Reading Ready Pittsburgh partners with childcare programs and community organizations to offer literacy programs to foster a love of reading with Pittsburgh's youngest readers. Reading Ready Pittsburgh supporting families to foster a love of reading To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. 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 326,000 books given away to date! What We Do B is f or Books Free C hildren's B o okst o re Raising a Reader Dolly Parton's Imagination Library ParentPowered Community Outreach Little Giveaway Libraries 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 2026 Breastfeeding Friendly Place Award! Reading Ready Pittsburgh was recognized for demonstrating how small organizations can make a meaningful difference for breastfeeding families. By providing a clean, welcoming lactation space and creating an environment where nursing parents feel comfortable, Reading Ready Pittsburgh shows that breastfeeding-friendly practices are within reach for organizations of all sizes. "At Reading Ready Pittsburgh, we believe that creating a welcoming environment means making room for the whole family," said Mary Denison, PhD, Executive Director of Reading Ready Pittsburgh. "Supporting breastfeeding parents is one practical way we can show families that they belong here. You do not need to be a large organization to make a difference. Sometimes it is simply about listening, being thoughtful and making sure people have what they need." 1/3 Dells Ice Cream Storytime A HUMONGOUS thank you to Dell's Sundae Grill for hosting Reading Ready Pittsburgh's ice cream story time and free book fair event this past Saturday. Tons of families came through, and, of course, lots ice cream was enjoyed thanks to their very generous donation. Be sure to give them tons of support before the end of the season! 1/3 Bilingual Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Books Get this! DPIL launched their bilingual English/Spanish option in California in June 2023 and now are now expanding into all remaining states in the USA! If you are currently enrolled in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, you can switch to the fully bilingual English-Spanish program. Click here to find out how! 1/1 Mary's Essay in Kidsburgh Our inspired and inspiring Executive Director, Mary Denison, recently wrote a wonderful op-ed about the importance of early literacy and barrier-free access to books, and it was just published on Kidsburgh. You can read it right here! 1/1 Little Library Painting We recently had 4 teens and 3 counselors from 6th Presbyterian Church in East Liberty come down to Homestead to help refresh a couple little free libraries and wrap some birthday books. Thank you all so much for your time and effort! We hope to have you back soon for a couple more service projects. 1/4 Penguin Day at the Bookstore Tons of fun this last Saturday for our penguin day! Lottie the penguin was just as curious and excited as all the children present who got to learn all about how rangers use their expertise to protect penguins. Thanks for coming out, friends. 1/8 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. 1/9 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. 1/6

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 (Página web en 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 Not sure if you live within city limits? Check here! NON-PITTSBURGH REGISTER HERE To see if you qualify outside of city limits, click 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 5,178 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD Need enrollment resources? Click the button below for flyers and sign up sheets! DPIL by the Numbers as of August 4, 2026 PITTSBURGH ENROLLMENT 5,178 OUTSIDE PGH ENROLLMENT 4,623 TOTAL BOOKS MAILED 462,000+

Upcoming Events with Reading Ready Pittsburgh Upcoming Events For questions about events, email mark@readingreadypittsburgh.org 1/6

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!

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!

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 750 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!

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

The following zip codes outside the city of Pittsburgh are currently eligible to receive Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: 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

Privacy Policy Reading Ready Pittsburgh Privacy Policy READING READY PITTSBURGH PRIVACY POLICY: We are committed to protecting your privacy. Your personal information, including mobile data, will never be shared with third parties for marketing purposes under any circumstances. Your data will not be transferred to external organizations. We have implemented strict safeguards to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or sharing of your information. These measures include secure data storage, restricted access controls, and regular security reviews. If you wish to opt out of future communications, please follow these instructions: Reply to any message with the word "STOP" to unsubscribe from further communications. Contact our support team at the provided contact information and request removal from our communication list. For any questions regarding your privacy or our data practices, please contact us using the information provided on this website. Your privacy is important to us at Reading Ready Pittsburgh. When you access or use our website, we do not automatically collect Personal Data about you. Reading Ready Pittsburgh does not share or sell data. Reading Ready Pittsburgh only collects and uses the following data: (a) General . We collect Personal Data you voluntarily provide us. You may give us your Personal Data by acting in the following ways: (i) sign up for our newsletters, (ii) send us an e-mail. (iii) text with our staff. (b) Personal Data . “Personal Data” means data that allows someone to identify or contact you, including, for example, your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, as well as any other non-public information about you that is associated with or linked to any of the foregoing data. At times, individuals share Personal Data for the purpose of enrolling in our Newsletter. In addition you may share Personal Data to enroll in one of our two national programs: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and/or Parent Powered. Your data is used only for the purpose for which your request was submitted. We do not share your personal information with any other user for any purpose other than enrollment in these programs at your request. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to mark@readingreadypittsburgh. TERMS and CONDITIONS: SMS Disclosure: By providing your mobile number, you agree to receive customer care messages from Reading Ready Pittsburgh. Message frequency may vary. On average, you may receive 1-2 messages per month. To unsubscribe at any time, text STOP. For assistance, text HELP. Standard message and data rates may apply. For more information on how your data is handled, please review our privacy policy at https://www.readingreadypittsburgh.org/privacypolicy . Types of Messages You May Receive: When partnering with us, you may receive the following types of messages: • Customer care messages Opt out options: If you would like to no longer get text messages from Reading Ready Pittsburgh staff, please block us in your contacts. We send no automatic texts, so there is no direct way to opt out. Message and Data Rates: Message and data rates may apply. These charges are imposed by your mobile carrier and are your responsibility. Please consult your wireless carrier for details regarding your messaging or data plan.

Get free children's books sent to your home every month through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and Reading Ready Pittsburgh! مكتبة دولي بارتون الخيالية (موقع إلكتروني باللغة الإنجليزية) تخيل كتبا مجانية لجميع الاطفال تخيل كتبا مجانية لجميع الاطفال مكتبك دولي باترون الخيالية متوفرة في منطقة بيتسبرغ من خلال هذا البرنامج يمكن لكل طفل في بيتك اقل من سن الخامسة لن يتحصل على كتاب مجاني ذو جودة عالية و مناسب للعمر كل شهر من يوم ميلاده حتى الخامسة من العمر البرنامج متوفر لكل المقيمين في بيستبرغ و كذلك الساكنين في عشرين رمزا بريديا خارج المدينة، مع اضافة مجتمعات اخرا بمرور الوقتز سكان مدينة بيتسبرغ سجل هنا: حدد هنا لمعرفة ما إذا كنت تقيم داخل حدود المدينة خارج مدينة بيتسبرغ سجل هنا انقر هنا لمعرفة ما إذا كنت مؤهلاً خارج حدود المدينة 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 4,900 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD Need enrollment resources? Click the button below for flyers and sign up sheets! DPIL by the Numbers as of August 4, 2026 PITTSBURGH ENROLLMENT 4,900 OUTSIDE PGH ENROLLMENT 4,308 TOTAL BOOKS MAILED 924,270

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!