of the spaces and places where they are.” 

Dr. Reshma Thadani agrees. She is part of a number of pediatricians promoting “Kinder Ready” clinics that focus on school readiness, especially for families less connected to early childhood education programs. Kinder Ready clinics engage parents and guardians as their child’s first teacher, providing learning materials in friendly clinic environments and embedding a school readiness narrative into clinical guidance.

“When I learned about BookSmart, I thought, ‘This is really a perfect solution for us. This is a way that we can promote reading with people who are already on an electronic device.’” 

Where are you from originally?  Where are you currently located?  

I am from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and I currently live in Hatboro, Pennsylvania.   

Let us know a fun fact about you?   

I only can chew half sticks of gum. 

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  

I like to hang out with my family and friends. I never have enough time for them. My hobbies include traveling to new cites and countries, roller skating, outdoor swimming, and visiting different parks/playgrounds with my youngest son.

Best part about working for RAR?  

Working with my colleagues and our Affiliate network. 

During the summer, the National Indian Head Start Director’s Association, Zone 1 sites, Raising a Reader, and a generous funder came together to support children learning during the summer to activate summer learning in the home and prepare children for the school year ahead. Together, we enabled 921 children to participate in Raising a Reader’s Super Summer Learning Adventures (SSLA) program , supporting families to build, practice and grow reading routines with their children.

The journey began during the peak of the pandemic when we partnered with the Tribal Child Care Association of California. Together, we customized Raising a Reader’s SSLA program to cater specifically to tribal communities. The children and families received a specially curated book collection in which they could see themselves reflected in the stories and pages of the book, as identified by a culture committee representing tribal communities across the state.

Ms. Sarah Anderson, a teacher from the Spirit Lake Tribe’s Head Start program, expressed her enthusiasm: “Raising a Reader’s Super Summer Learning Adventures program was a game-changer for our little ones. The materials were engaging and culturally relevant, making learning exciting.  The children and their families loved it!”

A participating parent shared, “I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity. It kept my child engaged and connected us through books. This program strengthened my child’s connection to their cultural roots with the special curated Tribal book collection.”

This collaboration showcases the incredible possibilities that can be achieved when organizations unite to support young children and their families. It is a testament to the power of radical collaboration, proving when hearts and minds come together, the impact on children’s lives can be immeasurable. Together, we built bridges and illuminated a path to a brighter future for the children we serve.

 “Collaborations like this one remind us that when we come together, we can create transformative experiences for our children and their families,” said Terri Stringer, Senior Manager National Indian Head Start Directors Association National Indian Head Start Director’s Association.

Read on the Oklahoma City Free Press Website

Last Updated on August 6, 2023, 2:53 AM | Published: May 14, 2022

How did you find your favorite books as a young child? Were they gifts? Were they passed down from your parents or older siblings? Maybe your kindergarten class was lucky enough to have just a few on hand that you could choose from.

Well, thanks to a nationally beloved non-profit, Oklahoma City children are being given the opportunity to not only find and enjoy a huge selection of books geared toward their ages, but to take them into their homes as well as into their families.

The Raising a Reader program has already been a rousing success at Willow Brook, Thelma Parks, and Martin Luther King Elementary Schools in Oklahoma City Public Schools. But, beginning with the 2022-23 school season, the program will be in place at every OKCPS school with Pre-K through 2nd grade.

“It’s just a really great program,” said Dr. Stephanie Hinton, Director of Early Childhood Education for the district. “We’re creating routines and habits in the home that encourage lifelong learning.”

“An Ongoing Connection”

Raising a Reader is a simple concept:

• Each classroom from pre-k through second grade gets 26 bags that each contain a selection of four or five books aimed at those students’ age ranges and demographics.
• Each week, every student takes home a bag of books to read and enjoy with their parents or siblings.
• The next week, they bring that bag of books back to school and swap it out for a different bag full of different books, and the rotation continues throughout the school year until every student has had a week with every bag.

The idea behind the California-based non-profit is that this rotation of books into the homes of young students can not only help to foster a love and appreciation for reading outside of school, but also create a community among children in which they can each discuss and bond over their favorite books.

Most importantly, though, the program is a strong encouragement for parents to get involved with their children’s education and growth as readers.

“As educators, we’re always thinking about the ways that we can engage families in the academic process,” Dr. Hinton said. “With Raising a Reader, we’re going to be able to provide an ongoing connection around literacy development with the families. There is something very different and very unique about sitting down with a child and reading a story with them or to them. It nurtures that relationship and fosters a love of learning and of reading.”

Finding Funding

The first three Metro schools to have implemented the Raising a Reader program to great success for the past five years were funded primarily through generous donations, the district-wide expansion is only possible thanks to pandemic relief funds.

As part of the nationwide CARES Act of 2020, the federal government created the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund  to help schools and districts pay for programs designed to reaffirm and repair the educational landscape damaged by COVID.

When OKCPS began considering how to use their allotment of those funds, expanding this already proven program encouraging literacy and parental involvement was a no-brainer.

“It fit right in with what the district was looking for as far as ESSER projects go,” Dr. Hinton told me. “It’s a non-profit organization, so we’re essentially paying for a product that they have put together for us and for Raising a Reader to implement it in our district. And we get a lot of resources that come with that as well, like training.”

In a time of continuing budget and appropriations issues for education in our state, even something as simple and straightforward as providing take-home books to young students would be virtually impossible without the non-profit’s help.

“It’s just a bag of books, you know, it’s not the most novel idea,” Dr. Hinton says with a laugh. “But it has the infrastructure and support in place, and it has a curriculum for us to look through and figure out what works for us and for our students and families.”

“Raising Future Adults”

Though Hinton is palpably excited about the prospect of seeing Raising a Reader expanded across the district, she is quick to point out that it is just one step toward creating a deeper, more engaged community around early childhood education, especially in terms of reaching more parents and children during those all-important first formative years.

“We have a childcare issue in our country,” she said. “We have childcare deserts in Oklahoma City, and childcare deserts across our state, and it’s an access issue.”

“And, it’s not that I see school as the only answer, but you do see a lot of places around the nation diving into three and four-year-old programs now because it’s a way to address that childcare issue. I’m a big believer that childcare is something that should be free and accessible to all, just like public school.”

Ultimately, Dr. Hinton’s focus is on not only raising the level of education in OKC, but on helping to reframe the bigger picture of the goals and benchmarks in our children’s educations away from something purely academic and quantified to something more lasting and universal.

That’s why she believes it’s so important for a program like Raising a Reader to get books into the hands, minds, and hearts of children even outside of school.

“We are raising future adults,” she said. “The habits that we’re building through reading, through creating lifelong learners, to me, that will always be more valuable than a test score.”

Where are you from originally?  Where are you currently located?  

I am from Southern California and currently live in the Bay Area five minutes north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. 

Let us know a fun fact about you?   

I fell in love with reading in 1st grade thanks to my teacher, Ms. Zuber.   

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  

I love to read, hike, travel and enjoy time spent with family and friends sharing a meal. 

Best part about working for RAR?   

Our mission! I love helping under resourced communities improve learning and literacy and foster a love of reading. 

What is something you are most proud of?  

I am the first person in my family to graduate from college. Go Bruins!!!

Where are you from originally?  Where are you currently located?  

I am originally from Hanover, Maryland and I currently live in Pasadena, Maryland.  

Let us know a fun fact about you?   

I used to be a climbing instructor, a swim teacher, personal trainer and spin instructor at the YMCA (a long time ago). I also coached my daughter’s soccer team! 

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  

I’m a soccer and baseball mom. I enjoy kayaking, outdoor concerts/live music, traveling, and hiking!  

Best part about working for RAR?  

Working with the amazing team at RAR is the best part of working here. The icing on the cake is that we are doing this work for thousands of families throughout the country.   

What is something you are most proud of?  

I was the first person in my family (for a few generations) to earn my Master’s degree.  

PS: This photo is of Rebecca and her kids (Annabelle 13, Christian 8) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. “We love to travel and explore new places.”

Where are you from originally?  Where are you currently located?  

Dallas, TX born and raised & this is currently home.  

Let us know a fun fact about you?   

My husband and I rescued a kitty on Memorial Day weekend.  

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  

I love to travel, take photos, and scrapbook. 

