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Raising a Reader CLICK HERE FOR IMPLEMENTER RESOURCES 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 1,800 children enrolled in 64 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 Are you interested in offering Raising a Reader to the children and families in your center? Contact Megan! megan@readingreadypittsburgh.org | (412) 352-7488

Volunteer Resources Clearances You must obtain your clearances before reading in a classroom. Reference this document to determine which clearances you need. Need help? Questions about obtaining your clearances? Contact mark@readingreadypittsburgh.org Volunteers and staff gather for a group photo at Mon View Painting Day 2023 Book Lists Click on the lists below to find engaging read aloud books. Great Read Alouds for Babies and Toddlers - Reading Rockets Best Books for Babies 2024 - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Books for Toddlers - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Books for Preschoolers - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Rhyming Read Aloud Books Black Girl Magic: 33 Picture Books Featuring Black Female Protagonists Black Boy Joy: 30 Picture Books Featuring Black Male Protagonists Volunteer Favorites Additional Resources Looking for ways to engage the children you're reading with? Check out these ideas! Do you read to groups of babies? Check out this list for best practices when reading with babies.

If you do not live within the 20 additional zip codes we offer or the official city limits of Pittsburgh as indicated by the zip code list below, you are not eligible for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at this time.

Get free children's books sent to your home every month through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and Reading Ready Pittsburgh! Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (Haga clic aquí para español) Imagine free books for all children Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is available in the Pittsburgh region. Through this program, each child in your home under the age of five can receive one free, high-quality, age-appropriate book each month from birth to their fifth birthday. The program is available to all City of Pittsburgh residents, as well as those living in 20 additional zip codes outside the city, with more communities being added over time. CITY OF PITTSBURGH REGISTER HERE NON-PITTSBURGH REGISTER HERE By enrolling in this program, you can: • Build your at-home library • Grow a love for reading • Inspire your child’s imagination • Can you even imagine anything better? What is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library? Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. By enrolling, a new, carefully selected book will be addressed to your child and mailed directly to your home each month. The first book is always the classic children’s tale, The Little Engine That Could. Who is eligible? Children under the age of five living within an eligible zip code. After determining your region, click the "register here" button above to find out if you're eligible! What are my responsibilities? Your role in all of this is super simple: Submit an official registration form, completely filled out by the authorized adult. Notify Reading Ready Pittsburgh any time your address changes. Read with your child and have fun! When can I expect to receive books? Eight to ten weeks after your registration form has been received, books will begin arriving at your home one a month. You will continue to receive one book per month until your child turns five or you move out of the covered area. WE'RE ON TRACK FOR OUR GOAL! We are on a mission to boost children enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Our goal is to sign up 9,100 eligible children within city of Pittsburgh limits, which represents 65% of total enrollment. We are getting closer! Help us reach our goal by telling everyone you know about this amazing program. CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN PGH CITY LIMITS 4,744 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD Need enrollment resources? Click the button below for flyers and sign up sheets! DPIL by the Numbers as of July 8, 2026 PITTSBURGH ENROLLMENT 4,744 OUTSIDE PGH ENROLLMENT 4,304 TOTAL BOOKS MAILED 452,668

Education Opportunities Reading Ready Pittsburgh promotes extracurricular learning opportunities for families and Early Childhood professionals. These programs provide literacy strategies that can be used in both the home and classroom. Check out the sections below for more information and topics. For Professionals Reading Ready Pittsburgh offers professional development opportunities for educators. Our experienced staff can lead workshops several times a year at B is for Books, local childcares, or social support agencies. Educators can take advantage of PQAS and Act 48 credits through these workshops. Below is a list of what we currently offer. Reading Ready Pittsburgh currently can offer these professional workshops: Emergent Reading: An Overview of Core Literacy Skills for Early Learners Nursery Rhymes: Using Mother Goose in Early Childhood Classrooms Raising a Reader Implementer Workshops Using Books to Support Social Emotional Learning Family Engagement: Promoting Shared Reading Brain Architecture and Early Childhood Educators Planning Engaging Storytimes Interested in a topic not listed here? Let us know! We can tailor our trainings and maybe even work to make a new one! For Families Reading Ready Pittsburgh also offers family workshops to encourage engagement around literacy for young children. Throughout the year family workshops are offered at our free bookstore for children, B is for Books. At this time, we can offer the workshops listed below. Are you a teacher or professional looking for literacy workshops for your families? Sites can schedule Reading Ready Pittsburgh staff to lead a parent workshop on site. Reading Ready Pittsburgh currently can offer these family workshops: Importance of Reading to Young Children Promoting Shared Reading by Asking Good Questions Making Literacy Connections Using Books to Support Social Emotional Learning at Home Brain Architectur e Balancing Screens for Young Children Contact Megan at megan@readingreadypittsburgh.org to learn more or schedule a professional development session or parent workshop.

