PLEASE NOTE: ABC Read and Talk with Me no longer exists as a separate organization. Many of the same volunteers are now working on the Anchorage Imagination Library, still providing books to Anchorage's children.
Oct. 6, 2007 - The ABC Read and Talk With Me
Anchorage project was created to encourage and support efforts by Anchorage
parents and child care providers to share books with their children.
Over the course of the program, more than 10,000 books and 5,000 book bags are being distributed to Anchorage children under the age of six.
"Reading and telling stories to infants and toddlers is critical to
early brain development. We started this project to help ensure that
Anchorage kids get a good start on life and are ready to learn and
ready to succeed when they reach school," said Bonito. "The project was
inspired by Best Beginnings and funded by BP."
To reach a city-wide group of parents and caregivers, the project distributes free book bags through the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA)
WIC program, the MOA Child Care Assistance Office, and thread (formerly Child Care
Connection). Parents will learn about the importance of early
learning on brain development and fun ways to share books with their
children. In addition, the ABC project and thread have
developed a series of early learning classes for child care providers
and caregivers to help ensure Anchorage's youngest children are exposed
to early learning practices from birth.
Book bags, consisting of a selection of Alaska books, informational
brochures on early literacy and learning, a refrigerator magnet, a
finger puppet, and the "Read Aloud" training video for child care
providers, are provided to parents and child care providers that
participate in informational sessions on how to engage a child in
simple early literacy and learning activities.
Deborah Bonito is a small business owner, a member of the Ready to
Read, Ready to Learn Task Force and its successor, the Best Beginnings
Early Learning Council, and mother.
