Books for Kids Opens A New Chapter: Thank You, Linda!
On Thursday, March 5, our beloved Books for Kids Co-Coordinator, Linda Sylvester, officially entered retirement. She first came to Read to Grow as an incredible volunteer, before quickly falling in love with the organization and its mission. In 2005, she joined the team as a full-time employee—and from that day forward, she never looked back. Now, after 21 years of connecting children and families across Connecticut with high-quality, diverse books, and leading countless workshops, collaborations, and early literacy initiatives both within and beyond Read to Grow, Linda is opening a new chapter. During her time with Read to Grow, Linda made an immesurable impact on the children and families she served. Still, a few numbers help illustrate just how deeply she has shaped this work. With Linda serving as Co-Coordinator, the Books for Kids program distributed 2,029,570 books and served 6,421 families! From the bottom of our hearts, the entire Read to Grow community—staff, volunteers, partners, and of course the families we serve—thank you, Linda! A photo of Linda with her special retirement cake. (You may be able to guess her favorite book by looking at the cake!)
Read to Grow and Sparkler Celebrate Read Across America Week 2026
Photo via National Educational Association March 2nd marks the beginning of Read Across America Week 2026, an annual celebration of reading that encourages children of all ages to read every day and develop a lifelong love of books. For the third year in a row, Read to Grow is teaming up with longtime partner Sparkler to make Read Across America Week even more impactful and engaging for families across Connecticut. With Sparkler’s support, we’re excited to release a wonderful lineup of stories read by the authors who created them. Beloved favorites who have previously joined us for Popcorn & PJs—including Malik Champlain, Alan Katz, and Laurenne Sala—alongside some special new faces, have recorded beautiful read-alouds of their books. All of these stories are available to enjoy in English, Spanish, and Chinese, right now on Sparkler’s website. Each read-aloud also includes a set of three educational play activities for kids, which can be accessed for free through the Sparkler mobile app for iOS or Android. First-time users can access the activities using the code “RTG” when creating an account. To join the fun and celebrate Read Across America Week with us, use the Sparkler app or visit this webpage to access the virtual read-alouds and related educational activities.
Popcorn & PJs Celebrates National Children’s Dental Health Month with a Special Virtual Read-Along
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and Popcorn & PJs is celebrating in a big way! On Tuesday, February 24, beloved children’s book author and New York Times bestseller Deborah Diesen will host a virtual read-along of The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to the Dentist — a fun and reassuring story that helps little ones feel more comfortable about visiting the dentist. In addition, the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (CTDHP) has partnered with Read to Grow to support this special event by providing dental health supplies and educational materials with every Popcorn Package. And that’s not all! After a fun and educational evening, Deborah will help everyone wind down for bedtime with a reading of The Pout-Pout Fish and the Can’t-Sleep Blues, a cozy story that gently addresses the wiggles, worries, and wide-awake blues that can keep kids up at night. If you’re interested in taking part in this special Popcorn & PJs event, click here to explore ticket options. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot soon. This is a one-of-a-kind experience you won’t want to miss!
Radio Spotlight: Hear About Read to Grow’s Mission in Action
Photo via Connoisseur Media On February 8, Read to Grow’s Executive Director, Suzannah Holsenbeck, joined John Voket on For the People for a radio interview. During their conversation, Suzannah shared insights into Read to Grow’s work across Connecticut and the children and families the organization serves. To learn more about the impact Read to Grow is making in early childhood education and literacy development, click the link below to listen to the full interview on Audioboom. http://audioboom.com/posts/8859079-read-to-grow
Read to Grow Books for Babies Launch in Greenwich
Photo by Tyler Landis On February 5, Read to Grow officially partnered with Greenwich Hospital to provide free books and early literacy resources to every newborn under their care. Watch exclusive footage from the launch ceremony, learn more about this exciting new partnership, and see how it’s helping parents support early language development, bonding, and a lifelong love of reading from day one. Click the link below to view the full News 12 Connecticut feature. https://connecticut.news12.com/greenwich-hospital-and-read-to-grow-partner-for-literacy-project-to-help-babies-develop
Launch Ceremony: Read to Grow Approaches Universal Reach for Newborn Literacy Project Through Partnership With Greenwich Hospital
Photo by Mariia Vitkovska via iStock WHAT: Read to Grow and Greenwich Hospital to launch a new project addressing literacy for newborns and their families. WHO: Legislators, local and state officials, early childhood advocates, hospital personnel, members of the media, Read to Grow Bookmobile WHERE: Greenwich Hospital, 5 Perryridge Road, Greenwich, CT 06830 WHEN: February 5, 2026 at 1PM EST Read to Grow is proud to announce a new partnership with Greenwich Hospital expanding its Newborn Literacy Project, which provides early literacy resources for families from the very start of life. Beginning February 5, 2026, families welcoming a baby at Greenwich Hospital will now receive a newborn book packet and be invited to enroll in Read to Grow’s First Year Project, which provides additional books and literacy support at key developmental milestones, including three months and one year. “We are excited to bring the Newborn Literacy Project to another outstanding hospital and community,” said Suzannah Holsenbeck, Executive Director of Read to Grow. “By partnering with trusted healthcare providers to connect families with books and guidance from day one, we are helping to build strong foundations for learning, bonding, and healthy development. In Connecticut, every new family should be given these vital tools to become their child’s first teacher.” “Greenwich Hospital is committed to supporting families from their very first moments together,” said Bob Blenderman, PA, president, Greenwich Hospital. “Our partnership with Read to Grow strengthens that mission. I’m especially proud of our amazing maternity team, whose compassion and expertise make these meaningful connections possible. Together, we’re helping every baby born at the hospital begin life with the tools to learn, grow and thrive.” With the addition of Greenwich Hospital, Read to Grow is now nearing universal reach across the state, ensuring that nearly all 35,000 babies born in Connecticut annually have access to books and early literacy support from birth. Read to Grow works closely with hospital medical teams, offering training for nurses and other healthcare professionals on the importance of reading, singing, and talking with newborns. Once trained, these healthcare providers work directly with families in the hospital, sharing simple, practical strategies that empower parents and caregivers to become their child’s first teacher from day one. These early interactions play a critical role in strengthening parent-child bonds and supporting early brain development. The launch ceremony will feature remarks from Read to Grow and Greenwich Hospital staff. The Read to Grow Bookmobile will be on site, providing free children’s books to those in attendance. About Read to Grow:Read to Grow is a literacy nonprofit that operates statewide, providing more than 120,000 books a year to children and families through our three programs: Books for Babies, Books for Kids, and the Bookmobile. Supporting parents as their child’s first and most important teacher, Read to Grow is committed to the power of literacy to change lives and to the vision that all children deserve books of their own. www.readtogrow.org
The Power of Books: Sharing Stories from the Read to Grow Community
Read to Grow has partnered with Connecticut Public Radio (WNPR) to amplify the voices of individuals whose lives have been shaped by education and who recognize the lasting importance of early literacy. The Power of Books is a special campaign produced by WNPR that spotlights children, parents, staff, and volunteers within the Read to Grow community, sharing personal stories that illustrate how books and reading can change lives for the better. To learn more about the Read to Grow community members featured—and to listen to their radio interviews—click the link below to visit the WNPR webpage and experience The Power of Books. https://www.ctpublic.org/sponsored-content/the-power-of-books
