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Tag: early literacy

The Buzzword is PLAY

News

September 14, 2026
The Buzzword is PLAY

As part of its programming, Buzzword distributes its signature “BUZZ Boxes” to local families to help excite children from birth to age five as well as their caregivers about new words that are all around them. These family engagement kits come complete with a high-quality children’s book and enriching activities that support early literacy skills and development.

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This month’s Buzzword is PLAY, which means any fun, freely chosen activity done just for the joy of it. Buzzword’s PLAY Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through The Way Champs Play, Sea by Naomi Osaka with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences.

Buzzword has also provided a PLAY book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

More Information

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org.

Help to Promote Reading Among Children During September’s National Literacy Month

News

September 9, 2026
Help to Promote Reading Among Children During September’s National Literacy Month

Although promoting early literacy is a year-round endeavor, September has been designated as National Literacy Month, during which educators and caregivers should encourage reading among children.

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Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning shared a message this week that families should spend at least 15 minutes per day reading, storytelling, singing, and taking part in conversation. 

OCDEL cited research showing that shared reading experiences help to strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, social-emotional development, and caregiver-child relationships while helping children prepare for school.

Children who are exposed to books and language early in life, according to OCDEL, are more likely to:

  • Develop strong language and communication skills
  • Build larger vocabularies
  • Strengthen listening and comprehension skills
  • Be prepared for kindergarten and future learning
  • Develop creativity and imagination
  • Foster a lifelong love of reading

OCDEL noted that it would share weekly tips and resources to help promote early literacy as part of National Literacy Month. 

Meanwhile, some other resources from Trying Together, Buzzword, and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to help celebrate the month include:

 

Reading Ready Pittsburgh Working to Expand Regional Participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

News

August 4, 2026
Reading Ready Pittsburgh Working to Expand Regional Participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Reading Ready Pittsburgh and the city of Pittsburgh are working together to expand participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL), a book-gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age 5.

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The program sends the free, age-appropriate books to children who live in the city as well as those living in 20 additional ZIP codes.

Each DPIL subscription begins with a copy of the classic children’s story, “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper. There are no household income requirements to take part in the program, and enrollment only takes a few minutes.

Those interested in taking part in the program can check eligibility and register online on Reading Ready Pittsburgh’s website.

“This is a great program,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor in an Instagram post about DPIL. “Reading is very important, especially at a very young age – and we want to provide free books to as many kids across the city as we possibly can. It’s very simple to sign up. I just did it in a couple of minutes.”

Caregivers interested in enrolling their child in the program should:

  • Submit an official registration form, completely filled out by the authorized adult.
  • Notify Reading Ready Pittsburgh any time your address changes.
  • Read the book selections with your child.

Books will begin arriving about eight to 10 weeks after the registration form has been received. Households will continue to receive one book per month until the registered child turns age 5.

The Buzzword is WIGGLY

News

June 30, 2026
The Buzzword is WIGGLY

As part of its programming, Buzzword distributes its signature “BUZZ Boxes” to local families to help excite children from birth to age five as well as their caregivers about new words that are all around them. These family engagement kits come complete with a high-quality children’s book and enriching activities that support early literacy skills and development.

Learn More

This month’s Buzzword is WIGGLY, which means moving, twisting, and shaking around with quick, little, or curvy motions. Buzzword’s WIGGLY Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through Look, Touch, Learn, Sea by Charlotte Archer with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences.

Buzzword has also provided a WIGGLY book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

More Information

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org.

Pairing Activities with Literacy Can Improve Comprehension and Help Children Learn to Love Reading

News

May 5, 2026
Pairing Activities with Literacy Can Improve Comprehension and Help Children Learn to Love Reading

Getting some children excited about cracking a book can be a challenge, but there are methods and activities that caregivers and educators can pair with reading that can help children to develop an interest in it.

Reading Aloud to Children

Marissa Rainey, early literacy strategist for Trying Together and lead organizer for Buzzword at the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center, said it is important to read aloud for about 10 to 20 minutes to a child from birth to age 5.

“Show them how to hold a book, open it, and turn the pages,” Rainey said. “Emphasize phonemic awareness, which is the idea of learning letter sounds. Whenever you’re going through a book, stop to sound out any difficult words.”

Rainey said that caregivers can use alphabet flash cards to help early readers learn to sound out words. She added that caregivers should also provide background knowledge on topics, if possible, while reading to a child.

“If the book you’re reading is about farming, talk with them about the different animals – what sounds they make or where they live – to make the connection,” she said.

