Raising a Reader

Children’s Early Literacy Program

United Way of Kern County Raising A Reader program serves over 200 preschool children at 6 different preschool locations. We serve the areas of Bakersfield, Arvin, Shafter and Delano.

Raising A Reader’s mission is to engage parents in a routine of daily “book cuddling” with their children from birth to age five to foster early brain development, parent-child bonding, and early literacy skills critical for school success. Raising A Reader rotates bright red bags filled with award-winning books into children’s homes on a weekly basis.

United Way of Kern County Raising a Reader program focuses on 3 and 4 year-olds in order to ready them to start Kindergarten. On average, each child is exposed to approximately 100 books per year.

Award Winning Book Considerations:

Age-appropriate for children (Aged 3-5)
High quality writing with good language cadence
Beautiful illustrations and relevant to the story
Accurate portrayals of diverse cultures and ethnicities

Local implementers are trained in interactive read-aloud techniques stimulating early brain development and language acquisition and, in turn, train parents and caregivers. Through the program, families are also connected to their local library.

At the culmination of the program, children receive a blue library bag to keep and continue the practice of borrowing books and “book cuddling". After benefitting from the Raising A Reader program, children will enter kindergarten with a love of books and ready to learn to read.

Our goal is to Raise More Readers. We can with your help.

Engaging parents in daily reading with their children from birth to five years, fosters healthy brain development, parent-child bonding, and early literacy skills critical for school success.

Children and families fall in love with reading from the very beginning

Richardson Center Preschool children receive their RAR book bags at the end of the school year.

Children who participate in the Raising a Reader program build kindergarten readiness skills.

Raising a Reader Garden Pathways Preschooler enjoys receiving his RAR blue book bag and a balloon afer touring the Beale Library, book reading and a craft.