All Children Can Be Ready to Read
Early literacy is the foundation for children’s lifelong learning journey. Research shows that the first few years of life are crucial for brain development, and the experiences young children have with language, books, and storytelling during this time can significantly shape their future academic success. Libraries and librarians can play a vital role in supporting parents and caregivers in helping children learn important early literacy skills.
The Public Library Association and the Association for Library Services to Children released the first edition of the Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) program 25 years ago to advance early literacy. ECRR was centered on the six early literacy skills: print motivation, phonological awareness, vocabulary, narrative skills, print awareness, and letter knowledge. It included stand-alone adult education sessions separate from children’s programming. This early edition of the program was eventually updated to replace the six early literacy skills with five related practices: sing, talk, read, write, and play.
CT Ready to Read with Sparkler
This curriculum, CT Ready to Read with Sparkler, was created by the CT State Library and Sparkler Learning and builds on the legacy of ECRR, modernizing the program for today’s librarians and families. The program is designed to help librarians lead engaging and purposeful storytime sessions that promote key early literacy skills for parents or caregivers and their young children to experience together. This structured program provides a roadmap for librarians to facilitate interactive, skill-building sessions that not only support young children’s growth but also empower parents and caregivers to become active partners in their children’s early literacy skill development.
Overview of the Curriculum
Using a “bear themed” curriculum, six core early literacy skills are introduced and reinforced through shared stories, activities, and songs:
- Week 1: Print Awareness – Helping children recognize that print carries meaning, from books to labels to signs in the world around them.
- Week 2: Narrative Skills – Encouraging children to understand and tell stories, fostering the ability to organize and express their thoughts through language.
- Week 3: Phonological Awareness – Strengthening children’s ability to hear, identify, and manipulate sounds in spoken language, a key building block for reading.
- Week 4: Letter Knowledge – Introducing children to the alphabet, letter recognition, and the sounds that letters make.
- Week 5: Vocabulary – Expanding children’s language by introducing new words and helping them make connections between words and their meanings.
- Week 6: Print Motivation — Building children’s interest in print and reading and their persistence with reading, even when it is difficult.
Goals of CT Ready to Read with Sparkler
Each week of the program includes a blend of reading, writing, singing, talking, and playful activities that actively engage children while also providing valuable guidance for parents and caregivers. By attending these storytimes, families will not only develop a love for reading, but also learn practical, evidence-based strategies to support their child’s literacy development at home.
Each week also includes suggested books that support the development of core literacy skills and play-based learning activities, available for free in the Sparkler mobile application (in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, and Arabic) aligned with the week’s theme.
CT Ready to Read with Sparkler offers librarians a clear, structured framework to deliver high-quality, research-based early literacy programs, while fostering meaningful connections with families in the community. Through these sessions, librarians can help parents and caregivers understand how everyday activities — such as reading together, talking about the world around them, and playing with sounds — are integral to building a child’s literacy foundation.
About the Creators of this Guide
CT Ready to Read with Sparkler was created through a collaboration between Sparkler Learning and the CT State Library.
More about The CT State Library: The Connecticut State Library is an Executive Branch agency of the State of Connecticut. The State Library provides a variety of library information, archival, public records, museum, and administrative services to citizens of Connecticut, as well as the employees and officials of all three branches of State government. The Connecticut State Archives and the Museum of Connecticut History are components of the State Library, as is the Division of Library Development.
More about Sparkler Learning: The CT Office of Early Childhood makes Sparkler available statewide for all families with children 5 and under and to all programs serving families with young children. For families, Sparkler is a mobile app that gives parents easy access to developmental screening, thousands of activities that support play-based learning, tips for parents and caregivers, and connection to support. Sparkler’s service was developed by Sparkler Learning, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting families to promote healthy learning and development in the early years.
If You Want Sparkler for Your CT Library
The CT Office of Early Childhood makes Sparkler available across the State of Connecticut to all programs serving young children, including libraries.
Your CT library can share Sparkler with families so they can use it independently (getting support from 211 Child Development or local programs).
If you prefer, Sparkler can set you up with an access code that you can share with your families.
If you want to get set up, please contact Meaghan Penrod at Sparkler.