United Way of Central Eastern California’s Raising A Reader program serves more than 200 children at preschools in Bakersfield, Arvin, Shafter and Delano. Raising A Reader’s mission is to engage parents in a routine of daily “book cuddling” with their children from birth to age five to foster early brain development, parent-child bonding, and early literacy skills critical for school success. Raising A Reader rotates bright red bags filled with award-winning books into children’s homes on a weekly basis. United Way of Central Eastern California’s Raising a Reader program focuses on 3- and 4-year-olds in order to prepare them to start kindergarten.
Raising A Reader offers award-winning books that are appropriate for children ages 3-5. Books are chosen for high quality writing, beautiful illustrations, and accurate portrayals of diverse cultures and ethnicities. Because 90% of families in the program reported Spanish as their primary language spoken in the home, our book selections include Spanish and bi-lingual books.
Raising A Reader also connects families to their local public library.
At the culmination of the program, each child receives a blue library bag to keep and continue the practice of borrowing books and “book cuddling.” After benefitting from the Raising A Reader program, children will enter kindergarten with a love of books and ready to learn to read.
Our goal is to Raise More Readers. We can with your help.
For more information please contact our Education Manager, Esther Peinado at our
main line (661) 834-1920.
Engaging parents in daily reading with their children from birth to five years, fosters healthy brain development, parent-child bonding, and early literacy skills critical for school success.
Children and families fall in love with reading from the very beginning.
Children who participate in the Raising a Reader program build kindergarten readiness skills.
