Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County

Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County Together we can achieve 100% Literacy through 100% Community Engagement!

The Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County is NOT a new program, it's a community mandate to connect and maximize available literacy resources across the lifespan. Ultimately, we endeavor to harness the power of literacy and education to change lives and neighborhoods here in Syracuse and Onondaga County. Now, as charter members of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, we know that schools cannot s

ucceed alone and the academic success of children, especially from low-income families, requires engaged communities. This effort is built upon the original strategic planning process that took place in 2007 with over 200 community members and led to the creation of the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County.

06/18/2026

🐸📚 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Book Spotlight! 📚🐸
This month, June's Group 2 featured book is Tad and Dad by David Ezra Stein!

This charming story follows Tad, a young tadpole, and his dad as they explore the pond together. Through their adventures, children learn about growth, family relationships, and the natural world. With engaging illustrations and a heartwarming story, Tad and Dad encourages curiosity and helps young readers understand how living things change and grow.

💡 The Benefits of Reading Every Day
Reading to your child daily helps:
🐸 Build vocabulary and language skills
🐸 Strengthen brain development
🐸 Improve listening and comprehension skills
🐸 Encourage curiosity and a love of learning
🐸 Support social and emotional development
🐸 Create meaningful bonding time with family

Even a few minutes of reading each day helps children develop the skills they need for future success in school while creating cherished memories with the people who love them most. ❤️

📖 Family Reading Tip:
After reading, talk with your child about how animals grow and change. Ask questions like, “What do tadpoles become?” or “How have you grown?” These conversations help build language skills and encourage curiosity about the world around them.

🎉📚 A Milestone Worth Celebrating! 📚🎉Yesterday, we proudly celebrated a remarkable achievement at Liverpool Public Librar...
06/16/2026

🎉📚 A Milestone Worth Celebrating! 📚🎉

Yesterday, we proudly celebrated a remarkable achievement at Liverpool Public Library—2 million Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books gifted to children in Onondaga County!

Our journey began in May 2010 as a pilot program serving just two Syracuse zip codes. Thanks to incredible community support, we expanded countywide in May 2016. Today, more than 16,000 children across Onondaga County receive a free, age-appropriate book delivered directly to their homes each month.

We are deeply grateful to our major funders, Onondaga County and the Central New York Community Foundation, for their continued investment in early literacy. We also thank our more than 150 referral partners who help connect families to this life-changing program.

Most importantly, thank you to Dolly Parton for her vision and commitment to inspiring a love of reading in young children and their families around the world.

📖 Know a child under age 5 who lives in Onondaga County? Enroll them today to receive free monthly books through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library!

🔗 Visit: onliteracy.org

📚❤️🎉

06/16/2026

🦆📚 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Book Spotlight! 📚🦆
This month, June's Group 1 featured book is Who Says Quack? by Jerry Smith!
This delightful book introduces young children to a variety of animals and the sounds they make. Through engaging illustrations and simple text, little readers can join in the fun by making animal sounds and discovering who says "quack!" Interactive books like this help build early language skills while making reading enjoyable and memorable.
💡 The Benefits of Reading Every Day
Reading to your child daily helps:
🦆 Build vocabulary and language skills
🦆 Strengthen brain development
🦆 Improve listening and attention skills
🦆 Encourage curiosity and learning
🦆 Support social and emotional development
🦆 Create special bonding moments between parent and child
Just a few minutes of reading each day can help your child develop a lifelong love of books and prepare them for future success in school and beyond. ❤️
📖 Family Reading Tip:
As you read, encourage your child to imitate the animal sounds and point to the pictures. Talking, listening, and playing together helps build important early literacy skills!

We’re excited to share the first edition of Turning The Page, the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County’s quarterly news...
06/12/2026

We’re excited to share the first edition of Turning The Page, the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County’s quarterly newsletter.

In each issue, we’ll highlight Coalition updates, community partnerships, literacy initiatives, and opportunities to get involved in advancing literacy across Onondaga County.

Take a look below and see what’s happening in our literacy community!

05/30/2026

🌳📚 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Book Spotlight! 📚🌳
This month’s Group 5 featured book is Our Tree by Jessica Meserve!

This touching story celebrates friendship, nature, and the special connections children make with the world around them. Through beautiful illustrations and gentle storytelling, young readers learn about caring, sharing, and appreciating the beauty of nature.

