Sharing Stories with my Mom

05.12.2018 Featured
Jenna and her mom, Jaye Graber, circa 1981.

Do you remember the first book your mom shared with you? I have vivid memories of my mom sharing my favorite book about a beagle puppy named Bruno. While to many, the story was simply a day in the life of a typical dog. To me, it was a story about learning new things for the first time, meeting new friends, and going on adventures, if only as far as the backyard. What made this story so special to me was not the dog, but the snuggle time I had with my mom. She made each page come to life and I never felt so safe and full of wonder. It’s amazing what mom and a good book can do.

At Raising a Reader, we work tirelessly to empower moms, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles and other important adults in a child’s life to bring stories to life through shared reading. Many families we serve lack the resources and/or time to visit their local library on a regular basis, especially if they are in a single parent home, teen mom, or working full-time jobs. It is through support from donors like you that we can cycle 100 books into a home, provide families with book sharing tips, and help them develop new reading habits for years to come.

This Mother’s Day, we are asking you to remember your mom and other influential women in your life who shared a story with you. Consider honoring her with a tribute donation. Your gift will not only provide books, but will give another child a special moment with their mom that will live with them forever.

Related Posts

11.19.2025 Events

Celebrating Family Engagement Month: Small Reading Moments, Big Impact

November is Family Engagement Month, a perfect reminder that the most powerful learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms—it happens at home, in small, joyful moments families create together. At Raising a Reader, we’ve spent 25+ years helping families build reading routines that spark curiosity, strengthen relationships, and set children on a lifelong path to learning and academic success. When families read ...

Read More
11.06.2025 News

When We Work Together, Children Thrive 

Last month, I had the joy of standing on the Central Elementary School campus in San Diego—the very place where Raising a Reader first launched our partnership with the Masons of California 15 years ago—and celebrating something remarkable: together, we’ve reached more than 1,000 classrooms across California through this partnership.  From the start, the Masons of California have believed in ...

Read More