Reading to even the youngest child will:

• Introduce sounds, words and language
• Provide a chance for closeness and cuddling
• Instill a love of books and language
• Stimulate her imagination
• Bridge the gap between adults and children
• Open up new worlds
• Make him want to learn to read because it helps him love books

We offer programs, booklists, free activities and other resources for parents, caregivers, teachers and librarians.

The National Commission on Reading wrote in 1984 that, "The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children."

Research also tells us that all good young readers share the following characteristics:

• They have had a lot of experience with print
• They have heard complex uses of language, both in print and orally
• They have learned that there is a general relationship between printed words and spoken sounds
• They have had many, many books read to them