💡 The Importance of Reading Every Day
Reading to your child daily helps:
🌿 Build vocabulary and communication skills
🌿 Strengthen brain development and memory
🌿 Improve focus and listening skills
🌿 Encourage empathy, kindness, and imagination
🌿 Support emotional growth and confidence
🌿 Prepare children for future school success
Most importantly, reading together creates comforting routines and meaningful moments that children will remember for years to come. ❤️
📖 Family Reading Tip:
After reading, take a walk outside and look for trees, leaves, birds, or other signs of nature together. Talking about what your child sees helps build language and observation skills!

05/28/2026

🎉📚 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Book Spotlight! 📚🎉
This month’s Group 4 featured book is
Gaga Mistake Day by Emma Straub and Susan Straub!

In this fun and heartwarming story, children learn that mistakes are a normal part of learning and growing. With humor and encouragement, this book helps young readers build confidence, resilience, and problem-solving skills while reminding them that nobody is perfect.
💡 Why Read to Your Child Every Day?
Reading together every day helps:
✨ Build language and vocabulary skills
✨ Support brain development and learning
✨ Strengthen listening and comprehension skills
✨ Encourage confidence and emotional growth
✨ Spark creativity and imagination
✨ Create meaningful bonding time with your child

Children who are read to regularly develop important early literacy skills that help prepare them for success in school and beyond. ❤️

📖 Family Reading Tip:
Talk with your child about a mistake they made and what they learned from it. Sharing stories and conversations helps children feel supported and builds confidence.

05/28/2026

📚 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Book Spotlight! 📚🌼
This month’s Group 3 featured book is
Over in the Garden by Janna Matthies!

This beautifully illustrated story takes children on a fun journey through a busy garden filled with plants, insects, and animals. Rhyming text and colorful pictures make this book a joyful read-aloud experience while helping children learn about nature and counting.
💡 The Benefits of Reading Every Day
Reading to your child each day helps:
🌱 Build strong language and vocabulary skills
🌱 Support healthy brain development
🌱 Improve memory, focus, and listening skills
🌱 Encourage creativity and imagination
🌱 Develop early math and counting concepts
🌱 Strengthen the parent-child bond
Just a few minutes of reading every day helps children grow into confident learners and creates lifelong positive reading habits. ❤️
📖 Family Reading Tip:
After reading, look for flowers, bugs, or plants outside together and talk about what you see. Connecting books to everyday experiences helps children learn even more!

05/26/2026

🥕📚 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Book Spotlight! 📚🥕

This month’s Group 2 featured book is
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Vegetable Garden by Eric Carle!

Young readers will enjoy learning about vegetables, gardens, and growing foods alongside the beloved Very Hungry Caterpillar. This fun and colorful story encourages curiosity about nature while building early language and learning skills.
💡 Why is reading every day so important?
Reading to your child daily helps:
🌱 Build vocabulary and language skills
🌱 Strengthen brain development
🌱 Improve focus and listening skills
🌱 Encourage imagination and creativity
🌱 Support social and emotional development
🌱 Prepare children for kindergarten and lifelong learning
Most importantly, daily reading creates special moments of connection and comfort between you and your child. ❤️
📖 Family Reading Tip:
Talk about the vegetables in the story and ask your child which ones they recognize or like to eat. Learning happens through conversation, play, and spending time together!

05/21/2026

📚🐛 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Book Spotlight! 🐛📚
This month’s featured book for group one is
Can You Guess? Animal Sounds with The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle!
Your little one will love exploring animal sounds, colorful pictures, and playful guessing with the beloved Very Hungry Caterpillar. Reading together helps children build language skills while making storytime fun and interactive!
💡 Did you know? Reading to your child every day helps:
✨ Build vocabulary and communication skills
✨ Strengthen brain development
✨ Improve listening and attention skills
✨ Encourage imagination and curiosity
✨ Create a loving bonding experience
✨ Prepare children for future school success
Even just 10–15 minutes of reading each day can make a BIG difference in your child’s development. ❤️
📖 Reading Tip:
As you read, make the animal sounds together and point to the pictures. Your child learns through hearing your voice, repetition, and playful interaction!

Visit the MOST today for Storytelling wiht Children and don't forget to stop by the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga Count...
05/17/2026

Visit the MOST today for Storytelling wiht Children and don't forget to stop by the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County's table and sign up for The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library!!

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