Best part about working for RAR?  

I enjoy the flexibility and working from home with really awesome team members.    

What is something you are most proud of?  

I’m proud of the resilience and independence I’ve acquired after all the changes and tragedies in my life in the last few years. 

Where are you from originally?  Where are you currently located?  

I was born in Buffalo, New York and I am currently living in Oakland, California. 

Let us know a fun fact about you?   

I traveled around the world for 100 days on a cruise ship visiting more than 10 countries!  

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  

Hiking, gardening and tennis.  

Best part about working for RAR?            

The best part is working with a dedicated team of colleagues and community partners.

At Raising a Reader, we believe that collaboration is the key to unlocking the full potential of our vision that every child has the family support and reading skills they need to thrive.  We work to create a world where every child is read to, every day, fostering a love for books and a strong foundation for lifelong learning. The power of collaboration lies at the heart of what we do, and it plays a crucial role in driving positive change for the children and families we serve. At Raising a Reader, we like to call this Radical Collaboration. 

Collaboration empowers us to effectively bridge systems, supporting the continuum of early learning and strengthening family engagement, all in support of brighter futures for all children. By forging partnerships with schools, libraries, community organizations, as well as national, regional, and local partners, we expand our reach and impact significantly, bringing evidence-based early literacy programs to diverse communities all across the United States. Through these partnerships, we pool resources, share knowledge, and tap into the unique expertise of each collaborator. This collective effort magnifies our impact beyond what we could achieve in isolation. 

The counter argument to collaboration is competition. At times, nonprofits and peer organizations see each other as ‘competition’ or an impediment to meeting their own specific goals and funding needs. While there is a case to made for focus and effectiveness, at the end of day, most programs and services have been developed to address a systemic injustice, that will realistically require a team of focused organizations working together with community to untether. If we focus on the true issue at hand and address systemic inequities together, and with urgency, then the time and investment in collaboration is invaluable.  

Through collaboration, we gain valuable insights and perspectives.  

Our partners bring a wealth of knowledge about the communities they serve, their unique challenges, and their incredible strengths. By listening and learning from each other, we can better tailor our programs to meet the specific needs of each partner. This adaptability ensures that our efforts are not only effective but also culturally relevant and inclusive. Our recent radical collaboration conversations with Read with Malcolm and Worldreader, recognizing the critical importance of diverse books in early literacy and Brilliant Detroit and Little Libraries emphasize the vital role of collaboration in supporting children and their families. 

Collaboration fosters innovation and creativity.  

When diverse minds come together, new ideas emerge that lead to innovative approaches. By staying at the forefront of early literacy and family engagement solutions, we can continuously improve our programs and support of young children, ensuring they have the family support and reading skills they need to thrive.   

Working together amplifies our collective voice, making it easier for communities. 

When multiple organizations unite under a common cause, our efforts become stronger and more influential. We can raise awareness about the importance of early literacy, advocate for supportive policies, and rally critical partners and community collaborators around our mission. Collaboration empowers us to make a broader impact on a systemic level, striving for positive change in society’s approach to early childhood education. If we set aside our jargon and specific organization’s nuanced language and meet in the middle to make things easier for communities and families understand, then together we will actually go farther. We collectively work with community for a greater good, so why wouldn’t fellow nonprofits work together in collaboration?   

Finally, collaboration helps us measure and evaluate our impact better. By collaborating with experts, we can conduct more comprehensive evaluations of our program’s effectiveness. This data-driven approach ensures that our programs are evidence-based and continuously refined to ensure they are meeting the needs of our partners and the children and families we serve. 

Together, we can create a future where every child has the family support and reading skills they need to thrive. Join us in this collective journey, and let’s make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families across the United States. 

We are hosting a free virtual screening of The Right to Read documentary! You can watch anytime from September 7 – September 9.

The Right to Read is a 70 minute documentary about the early literacy crisis in America and what we can do about it. You can watch the trailer here

It’s easy. It’s information. It’s worth it!….It’s Informative!

1. Click here to enter the virtual screening anytime from September 7th through September 9th. 

2. Click “Register” and enter your email address and the event invitation code (TRT-R723). You can return as many times as you like during the screening window by clicking “Event Login” and entering the same email address and invitation code. 

3. Please fill out the Audience Survey after you’ve watched the film. This feedback will be viewed by the film team and will be incredibly helpful in shaping the impact of the film and campaign. It will only take around 5 minutes. 

We will be hosting a panel discussion, diving into some important and critical points from the film in lieu of our Town Hall on September 29th. More details to come.

If you are having trouble registering, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at hello@raisingareder.org.

Meet Philip Chavez: Manager, Warehouse Operations  

Where are you from originally?  Where are you currently located? Born and raised in San Jose, California and I currently reside here as well. 

Let us know a fun fact about you?   

I have a very strange obsession with shoes. I love buying them, looking at them, and sometimes dream about them. 

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?  

I enjoy spending time with the family, collecting shoes, and watching some of my favorite shows. 

Best part about working for RAR?            

The team. I’m consistently blown away with the team’s dedication to our mission to serve families in any way possible. 

What is something you are most proud of?  

My Kids! 

The nomination comes as a result of Raising a Reader’s outstanding achievements, having attained a prestigious four-star rating and earned all four Charity Navigator beacons. This recognition reflects the organization’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in its charitable endeavors. 

The Community Choice Awards will have one winner in each size-based category: small, medium, large, and super. The determination of the winners will be based on the total number of votes received. The winners will be officially announced on September 27, 2023. 

The four winning charities will receive the following: 

• Prominent visibility on Charity Navigator for one year 
• Email announcement to Charity Navigator’s audience of donors 
• Dedicated posts on Charity Navigator’s social media 
• Webinar speaking opportunity 
• Press release over the wire 

“Raising a Reader is deeply grateful for this nomination and the continued support from our community, donors, and partners. Together, we can build a future where every child has the family support and reading skills they need to thrive.”  

~ Michelle Torgerson, President and CEO 
 

To cast your vote and support Raising a Reader in the Community Choice Awards, please visit this link and follow the voting instructions.  

Where are you from originally?  Where are you currently located?  

I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota and I currently live in San Rafael, California  

Share a fun fact about you.  

I love to shoot hoops (basketball).  

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?   

During my free time, I like doing yoga and going on nature walks to stay healthy and be outside. Music is something I really love, and I often go to see live shows with my family and friends.  

I also enjoy fashion and design and going to museums, which makes my creative side happy. When it comes to food, my family and I are big foodies. We love trying new recipes and whipping up new inventions.  

I love to travel and explore often with my family—a perk of having an airline pilot as a partner!   
   

What’s one of the best parts about working for RAR?   

I love our mission so much and working together in partnership with communities across the country. But the best part of working at RAR is working with the talented, smart, and fun staff and board of directors.  

What is something you are most proud of?   

I am most proud of how our organization worked together to persevere through the global pandemic, partnering with communities to evolve and meet specific needs that support serving children and families.  

Welcome to #WeAreRaisinaReader, a social media campaign we’re launching to give you a peek behind the scenes at RAR and shine a light on our RAR team.  
 

In this campaign, we invite you to join us as we shine a light on the dedicated team and the impactful work, they do every day. Join us as we explore what’s happening behind-the-scenes and the passion driving Raising a Reader. 

A Glimpse Behind the Scenes and Highlighting Our Work 

At Raising a Reader, our work would not be possible without the remarkable individuals who make up our team. Through the #WeAreRaisingaReader campaign, we will introduce you to our team. You will get an insider’s perspective on their roles and the work they do every day — from Maryland to California and from the RAR warehouse to our home offices! 

Fun Facts and Favorites 

In addition to our work, we will share fun facts about our team members and their favorite things. Learn more about our backgrounds, hobbies, and interests. We believe that building community involves understanding the people behind the organization. 

Make sure you’re following us on all of our social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn 

Together, we can ensure every child has the family support and reading skills they need to thrive.   

Pictured L-R: Lizzie Horner (Chief Of Staff); Jennifer Ford (Vice President, Finance and Operations); Rebecca Chrystal (Managing Director, Programs and Partnerships) Michelle Sioson Hyman (Senior Vice President, Programs and Partnerships); Tymisha Sweet (Senior Manager, Program and Affiliate Relation); Michelle Torgerson, (President and CEO) 

Check out our Impact Report and learn more about how we are building and supporting programs that work and strengthening families through reading.