She also recommended taking part in interactive reading with children by asking such questions as what the child thinks will happen next in a story, what colors they see in the book, and what they have noticed about the characters.

To learn about methods and activities, how a change of scenery might help, and how to encourage independent reading, read the full article on Buzzword.

The Buzzword is PARADE

News

April 20, 2026
The Buzzword is PARADE

As part of its programming, Buzzword distributes its signature “BUZZ Boxes” to local families to help excite children from birth to age five as well as their caregivers about new words that are all around them. These family engagement kits come complete with a high-quality children’s book and enriching activities that support early literacy skills and development.

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This month’s Buzzword is PARADE, which means to walk or march to celebrate something. Buzzword’s PARADE Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through Prince Sacha’s Fierce, Fabulous, Fancy Day by Jon Lau with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences.

Buzzword has also provided a PARADE book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

More Information

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org.

The Buzzword is COSTUME

News

March 23, 2026
The Buzzword is COSTUME

As part of its programming, Buzzword distributes its signature “BUZZ Boxes” to local families to help excite children from birth to age five as well as their caregivers about new words that are all around them. These family engagement kits come complete with a high-quality children’s book and enriching activities that support early literacy skills and development.

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This month’s Buzzword is COSTUME, which means a distinctive style of dress. Buzzword’s COSTUME Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through Dress Up Day by Blanca Gomez with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences.

Buzzword has also provided a COSTUME book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

View the COSTUME Activity Book and book recommendations.

More Information

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org. 

PA Promise for Children Releases List of February Books for Kindergarteners

News

February 17, 2026
PA Promise for Children Releases List of February Books for Kindergarteners

PA Promise for Children has released its list of February books for kindergarteners in its Kindergarten Here I Come newsletter.

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The list is broken down into three categories – Scientific Thinking and Technology, Mathematical Thinking and Expression, and Social-Emotional Development.

The eight books on the list include:

Science Thinking and Technology

  • How a Seed Grows (Helene J. Jordan)
  • Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth (Jane Yolen)
  • Penguins! (Gail Gibbons)
  • If You Were a Penguin (Wendell and Florence Minor)

Mathematical Thinking and Expression

  • One Mitten (Kristine O’Connell George)
  • Two of Everything (Lily Toy Hong)

Social-Emotional Development

  • Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook (Barbara Park)
  • The Doorbell Rang (Pat Hutchins)

The Buzzword is SOCIALIZE

News

January 21, 2026
The Buzzword is SOCIALIZE

As part of its programming, Buzzword distributes its signature “BUZZ Boxes” to local families to help excite children from birth to age five as well as their caregivers about new words that are all around them. These family engagement kits come complete with a high-quality children’s book and enriching activities that support early literacy skills and development.

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This month’s Buzzword is SOCIALIZE, which means how we react with others. Buzzword’s SOCIALIZE Activity Book will give children – ages birth to five – and their caregivers the opportunity to connect through science, art, music, and early literacy activities.

Caregivers are encouraged to read through Crunch the Shy Dinosaur by Cicco Dunlap with their child. Then, they should go through the different activities and ideas together, taking time to explain the meaning of the words and connecting them to their child’s real-life experiences.

Buzzword has also provided a SOCIALIZE book list of recommendations from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for further reading.

View the SOCIALIZE Activity Book and book recommendations.

More Information

Want to learn more on how to get involved with Buzzword? Ask your local Allegheny County Family Center about the program, or email buzzword@tryingtogether.org. 

Apply for Children’s Literacy Award by February 20 Deadline

News

January 20, 2026
Apply for Children’s Literacy Award by February 20 Deadline

Those interested in applying for the 2026 Joan Brest Friedberg and Elizabeth “Betty” Segel Children’s Literacy Award should fill out an application by Friday, February 20.

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The children’s literacy award, which began in 2025, is granted to individuals, programs, or organizations demonstrating a commitment to sharing quality diverse books with children and families. Two awardees are selected annually and receive a cash award, plaque, and three books.

The awards ceremony will be held in March in recognition of National Reading Month, and will include conversations with authors, testimonials from BwB staff and volunteers, and acceptance speeches by awardees.

To apply for the award, complete the application form and submit it by midnight on February 20. To submit by email, connect with the program coordinators at wrashia@gmail.com (Dr. Aisha White) and battlecynthia02@gmail.com (Cynthia Battle).

Friedberg and Segel launched the Beginning with Books (BwB) program in 1984 after seeing the need for early literacy support in Pittsburgh. The program grew to include such projects as The Gift Book Program, Best Books for Babies, Project BEACON, the BwB Storymobile, and more.