Family and Community

Literacy efforts are strongest where communities unite to form strong partnerships between families, educators, and other local representatives. Nebraska Growing Readers believes in building strong bonds in local communities through efforts such as Community Book Gardens, local writers workshops, and content that is relevant to the area's young children and families.

When providers create reading events that engage families and other community members, they invite local interest in reading. That interest can spark funding for literacy programs and activities, open the door for literacy activities in the community, and foster the creation of local content that further builds the sense of interest in promoting shared-reading habits. 

This month we focus on building literacy communities through family engagement and local literacy activities.

Host a Story Walk

Looking to connect with your local community? Partner with local businesses that are close together and invite each to host a reading. Pick a day where families can walk with their children from business to business to hear NGR books read aloud and to engage in activities. This is not only a great way to build literacy partnerships, but also to promote healthy habits.

As Nebraska Growing Readers shifts focus in the new year, we remain committed to exploring a wide range of partnerships and funding opportunities, including, but not limited to, ESUs, school districts, and communities across the state.

Beyond these collaborations, Sixpence Home Visitors and Center-based programs will receive monthly books, with Greta Carlson providing coordination and technical support to enrich early literacy in the Sixpence program further. As we move forward, we are excited to see how these efforts expand, adapt, and create new opportunities to support early literacy in Nebraska.

NGR News

Brown Bears, NGR, and a Mother-Daughter Duo in Service of the Community

Suzi and Kendra Muhsman Display Their NGR Books

Suzi and Kendra Muhsman recently showed their civic pride in the Schuyler community through the books they wrote for Nebraska Growing Readers. In the process, they promoted family engagement in shared reading, a community commitment toward literacy, and an intergenerational approach toward reading. Learn more about how this mother-daughter duo connected with their community and others beyond.  

Meet the Book Event

Bring a book to life and create community partnerships by hosting a reading where children get to meet someone connected to the book. You can offer a book signing by a local author, invite someone connected to the topic of the book, or even invite someone who can talk about the content of the book.

Nebraska Book Spotlight

Spring Forward, Fall into Books

April is the first breath of spring, and children will be growing increasingly eager to spend time outside. But Nebraska is Nebraska, so you never know for sure what weather will be like in those early spring months.

That doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the coming of the warm sun, fun spring activities, and all the wonderful changes spring brings. Nebraska Growing Readers (NGR) has plenty of local online books you can relate to spring that can help celebrate the season even on those one-off bad-weather days. Here are just few of the options available to you:

Can’t get outside? Do the next best thing and imagine what fun you will have on a slide when the weather is better. You can even make miniature slides indoors for stuffed animals or for rolling cars down.

Looking for a good learning outdoor adventure? Read Garden Guardians, which is full of the little creatures (insects) that keep our plants healthy. You can make bug flash cards, read the book, and then take your children outside to see what helpful insects they spot.

Looking for More Spring Book Ideas?

Did you enjoy our spring book suggestions? If you're looking for more great ways to ease into spring with Nebraska Growing Readers Books, then click on the link below!

Multigenerational Story Time

Connecting literacy moments to multigenerational events can built important family shared-reading habits, but also links to local community members and facilities. Partner with an assisted living facility to share a story time where older generations can interact with children.

Did you enjoy reading these books? Want to read other books available in the NGR library?

Join Our Facebook Group

Nebraska Growing Readers has a Facebook Group where you can  get up-to-date information about the program; engage with this program and the other NGR provider sites; and share ideas, resources, and tips for getting kids excited about reading. 

This private group, will require you to answer a question to get in. There are no wrong answers. We just want to assure a safe space specifically for providers. 

Learn More about Nebraska

Nebraska Growing Readers continues to build the library of content written by Nebraskans and about the various cultural experiences you can find in the state. Want to know more about Nebraska books? Visit our Spotlight on Books page to see what's happening in your state.

Nebraska Growing Readers is a collaboration between Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, the Nebraska Department of Education, the Statewide Family Engagement Center, and Unite for Literacy.

If you have questions of comments concerning the program, please contact Greta Carlson (gcarlson@nebraskachildren.org).

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