We couldn’t do this work without all of our critical partners!

Jennifer is proud of the many milestones achieved by Raising a Reader over the years. Among them, one stands out—the team’s dedication to always putting children and families at the center of everything they do. 

Jennifer loves the outdoors and if she had one free hour a day, she would spend it hiking with my family, friends, or solo! One of her favorite books from the RAR library is “Mae Among the Stars “, written by Roda Ahmed and designed by Stasia Burrington.

We are grateful for Jennifer’s 10 years of dedication to not only Raising a Reader, but dedication to children and families across the country!

The disruptions caused by the pandemic have had a profound impact on education, with many students experiencing learning loss and social emotional setbacks. To mitigate these effects and ensure a successful academic rebound, experts are advocating for increased investments in summer reading programs. 

“Summer reading programs offer a unique opportunity to bridge the learning gap and provide much-needed support for students,” says Michelle Torgerson, President and CEO of Raising a Reader. “By engaging students and their families together in enriching reading activities during the summer months, we can help prevent the loss of critical literacy skills and stimulate cognitive development.” 

Beyond academic benefits, summer reading programs also play a pivotal role in fostering social emotional learning (SEL). Students who participate in these programs develop important social and emotional skills such as empathy, self-awareness, and resilience, which are crucial for their overall well-being and future success in school and beyond. 

“Investing in summer reading programs can yield significant returns for communities,” says Torgerson. “Research has consistently shown that students who participate in such programs contribute to reduced summer learning loss, narrowing achievement gaps, and fostering a lifelong love for reading.” 

Research has shown that children who do not engage in reading and other educational activities over the summer can lose up to two months of academic progress. This loss disproportionately affects children from lower resourced communities, exacerbating educational inequalities. 

“Addressing the summer slide is crucial to our ongoing efforts to promote early literacy and combat educational inequities,” said Rebecca Crystal, Managing Director, Programs & Partnerships at Raising a Reader. “Raising a Reader’s Super Summer Learning Adventures Program empowers children and their families with the tools, resources, and support they need to not only mitigate learning loss but also thrive academically.” 

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Children seeing themselves and their families reflected in the books they read is powerful. We believe that every child deserves to see characters who look like them, come from similar family structures, and share similar experiences. When children can identify with the characters in the stories they read, it not only boosts their self-esteem but also helps them develop a sense of belonging and acceptance.  

By offering books that reflect the diversity of our young readers, we create a safe and inclusive space where every child feels seen, valued, and celebrated.  

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is crucial for children’s development. It helps them develop critical skills for school success and overall well-being. By promoting empathy, positive relationships, emotional management, and problem-solving, SEL prepares children to navigate life’s challenges with resilience. 

• Our Social Emotional Book Only collection, which contains 10 books and a downloadable guide is the perfect way to add books into your Classic Red Book Bag Program to help with skills needed for success. This collection, and the supplemental resources, help establish and maintain conversations on empathy, positive relationships, managing emotions, problem solving, and more.
• As an optional add-on to our Super Summer Learning Adventures offering, we have a social-emotional pack ready for purchase, which contains a family guide to support social emotional development in children, and a cozy stuffed RAR animal companion. These add-ons have been popular with our Affiliates looking to provide additional resources to caregivers over the summer. 
• Have you met Ready Freddy? Ready Freddy is a valuable tool for fostering Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in children. This cozy stuffed RAR animal companion helps children explore emotions, empathy, problem-solving, and positive relationships.

Contact us at hello@raisingareader.org with any questions about these offerings or if you would like ideas on how to incorporate social emotional learning in your setting.   

Why? Summer reading is critical for students to defeat summer learning loss and retain knowledge and skills learned in the previous school year and help prepare them for the upcoming school year. Students who don’t read are at risk of falling behind their classmates. Parents and teachers can avoid this by making sure kids take time to read throughout the summer. 

And, we have a few ideas and tools for you! 

READCamp, led by “Head Coach” Malcolm Mitchell, is fun and active way to support children and families during the summer. The free virtual summer reading training camp for kids in ages/grades PreK-12. Kids will stay in great reading shape over the summer by participating in training, drills and lots of reading practice.  

READCamp kicks off Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day, 2023. Registration is open now.

Raising a Reader’s Super Summer Learning Adventures (SSLA) program offers a fun way to support children at home during the summer by developing and reinforcing early learning skills through investigation, critical thinking, imagination, and meaningful, fun family experiences.  

How does it work? Families receive books, including Malcolm Mitchell’s book My Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World. Each book offers read alouds in English and Spanish, fun downloadable activities, and virtual field trips! SSLA reinforces the school – family partnership in supporting all children. 

Learn more about SSLA today! 

• Highlights is a global media brand dedicated to helping children become curious, creative, caring and confident.
• Read with Malcolm (Share the Magic Foundation), founded by Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Mitchell, is dedicated to promoting the benefits of reading and book ownership, especially among striving and below grade-level readers who are at risk of academic failure.

• Worldreader works globally with partners to support vulnerable and underserved communities with digital reading solutions that help improve learning outcomes, workforce readiness, and gender equity.

Learn more about RAR’s Super Summer Learning Adventures Program today!

We’re celebrating our partnership with Masons of California. With their generous longtime support of nearly $4M since 2011, RAR has been able to increase the resources we bring to our Affiliates. To date they have funded more than 800 classrooms. We are closing in on our goal of reaching 1,000 Masons of California classrooms!  

Here are some recent highlights from our partnership:  

·       Bahia Vista Elementary in the San Rafael Unified School District launched 4 new first grade classrooms with Masons of California support this year.  

·       New Haven Unified School District launched 2 Mandarin Dual-Immersion Kindergarten classrooms this year. 

Thank you to the Masons of California for their transformative partnership and enduring commitment to engaging families in early childhood.

Last year, RAR was gifted kidappolis, a bilingual app designed for caregivers to support early learning in literacy, math, and science and we’re busy learning how to integrate our home library programs with the kidappolis app through a test pilot in the Bay Area.  

We are grateful to partners like Eden Housing for caring so deeply about their families and providing multiple opportunities for families to learn together.  

The input from our Parent Design Session recently conducted with Eden Housing families is critical to creating Raising a Reader’s hybrid solution to family engagement and early literacy. 

This year’s SXSW EDU was driven by four themes: Bold, Imagine, Converge, and Evolve. 

Kicking off each day and wrapping up the last, were Keynote sessions featuring powerful thought leaders who inspired and connected with attendees from around the world.

Michelle listened, learned, and loved reconnecting with some of our national partners, including Malcolm Mitchell from Share the Magic Foundation.

Click here for a recap.

Every day, Tymisha supports Affiliates in implementing Raising a Reader programs. Connecting with Affiliates and hearing about the creative ways Affiliates support families in their communities keeps her going.   

Ty loves spending time with her family, taking naps and roller skating. One of her favorite books from the RAR library is I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown. “I love hearing my husband read it to my son.” She also notes, “Don’t Touch My Hair is also a favorite with a great message about respecting boundaries.” 

We are grateful for Tymisha’s 10 years of dedication to not only Raising a Reader, but dedication to children and families across the country! 

We combined that input with a robust discovery process to develop a new brand that reflects our evolution as a national organization with three programs. It aligns with our purpose and clearly conveys our community investment philosophy and our vision that every child has the family support and reading skills they need to thrive.   
 
We invite you to take a moment to learn more on our redesigned website.

This is an exciting time for our organization—our steady growth has brought Raising a Reader to many new places in more states across the US, new teammates, and pushed us in new innovative spaces. You’ll see that it’s not just our logo that is changing. We’ve changed our website, our social media, refined our messaging to better reflect the way we work with and support children, families and all of our amazing partners and investors. 
 
At Raising a Reader we will continue to live into our mission of supporting families and inspiring the development of literacy skills and a lifelong love for reading to help children attain brighter futures in which they can thrive and contribute in school, the workforce and society.  

Thank you for everything you do to make Raising a Reader a critical partner in creating brighter futures for all children by strengthening family bonds, and continuously striving to create a more equitable future for our children and our communities – regardless of race, culture, language, income or ability.  

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or would like more information! Until then, keep an eye on us as we continue our growth. 

