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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.

Upcoming Events with Reading Ready Pittsburgh Past Events Family Library Day September 16, 2023 12 - 2 pm Carnegie Library of Homestead, Homestead, PA Braddock Literacy Day May 20, 2023 1 pm - 3 pm Clara E. Davis Civic Plaza, Braddock Birthday Book Wrapping February 8, 2023 9:30 - 11:30 am Reading Ready Pittsburgh Office, Homestead Beverly's Babies - Duquesne January 17, 2023 11 am - 12:30 pm First Presbyterian Church - Duquesne Red Lantern Bike Giveaway December 4, 2022 12 - 2 pm Free Store, Braddock Volunteer Service Day October 12, 2022 1 - 4 pm Various Little Giveaway Library Locations Storytime at Amity Garden September 18, 2022 10 am - 12 pm Amity Community Garden, Homestead Mon View Paint Day June 3, 2023 10 am - 2 pm Mon View Heights Apartments, West Mifflin, PA Storytime at the Laundromat March 16, 2023 3:30 - 5:30 pm The Laundry House. 8th Avenue, Homestead Author Visit: Natasha Tarpley February 1, 2023 World Read Aloud Day N. Braddock Holiday Giveaway December 17, 2022 11 am - 1 pm Braddock's Battlefield History Center Homestead Holiday Parade December 3, 2022 12 pm Homestead Birthday Book Wrapping October 7, 2022 10 am - 12 pm Reading Ready Pittsburgh Office, Homestead Storytime at the Laundromat August 27, 2022 10 am - 12 pm The Laundry House, 8th Avenue, Homestead

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.

Little Giveaway Libraries Reading Ready Pittsburgh builds, fills, and maintains 14 little giveaway libraries in the Mon Valley. All families are invited to take books from the little giveaway libraries to add to their home collection and read with their children regularly . Children waiting to use a new little library Little Giveaway Library in the COG building in Homestead. Little Giveaway Library in the Amity Harvest Community Garden. Thank you! All the gently used books placed in our Little Giveaway Libraries are donated from many generous local families as well as elementary schools and partner organizations. Want to build a library? Email Mark at mark@readingreadypittsburgh.org to get the process started! Amity Community Garden 7th and Amity Street Homestead, PA 15210 Steel Valley COG Building 1705 Maple Street Homestead, PA 15120 Angel’s Place Woodstock and S Braddock Ave Swissvale, PA 15218 Carnegie Library of Homestead 510 E 10th Ave Munhall, PA 15120 Carl’s Red Door Store 337 5t h Ave Rankin, PA 15104 Clairton Family Center 734 Miller Ave Clairton, PA 15025 House of Soul Catering 203 Whitaker St Munhall, PA 15120 Free Store 15104 420 Braddock Ave Braddock, PA 15104 Munhall 3510 Main Street Munhall, PA 15120 Mon View Heights 1 Midway Drive West Mifflin, PA 15122 Salvation Army - Steel Valley Corps 104 E 9th Ave Homestead, PA 15120 Dragon's Den 1008 Amity Street Homestead, PA 15120 The Youth Department Children of Israel 329 9th St McKeesport, PA 15132 Millvue Acres 100 Marion Circle Clairton, PA 15025 Americorps volunteers freshen up a library Jim, a volunteer, helps install a library he built A brand new library waits to be opened by local children

Read about Reading Ready Pittsburgh in the news. Reading Ready Pittsburgh in the News Check out the links below to see some newsworthy items about our organization Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh brings community together for Children's Literacy Summit (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Books and beyond: Screen-free ways to build early literacy at home (Kidsburgh) Reading Ready Pittsburgh helps kids and parents develop a love of books (KDKA) 9 Unique Things to Do in Pittsburgh, PA: Add These To Your Steel City Itinerary (RentBlog.) Reading Ready Pittsburgh: this local nonprofit offers free books for kids, story times and more (Kidsburgh) Free Children’s Bookstore Opens in Pittsburgh (Publishers Weekly) Reading Ready Pittsburgh turns a new page with B is for Books (NEXTpittsburgh) What Makes Pittsburgh’s B is for Books Store Special? (Pittsburgh Magazine) Reading Ready Pittsburgh hosts open house at free children's bookstore, "B For Books" (KDKA) B is for Books: local bookstore offering free books to help increase literacy (WPXI-TV) Nonprofit Reading Ready Pittsburgh opens free bookstore for kids (90.5 WESA) B is for Books, a free children’s bookstore, aims to boost literacy and joy for young readers (PGH City Paper) Dolly Parton Imagination Library expands Western Pa. footprint (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Dolly Parton's Imagination Library returns to Pittsburgh (WTAE-TV) Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library sending free books to Pittsburgh kids (NEXTpittsburgh)

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 1,600 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

