Turning Public Data Into Tools for Early Literacy

At Read to Grow, we’ve spent the past two years asking a deceptively simple question: How can we make better use of the data that already exists to strengthen early literacy work across Connecticut? The answer has taken us into state education databases, federal directories, licensing records, and more than a dozen other public data sources. Along the way, we’ve learned that the biggest challenge isn’t necessarily finding data—it’s turning scattered, inconsistent information into something that organizations can actually use. That’s the story we’ll be sharing during an upcoming free webinar with our longtime data partner, North Arrow, on September 22, 2026. From Scattered Data to Usable Resources Over the past two years, our team has worked to bring together information that exists across Connecticut’s public data systems and transform it into practical resources for the early literacy field. We pulled together twenty years of state education data, which arrived in inconsistent formats from year to year, and created a single longitudinal file that allows us to measure our reach against student populations district by district. We also combined more than a dozen sources to build a statewide map showing where families can access books—from public and school libraries to childcare centers, bookstores, Little Free Libraries, and Read to Grow partner sites. We then developed an index to examine how easily families can reach those resources by car and public transportation. Rather than keeping these tools for ourselves, we created a public data hub to shared our findings so that partners, school districts, funders, researchers, and others working in early literacy can use them, too. Join Us on September 22 During our upcoming 60-minute, free webinar with North Arrow, Read to Grow Executive Director Suzannah Holsenbeck and Data Director Paula Grimm will share what we’ve learned from this journey. They’ll discuss how to get started with data even without a dedicated data team, how we transformed raw public data into usable resources for the early literacy field, and the role AI played along the way. The literacy sector is our case study, but the lessons extend well beyond early literacy. If you’re a nonprofit leader, program director, funder, or other changemaker wondering how your organization can make better use of the data that already exists, we hope you’ll join us. The webinar is free, lasts 60 minutes, and will include time for questions. Register for the webinar here → https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nonprofits-as-data-infrastructure-tickets-1999375997430 We’re looking forward to sharing what we’ve learned—and hearing what you’re learning, too.

A New Season of Popcorn & PJs is Coming This Fall!

Read to Grow is excited to announce the full lineup for our Fall 2026 Season of Popcorn & PJs! We’re grateful to once again have Citizens Bank as our presenting sponsor and can’t wait to welcome two brand-new authors, along with a returning author and illustrator duo, to our virtual storytime series. Popcorn & PJs is the perfect way to spend special reading time with the little one in your life. Families can cozy up from the comfort of home with a new children’s book, popcorn, crayons and a sketchpad, and a fun activity led by our featured authors and illustrators. It’s a chance to make reading a little more special—and create lasting memories together. Meet the Authors! Winsome Bingham We’re kicking off our Fall season on Tuesday, October 13 with the incredible Winsome Bingham, author of Fish Fry Friday! This heartwarming story celebrates family, community, and the traditions that bring us together. Filled with warmth, love, and delicious food, Fish Fry Friday highlights the joy of gathering with family and sharing special moments across generations. We’re looking forward to an evening filled with storytelling, connection, and plenty of opportunities for young readers to celebrate the traditions that make their families unique. Debbi Michiko Florence Our November featured author is the wonderful Debbi Michiko Florence, who will share her book Monster Maker: The Strange Creatures of Mark Nagata on Tuesday, November 17. This inspiring nonfiction picture book introduces young readers to the creative mind behind some truly imaginative Kaiju monsters. Through art, imagination, and perseverance, Monster Maker encourages children to embrace their creativity, follow their interests, and pursue the things that inspire them. Laurenne Sala & Zara González Hoang We’re thrilled to welcome back returning author Laurenne Sala and illustrator Zara González Hoang on Tuesday, December 8 for our Fall season finale! The duo will share Mi Escuela Is My School, a joyful celebration of school, community, and bilingual learning. Through vibrant illustrations and lyrical storytelling, this heartwarming picture book celebrates the many ways children can feel at home in the classroom while honoring the richness of language and culture. We can’t think of a better way to wrap up another season of Popcorn & PJs! Join Us for Popcorn & PJs! Whether you’re discovering a new favorite author, sharing a beloved story with your child, or simply looking for a fun way to make reading time more special, Popcorn & PJs has something for every young reader. So grab your coziest pajamas, pop some popcorn, and get ready for a season of stories, creativity, and family fun! Want to learn more? Click here to visit the Popcorn & PJs page on our website to learn more about the program, our featured authors, and find out how to get tickets for each event.

Read to Grow Welcomes a New Co-Coordinator to the Books for Kids Team

Read to Grow is excited to announce that our team has grown! Join us in welcoming Brittany Shelton as the new Co-Coordinator of our Books for Kids program. Brittany brings extensive experience working with preschool- and elementary-aged children, along with a deep commitment to supporting children and families through early literacy. Prior to joining Read to Grow, Brittany worked with Save the Children, where she partnered with parents, caregivers, and educators to help children thrive. Her background includes training and supporting adults who work with young children, giving her valuable insight into building strong literacy environments both at home and in the community. As the Books for Kids program continues to expand and serve more children and families each year, Brittany’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and passion for literacy will help strengthen our impact across Connecticut. We’re excited to have her on board as we continue working to ensure every child has the opportunity to develop a lifelong love of reading. Please give Brittany a warm welcome to the Read to Grow team—we’re excited to write our next chapter together!

Expanding Access to Books Through Read, Grow, Go

Summer is a time for adventure, exploration, and making memories—but it should also be a time for reading. As the school year comes to a close, many children lose regular access to books and literacy resources. That’s why Read to Grow is excited to launch Read, Grow, Go, a new summer initiative designed to bring books directly to children and families across Connecticut. Through Read, Grow, Go, the Bookmobile will make special stops at public parks and community centers throughout the state, creating new opportunities for families to discover books, build home libraries, and stay engaged in reading all summer long. For years, the Read to Grow Bookmobile has helped connect children with high-quality books in communities across Connecticut. Read, Grow, Go expands that mission by bringing the Bookmobile to places where families are already spending time during the summer months. Whether you’re visiting a neighborhood park, attending a community event, or looking for a fun family outing, you’ll have the chance to step aboard the Bookmobile, browse a selection of children’s books, and learn more about Read to Grow’s programs. There are currently five Read, Grow, Go stops planned for this summer, and every event is free and open to the public. These special events are being offered in addition to the stops featured on our monthly Bookmobile maps, creating even more opportunities for children to connect with books throughout the season. Use the map below to find an upcoming Read, Grow, Go stop, or follow Read to Grow on social media for updates, photos, and announcements throughout the summer. Whether you’re searching for your child’s next favorite book or simply stopping by to say hello, we can’t wait to see you out on the road this summer.

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!