After being nurtured from a local program rooted in the Bay Area to growing into a national organization reaching over 150,000 children ages 0-8 and their families across the nation each year, Raising a Reader is becoming an independent nonprofit organization. For more than two decades, Raising a Reader has been a “supporting organization” to Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), operating under the umbrella of the community foundation and supporting its mission.

Even as Raising a Reader becomes a nonprofit independent from SVCF, our shared values are rooted in equity and our two organizations will continue collaborating for the benefit of children and families.

Together we have supported nearly two million children and their families with Raising a Reader’s evidence-based programs that provide diverse award-winning books and the bilingual tools and training that facilitate early literacy milestones, serving the children in our communities who face the most vulnerable children.

We have enjoyed a warm and collaborative relationship with SVCF that will continue long into the future. We are so grateful for their guidance and stewardship as we have developed award-winning early literacy and family engagement programs that are proven to help build healthy brains and healthy shared reading habits that are so critical to raising readers.

“For over two decades, it has been our honor to support Raising a Reader and help foster its growth locally initially in San Mateo County and as the organization expanded its work nationally,” said Nicole Taylor, president and CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. “We are proud to have been part of Raising a Reader’s journey, and we know that it will improve the lives of more children and families nationwide as it becomes a fully independent organization.”

And to the many generous SVCF donors who have directed gifts from their donor advised funds in support of Raising a Reader throughout our 23-year history, we thank you for your generous investment and we look forward to keeping you engaged and up to date with our progress as we continue to scale and serve even more children in the spaces and places where there is the greatest need for Raising a Reader.

“We are so grateful to Silicon Valley Community Foundation for our partnership. In this time, we have accomplished so much, including serving nearly two million children and families across the country and over 11,000 each year right here in Silicon Valley thanks to our tremendous partnerships with local donors and agencies, such as San Mateo County Public Library, our first ever Affiliate,” said Michelle Torgerson, Raising a Reader President and CEO. “We are excited about the future of Raising a Reader and confident in our ability to grow and scale our work in diverse communities across the nation.”

Raising a Reader’s transition to independent nonprofit status was effective as of January 1, 2023

This Giving Tuesday, Raising a Reader wants to give sincere thanks to our network of Affiliates, Partners, and supporters across the nation who help make our work possible.
We love working closely with you to help bring diverse stories to the children and families in your communities who delight in seeing their lives and experiences reflected in the many books that they share together at home thanks to you and Raising a Reader.

With gratitude and appreciation from all of us at Raising a Reader to you!

Here is just one of the over 3,000 carefully curated titles in our diverse book collection with selections in 13 languages!

With appreciation,

Your friends at Raising a Reader

The bilingual English/Spanish kidappolis app is is aligned with RAR’s mission to engage caregivers in a routine of meaningful learning with their children from birth through age eight to foster healthy brain development, healthy relationships, a love of reading, and the literacy skills critical for school success.

“We are thrilled to be the recipient of the donation of kidappolis. This is a great opportunity for Raising A Reader to learn how we can innovate using technology to increase home literacy and learning,” said Michelle Torgerson, Raising A Reader President and CEO.

LitLab, a Bay Area based literacy nonprofit will soon be sunsetting as a stand-alone nonprofit and is generously donating their digital application kidappolis to Raising A Reader’s suite of home learning offerings.

“We’re really excited to donate the app to an organization that is aligned with our mission, strengthening families, and supporting home.  Our goal has always been to bring home learning opportunities to more families, and donating the app to Raising A Reader, will help the app to have national reach.,” said Laura Reed, LitLab’s former CEO.

Raising A Reader has started working with families to explore learning outcomes for families who use the app.

How do I access kidappolis? Is it free? 

You can download the “school edition” of kidappolis to explore enhancing home learning. To use the app for free, use this code: RARPilot 

Kidappolis – Apps on Google Play 

Kidappolis: School Edition on the App Store (apple.com) 

SSLA develops and reinforces early learning skills through easy-to-use tools and resources that support learning recovery and school readiness through meaningful family experiences.

At RAR, we believe in collaborating radically to provide impactful resources and programming and have teamed up with mission-aligned organizations to bring you our Super Summer Learning Adventures program. Let’s take a closer look at our Super Summer partners:

• Highlights is a global media brand dedicated to helping children become curious, creative, caring and confident.
• Kide Science is based on years of academic research in the University of Helsinki. The Kide Science platform offers the most engaging model to break the mold and give teachers the confidence to teach inquiry-based lessons with play and stories to children aged 3-8.

• ParentCorps’ mission is to transform the pre-K experience in historically disinvested neighborhoods by helping schools partner with families to build a future where all children thrive.
• Read with Malcolm (Share the Magic Foundation), founded by Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Mitchell, is dedicated to promoting the benefits of reading and book ownership, especially among striving and below grade-level readers who are at risk of academic failure.
• Worldreader works globally with partners to support vulnerable and underserved communities with digital reading solutions that help improve learning outcomes, workforce readiness, and gender equity.

Learn more about RAR’s Super Summer Learning Adventures Program today!

VIEWING CHILDREN’S BOOKS THROUGH AN INTERSECTIONAL LENS

Guest author: Tymisha Sweet, RAR Senior Manager, Program and Affiliate Relations on a workshop she recently attended: Viewing Children’s Books Through an Intersectional Lens thanks to the Highlights Foundation.

I had the opportunity of joining children’s book educators, researchers, scholars, and storytellers: Dr. Laura M. Jiménez, Franki Sibberson, Clare Landrigan, Lynsey Burkins, and Grace Lin to develop the skills needed to analyze children’s books for meaningful representation, reader engagement, visual literacy, and more!

The entire workshop was amazing and really deepened my understanding on how to provide an equitable and inclusive approach when curating our book collection and book audit.

All children and families need and deserve to see themselves and people that look like them represented in the books they read. And it is our duty to provide culturally authentic mirrors and window books.

I learned that the most common ethnicity among authors is White, which makes up 79.4% of all authors. Comparatively, there are 7.2% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 5.8% of the Black or African American ethnicity.

We have some work to do if we want to ensure representation by authors, for children and their families.

I learned a more discerning approach when looking at children’s books for the betterment of our families. With this new approach I will analyze illustrations, text, and author backgrounds to ensure books are meeting the needs of our families. Visual and verbal messages families see in books influence their ideas about themselves and others. It is very important to put on that instructional lens to ensure families can connect with books personally.
The workshop section led by Clare, Disrupting Nostalgia in Children’s Literature for the Classroom, was an eye opener.

In this workshop, we reviewed several favorite children’s books that we grew up loving to read with our new approach. We found that some of these nostalgic books can be problematic in a classroom, and they do not necessarily meet the needs for children today.

It is our priority to take a critical look and provide families with the best options and not the enjoyment of our past.

I am excited to put what I’ve learned to use as we continue to prioritize our book audit and our commitment to equity and inclusion across our work at Raising a Reader.

Our hearts go out to all those affected by the tragedy in Texas. We are devastated to hear of the tragic school shooting at Robb Elementary School, where innocent lives were lost, including those of 19 children and two teachers.

We send our most sincere condolences to the children, families, and community and all who have been affected by this unbelievable tragedy.

We stand strong with so many others in urging Congress to pass commonsense gun laws to keep our children safe.

Below are resources that can be helpful for students, teachers and families when discussing this incident, as it will receive widespread media coverage.

• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers – National Association of School Psychologists (Spanish language version available on the website) 
• How to Talk To Kids About School Shootings – Common Sense Media  
• Responding to School Violence – Tips for Administrators – National Association of School Psychologists  
• Anxiety Over School Shootings  – Child Mind Institute (Spanish language version available on website) 
• Helping Students Cope With A Violent World – Edutopia 
• Fred Rogers Talks About Tragic Events in the News – PBS 
• 15 Tips for Talking with Children About School Violence – Colorin Colorado (Available in six languages within link) 

Sincerely,

Michelle Torgerson
President and CEO

The communities we serve through Raising a Reader (RAR)—from rural to suburban to urban—are not monolithic. One of our top priorities is to offer a diverse and inclusive multilingual book collection that is inclusive of all readers.

We believe having access to diverse and inclusive books opens avenues for learning and engagement across lines of difference and offers a powerful opportunity to create shared understanding and empathy around ideas and issues.

