Literacy & community
News
Reading tips, author spotlights, community updates, and literacy inspiration from the SOCW team.
March 04, 2026
March Reading Goals: Stories That Nourish, Inspire & Bloom
March is a season of fresh starts. The days get a little longer. The flowers begin to bloom. And it feels like the pe...
February 01, 2026
February Reading Goals: A Month of Learning, Kindness & Celebration
February Reading Challenge: Celebrate, Learn & Share! Encourage kids to read with purpose this February! Our 10 r...
November 13, 2025
2025 Holiday Reading Goals: Celebrate the Season Through Stories
Make reading part of your holiday tradition with our 2025 Holiday Reading Goals Coloring Sheet! Explore diverse stori...
October 15, 2025
Celebrating Heritage: Stories That Uplift Every Child’s Voice
October is bursting with opportunities to celebrate every child’s heritage, imagination, and courage! Dive into stori...
October 15, 2025
Let Kids Pick! Choice, Joy & Lifelong Readers
Discover the secret to raising lifelong readers: letting children choose books that inspire them. At Stories of a Col...
October 02, 2025
5 Banned Picture Books Every Family Should Read Together
Meet five beautiful stories like “The Proudest Blue” and “Calvin”, that have been challenged but continue to light th...
October 02, 2025
Why Diverse Books End Up on Banned Lists And What We Can Do About It
Every time a book gets banned, a child’s chance to feel seen or to see someone new in a story gets smaller. Discover ...
September 21, 2025
5 Ways to Encourage Kids to Write or Draw Their Own Comics
Kids are natural storytellers, and comics let them combine words and art in exciting ways. Fall is the perfect season...
September 21, 2025
Why Graphic Novels Are Great for Building Strong Readers
For years, parents and teachers sometimes dismissed graphic novels as “just cartoons.” And I still hear families say,...
September 21, 2025
From Jitters to Joy: Books for New Beginnings
Change is everywhere, especially in fall...new classrooms, new teachers, new friends. For kids, these shifts can be b...
September 09, 2025
Family Reading Traditions from Around the World
From Tokyo to Accra to Mexico City, families have always gathered around stories. In Japan, some children experience ...
September 09, 2025
Why Representation Matters: Helping Kids See Themselves in Stories
Do you remember the first time you saw someone like you in a book, a movie, or even on TV? That little spark of recog...
September 09, 2025
10 Children’s Books to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Every September, we get a chance to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration of history, culture, and contributio...
September 09, 2025
Raising Confident Kids Through Cultural Pride
Confidence doesn’t just appear; it’s built, little by little, through experiences, affirmations, and the stories we t...
September 02, 2025
Enough with the Token Shelf: Why Representation Shouldn’t Be an Afterthought
Walk into most bookstores or libraries, and you’ll see it, one small shelf labeled “diverse books.” While the intent...
August 12, 2025
Reset & Recharge: 7 Simple Ways to Reignite Your Child’s Reading Routine This Fall
Back-to-school season is the perfect time to refresh your child’s reading routine. In this post, we share 7 simple, p...
June 22, 2025
Make This Summer Unforgettable: 50 Books in 50 Days Family Reading Challenge!
Join our family-friendly Summer Reading Goals Challenge and read 50 books in 50 days! Download the fun coloring sheet...
April 28, 2025
Welcome to Our May Reading Challenge!
Celebrate May with our Reading Challenge featuring AAPI Heritage, Mental Health Awareness, and Mother’s Day. Enjoy di...
March 30, 2025
April Reading Goals: Celebrating Stories That Inspire!
April’s Reading Goals invite families to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month, Autism Awareness and Acceptance, Ear...
March 04, 2025
March Reading Goals for Kids: Stories to Inspire Growth & Exploration
This month, spark your child’s curiosity with our March Reading Challenge! From celebrating trailblazing women to exp...