Shared Reading and Moments That Matter

Envisioning a world where every child has the relationships essential to thrive

Who We Are and What We Do

In deep partnership with a network of clinicians, Reach Out and Read leverages the near-universal reach of the pediatric well-child visit, using children’s books and shared reading to support parents and caregivers in fostering early literacy and healthy relationships with their infants and young children. The only national pediatric literacy model endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read annually serves 4.4 million children and families across every state in the country.

Public Policy Agenda

Reach Out and Read’s new public policy agenda advocates for young children and their families and recommends that policymakers and partners create and/or improve systems crucial to public health and early literacy. We challenge policymakers, clinicians, and early childhood champions of all kinds to use this agenda to focus investment, advocacy, program development, and resources.

Building Connections Begins at Birth

Reach Out and Read’s updated model now emphasizes talking, reading, and singing with babies right from birth. Over the next five years, we’re integrating this approach into the first four well-child visits, expanding beyond the traditional 6-month to 5-year visits. Studies show that these routines foster emotional connectedness, healthy social-emotional development, and even buffer the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on long-term health outcomes.

brain graphic
of a child’s brain is formed between birth and age 3
Reach Out and Read Works!

Study shows Reach Out and Read parents are more likely to read with children daily.

Support for Parents

All children need strong, positive, and nurturing relationships to grow and develop. These parent/caregiver-child relationships often begin at birth and are essential for healthy physical, cognitive, and emotional development.  We remain committed to supporting families with young children and our resource library can help you learn more about the benefits of reading aloud together and creating those “moments that matter.”

In support of the global campaign for racial justice and social equity, it is incumbent upon us to work toward meaningful change in all that we are and all that we do. To read about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Reach Out and Read Podcast!

Don’t miss this podcast centered on the belief that children’s books build better brains, better family relationships, and happier, healthier children and societies. Join us as host Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, a pediatrician with a master’s degree in library science, dives into a wealth of varied early childhood health and literacy topics with expert guests examining the many facets of supporting the parent-child relationship as key to early success.

We reach 1 in 4 children
from low-income families

Shaping Brighter Futures

It’s vital that children benefit from reading and other language-rich experiences starting at birth. Reading together furthers language acquisition, promotes brain development, and provides an opportunity for families to build powerful, lasting bonds.

Nurturing Young Minds

At Reach Out and Read, we know that reading aloud together, telling stories, and sharing books help forge a meaningful connection between caregiver and child—they create moments that matter. This is the underpinning of what’s known as Early Relational Health. These positive, language-rich interactions are the foundation for a young child’s healthy development and long-term well-being.  By making Reach Out and Read a part of their practice, clinicians have a built-in strategy for working with families to strengthen that essential relationship. As part of our Next Chapter, Reach Out and Read is committed to expanding and strengthening our network and bringing moments that matter to every young child, every family, and every community.

We are the only national pediatric literacy model endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
We’re All Over the Map
Reach Out and Read has a national presence—and we’re still growing.