Banning books contributes to the further minimization of important issues that many children and families face, including people of color, LGBTQAI+, and disproportionately marginalized communities.

Books are mirrors, windows and sliding doors. We want all children to be able to see themselves in books and experience other cultures, backgrounds and lived experiences. We want all families to celebrate reading together and promote open access to ideas, both of which are keys to raising a reader.

While decisions on which books stay on the school library shelves is largely a local matter, removing a book based on its content could be a violation of the First Amendment.

In the 1982 case, Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School v. Pico, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that students have the same First Amendment rights as anyone else in school libraries, and that “local school boards may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books.”

At RAR, we see book banning as a form of censorship and a troubling retreat from America’s historic commitment to First Amendment rights, that protect students’ rights to receive and express ideas.

Raising a Reader’s three programs offer a variety of book collections that are selected at the local level by RAR partners to suit the “windows and mirrors” for the families they serve. The Classic book bag model offers 3-4 high quality multicultural children’s books in each bag that are rotated on a weekly basis.

Our FSRP and SSLA programs offer 4-6 high quality multicultural children’s books for families to share. Families have the freedom to share specific books—or all of them with their children.

We will continue to support choice in books by our community partners through RAR’s programming and will continue to champion books that are representative of the many diverse cultures, races and genders of the children and families we work with.

I know first-hand the positive impact a caring adult can make in the life of a child. ​ 

When I was little, we didn’t have access to a lot of books or resources. My parents had their own truck repair business, and I went to work with them every single day. My mom would read me stories from the newspaper each morning, and in the afternoons, you could find me in a truck bay with my dad, reading a Kelly Blue Book. The one-on-one time that we spent together helped to shape my life trajectory. ​ 

When I got to Kindergarten, I was curious and resilient, and over informed on the market value of used vehicles! And for the first time my family gained access to education enrichment programs which helped my academics soar.​

The first eight years of a child’s life are critical for setting them up for lifelong success. Unfortunately, not all children and families have access to a powerful system that helps families thrive and establish effective early learning practices. 

Children learn best through their everyday experiences with the people they love and trust, and when the learning is fun. Raising a Reader’s three programs supports building healthy relationships through these everyday experiences by providing the tools and resources for families to develop, practice, and maintain home literacy routines.

Building book sharing routines supports a child’s development, builds special connections that are critical to brain development and helps children develop their sense of belonging and community—especially when they see themselves reflected in the books they are reading. And they are more likely to excel academically, contributing to narrowing the opportunity gap created by systemic racial injustice.​ 

​Raising a Reader also strengthens the family and school relationships and increasing family engagement opportunities. Family engagement—in schools, childcare centers and other places and spaces—contributes to positive student outcomes, including improved child achievement, decreased disciplinary issues, improved parent-teacher and teacher-student relationships, and improved school environment. 

Learn more about Raising a Reader.

Not only does access to quality maternal healthcare options ensure the good health of a mother – it has far-reaching impacts on children, families and communities.  

The recent SCOTUS ruling puts women’s health in jeopardy, especially black and brown women and those living in poverty. 

This is why at Raising a Reader we are lifting up and emphasizing the critical role of our partners at Black Women’s Health Imperative and our Promise Venture Studio fellowship peers, Birth Detroit and Health Connect One. 

We know that moms—and parents, are at the center of their child’s development, learning and growth. They make sure children are healthy and safe and equip them with the skills and resources to be successful. And, right now, when so many things are outside of a person’s control, Raising a Reader supports parents in being in the driver’s seat by empowering them with the knowledge, resources and training they need to help develop a foundation of success. 

We are committed to working together in radical collaboration to support innovative solutions to urgent issues affecting women and their health. 

Reading over summer vacation may not be a priority for children, but parents and teachers should make it one.  

Welcoming a new board chair!

We are so proud to welcome Carol Emig as Raising A Reader’s incoming board chair.

Carol began her service on RAR’s board in 2017 and we are thrilled for begin her service as RAR’s board chair as the first female leading RAR’s board! Carol’s focus on impact and ensuring that research and evidence are central to programmatic decisions is critical as we continue to grow and build RAR, our programs and our evidence.

Carol has served as Child Trends’ president since 2006 and has spent her career at the intersection of public policy, programs, and research related to children and youth. Carol’s work at the national and state levels over four decades has strengthened policies related to child poverty, early childhood development, child welfare, and education.

Learn more about Carol!

What inspires you most about Raising a Reader’s work? Several things about RAR inspire me. First, it’s a simple, elegant strategy to help children love reading by empowering their parents. Second, I’m inspired by the passion and commitment of RAR staff, nationally and in our affiliates. Third, I’m inspired by the innovative way RAR pivoted at the start of the pandemic to ensure that families continued to get books and other support when schools and childcare centers were closed. That kind of social entrepreneurship is part of RAR’s DNA – it’s thrilling to see and a privilege to support.

In 5 years, you read a headline about Raising a Reader…what is this headline? “Raising A Reader communities show steep increases in early literacy.”

You are the first female Board Chair for Raising a Reader, what does this mean to you? The children’s field has been female dominated forever, but not as much at the leadership level. I’ve been in C-suite roles in my own career, and I’ve served on nonprofit boards, but I’ve never chaired one. So, this is a milestone for me. I’m proud of the amazing women leaders at RAR and proud to have a chance to work with them.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you? I was a first-generation college student.

What is your favorite children’s book? That’s an unfair question – there isn’t just one! My daughters and I used to love Miss Rumphius. When they were babies and toddlers, I liked reading Sandra Boynton’s rhyming books to them. When they were in elementary school, the whole family got hooked on Harry Potter. They’re young adults now, and we still recommend books to each other.

https://earlylearningnation.com/2022/02/five-top-takeaways-how-childrens-literature-is-getting-more-diverse-and-why-that-matters/

Encouraging parents to be their child’s first teacher happens best with great books along for the journey. But what does that look like in the time of COVID with geographic, social, and political divides? 

For Raising a Reader, a 21-year-old organization working to build strong shared reading routines within families nationally, it starts with inclusion.  Check out ‘A Closer Read on Literacy Equity’ about our work by Bezos Family Foundation.

https://www.bezosfamilyfoundation.org/story/windows-and-mirrors

The award goes to Dick Wilkolaski! 

Launched in 2019, Raising a Reader’s Legacy of Literacy award celebrates funding partners who have allowed us to blaze a new or expanded trail.  

To recognize the incredible support of and dedication to providing the critical leadership and guidance necessary to scale Raising A Reader from 70 to more than 300 affiliate partners across the country, Raising A Reader is honored to present Dick Wilkolaski with a Legacy of Literacy award.  

Dick is Raising a Reader’s outgoing Board Chair and has dedicated the last 16 years to RAR through his leadership as a board member and a significant investor. Dick is a retired certified public accountant, business advisor, business appraiser and court expert witness for over 35 years and former Partner at Seiler, LLP, a regional CPA firm, in addition to being a dedicated longtime community volunteer. 

Thank you, Dick, for your generous commitment of time and resources to our work! We simply could not have done this work without your leadership and incredible investment.

By Michelle Torgerson, President and CEO, Raising a Reader

Can we talk about Bruno?! Is Encanto’s soundtrack playing on loop at your house? It is at mine, and we almost have all the songs memorized!

The movie tells the story of the Madrigal family as they navigate their special powers within their community. So many people—young and old—are feeling seen and represented by characters in the movie.

At Raising a Reader (RAR), we are committed to ensuring our book library provides books that serve as mirrors and windows for all of the children we serve every day. We’ve developed a one-of-a-kind, multi-lingual book collection and curriculum that puts equity and diversity at the center. 

As part of our commitment to racial equity and belonging, RAR understands that we must value, respect and support all cultures and ethnicities.

Please join us and our partners at Too Small to Fail and National Black Child Development Institute on February 3 for a virtual conversation – Writing a New Chapter: Advancing Diversity in Children’s Books, a virtual conversation at 10:30 a.m P.T. | 12:30 p.m. C.T. | 1:30 p.m. ET.

