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Frequent Questions

We want to help you find answers to your questions about Nebraska Growing Readers. Below you will find answers to common questions about the program. If you can't find your answer there, please feel free to contact Wendy Keele or Greta Carlson.

This section is a compilation of answers to the questions most commonly asked by our constituents. Just start by following one of the links below. If you can’t find the question you wanted to ask, don’t hesitate to contact us.

  1. What is Nebraska Growing Readers (NGR)?
  2. How is Nebraska Growing Readers funded?
  3. How do I qualify for book distribution?
  4. I’m a Nebraska licensed child care provider, can I still enroll in the NGR program?
  5. Is there a cost to the child care provider or center?
  6. Are preschools eligible for Nebraska Growing Readers?
  7. When will I receive books?
  8. How often will I receive books?
  9. How does Nebraska Growing Readers decide what books to send me?
  10. How long will I receive books?
  11. Whom should I contact if I have questions or need more books?
  12. How do I withdraw from the program?
  13. What am I required to do as a book distribution site?
  14. I want to register my child to receive books this summer. How do I do that?
  15. I already get books from my child care provider, why would I want to get books for my child sent to me through the kindergarten program?
  16. Why would my child want or need 100 books?
  17. If I register my incoming kindergartener, will they be “tested” by the school or Nebraska Growing Readers?

  1. Nebraska Growing Readers is a grant-funded partnership between the Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, the Statewide Family
    Engagement Center, and Unite for Literacy to expand access to free books across the state. The NGR initiative is an effort to inspire a love of reading in the youngest Nebraskans as well to help nurture parent-child relationships through daily reading.

  2. How is Nebraska Growing Readers funded?

    This project is made possible through a Nebraska Department of Education ESSER III funding source. If you have additional questions about the grant, you may contact Wendy Keele at wkeele@nebraskachildren.org.

  3. How do I qualify for book distribution?

    NGR book distribution occurs through licensed child care centers and home providers who have registered for the program. Book distribution ended at the end of October 2024.

  4. I’m a Nebraska licensed child care provider, can I still enroll in the NGR program?

    Book distribution ended at the end of October 2024. We hope to have funds in the future to continue to distribution program. Please check back in on this website or contact Wendy Keele (wkeele@nebraskachildren.org) with questions.

  5. Is there a cost to the child care provider or center?

    No, this program, including digital and printed books, is free to registered child care providers and centers.

  6. Are preschools eligible for Nebraska Growing Readers?

    Not at this time.

  7. When will I receive books?

    Registered providers receive shipments of books by mail approximately four weeks after registering on the Nebraska Growing Readers website. Subsequently, you will receive monthly boxes of books through the mail ending in December 2024.

    Registered kindergarten families will receive their first set of 4 books approximately 4 weeks after registering and will continue to receive weekly books through the end of December.

  8. How often will I receive books?

    Once you have registered, you should receive an email confirmation. Approximately four weeks after registration, your books should ship. If you have any questions about shipping, please contact Nicholas McGuffee of Unite for Literacy at nicholas.mcguffee@uniteforliteracy.com.

  9. How does Nebraska Growing Readers decide what books to send me?

    Unite for Literacy packages the sets of books each month. All child care sites will receive the same titles each month. We are not able to individualize book distribution to different sites.

  10. How long will I receive books?

    Book distribution was completed at the end of October 2024.

  11. Whom should I contact if I have questions or need more books?

    Questions concerning NGR should be directed to Wendy Keele at Nebraska Children-- wkeele@nebraskachildren.org or Greta Carlson--gcarlson@nebraskachildren.org or by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

  12. How do I withdraw from the program?

    You can withdraw your participation at any time. Please contact Wendy Keele, w.keele@nebraskachildren.org, to change your registration status.

  13. What am I required to do as a book distribution site?

    ●Display the books at your location for families and children to see.
    ● Alert families when new books arrive.
    ● Contact us if there are any changes needed to your registration--for example, change of address, increase or decrease in number of books received, and to include books written in Spanish in your order.

  14. Incoming Kindergarten registration has ended for all communities. Please check this website for future programs as funding becomes available.

  15. I already get books from my child care provider, why would I want to get books for my child sent to me through the kindergarten program?

    The books your child will receive are different than the books available through the childcare provider. The new books are written for children ages 4 – 6.

  16. There is research that shows when a child has access to 100 or more books in their home, the higher their reading scores will be when tested. A wide variety of books also allows for the child’s interests to change and new favorite books to be selected.

    For more on why reading matters, visit our resource page by clicking this question.

  17. If I register my incoming kindergartener, will they be “tested” by the school or Nebraska Growing Readers?

    Nebraska Growing Readers has agreements signed with the schools participating in our study to receive the literacy scores for children registered. There is no additional assessment that will be done. The literacy scores are collected every year by the public school districts.

Wendy Keele

Assistant Vice President, Nebraska Growing Readers

or

Greta Carlson

Project Coordinator, Nebraska Growing Readers

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