Shared Reading Strengthens Families

Working to create a world where every child has the relationships and resources to learn and thrive.

Who We Are and What We Do

In partnership with clinicians, Reach Out and Read leverages the well-child visit, using books and shared reading to support caregivers in fostering early literacy and healthy relationships with infants and young children. The only literacy model endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read annually serves 4.8 million children across every U.S. state.


Help Us Get Books to Minnesota Families

Many Minnesota families are unable to access the care and support they normally rely on — and their children still need connection, learning, and moments of comfort. We’re working with Reach Out and Read Minnesota to meet families where they are by delivering children’s books and early learning resources directly to their homes. This effort can help preserve reading aloud and ease stress during an uncertain time. But we can’t do it alone. A gift of any amount helps us get books into homes quickly, offering reassurance and connection when families need it most.

brain graphic
of a child’s brain is formed between birth and age 3

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.”

We reach 1 in 4 children
from low-income families

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends us

A recent policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics reinforces the importance of shared reading as a critical component of young children’s healthy cognitive, social, and emotional development, starting at birth. It also recommends Reach Out and Read as a universal primary prevention strategy to support the safe, stable and nurturing relationships young children need to thrive.

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.

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.

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.