Register today: https://lnkd.in/gCpWuHWc

Tune in LIVE on Facebook: : https://lnkd.in/gCYSvaFg

Panelists will discuss:   

The state of diversity in children’s books 
Why diverse representation is critical for identity development 
Innovative efforts to promote diverse children’s literature 
Concrete steps to take action

Hear from panelists including: 
K.T. Horning, Director, Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Shabazz Larkin, artist, writer, and author of The Thing About Bees

Dr. Iheoma Iruka, Founding Director, Equity Research Action Coalition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Philip Lee, Co-Founder, and Publisher, Readers to Eaters

Cynthia Leitich Smith, 2021 NSK Neustadt Laureate; children’s YA writer; author-curator of the Native-centered Heartdrum Imprint, HarperCollins Children’s Books  

Amongst other amazing leaders in the space! 

A New Year’s Reunion is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:

A New Year’s Reunion from author Yu Li Qiong and illustrator Zhu Cheng Liang is an endearing story of a Chinese family celebrating the New Year with a special reunion. Little Maomao’s father is a migrant worker, his job is so far away that he only comes home once a year, for the new year celebration. Maomao hasn’t seen her father since last year and is excited and nervous to have him home again. They quickly form a rekindled bond and enjoy their time together. But all too soon it is time for her father to go back to work. The timeless words and beautiful illustrations are sure to resonate with every child who misses relatives when they are away–and shows how a family’s love is strong enough to endure over time and distance.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:

As you read A New Year’s Reunion ask your child questions about their own experiences. Do you celebrate Chinese New Year? Does your family have any special New Year’s traditions? Do you have a family member that travels for work? If so, how does your child feel when that family member leaves and returns? Books can be mirrors where your child can see their own life reflected and they can be windows giving your child a glimpse into someone else’s life and experiences. By relating to the text in this way, your child will be more engaged in the entire book sharing experience.

Do this with your child:

After you read A New Year’s Reunion you and your child may want to join in the celebrations. You can enjoy a traditional Chinese meal like the one prepared in the story and make decorations for the event. Here’s a guide to make Chinese lanterns. Have fun!

If you’re interested in sharing A New Year’s Reunion with your child you can find it from Candlewick Press here. You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for more inspiration.

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There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:

There was a Cold Lady who Swallowed Some Snow fis a wintry edition to the twists on the familiar There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Lucille Colandro provides rhyming, goofy text with Jared Lee ‘s silly illustrations to bring this wacky book to life. After swallowing snow, a pipe, a hat, and more you are in for a surprise ending!

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Sequencing:

After you read There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow you and your reader will have the perfect opportunity to practice sequencing, putting events in the order which they happened. The repetition and rhythm in the story should help prompt your child’s memory when putting the events in order. If they need a reminder, let them look back into the book and see if they can find the step based on the pictures.

Do this with your child:

After you read There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow you will see that all of the things that the cold lady have swallowed have helped her create a snowman. Use the things she has swallowed in the book to make a snowman of your own. Don’t live in the snow? Try using play dough or shaving cream to make your snowman! By having to recall and use items the cold lady used, your child will be deepening heir involvement with the story.

If you’re interested in sharing There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow with your child you can find it from Scholastic Books here. You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for more inspiration.

Have you heard about The Great Book Challenge?

Click here to donate!

Over and Under the Snow is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:

Over and Under the Snow is a cozy story where a child and his father are skiing through the forest. Over the snow they glide while animals and insects rule the kingdom under the snow. Discover the animals that live safe and warm through the winter as they spend their days under the snow. Kate Messner‘s smooth and poetic words along with Christopher Silas Neal ‘s charming illustrations will keep readers comfy all winter long.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:

As you read Over and Under the Snow engage your child with the text and illustrations. Ask questions about the animals and what is happening on the pages. Then when you’ve finished reading the story, let your child take a turn. Hand them the book and have them ‘read’ the story to you. Can they remember the animals and what they’re doing? Do they recognize any of the words? By being in charge of a retelling, your child will further their involvement with the text and deepen their interest in the story.

Do this with your child:

The family in Over and Under the Snow are on a winter adventure. They’re taking a stroll through the forest and noticing the nature that surrounds them. After you read the story, head outside with your little one to have a nature walk of your own. Use your sight, smell, touch and hearing to interact with your environment. Then when you get home, use your taste to enjoy a special treat, just like in the story!

If you’re interested in sharing Over and Under the Snow with your child you can find it from Chronicle Books here. You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for more inspiration.

Have you heard about The Great Book Challenge?

Click here to donate!

There is a wealth of research showing that children who do not engage in summer reading loose literacy skills and other academic skills that could better prepare them for kindergarten, low income and children of color are the most impacted by these losses.  We have a critical role as practitioners to provide families’ access to resources and tools to support as well as build on any gains made during the year over the summer.

As a library that is also a Raising a Reader Affiliate introducing families to summer learning opportunities is a seamless transition. Libraries are hubs bustling with activities for children and families all year, but especially during the summer. Parents and caregivers benefit from positive and reaffirming messages that highlight learning can occur anywhere and at any time. Utilize your everyday interactions with families to promote the wealth of opportunities available happening during the summer.

Leap into summer learning with the following tips for families:

• Read and read often– Make regular trips to the library. Library staff have can make recommendations based on your child’s interest. Make reading time a regularly scheduled activity or at the least part of a routine (i.e. before bed, when a caregiver is cooking dinner, etc.).
• Get outside! – Explore your neighborhood our visit a park. Your outdoor environment can be the perfect place to learn. Physical activity also boosts learning. As an example: count how many trees, sound out the names of plants, point out building names and sound out the letters, etc.
• Attend an event- Check out a storytelling program or STEAM program. There are tons of free and fun activities that the entire family can enjoy. Some are even offered in languages other than English.
• Involve your child in everyday activities- Cooking involves reading and math. Encourage pre-writing activities and enlist your child’s help in making your daily “to do” list, for younger children drawing a to-do list is a wonderful way to introduce print. Everyday activities promote learning.
• Participate in your local library’s summer learning program– Many libraries have summer reading programs where you can receive prizes for completing activities and reading books.

Finally, get out and enjoy learning with your children. Summer is the perfect opportunity to shake up a routine and play with words, numbers, and visit new places like your library.

Do you remember the first book your mom shared with you? I have vivid memories of my mom sharing my favorite book about a beagle puppy named Bruno. While to many, the story was simply a day in the life of a typical dog. To me, it was a story about learning new things for the first time, meeting new friends, and going on adventures, if only as far as the backyard. What made this story so special to me was not the dog, but the snuggle time I had with my mom. She made each page come to life and I never felt so safe and full of wonder. It’s amazing what mom and a good book can do.

At Raising a Reader, we work tirelessly to empower moms, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles and other important adults in a child’s life to bring stories to life through shared reading. Many families we serve lack the resources and/or time to visit their local library on a regular basis, especially if they are in a single parent home, teen mom, or working full-time jobs. It is through support from donors like you that we can cycle 100 books into a home, provide families with book sharing tips, and help them develop new reading habits for years to come.

This Mother’s Day, we are asking you to remember your mom and other influential women in your life who shared a story with you. Consider honoring her with a tribute donation. Your gift will not only provide books, but will give another child a special moment with their mom that will live with them forever.

My focus in this post is to show parents and guardians how a slight modification in the language that we normally use during read alouds can have a powerful impact. Let me introduce a tried-but-true strategy called a think aloud. As the name implies, a think aloud is when a proficient reader thinks through a process out loud. They literally talk through the thinking, planning, and actions that they are using. A think aloud is a quick explanation of what is going on in our mind as we read. As parents, we use think alouds all the time – perhaps without even knowing the formal name for them. We verbalize our thinking as a strategy to teach life skills. As I was skiing with my young daughter, I used a think aloud to model my (not-so-effective) effort to descend a slope. I thought aloud with comments like, “I see an icy patch right there, so I’ll be careful to avoid it” and “If I feel like I’m picking up speed too quickly, I’ll remember to snowplow to slow myself down.” And thought I have certainly not a proficient skier, my thought process gave her enough guidance to ease her down the mountain. Perhaps you think aloud as you teach your teenager to drive (“I need to check my blind spot as I merge”). Maybe you think aloud while you teach your first grader to tie his shoelaces (“Next, I know I need to make two loops.”) As I encourage you to think aloud while reading with your child, I will offer you some concrete ideas on how to do so successfully.

