Happenings

After more than 30 years of providing childcare, Geraldine Elliott finds her greatest reward and joy in a very ordinary moment.

It’s the moment when a young child—nurtured on sharing books—expresses for the first time an understanding of words, objects, colors, and numbers.

“Today when tiny, 2-year-old Ka’liya handed me those little plastic flowers she’d been playing with and said ‘THREE PINK FLOWERS,’ ...

Freskos restaurant at 2323 Whitney Ave. will host a benefit on December 12^th for Read to Grow, a non-profit providing children’s books and literacy information to families in Connecticut.

Mrs. Connecticut America 2018, Teresa Ladopoulos-Nakouzi, will sign autographs from noon to 2 p.m. A representative from Read to Grow will accompany her.

Freskos is donating 20% percent of all sales on December 12^th to Read to Grow for its statewide services in early childhood literacy.

Freskos has earned top honors for both Best ...

Created by Save the Children, program includes home visits and school-based meetings

New Haven – An early literacy program designed by Save the Children for infants, young children and their families launches this fall in New Haven.

Early Steps to School Success-New Haven, funded and managed by the nonprofit Read to Grow, will work with at-risk families to help ensure their children enter kindergarten with the skills needed for success in school and beyond.

New Haven will be the only urban-based adaptation of ...

Delivered through Prenatal Project

By Marguerite Alpert
Books for Babies Coordinator

Bruna Fortunato’s journeys from Brazil and to pregnancy have not been easy.

When the 25-year-old first came to this country four years ago to make a better life for herself, she struggled with learning a new language and keeping up with bills. She stayed less than a year. Once back in Brazil, however, Bruna realized that she wanted to make another go of it in the United States.

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Huwerl Thornton knows something about fatherhood.

And setting good examples.

And teaching and learning through books.

The 50-year-old has spent many years in classrooms, both as a student and then as an elementary school teacher for 14 years in New Haven. A champion of Read to Grow and its work for early childhood literacy, he’s now Youth Programs Coordinator for Connecticut Food Bank, which ...

Guests who had their photographs taken with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the benefit event for Read to Grow on May 17 at the College Street Music Hall in New Haven can view those photos by clicking HERE. The link will take you to a page on the website of Tricia Bohan Photography.

You can download your photo by clicking the download button.

We will be posting other photos taken at the event on our website by May 26^th.

If you have any questions, ...

Sakina Ibrahim used her book “Big Words to Little Me” to present a workshop on self-esteem and affirmation to girls in fifth, sixth and seventh grades at Wexler-Grant Community School in New Haven on April 5.

The hit presentation was part ...

The New Haven Public Schools received 5,024 free copies of the hardcover “Galactic Hot Dogs” this April from Read to Grow.

The books were collected by Lauren Canalori, who is the Lead Literacy Teacher for students in kindergarten through 8^th grade in the New Haven schools. She and others are working on a plan to give the book to all students in two grades at ...

Walmart State Giving Program 

With $40,000 from Walmart Foundation, Read to Grow has purchased a new van. The 2017 Chrysler Ram ProMaster 1500 is already on the road, driven by Israel “Izzy” Oliveras. Izzy makes numerous book pick-ups and deliveries every week around the state. He expects to log more than 15,000 miles on the van’s odometer in the coming year.

Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven awarded Read to Grow a three-year grant totaling ...

A Little Free Library has been set up at the Newhallville Substation of the New Haven Police Department as part of “Community Wellness” efforts organized by police Sgt. Shafiq Abdussabur.

Sgt. Abdussabur and New Haven resident Jane Lewis spearheaded setting up the Little Free Library in Newhallville, which opened on Nov. 12 at 596 Winchester Ave. Read to Grow supplied some of the books offered to the public at the always-open library. The library is a permanent box containing books for ...