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Partner Spotlight: Barefoot Books
Creating Access to high quality stories, and joy for all! At Raising a Reader, we believe every family deserves joyful, inclusive, and high-quality reading experiences at home. Our partners play a critical role in making that vision real, and Barefoot Books is a shining example. Known for elevating diverse voices and global stories, Barefoot Books creates beautifully designed children’s books that spark curiosity, ...
It’s Not Too Early to Think About Summer (Really)
If summer planning isn’t on your radar yet, you’re not behind—you’re right on time. The best summer learning programs don’t come together in June. They’re built early, when teams still have breathing room to align staffing, outreach, materials, and family engagement plans. That’s exactly why now is the best time to start. Visit the SSLA page for upcoming webinar info and ...
How Schools Pay for Raising a Reader: Federal & State Funding Options
One of the most common questions schools ask is, “How do we fund Raising a Reader?” The good news: many schools use existing federal, state, and local funds already designated for literacy and family engagement. Federal Funding Opportunities Title I, Part A (ESSA)Many schools use Title I funds to support family engagement, supplemental literacy materials, and evidence-based programs—all of which align with Raising a ...
Building Healthier Futures Through Reading: Valleywise Health and Raising a Reader
At Valleywise Health, caring for families means looking beyond clinical care to what truly supports lifelong health. As Arizona’s only public teaching health system—and the state’s largest safety-net provider—Valleywise Health serves communities where access, equity, and opportunity matter deeply. Through eight Family Resource Centers located within Federally Qualified Health Centers, Valleywise Health helps families reduce barriers and strengthen stability. These centers ...
Partners Spotlight Series
Partner Spotlight: Barefoot Books
Creating Access to high quality stories, and joy for all! At Raising a Reader, we believe every family deserves joyful, inclusive, and high-quality reading experiences at home. Our partners play a critical role in making that vision real, and Barefoot Books is a shining example. Known for elevating diverse voices and global stories, Barefoot Books creates beautifully designed children’s books that spark curiosity, ...
Building Healthier Futures Through Reading: Valleywise Health and Raising a Reader
At Valleywise Health, caring for families means looking beyond clinical care to what truly supports lifelong health. As Arizona’s only public teaching health system—and the state’s largest safety-net provider—Valleywise Health serves communities where access, equity, and opportunity matter deeply. Through eight Family Resource Centers located within Federally Qualified Health Centers, Valleywise Health helps families reduce barriers and strengthen stability. These centers ...
Webinars
Advancing Early STEM Learning with Diverse Books: Practical Tips and Resources
At Raising a Reader, promoting early literacy and STEM education through diverse and inclusive literature is a critical part of our work. Our recent webinar, “Advancing Early STEM Learning with Diverse Books,” and in partnership with the Diverse Books for All Coalition, offered valuable insights and practical strategies for integrating diverse books into early STEM learning. Here, we share ...
Can we talk about Bruno?
By Michelle Torgerson, President and CEO, Raising a Reader Can we talk about Bruno?! Is Encanto’s soundtrack playing on loop at your house? It is at mine, and we almost have all the songs memorized! The movie tells the story of the Madrigal family as they navigate their special powers within their community. So many people—young and old—are feeling seen ...
Press Releases
The Science of Early Learning: Unlocking the Potential of Babies, Toddlers, and Pre-K Children
As we continue to celebrate Raising a Reader’s 25th anniversary, we find ourselves more committed than ever to understanding the incredible potential of early childhood. Advancements in brain science have shed light on the remarkable growth and development that occur in the first few years of life, underscoring the importance of our mission to support early literacy and family engagement. ...
Bridging the Summer Gap: Why Continued Learning is Crucial
Raising a Reader, a national leader in early literacy and family engagement, emphasizes the critical importance of continuous learning over the summer months. “The summer months offer an opportunity to reinforce and build upon the learning that occurs during the school year,” said Michelle Sioson Hyman, Senior Vice President, Program and Partnerships at Raising a Reader. “However, without resources and learning ...