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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

Learn about Reading Ready Pittsburgh and their mission. Mission and History MISSION Reading Ready Pittsburgh is a non-profit organization supporting the healthy development of young children by increasing access to books and by encouraging significant family engagement through reading. Reading Ready Pittsburgh offers a variety of literacy programs to the Pittsburgh area's young readers. Reading Ready Pittsburgh partners with local childcare centers, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, and other community organizations to meet families where they are and remove barriers families may face in having high-quality, age-appropriate books to share in the home. We're making a difference in the Mon Valley and beyond. See what Reading Ready Pittsburgh has been up to. Logic Model Click image to enlarge Impact Reports 2021 Year In Review 2022 Impact Report 2023 Year In Review 2024 Impact Report Click here to view Reading Ready Pittsburgh's IRS Form 990 HISTORY 2017 Raising A Reader is brought to MUSA's Little Lambs Preschool program 2018 Reading Ready Pittsburgh becomes an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Reading Ready Pittsburgh creates a partnership with the Head Start program at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit Six new Raising A Reader Programs are opened 2019 Four Little Give-Away Libraries are built and placed in Homestead and Swissvale Reading Ready Pittsburgh opens three additional Raising A Reader programs Reading Ready Pittsburgh hires their first full time employee 2020 Raising A Reader is offered through Home Based Childcare providers First Early Head Start Home Visiting program begins Ready4K is offered to Raising A Reader families Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is launched for families with a 15120, 15104, 15145, or 15112 zip code An Eagle Scout Volunteer builds and erects 3 new little libraries in the Mon Valley 2021 Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is launched for families with a 1511o zip code in partnerships with The First Presbyterian Church of Duquesne Reading Ready Pittsburgh partners with Heritage Community Initiatives in Braddock to offer the Raising A Reader Program Raising A Reader is expanded to kindergarten and first grade classrooms at Propel Homestead Raising A Reader is expanded to two Head Start classrooms in Braddock Reading Ready Pittsburgh adds West Mifflin, Wilkinsburg, and Swissvale to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library 2022 Reading Ready Pittsburgh adds Ready 4K parent texting program First Braddock Literacy Day Dolly Parton Imagination Library reaches over 1000 children in Mon Valley Librarian added to staff Outreach Coordinator added to staff 2023 Second annual Braddock Literacy Day Expanded programming to Home Visitors throughout Mon Valley and surrounding communities Reading Ready Pittsburgh serves City of Pittsburgh by serving as interim Dolly Parton Imagination Library coordinator RRP hires its fourth staff member to serve as a Program Coordinator 2024 Reading Ready Pittsburgh opens B is for Books , a free bookstore for children, at 222 East 8th Avenue in Homestead, PA RRP becomes permanent host of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for the City of Pittsburgh Third annual Braddock Literacy Day Expand programming to Latino Community Center Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is offered to Sto-Rox (15136) Expand Raising a Reader to elementary schools 2025 Total books distributed surpasses 100,000 Further expand Raising a Reader programming into more elementary schools Raising a Reader surpasses 40 sites B is for Books' first birthday party RRP hires its fifth staff member to serve as a Program Coordinator

Parents Is your family new to Raising A Reader? Check out the video below to learn all about the Raising A Reader program to start receiving books from your childcare program . 1. Check to see if your childcare program is a Raising A Reader Partner 2. If your childcare program is a Raising A Reader partner, complete the google form . We want to hear from you! What dreams and aspirations do you have for your child's literacy development? What role can Reading Ready Pittsburgh play in making your dreams and aspirations a reality? Let us know! Contact Us Parent Resources Celebrity Storytime Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Read Aloud Free eBooks eLibrary eLibrary eLibrary Digital Library Sign up for our monthly newsletter! Each month we share tips, early literacy information, and upcoming events in the area. Submit Thanks for signing up to read our news! Click here for Newsletter Archives TIPS FOR READING WITH YOUR LITTLE ONES Let your child hold the book and turn the pages. Reading before bedtime helps your child relax! When the story has a sound effect, make the most of it! A loud “boom” and an animal sound “oink” will help keep children engaged. Let your child choose the book. CLP Best Books for Babies 2023 CLP Best Books for Babi es 2022 CLP Best Books for Babies 2021 Scholastic 100 BEST Read Aloud Books Black Girl Magic: 33 Picture Books Featuring Black Female Protagonists Black Boy Joy: 30 Picture Books Featuring Black Male Protagonists Great Read Alouds for Babies and Toddlers - Reading Rockets The Pittsburgh Study Book List - Racially Affirming Books for Black Children Book Lists Raising A Reader launch at Whitaker United Methodist Head Start. Amity Community Garden 7th and Amity Street Homestead, PA 15210 Laundromat 212 East 8th Avenue Homestead, PA 15120 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 5th Ave Rankin, PA 15104 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 beSocial - 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

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: 15025 - 15034 - 15045 - 15104 - 15110 - 15112 - 15120 - 15122 15131 - 15132 - 15140 - 15145 - 15148 - 15221 - 15218 REGISTER What Is It? 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 in the following zip codes: 15025 - 15034 - 15045 - 15104 - 15110 - 15112 - 15120 - 15122 15131 - 15132 - 15140 - 15145 - 15148 - 15221 - 15218 What Are My Responsibilities? 1. Be a resident of 15025 - 15034 - 15045 - 15104 - 15110 - 15112 - 15120 - 15122 15131 - 15132 - 15140 - 15145 - 15148 - 15221 or 15218 zip codes. 2. Submit an official registration form, completely filled out by the authorized adult. 3. Notify Reading Ready Pittsburgh any time your address changes. Books are mailed to the address listed on the account. Note: If the child’s address changes, you must contact Reading Ready Pittsburgh in order to continue receiving books. 4. 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 and will continue until your child turns five or you move out of the covered area. 1,470 children enrolled! 431 graduates Like free books? Click here to receive more free resources for caregivers REGISTER

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

Family Newsletter Archive 2022 Newsletters January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 2021 Newsletters January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 2020 Newsletters November 2020 December 2020

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: Community 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. At this moment 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

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.