Raise A Reader

A young boy pulls the steam whistle on an antique train engine at JCPL's Raise A Reader festival.

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!

We look forward to seeing you!

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.

Born to Read!

Newborn babies love the sound of their parents' voices, and these high-contrast board books are perfect for their developing eyes.

Raise a Reader 2026: CLEL Bells!

The CLEL Bell Award recognizes high-quality children's books that provide excellent support of early literacy development in young children.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Kids & Families

Discover 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, 500 Books Before Middle School and other programs to foster young readers and early literacy!

Special Thanks to Our Community Partners:

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.