“The single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school.” –National Commission on Reading, 1985.
Over 100 brand new books are being shared with Angels’ Place children and families every week through a new book sharing program. Each child, from the infants to the Pre-K students, are to bring their red book bags home each Tuesday so they and their parents can have a fun book-cuddling experience each night! Every book bag contains four age appropriate, library quality children’s books.
This program is brought to Angels’ Place by Raising a Reader, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving kindergarten readiness for children by increasing the number of families that frequently and routinely share picture books with their infants and preschool children.
Angels’ Place was picked to be one of the pilot programs to implement Raising a Reader as a result of its excellent reputation of quality care for young children in the community. When the local Raising a Reader Coordinator, Mary Denison, PhD, toured Angels’ Place and met with Executive Director, Beth Banas, both Ms. Banas and Dr. Denison were highly enthusiastic about each other’s programs. Angels’ Place was a perfect t with sharing families, dedicated staff and a supportive administration to implement the Raising a Reader program.
Research indicates that a love of reading is linked to life success. Children who are talked to and read to by their families when they are young do better in school, read better, graduate at higher rates, and are more likely to be employed as adults. Angels’ Place is making that connection for all of its children with the addition of Raising a Reader. Special thanks to Mary Denison for bringing Raising A Reader to Angels’ Place along with becoming a weekly volunteer at our Swissvale center! We are grateful for your partnership.
Love Mary and Cary from Raising a Reader, they have a great program.