First, prepare your child for the thinking that you are about to do. Kids are used to parents asking them questions about a book, but in a think aloud you talk through your thoughts. So tell them, “As I read, I’m going to talk through all of the thinking I’m doing while I read”. Sometimes to be really explicit on when I am thinking aloud, I give a child a visual cue. I might point to my temple and tap it so show that the words that they hear are the thoughts in my mind, not the print in the text.

Next, jumpstart your think alouds with “I” language. These “I “ statements – as in, “I wonder if the author means…” and “I’m going to reread…” are the clearest way to give a model of the reading comprehension strategies that we are proficient readers do. It is with this “I” language that our children understand the active processes that adults use to understand a text. Through “I” language, children begin to see how to apply reading strategies to their independent reading. More specifically, try some of these:

• I wonder…
• I’m guessing that…
• I was confused by…
• It surprised me…
• Now I understand…
• I wish I could ask the author…

Next, use that “I” language to talk through the places that might be confusing in a text. Kids need to see how what proficient readers do when they are confused. Points of confusion might be unfamiliar vocabulary, abstract or confusing sentences, or places that require a reader to make an inferences (or ‘read between the lines’). You might say, “I didn’t understand this part at first, so I had to reread.” Our children need to see that making meaning from a text is an active process.

Finally, be selective. Not every read aloud requires a think aloud. Simple decodable texts like Brown Bear, Brown Bear don’t require an ongoing model of our thinking. In the texts that you do use for think alouds, I usually think aloud 6-8 times in a typical storybook. Keep them short and sweet! A think aloud is one or two sentences – not an entire conversation!

Your goal with think alouds is to provide less savvy readers with a play-by-play of what you – as a skilled reader – think while reading. When parents and guardians think aloud at home, we better prepare our children for the academic tasks that they will encounter in school.

Summary:

Monster Trouble is a charming story from Lane Fredrickson with spunky pictures by Michael Roberston. Nothing frightens Winifred Schnitzel, but she does need her sleep! The neighborhood monsters sneak into her room every night and create quite a scene, they growl and belch and won’t let Winifred be. She tries everything she can think of to get rid of these pesky beasts but her traps just can’t contain them. Luckily Winifred learns the ultimate trick and finds out what monsters hate – KISSES! Readers young and old will delight in the endearing verse and colorful images which pair together perfectly to tell this super sweet monster tale.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Predictions:

Monster Trouble is a great book for your reader to practice making predictions. As you read, ask your reader questions about what they think might happen next? Do they think Winifred will be able to keep the monsters at bay? What do they think she might try to do next? By engaging with the story in a more interactive role, your reader will have an overall more impactful book sharing experience.

Do this with your child:

After you read Monster Trouble check out More Halloween titles via this article from The Washington Post

Reading to your kids on Halloween is sweeter than candy corn www.washingtonpost.com Make memories with “Goodnight Goon,” “Six Creepy Sheep” and other scary classics for kids.

If you’re interested in sharing Monster Trouble with your child you can find it from Sterling Publishing sold through Amazon here.

Pumpkin Soupis appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:

Pumpkin Soup from Helen Cooper is a warm and vibrant book which touches on some of the trials of friendship. Everyday Cat, Squirrel and Duck work together to make delicious pumpkin soup. Cat slices, Squirrel stirs, and Duck adds the salt. But when Duck decides he’d like to try stirring instead their routine is challenged and the trouble begins. Duck leaves in a huff but it isn’t long before Cat and Squirrel start to worry. Cooper’s rich illustrations and warm text perfectly capture the fall season.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:

Pumpkin Soup is a great book for your reader to practice retelling. As you read, ask questions so that your reader will be more engaged in the story. Then after you finish, ask your reader to take a turn and read the book to you. As they retell the story, they should recall the main story elements – character, setting, and main ideas. If their story turns out a bit differently that is alright too!

Do this with your child:

At the end of Pumpkin Soup you’ll find a recipe for pumpkin soup! Pick an extra pumpkin from the pumpkin patch (or for a cheaper option, from your local grocery store.) Test out the recipe with your reader and enjoy the warmth and aroma of the season.

If you’re interested in sharing Pumpkin Soup with your child you can find it from Square Fish, an imprint of US MacMillan, here

If you’re interested in sharing Pumpkin Soup with your child you can find it from Sterling Publishing sold through Amazon here.

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During National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) we recognize the contributions made and the important presence of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate their heritage and culture. At Raising a Reader we embrace Hispanic culture in our diverse book collections with nearly 200 Spanish language titles. 40% of the families participating in the Raising A Reader program are Latino and one-third speak Spanish in the home. As we wrap up National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’d like to share one of our favorite Spanish and English books with you.

FOR THE WEEKEND, share this fun bilingual title with your child!

Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English is appropriate for children 4-8.

Summary:

Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English is a collection of poems in Spanish and English, one for each letter of the alphabet describing farms and harvest. The beautiful book from author Alma Flor Ada is perfect alongside the traditional style paintings of Simon Silva on each page, drenched in bold, warm colors which help bring the poetry to life.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take a Picture Walk/Sequencing:

As you read through Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English use the beautiful paintings to ask your child what they think that page’s poem might be about. For an older child, you can also try sequencing and working on alphabetical order. Help your child remember what letter was on the previous page and try to figure out what letter the poem on the next page will start with.

Do this with your child:

Read through the poems in Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English in the language you are more comfortable with, then try the other language. Practice the titles of each poem in English and Spanish with your child. It’s a good possibility that you will both be exposed to something new and different. It’s okay if you’re unsure of some of the words, that is how we learn!

If you’re interested in sharing Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English with your child you can find it from Harper Collins Publishers here

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Amazing Autumn is appropriate for children of all ages

Summary:

Amazing Autumn from Jennifer Marino Walters and John Nez is the perfect book to cozy up with as the weather turns colder and the days turn shorter. Explore the season as the leaves change color, the weather cools down and pumpkins abound. You and your reader will enjoy the interactive nature of this fun fall book!

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take A Picture Walk:

As you read through Amazing Autumn is a perfect book for taking a picture walk. Before you read, flip through the pages with your reader and ask them ehat they see on each page. By engaging with the book before you even begin to share the words your reader will have a more impactful experience overall.

Do this with your child:

After you read Amazing Autumn take a walk outside with your reader and bring the book along with you. See if you can spot any of the signs of fall around you. Do you see leaves changing color? Do you feel the air getting cooler? Are there children in jacksets, or pumpkins on porches? Enjoy your fall spotting walk with a cup of hot cocoa!

If you’re interested in sharing Amazing Autumn with your child you can find it from Lerner Publishing Group here

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Empowering Parents to Engage Through Books

As we enter into National Book Month, all of us at Raising a Reader were once again heartened by the Washington Post article late this summer, “How To Get Kids To Look Away From Their Screens and Take Pleasure in Books.” While we still find it discouraging that it appeared in the Lifestyle section and not Education and Health, we will take what we can get in our ongoing fight against illiteracy in our nation. This article is a very good read for all parents struggling with the overbearing presence of technology in our children’s world and it makes the case for reading from traditional books.

All the research presented backs up our more than 15 years of work in the early childhood literacy landscape. What the article doesn’t touch on, and completely ignores, is that 16 million children live in poverty in our nation, and more than half do not have access to age appropriate books let alone “screens.” Our organization knows this too well as 65 percent of the children and families that we serve nationally are low-income, at risk populations.

Our core program brings books to families and empowers our low-income, at risk, and non-English speaking caregivers to participate in their child’s reading skill and literacy development even if they themselves are not readers or even English speakers. Family engagement in early childhood literacy is more than simply reading words on a page, but letting the imagination run wild as a book is shared in a nurturing way. As we train parents of all socio-economic means, all have the same revelation in one way or another – if I share books with my child, their brain, language, and comprehension grows. What parent doesn’t want this for their child?

We applaud those struggling with screen time versus book time – it’s a real struggle. We work to provide those without screens with books and tools for the entire family to succeed long-term. Today, only 4 out of 10 fourth graders are proficient in reading. This is not a sustainable situation for our nation. Let’s keep this in mind as we highlight National Book Month.

Whiffy Wilson The Wolf Who Wouldn’t Go to School is appropriate for preschool age children.

