Testimonials
Testimonials
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
.png)
Reading Ready Pittsburgh
supporting families to foster a love of reading
Reading Ready Pittsburgh believes in the power of family book sharing to ensure all children are ready to thrive in school.
By increasing access to books and encouraging significant family engagement, we work to guarantee that all families have the tools and resources they need to support their children.
All children deserve full book shelves.
More than 312,000 books given away to date!
Deon's Story
Deon, a former professional football player turned early literacy advocate, shares his story about learning how to read as an adult so he could be a part of his daughter's own journey of reading.
Our Recent News
DPIL Campaign Kickoff
We had a special kickoff for the “Imagine Free Books for All Children” project, a campaign for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library expansion in the City of Pittsburgh today at Phillips Rec Center in Carrick. Our Executive Director, Mary Denison, spoke as well as Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor; First Lady Katie O'Connor; councilman Bobby Wilson; Kathy Buechel, Executive Director of The Benter Foundation; Lauren Wirt, regional director of the Dollywood Foundation; and Keya Lowry, one of Reading Ready Pittsburgh’s board members and the mother of a former Imagination Library enrollee. Together we can ensure that EVERY Pittsburgh child has the opportunity to grow up surrounded by books. If you have children under the age of 5, make sure they’re enrolled in DPIL. If you don’t have children yourself, talk about the program with your family, with your friends, with your coworkers, with your neighbors, and even with the person behind you in line at the grocery store.
Blue Bag Events 2026
BLUE. BAG. CELEBRATIONS. We've had so many this year! If you are unfamiliar, our blue bag events are for when our kids graduate out of the Raising a Reader program in their pre-K. They get signed up for a library card, have a little party, and receive a blue bag for all their future library trips and checked out books.
B is for Bikes Day
B is for Bikes was a tremendous success! Thank you big time to the 70 plus folks who came out through the day! Lots of smiles and free books and free BikePGH giveaways. Hoping to this event again next year but even bigger!
Fairytale Storytime
Once upon a time... that is, this past Saturday, April 11, we had our fairytale storytime and just look at these super cute photos! Many thanks to all the families who came through to hear some stories, explore our space, and participate in our planned activities. We hope you had a blast, and -- if these pictures are any indication -- it looks like y'all did. Hope to see everyone again real soon!
Music Storytime
with You Be You Music
We had nearly 40 kids come by on the 21st to see Georgia English of You Be You Music do her musical storytime. Many songs were sung, snacks were eaten, and crafts were ... crafted! Thank you all for coming out to support both her and us!
Kelly Starling Lyons Visit
Award winner children's author Kelly Starling Lyons came to B is for Books and hosted two storytimes on February 28. It was awesome! We get phenomenal authors in here a lot, but we've never had someone so famous before. Plenty of families came by to hear her read and get their free, new books autographed by her. Afterward, the kids got to participate in a bread kneading activity to connect with Lyons' book My Hands Tell a Story.
Educator Night
Over 25 educators came to B is for Books on February 18 for educator night. The evening featured PQAS credit and lots of free books given away. Rebecca Chrystal of Raising a Reader (our rotating bookbag program) was the guest speaker and lectured on how to engage families through diverse books. Can't wait to do it again sometime!
Where Has the Time Gone?
A lot has happened since our last update here, so let's fill you in!
​
We had our Celebration of Families in November, and plenty of folks came and had their portraits taken -- some for the very first time.
​
Local author Michael Roth came by and did a storytime and brought his therapy dog with him.
​
For the winter solstice our very own Kathy and Sophia created all the puppets to perform a Three Billy Goats Gruff shadow puppet show. Kids got to make their own puppets afterward.
​
​And, finally, just last week we launched our Baby Book Club at the bookstore! It happens the first and third Thursday every month. Come check it out!