Implementer Resources For All Implementers Photo Release Form Information for Parents Book Bag Return Reminder Book Bag Rotation Log Volunteer Form For Sites Book Bag Rotation Logistics - Sites Rotation Recommendations - Site Kick Off Ideas - Sites Family Agreement Signature Page Family Book Bag Rotation Letter Make Literacy A Part Of Your Day Book and Book Bag Care Family Reading Bookmarks For Home Visitors Book Bag Rotation Logistics - Visitor Rotation Recommendations - Visitor Kick Off Ideas - Visitor Parent Send Home Reminder Classroom Bag Reminder (Poster) Raising a Reader Videos RAR Family Introduction Video Bag Inventory Check

Our Team 1/2 Mary Denison, PhD - Executive Director mary@readingreadypittsburgh.org Mary Denison is a retired school psychologist. She has worked in that capacity with school-age children with learning and developmental problems for over 30 years. Mary initially taught Special Education for children with learning and behavioral challenges. After graduating with her doctorate in School Psychology she worked at Shaler Area School District and at PACE School. In 1995 she began working at The Day School at The Children's Institute. Mary worked for 22 years developing an expertise in working with children with autism and genetic and neurological disorders. After retiring from The Day School, Mary founded Reading Ready Pittsburgh to help build a love of reading in families of small children throughout the Pittsburgh area. Mary has 3 children who are all grown. She is an avid reader and enjoys sharing her love of books with others. 1/2 Megan Chips - Program Director megan@readingreadypittsburgh.org Megan is excited to be a part of the Reading Ready Pittsburgh team as Program Director. After graduating from Duquesne University as a psychology major, Megan quickly realized working with young children was her true calling. She received her Master’s degree from Carlow University in Elementary Education and for over twelve years worked in various early childhood programs. Megan holds Pennsylvania teaching certificates in both early childhood and elementary education. Prior to joining the RRP team, Megan worked for AIU Head Start for seven years as a teacher, supervisor and administrator. Megan believes inspiring children with a desire for reading is key for them to succeed in early grades as it shapes and forms their attitudes through graduation and beyond. Kathy Koltas - Librarian/Project Manager 1/2 kathy@readingreadypittsburgh.org Kathy has been a Children’s Librarian in the Pittsburgh area for over 25 years. Her passion for bringing books to children, especially those who may not have them in their homes, began as a volunteer with the former Beginning with Books early literacy organization. Through her work there, she saw how children need access to books in order to grow and develop into readers, leading to greater success in school. She returned to school to get her master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh and has since worked in various public and school capacities while raising five children. Despite loving her work, Kathy had always wanted to get back to working with a nonprofit that focused on getting books into the hands of all children and served not only the children but the caregivers and teachers as well. She is committed to bringing high quality, inclusive literature into all homes so every child can experience the joy of reading she has always felt and to which she has devoted her life to sharing. 1/2 Mark Sepe - Outreach Coordinator mark@readingreadypittsburgh.org Mark is a certified K-12 Reading Specialist and 7-12 English teacher. Before joining Reading Ready Pittsburgh he worked at Montessori Elementary School and was the Literacy Coordinator + Reading Specialist at the Neighborhood Learning Alliance. Reading and literacy are two of his biggest passions, and he is excited to be part of an organization putting those same passions at the front and center of their mission. When he's not coordinating with local organizations and communities, you can find him putzing around his garden, fermenting some thing or another, or playing baseball. 1/2 Stefanie Wielkopolan - Program Coordinator stefanie@readingreadypittsburgh.org Stefanie is a local educator and writer who has had the privilege of working with students, ages 2-82, for over 15 years. She holds teaching certifications in secondary English and elementary Montessori education. She loves being surrounded by books and holds an M.F.A. in Poetry from Chatham University. Stefanie is grateful to be back in the non-profit sector, helping children gain access to books and is excited to work for Reading Ready Pittsburgh as a program coordinator. During her time off, you might find Stefanie hanging with family and friends, reading, taking a hike with her husband, or singing ridiculous songs to family pets. 1/2 Hannah Zibert - Program Coordinator hannahz@readingreadypittsburgh.org Hannah has enjoyed working with children in ages ranging from 3 months to 15 years in sports, special needs camps, high schools, daycares, and one-on-ones for the past 14 years. She studied English Literature at Allegheny College and then received her Master’s in the Arts of Teaching English 7 -12 at the University of Pittsburgh so that she could share her love of reading with everyone. She happily stumbled into Early Childhood Education and became a Lead Teacher for six years at The Children’s Center of Pittsburgh where she found her passion for educating the youngest of children and fostering the love of reading in young people. Hannah is so excited to continue her journey with Reading Ready Pittsburgh and support their mission as their Program Coordinator. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys reading, quilting, hiking with her big, fluffy dogs, and supporting her local rugby club. 1/2 Sophia Garbos - Bookstore Associate sophia@readingreadypittsburgh.org After having her daughter at the end of 2022, Sophia shifted out of the food service industry and into the non-profit sector, realizing the importance of early literacy to success in her own as well as her daughter’s life. She studied Anthropology at Antioch College, and earned a Master of Arts in Food Studies from Chatham University. As a relatively new mom herself, she loves working with infants and toddlers and helping caregivers to build confidence in their reading skills. When she’s not shelving books, she can be found reading Stephen King books, hiking with her daughter and dog, and cooking vegan food.