ParentPowered (Haga clic aquí para español) Over 900 parents enrolled! REGISTER HERE Or text RRP to 70138 to enroll FACT: Balance and coordination help toddlers navigate the world. They're important for physical tasks like climbing stairs and playing on a jungle gym. 1 year-old sample message TIP: As you lie in bed, play an emotion game. Whisper a feeling like happy or sad. Then show each other the face you make when you are feeling that way. 3 year-old sample message GROWTH: Keep comparing groups of objects. You're getting ready 4K. Now challenge your child to identify which hand is holding fewer pennies. Try one more time! 4 year-old sample message Promotional Flyers Want to promote ParentPowered in your community? Click the pictures below to download them and then share away!

Donate Explore this page to find out how to support Reading Ready Pittsburgh $40 supports one child for one year of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) $125 enables us to purchase a new initial Raising a Reader bookbag for one child and family $300 covers brand new book giveaways and other resources for our free events at B is for Books $3,000 buys new Raising a Reader materials for an entire preschool classroom—a gift that will serve them for years to come. Every contribution makes an enormous difference to us. Thanks to donors like you, Reading Ready Pittsburgh can help hundreds of families develop, practice, and sustain home literacy habits to ensure all children thrive. Click here to to Reading Ready Pittsburgh's operational funds Click here to donate to the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Campaign Donations made by check should be payable to Reading Ready Pittsburgh and mailed to: Reading Ready Pittsburgh PO Box 81111 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Support Reading Ready Pittsburgh through your workplace giving program. Our United Way Contributor Choice Program code is 19907484. Click Here to Donate Books Reading Ready Pittsburgh will gladly take your new and gently loved children's books to give away in our bookstore! It doesn't matter if it's one book or one thousand books, we will take them as long as they are in good conditio n; not offensive in their language or depictions of people and cultures; and geared towards kids birth to 18. Questions about donating? Click here to email Kathy! You can also shop from our wish lists! Baby Preschool Start a Book Drive We go through a lot of books here at Reading Ready Pittsburgh, so if you'd like to organize a book drive for us please email our librarian, Kathy, at the email address below. kathy@readingreadypittsburgh.org Thank you for supporting Pittsburgh's youngest readers!

Summer Reading Programs Read with Me! Families enjoy an 7 week book giveaway program to share the love of reading with their child! Every book given is brand new. Reading Ready Pittsburgh coordinates with childcare centers, home visitors, and home daycares to provide age appropriate books. With each book, a customized parent tip sheet is provided to aid family engagement around reading. This program is exclusive only to Raising a Reader implementers at this time. Want to learn more about Raising a Reader? Click here. 1/3 Free School Age Book Fairs Reading Ready Pittsburgh brings a variety of new picture, beginner readers, and chapter books to summer camp programs in the Mon Valley. Interested in a Reading Ready Pittsburgh book fair? Send her an email at hannahz@readingreadypittsburgh.org . 1/5