Summary:

Whiffy Wilson The Wolf Who Wouldn’t Go to School from Caryl Hart and Leonie Lord is a relatable tale about a young wolf who is convinced that school will be entirely too boring. His friend Dotty persuades him to tag along with her to class and see what it’s all about. Whiffy thought he would miss spending his day watching TV, playing games and staying up late – but he finds that school is more fun than he could have imagined! Filled with adorable and humorous illustrations and flowing rhythmic text, Whiffy Wilson is a wonderful book to read as school begins.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Make Connections:

Whiffy Wilson The Wolf Who Wouldn’t Go to School is a perfect book for making connections. Whiffy is reluctant to go to school, can your reader relate to that? Were they nervous, scared, or unsure before their own first day of school? When Whiffy gets to school he is delighted to find out that he is still able to play and have fun all day long, does your reader play games at school? Do they have fun with their friends? Books can be a mirror to reflect the reader’s personal world, and they can be a window into new and different experiences.

Do this with your child:

After you read Whiffy Wilson The Wolf Who Wouldn’t Go to School talk with your reader about their favorite parts of their school day. Ask them to recreate this with you while they take the lead. Whether it be story time, outside play, snack time or workshop/activity time allow them to play the role of teacher and explain how their favorite school activity works!

If you’re interested in sharing Whiffy Wilson The Wolf Who Wouldn’t Go to School with your child you can find it from Hachette Children’s Group here.

Calling All Reading Champions

Join us for the 2017 RAR National Institute: The Road to Reading

Click to learn more and register!

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How Do Dinosaurs Go to School is appropriate for school age children

Summary:

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School from Jane Yolen and Mark Teague is a hilarious addition to the How Do Dinosaurs series. Silly rhyming text paired with bright and fun illustrations combine to create a fun read aloud masterpiece. Follow along to discuss how dinosaurs arrive to school and their behavior in and around the classroom.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take a Picture Walk:

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School is a great book for taking a picture walk. Before you read, flip through the pages with your reader and ask what they’re seeing on each page. Do they recognize types of dinosaurs, do they recognize things from their own schoolyard and classroom, what do they think might be happening? By engaging with the book before reading they’ll develop a deeper connection to the overall experience. You’ll love laughing along as dinosaurs are put into everyday situations!

Do this with your child:

After you read How Do Dinosaurs Go to School talk with your reader about their favorite parts of the story. Ask them what other things it might be silly to see a dinosaur doing. Have them draw a picture of their favorite silly dino scenario.

If you’re interested in sharing How Do Dinosaurs Go to School with your child you can find it from Scholastic here.

Click here to learn more about Raising a Reader and the work we do to promote early literacy and family engagement. 

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Ruby the Copycat is appropriate for school age children.

Summary:

Ruby the Copycat from Peggy Rathmann tells the story of Ruby in her new school. On Ruby’s first day she sits behind Angela who is wearing a pretty red bow in her hair and when Ruby comes back from lunch she is wearing one too. When Angela wears a purple sweater with daisies on it, so does Ruby. Fortunately Ruby’s teacher knows what to do. In a time when kids want to fit in, this story stands as an important reminder to be true to yourself!

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:

Ruby the Copycat is a great book to practice retelling. After you read the story, let your reader take a turn to tell it to you. Can they remember what is happening on the pages? Do they recognize any words or letters? It’s okay if they tell you a completely different story! The desire is to further engage them with the entire book sharing process.

Do this with your child:

After you read Ruby the Copycat talk with your reader about why Ruby may have been copying Angela. Has your reader ever done anything to try to fit in too? Then talk about what makes your reader special and unique. Do they have any fun hobbies, favorite books, special outfits?

If you’re interested in sharing Ruby the Copycat with your child you can find it from Scholastic here.

Click here to learn more about Raising a Reader and the work we do to promote early literacy and family engagement. 

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Late for School is appropriate for school age children.

Summary:

Late for School is a lyrical adventure Smitty embarks on to make it to school on time. Smitty has never been late to school and black tar, a humongous whale, nor robots from Mars will stop him on his race to beat the school bell. Author Mike Reiss’ rhythmic text paired with illustrator Michael Austin’s vivid images are an exiting reminder that for some kids, getting to school on time can be quite the adventure!

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Sequencing:

Late for School is a great book to practice sequencing. Sequencing is putting events in order. After you read flip back through the pages with your child to and try to remember which event came next. Did it rain whole snowmen or did Smitty get swallowed by a whale first. Ask questions like this about the other events in the story as well. By taking a further look into the exciting events of the story your reader will become more engaged and have a more impactful experience overall.

Do this with your child:

After you read Late for School talk with your reader about what other crazy adventures might have gotten in Smitty’s way on his race to school. Choose your favorite idea and draw a picture of that extra adventure together!

If you’re interested in sharing Late for School with your child you can find it from Peachtree Publishers here.

Click here to learn more about Raising a Reader and the work we do to promote early literacy and family engagement. 

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Rufus Goes to School is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:

Rufus Goes to School is a truly wonderful tale of Rufus Leeroy Williams III, a little pig who longs to go to school. Rufus is ready, he has his backpack and his favorite book, but the principal tells him “no pigs in school!” The next day Rufus tries again, this time he adds a lunch box to his collection of school goodies, but still the principal says no. A determined Rufus tries yet again, adding a blanket for naptime to his school supplies only to be met with another no from the principal. But when Rufus confesses his desire to learn to read, the principal understands. Kim T. Griswell delightful text pairs perfectly with Valeri Gorbachev’s precious illustrations in this fun and charming back to school book.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Take a Picture Walk:

Before you read Rufus Goes to School flip through the pages with your reader. Have them tell you what they’re seeing on each page, who are the characters, where are they, what are they doing. For older readers, take this a step further and ask what they think is happening, can they tell if a character is happy or sad, etc. Then as you read together, see if their thoughts and predictions they had during the picture walk were correct.

Do this with your child:

After you read Rufus Goes to School talk with your reader about being ready for school. What supplies do they have? Are they excited, eager, or nervous about the new school year? Then draw a picture together of their favorite part of the story.

If you’re interested in sharing Rufus Goes to School with your child you can find it from Sterling Publishing here.

Click here to learn more about Raising a Reader and the work we do to promote early literacy and family engagement. 

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Hoops is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:

Hoops is a poetic understanding of basketball, the experience of the game, and the beauty of teamwork. Feel the rough roundness of the ball. Celebrate the soaring freedom of the dunk. Savor the moment when all eyes focus on the long three-pointer. Author Robert Burleigh and illustrator Stephen T. Johnson beautifully bring the rhythm of the basketball court to the pages of this book.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Making Connections:

After you read Hoops ask your reader questions about their own experiences with basketball. Have they ever played the sport, do they play on a team, do they know the rules? You can also make connections about spectating: have they ever watched a basketball game, do they have a favorite team, etc.? Do they know or play any other sports? Use this book as a jumping point to learn about more sports that they might want to know more about.

Do this with your child:

After you read Hoops try out the sport together! You can try making baskets, passing, and dribbling the ball. Head to a local outdoor court or park, play on a mini hoop of your own, and have fun!

If you’re interested in sharing Hoops with your child you can find it from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt here.

Click here to learn more about Raising a Reader and the work we do to promote early literacy and family engagement. 

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Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun is appropriate for children of all ages.

Summary:

Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun is a wonderfully accurate description of our solar system set to the tune of ‘Over in the Meadow.’ Explore the planets as they orbit mother Sun, tilting, rolling and sparkling in space. Author Marianne Berkes provides the perfect introduction to our planetary neighbors and illustrator Janeen Mason‘s work will captivate audiences of all ages.

Practice this Comprehension Strategy-Retelling:

After you read Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun ask your reader to flip through and take a turn telling the story to you. Can they remember which planet sparkled or which tilted? By taking a more interactive role in the story telling process your reader will have a deeper connection to the entire experience.

Do this with your child:

After you read Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun talk with your child about the upcoming total solar eclipse, when the moon will completely block out the sun on Monday 8/21/2017. Check out Space Racers kid friendly website for resources, information, and activities and get ready for the exciting event!

If you’re interested in sharing Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun with your child you can find it from Dawn Publications here.

Click here to learn more about Raising a Reader and the work we do to promote early literacy and family engagement. 

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