Reach Out and Read

06/03/2026

☀️ When the summer "I'm bored" starts kicking in, try reaching for a picture book. 📚

They can spark big conversations, lots of laughs, and plenty of imagination, no batteries or screens required.

What's your child's favorite picture book right now? Tell us below.

These 5 picture books have ideas — and perspective: Recommendations from columnist and teacher Caroline Luzzatto.

06/03/2026

Ever notice how kids don't just want to read a book, they want to talk about it, too? 📚

Research continues to show that children are more likely to enjoy reading when they can talk about books with friends, hear stories read aloud, or cuddle up with someone to talk about a favorite character from a book.

The next time your child wants to tell you all about a story they love, take a minute to listen. 💙

How do we solve the reading crisis? We explore how to build a nation of readers, bringing together research and best practice from the classroom and community approaches to reading engagement.

06/02/2026

Big feelings, meltdowns, and frustration aren't signs that a child is "bad" — they could be signs that they need more connection, support, and understanding.

As parents and caregivers, it's not always easy to know what to do in those moments. But when we pause and look beyond the behavior, we can help children feel safe, understood, and supported.

This piece from The 74 explores how our own responses as adults can help children learn to navigate big emotions.

Alyssa Blask Campbell discusses Collaborative Emotion Processing, modern parenting and how adults can support young children through big feelings.

06/02/2026

Every child deserves to grow up surrounded by love, support, and a sense of belonging.

This Pride Month, we celebrate LGBTQ+ parents, children, and families. Every child and caregiver deserve to feel safe being exactly who they are and to know they are loved, valued, and supported by the people around them. When they do, they are free to learn, grow, and thrive.

At Reach Out and Read, we're proud to stand with and support families of all kinds. 🌈📚💙

06/01/2026

Parenting young children has never been easy, and for many families, it’s becoming even harder.

New ZERO TO THREE data highlights growing concerns around affordability, mental health, and child development.

Families with babies are carrying an overwhelming amount of stress right now. A new national snapshot found that:

- Nearly half of parents (44%) reported some level of difficulty paying for the basics in 2025, the highest rate in the past five years. Families with low incomes, families of color and rural communities faced the greatest challenges.

- About 1 in 5 parents screened positive for elevated anxiety and/or depressive symptoms in 2025, a three-year high that rose even higher across the year.

- Over half of parents (55%) reported being concerned about their child’s learning, development or behavior and about a quarter reported being very concerned, a rate that is double any previous year since 2020.

- While 46% of parents reported they felt hopeful about the future most of the time at the start of 2025, this rate dropped to 33% in the second half of the year.

And through it all, families continued showing up for their babies with love, connection and resilience. The first three years matter deeply. Families need policies that support affordable health care, food security, stable housing, mental health support, paid leave and access to quality child care.

Read the report: https://bit.ly/430njje

06/01/2026

Families are built in many different ways, and every one of them has the power to help a child thrive.

On this Global Day of Parents, we're celebrating the parents, caregivers, grandparents, and loved ones who help children feel safe, seen, and loved. The moments may seem small, but they help build bright futures. 💙

05/29/2026

💙📚 As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, the conversations don't have to.

Books can help children understand big feelings, build resilience, and remind them they're never alone. Our Children's Mental Health booklist is filled with stories to help spark those important conversations.

Take a look and discover a new favorite to read together.

05/29/2026

Pungent, smoky, zesty, pickled — doesn't sound like the average toddler's bowl of buttered
noodles, huh? 🥘 🥣 As research and parenthood taught Helen Zoe Veit, author and associate professor at History Department, Michigan State University, little kids can learn to love big flavors, too! Hear her tips for encouraging picky eaters on the , with proof from the past that children once ate completely differently — and with vastly more pleasure: reachoutandread.org/podcast.

05/28/2026

📚 Learning to read is about more than recognizing words on a page. It’s also about helping children connect stories to ideas, experiences, and understanding.

As The 74 highlights, some of the most meaningful learning can happen while reading together — pausing to ask a question, talking about a favorite picture, and listening to what your child wonders about along the way.

Researchers’ view: Early success with word reading does not always translate into later success with comprehension.