Have you ever felt a little lost when it comes to inspiring a love of reading in your child? Well, there are lots of nonprofits out there that focus on just that! From Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Reading is Fundamental, I’ve compiled a list of literacy nonprofits right here that every mom should know about to instill a love of reading in the next generation.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
I’m sure many have already heard of this nonprofit, but it’s worth mentioning just in case someone hasn’t heard of it. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails free children’s books to kids in several different countries, including the U.S. Dolly Parton’s vision in starting this nonprofit “was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families.” Today, the Imagination Library “sends more than one million books per month to children around the world.” If you’re interested to learn more about the nonprofit or how to receive free books for your child, check out their website! I signed up soon after my son was born, and he’s already received quite a few books, which is why I’ve added it to my list of great literacy nonprofits.
Reading is Fundamental
Started in 1966, Reading is Fundamental (RIF) is “committed to a literate America by inspiring a passion for reading among all children, providing quality content to make an impact and engaging communities in the solution to give every child the fundamentals for success.” To increase the literacy rate, RIF provides communities with various programs, such as Read for Success, Skybrary, and even an app called the Literacy Central App. If you’re interested in learning more about their programs and how they might be able to help you and your young reader, be sure to check out their website!
National Center for Families Learning
National Center for Families Learning (or NCFL for short), “works to eradicate poverty through education solutions for families.” Not only do they focus on literacy, but they work to provide families with educational opportunities to break the cycle of poverty. NCFL “partners with educators, literacy advocates, and policymakers to develop and provide programming, professional development, and resources that empower and raise families to achieve their potential.” If you’re looking for a local literacy program, check out their website!
Little Free Library
You’ve probably seen what look like small houses with glass doors around neighborhoods. They’re called Little Free Libraries, and it’s actually a nonprofit! The philanthropy “inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world.” According to their website, millions of books are exchanged each year through more than 100,000 Libraries. And if you don’t have a Little Free Library in your neighborhood, you can always build one and make it a family project. According to the statistics I found on their website, “92% of people say their neighborhood feels like a friendlier place because of a Little Free Library.” If you’re interested to learn more about the program or how to build your own Little Free Library, be sure to check out their website!
Brightly
I only recently discovered this website. I’m determined to come back to it when I might struggle to get my son to read when he’s older. Brightly focuses on providing parents, educators, and caregivers with tips and advice, book recommendations, and Brightly Storytime “to keep kids connected to books through every age and stage of life.” The website is wonderfully designed so it’s easy to find recommendations for every age group.
It’s great because there are always the classics, such as The Phantom Tolbooth or Junie B. Jones, but there are always new releases that I don’t know about and if they’re any good. I want to make sure a book is going to be entertaining and appropriate for my son before I let him have it. And I think Brightly is a great place to start if you’re looking for books to give to your growing reader. If you’re interested, be sure to check out their website!
I hope this list of great literacy nonprofits helps you as a mom to find the next great resource for your little reader! It can be tough to get our kids on the right track to a bright future in reading, but it can be done! Are there any literacy programs that have helped you and your kids read more? If so, what have you found helpful? Are there any of the philanthropies above that you’ve decided to use? Let me know in a comment below!
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