Get free children's books sent to your home every month through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and Reading Ready Pittsburgh! Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free high-quality books to children birth through age 5, no matter their family’s income. Eligible Zip Codes outside of City of Pittsburgh limits: 15025 - 15034 - 15035 - 15045 - 15104 - 15110 - 15112 - 15120 - 15122 - 15130 - 15131 - 15132 - 15133 - 15134 - 15135 - 15136 - 15137 - 15140 - 15145 - 15148 - 15204 - 15218 - 15221 - 15227 - 15235 Eligible Zip Codes for the City of Pittsburgh: All zip codes within city limits. Click HERE if you aren't sure. NON-PITTSBURGH REGISTER HERE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REGISTER HERE What Is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library? Each month a new, carefully selected book will be mailed in your child’s name directly to your home. The first book is always the children’s classic The Little Engine That Could . Best of all it is a FREE GIFT to your child through our partnership with local organizations! There is no cost or obligation to your family. Who Is Eligible? Children under the age of five living within an eligible zip code. What Are My Responsibilities? Submit an official registration form, completely filled out by the authorized adult. Notify Reading Ready Pittsburgh any time your address changes. Read with your child and have fun! When Will I Receive Books? Eight to ten weeks after your registration form has been received, books will begin arriving at your home an d will continue until your child turns five or you move out of th e covered area. 8,500+ children enrolled! 209,000+ books gifted to date Other free resources for caregivers Promotional Flyers and Resources Want to promote Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in your community? Click the pictures below to download them and then share away!

Birthday Book Gifting Our Birthday Book Gifting program allows participating sites to gift each child in their childcare program an age appropriate, high quality book on their birthday. Birthday Book Gifting brings joy to children on their birthday and provides families quality books for their home library. How you can help: Purchase your favorite book(s) and send them to Reading Ready Pittsburgh. We'll wrap and deliver them fo r you! Questions? Email Ka thy Buy Local from these Pittsburgh Book Sellers: Send to: Reading Ready Pittsburgh Birthday Book Gifting Program 222 East 8th Avenue Homestead, PA 15120 Baby Preschool You can also shop from our wish lists!

Contact Us Have a question? Please reach out to us! We would be happy to hear from you. Email us directly or fill out the form below. Mary Denison, Executive Director Megan Chips, Program Director Kathy Koltas, Librarian Mark Sepe, Outreach Coordinator Stefanie Wielkopolan, Program Coordinator Hannah Zibert, Program Coordinator Pam Calfo, DPIL Coordinator How can we help? Submit Thanks for reaching out!

B is for Books is Reading Ready Pittsburgh free bookstore for children. B is for Books A Free Bookstore for Children Reading Ready Pittsburgh operates an absolutely, 100% free bookstore for children and their families. The idea is simple: we believe that every child and their family should have easy access to high quality reading material with as few barriers as possible. This bookstore also doubles as a resource for early childhood educators. If you are an educator in need of a fresh set of books for your classroom and are able to pick them up from our bookstore location, you may request them below. 1/9 What Happens Here? Some things to do around the store if you are... An educator Meet with our librarian to choose the right books for your classroom Learn about our circle and story time events Ask us about professional development opportunities A caregiver Take home three free books to add to your family library Read a book in our nook with your little one Ask the staff about our early literacy programs A kid Take a look around the store, the games, and the nook Grab three books to take home and keep Read in the nook or play with the games Some other things we're doing around the store that you should know about: Literacy events at least once a month, a storytime every Saturday at 11:30 am, parent workshops, and even school field trips! B is for Books can now be reserved as a party space as well! Call 412-444-2994 or complete the inquiry form here for more information. Keep up to date on our social media to stay in the know! Donation Policy Reading Ready Pittsburgh will gladly take your new and gently used children's books to give away in our bookstore! It doesn't matter if it 's one book or one thousand books, we wi ll take them as long as they are in acceptable condition; not offensive in their language o r depictions of people or cultures; and geared towards kids birth to 18. Please click here to start the donation process. Questio ns about donating? Click here to email Kathy! Request Books If you are an educator or organization that works with children (e.g. social worker, doctor, community center), you may request a variety of gently loved books spanning all ages and genres from the store. You must make arrangements to pick them up from our storefront at 222 East 8th Avenue, Homestead, PA 15120. Click here to fill out the form , and our librarian will be in contact with you shortly. Please note that these books are from the store itself and may vary depending on what we currently have in stock. Location and Hours 222 East 8th Avenue Homestead, PA 15120 Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Saturday: 9 am - 3 pm 12 pm - 3 pm 9 am - 6 pm 9 am - 3 pm 10 am - 2 pm