Worldreader

10/12/2026

October is Parental Incarceration Awareness Month in the U.S., marking a time to recognize the families navigating separation and the importance of staying connected.

At Worldreader, we believe every family should have access to the benefits of reading, no matter their circumstances. That means finding new ways to bring books and meaningful reading moments to families who may not be reached by traditional literacy models.

Through our partnership with Edovo, incarcerated adults can access digital books, creating opportunities to read, learn, and maintain connections with their children. A shared story can become a bridge across distance, helping parents and children stay connected through the simple, powerful experience of reading.

This work reflects what’s at the heart of Worldreader’s mission: getting families reading and expanding access to books, connection, and opportunity wherever families are.

Because reading can be more than a literacy tool. It can be a way to connect, a way to learn, and a bridge to possibility.

10/09/2026

The All Families Reading Challenge was a success!

Almost 2,000 families from over 40 countries joined us across five languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, and Spanish) to share stories, build connections, and celebrate the joy of reading.

Our data shows that reading challenges can help families take an important first step toward making reading part of their daily routines. Families completing the September challenge read an average of 22 books — 12 more books than the 10 required to complete the challenge! We're excited to see even more families join our global reading community and make reading a part of everyday life.

Here’s to more stories, more shared moments, and more families reading together!

10/07/2026

“Reading is the best thing we can give our children.”

As our BookSmart community in Costa Rica grows, stories like Mariam Gutiérrez's remind us why reading together matters.

Through the recent reading challenge, her 10-year-old son, Rodric, has grown his imagination through stories, while her 3-year-old daughter, Rosi, is already beginning to discover a love of reading. This family was also one of the lucky winners of a gift card through the challenge!

We’re proud to help families make reading part of everyday life, and to see the meaningful moments that happen along the way. explore how you can make a difference in Central America with us!

09/30/2026

As we near the end of our September All Families Reading Challenge, we want to take a moment to say thank you.

This global initiative brought families with young children together across ~40 countries and five languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, and Spanish) to share stories, build connections, and celebrate the joy of reading.

We’re deeply grateful to our partners and supporters, especially the Bezos Family Foundation, and the Singer Family Foundation whose support made this initiative possible.

Together, we’re helping make reading more accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for families everywhere. Thank you for being part of this global reading community.

09/22/2026

As the world prepares to gather for the United Nations General Assembly, we’re thinking about what it takes to turn global commitments into meaningful change for every child.

At Worldreader, we believe access to books can help unlock opportunity, especially for children and families who have historically had the least access to quality learning resources.

Digital reading can reach children wherever they are, helping them build literacy, curiosity, confidence, and the skills they need to thrive.

As leaders, partners, educators, and changemakers come together at UNGA, we’re proud to be part of the conversation around a more equitable future, and committed to making sure that future includes a world where every child can read.

Because when children can read, they can learn. And when they can learn, they can shape what comes next.

09/21/2026

This International Day of Peace, we’re celebrating the power of stories to bring us closer together.

Books can help children see the world through someone else’s eyes, build empathy, and discover the experiences we share.

At Worldreader, we believe access to books can help create a more connected, understanding and peaceful world, one reader at a time.

Want to help spread peace through stories? Consider making a donation through our website and help put more books into the hands of children around the world.

09/17/2026

New research from the International Centre for EdTech Impact (ICEI) offers insights into how families use BookSmart and what helps sustain engagement.

The study found that completing more books was associated with stronger caregiver-reported language skills, while goal-setting messages helped families complete more Vroom Tips™.

The findings are helping shape the future of BookSmart, including more personalized reading journeys and greater access to South African home languages.

Read the full blog to explore what this research means for the future of family reading -> https://hubs.la/Q04xNC3D0

09/14/2026

We’re halfway through the All Families Reading Challenge! Available in Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, and Spanish, families in 25 countries around the world have already joined our challenge, coming together to read, connect, and turn shared reading moments into opportunities for brain-building activities.

This challenge is about more than reading. It’s about creating shared moments, building a love of books, and making reading more accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for families everywhere.

We invite our partners, donors, and supporters to join the challenge, share it with your networks, or make a contribution to help us expand its reach.

Together, we can help more families discover the power of reading, wherever they are, whatever language they speak.

09/10/2026

On September 2, Worldreader, ECDAN and the Bezos Family Foundation brought together global leaders, practitioners and families for the “Connecting Health and Early Literacy for Families around the World” webinar.

The conversation highlighted the powerful connections between health, early childhood development and literacy, and the vital role families play in helping children learn and thrive from the earliest years.

The webinar also marked the launch of the All Families Reading Challenge in celebration of International Literacy Month! Families can read together all month long in the BookSmart app, in Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili and Spanish.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the webinar, and to our wonderful co-hosts. We invite families everywhere to join the reading challenge and make story time part of every day! Missed the webinar? Watch the recording here -> https://hubs.la/Q04x9Nbs0

Presented by the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN)...

09/08/2026

This International Literacy Day, we’re celebrating the power of reading to open doors, spark curiosity, and connect families and communities around the world.

At Worldreader, we believe everyone deserves access to books and the opportunity to build a lifelong love of reading, no matter where they live.

From a parent reading with a child to a young reader discovering a new world, every story can be a step toward a brighter future. This month, let’s celebrate readers, families, educators, partners, and donors who are helping make literacy more accessible for all.

Together, we can put more stories in even more hands