Read to Fuel Children's Hearts, Words, Minds & Bodies
Reading together is one of the most important gifts parents/caregivers can give their children. It supports cognitive development; improves language and reasoning skills; helps children and their grown-ups develop trusting relationships; and much more. In honor of Read Across America Week, Sparkler and Read to Grow — in partnership — are releasing a lineup of stories read by the authors and illustrators who created them. In Sparkler’s app or from this web page, find the stories and related activities. The BIG idea: read together, play together, learn together!
Pinkalicious and the Little Butterfly — A Story About Transformation
Play along in the Sparkler mobile app: Appreciate the Earth for babies, Pretend to be Butterflies for toddlers, and Butterfly Wings for preschoolers
About the Story and Author/Illustrator
Join author/illustrator Victoria Kann as she reads aloud one of her books, “Pinkalicious and the Little Butterfly.” It’s a story about a caterpillar’s transformation into a “pinkamazing” butterfly! Victoria Kann is the award-winning illustrator and author of the picture book series featuring the whimsical and effervescent character, Pinkalicious. Victoria co-authored and illustrated the first two books, Pinkalicious, Purplicious as well as the play, Pinkalicious The Musical. She wrote and illustrated Goldilicious, Silverlicious, Emeraldalicious, Aqualicious, Peterrific, and is working on several more books about the adventures and antics of Pinkalicious. The Pinkalicious character was inspired by Victoria’s real life daughters – two girls with vibrant imaginations who love cupcakes, dress up, playing princess, and all things pink.
Stories Build Skills
This story will help families learn about how caterpillars transform into butterflies. It helps children learn about butterflies — developing their curiosity and awareness of the world!
Barry Needs a Hug — A Story About Unlikely Friendships
Play along in the Sparkler mobile app: Bear Hugs for babies, Get Well Gift for toddlers at littles (aged 3-5)
About the Story and Author/Illustrator
Join author/illustrator Sean Fournier as he reads his children’s book, “Barry Needs a Hug.” Barry is a cactus whose world turns upside down when he realizes he’s never had a hug. Will his friends be there for him or will they burst his bubble? Barry learns about friendship, self-acceptance, and the importance of being unique. Join this determined cactus on his quest to embrace the impossible. Fournier is a musician, illustrator, and children’s book author from Portland, Connecticut. He wrote, illustrated, and published his debut children’s book, Barry Needs A Hug, in early 2023.
Stories Build Skills
This is a story about friendship and about identity. It explores the different “superpowers” that each person (or cactus!) has. Related developmental skills include: Trust, Identity, Outlook, and Problem Solving
Bing, Bop, Bam: Time to Jam — A Story About Jamming With Instruments from Around the World
Play along in the Sparkler mobile app: Drums Everywhere for babies, toddlers, and littles.
About the Story and Author/Illustrator
Join author and educator Valerie Bolling as she reads her children’s book, “Bing, Bop, Bam: Time to Jam!” The rhyming story features instruments from all around the world, including agogô, banjo, daegeum, djembe drums, double bass, erhu, maracas, piano, steel drums, and trumpet. Sabrena Khadija’s stunning, colorful illustrations depict the joy of dancing, playing music, and feasting with neighbors and friends. After Valerie’s reading, you will 100% be planning a jam session of your own!
Stories Build Skills
This is a story about people coming together to jam with instruments from around the world. Music (and the story’s rhymes) can build children’s pattern recognition and sounds/letter recognition skills — and exploring cultures and music from around the world helps to build empathy and understanding of others. Playing instruments like the ones in the story helps to build fine motor skills, and dancing to music builds gross motor and perception skills! So…listen and learn!
We Are More — A Story About Identity
Play along in the Sparkler mobile app: Let me Count the Ways for babies, toddlers, and littles, and A Poem About You for toddlers and littles.
About the Story and Author/Illustrator
Join author and musician Janine LaMendola as she reads her book, “We Are More.” It’s a story based on a song about our multi-faceted identities. Janine started off her musical career in her family’s kitchen at age 7 when she got her first guitar. She’s performed for thousands of children and grown-ups over 30-plus years.
Stories Build Skills
This is a story about all the things that we are — all at the same time: children, grandchildren, artists, dancers, builders, explorers, etc. It can help families build their children’s understanding of their own multi-faceted identities.
Which is Which? — A Story About Homophones
Play along in the Sparkler mobile app: Silly Ending (for babies, toddlers, and littles)
About the Story and Author/Illustrator
Join author, veteran police officer, and dad Roy Adams as he shares his children’s book, “Which is Which?” It’s a story about homophones, words that sound the same but have different meanings. He was inspired to write the book by his own children and their bedtime story times.
Stories Build Skills
This story will help families learn about sounds and letters as they explore the difference between which and witch, they’re, their, and there, etc.