2020 was a lousy year in so many respects. As we reflect on the year, it’s easy to dwell on the bad and talk about all the challenges that came with the year. Instead, we choose to celebrate. 2020 wasn’t easy, but it sure did have some bright spots at Best Beginnings. 17,405 Alaska children Read More
Books, Books, Everywhere!
Recently my sister, brother, and I were tasked with clearing out our parents’ home and getting it ready to sell. There were books everywhere! As we took box after box of books to the local Goodwill, I reflected on how my parents’ interest in reading influenced my own. I don’t remember not being able to Read More
Talk is Cheap – and Priceless.
People say talk is cheap, but for babies, talk is priceless. Talking with babies has been shown to have an amazing impact on the growth of their brains and development of language, key to their future success in school and in life. And, unlike products that are advertised to parents as critical to making their Read More
Shaping Dreams Through Reading
As we honor and remember the accomplished life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, let us take to heart her statement in support of books and reading: “Reading shaped my dreams, and more reading helped me make my dreams come true.” We can help children shape their dreams and make them come true through sharing books with Read More
A Different Kind of School Year
Some of you will remember the “good ole days” when school started the day after the Labor Day holiday. That’s why I always envision the beginning of the year is September. It was exciting to see the wide array of school supplies for sale all over town. And new school clothes and shoes. How many Read More
Navigating Change with Children
During these challenging and uncertain times, parents/caregivers of young children have been doing their best to manage through these several months of dealing with COVID-19 – and it’s not over yet. We thought by now we’d be back at work and our children would be back in their early care and learning programs. However, for Read More
Bringing the Learning To You with Little Learners
Can you believe that it was just a year ago that we filled the Cuddy Park with hundreds of people to celebrate the tenth year of Imagination Library in Anchorage? The coronavirus has caused changes in so many aspects of families’ lives, and community-based learning activities for their young children are no exception. Even we Read More
Seasons of Alaska has Arrived
A few months ago you could hardly walk through the Best Beginnings office. Boxes upon boxes of our newest book set for young children, Seasons of Alaska, filled nearly every room. Thanks to hard work and many, many mail runs, now over 20,000 of these books are in the hands of Alaska children all across the state – Read More
Best Beginnings Receives Library of Congress State Literacy Award
Best Beginnings is one of 10 organizations selected from nominations across the United States to receive a State Literacy Award from The Library of Congress in 2020. Best Beginnings was nominated for the award by The Alaska Center for the Book for its “outstanding and innovative contributions to literacy in the local community and across Read More
Week of the Young Child
With lots of families spending more time at home together, it may feel like every week now is the week of the young child. However, there’s one particular week in which we pay special attention to young children, their families, and the early care and learning programs and teachers that support them. The Week of the Read More
