Testimonials
Testimonials
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Raising a Reader is a national organization with a mission to engage caregivers in a routine of book-sharing with very young children starting at birth. Book-sharing fosters brain development, relationships, a love of reading, and literacy skills that are critical for school success.
Over 1,600 children enrolled in 61 sites around the Mon Valley and city!
How Raising a Reader Works
Reading Ready Pittsburgh connects with interested local childcare programs.
Red book bags are rotated weekly into children’s homes exposing children to over 100 award-winning books per rotation cycle.
Book bag rotation is paired with parent training and information on how to effectively share books to promote children’s early literacy skills and love of learning.
Through the Raising a Reader program, families of Pre-K, Kindergarten, or 1st grade students are connected with their local public library. Their reading progress from the weekly book rotations is celebrated at a Blue Bag Event. At the event, students receive a Blue Library Bag, meet a librarian, and are encouraged to register for library cards to continue the practice of borrowing books and develop lifelong reading habits.
"I think the Raising a Reader program makes book access easier and helps with my child's development and reading skills."
Parent of 1 year old
"I love this program! It showed me so many great books for my kids. It allows us to show new stories each week without the pressure of buying and is so easy by having them provided by the school. It is a great program."
Parent of 3 year old
"I really enjoyed receiving the red bags ... there was always a WOW factor on what books were inside. We took our family reading outside of the home .. we read during her sister's soccer practice, at the park. The red bags have impacted my family reading in a positive way."
Parent of 4 year old
What parents are saying about
Raising a Reader
Our Raising a Reader Sites
Learning and Educational Daycare
Early Headstart
The Day School
Are you interested in offering Raising a Reader to the children and families in your center? Contact Megan!
megan@readingreadypittsburgh.org | (412) 352-7488
