Raise A Reader
A Celebration of Early Literacy
Read. Write. Sing. Play. Talk. And get your little ones ready to read!
Every fall, Raise A Reader provides kids with fun and easy ways to get ready to read while supporting parents and caregivers with the tools and resources for building literacy skills. With a month full of activities, including a StoryWalk®, Story Times and a free book giveaway, Raise A Reader prepares little ones for lifelong learning!
All the fun culminates on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Colorado Railroad Museum for JCPL's Raise A Reader Festival! Bring the whole family and celebrate early literacy with train rides, Story Time, a dance party, tasty treats and fun activities!
We look forward to seeing you!
Events & Activities
Find more ideas for family fun when you browse all events at JCPL.
Raise A Reader Festival
Sat., Sept. 27
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
All aboard! It's full steam ahead for future readers at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Bring the whole family and enjoy a day of engaging activities that will set the little ones in your life on the track to lifelong learning.
Festival Event Information
The Raise A Reader festival will take place at the Colorado Railroad Museum, opens a new window, 17155 W. 44th Ave. Golden, CO, 80403.
Parking is located in the lot by the museum and the lot across the street. Handicap parking is available near the museum entrance.
Doors open at 9 a.m. Please arrive at least a half hour before your registered train time to park, check in and collect your tickets and event map. All kids will receive a free gift!
Your train ticket will have the departure time you chose at registration. Your ticket is only good for the time printed on it.
When not riding the train, feel free to explore the Colorado Railroad Museum grounds, stop by the Library Van to check out materials to keep the JCPL fun going at home and participate in activities: Story Time, StoryWalk®, temporary tattoos, a giant foam and bubble station, live musical performances, puppet theater, painting easels and opportunities to take photos with life-sized book characters!
Complimentary treats are available for 0 - 5-year-olds (while supplies last). Food trucks will also be onsite to purchase food. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own picnic lunch for the day.
StoryWalk®
Go on a self-guided adventure and partake in a fun guessing game with a bilingual StoryWalk®. Each page of the book Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz will be placed along a path so you can experience the story while you walk from page to page.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
Story Time
Read, sing and dance along with stories and songs at all JCPL locations. Check our event calendar for more details.
Book Giveaway
Keep the fun going at home! The Family Book by Todd Parr is a fun story about family that's perfect for pre-readers. Available at all JCPL full-service locations while supplies last.
Ready, Set, Read!
From daily activities you and your little one can do to staff picks that celebrate all the ways you interact with your child, these resources will help you explore the building blocks of early literacy!
Babies First Books
Parents are their child's first and most important teacher! And Babies First Books encourages families to read together! Ask a library employee at any full-service location for your free copy of "Rock-A-Bye Baby Reader" in English or Spanish.
These high-quality books contain rhymes and songs, along with tips and information for the adult reader on how these activities positively affect their baby's brain development.
Childcare providers and other professionals who work with families are welcome to request multiple copies by contacting our Kids & Families team, opens a new window.
Sign up for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten to keep the learning going.
To support this program, contact the Jefferson County Library Foundation, opens a new window.
Raise A Reader Early Literacy Calendars
Read, write, sing, talk, play and count! Download our monthly calendar, featuring daily literacy-building activities to share with your little one.
Let's READ! 2024 Raise A Reader Week
Let's READ!
Let's READ! 2024 Raise A Reader Week
Let's READ!
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Kids & Families
Special Thanks to Our Community Partners:
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- Autism Society of Colorado, opens a new window
- Child Care Innovations, opens a new window
- HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), opens a new window
- Jefferson County Child Care Association, opens a new window
- Jefferson County Public Health, opens a new window
- Lantern, opens a new window
- SafeCare Colorado, opens a new window
- Triad Early Childhood Council, opens a new window
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Getting Started
Get a library card to access all of the great online resources JCPL has to offer!
Note: A JCPL card offers access to all content on our site. Adult supervision is recommended.