Celebrating Literacy at the Cleveland Botanical Garden: A Special Story Time Event.
On Tuesday, August 6th, The Literacy Cooperative, program partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Cuyahoga County, hosted a special story time event for families enrolled in the program at the beautiful Cleveland Botanical Garden. The gathering featured a special guest, Congresswoman Shontel Brown, who was eager to share her passion for reading with the young audience.
The event was filled with joy and enthusiasm as Congresswoman Brown read from two Imagination Library books. Children gathered around, captivated by her storytelling, engaging with the narratives and eagerly interacting with the stories being told.
Testimonies from attending families echoed the importance of such initiatives. Imagination Library parent Priya S. remarked, “After reading the Imagination Library books and coming to this storytelling program, our daughter has been more engaged in the books and has started reading them like she is the storyteller.” Her sentiment was mirrored by Christopher T., who added, “We love receiving the weekly resource emails and getting the opportunity to enjoy events like today’s.”
Families also got the opportunity to ask Congresswoman Brown questions about her insights and experiences as the representative for District 11. Following the storytelling session, families enjoyed a day at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, soaking in the natural beauty and taking home additional books to enrich their personal libraries.
This event underscored the importance of promoting early childhood literacy initiatives in Cuyahoga County, where 56% of children entering kindergarten are not on track to read at grade level. A survey conducted by The Literacy Cooperative revealed promising results from families participating in the Imagination Library program. Of the 2,874 responses, 90% reported that participating in the program has helped prepare their children for kindergarten, and 78% of parents indicated they are reading to their children more often since joining the program.
As Cuyahoga County families prepare for the transition to kindergarten in the upcoming weeks, events like this highlight the crucial role that early literacy initiatives play in ensuring a bright future for our children. By fostering a love for reading and addressing critical literacy needs within our community, we can better equip children for their academic journeys ahead.