Our Dandelion Story

We turned to our mighty partners – and to you – to grow our reading revolution and help many more children learn to read by Grade Three.

Thank you, Calgary
for making reading wishes come true

Twenty-two years ago…

…we dreamed a dream that all children in Calgary could become joyful, confident readers. Over the years, Calgary Reads’ one-to-one reading programs, our family readaloud revolution, our Book Bank and our special reading places have given thousands of children a bright start in school and in life. Thank you for being a part of the passionate community of supporters who’ve championed each child’s right to read.

Continuing our legacy

Today, because of the pandemic, there are many more children who need help becoming stronger readers than Calgary Reads can reach on its own. The need for greater early literacy support is so vast and complex and critical, that we needed to scale up and spread out to improve the reading lives of local children and families. So, we’re turning to our village and to you.

Spreading Early Literacy Across Calgary

We see the childhood literacy initiatives that we nurtured along as the seeds of dandelions: the flower of wishes. Now, through our ‘dandelion partners,’ the bright burst of Calgary Reads has become seeds carried far and wide to help many more children open the doors to a lifetime of opportunity.

Hear how our partners are making these seeds their own, and making an impact. 

wee read

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area weeread.ca

wee read is a free online resource that helps mentors and caregivers develop and deepen their confidence as reading role models.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary aims to ignite the joy of reading among its youngest mentees (age 6-9) as they build a developmental relationship with their reading role model, their mentor. Both in schools and community, BBBS provides free access to the redesigned weeread.ca as they help young people achieve their potential.

“I observed the student was reluctant to read at the start of the school year, but found that her attitude and behaviour toward reading has improved a lot since meeting with her reading role model mentor.”

– Teacher at a participating school

Early Words
Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation
Calgary Summer Reading Tents

United for Literacy

MRU Reads
MRU Dept of Education
LENA Start
YW Calgary
Little Red Reading House and more
The Owerko Centre
Big Book Sale
Rotary Club of Calgary

Meet Our Dandelion Partners

Hear firsthand from leaders at these incredible organizations and discover why we’re so excited about this next chapter.

Letting Go – Letting Grow

When we created our dandelion strategy, it was with the bold hope that closing and gifting our ‘seeds’ to other organizations could actually help us scale, spread out and ensure more children become thriving readers.

In this report from Mount Royal University’s Institute for Community Prosperity, explore the strategy, the outcomes and the framework other nonprofits could follow as they look for innovative ways to grow their impact. 🍃

The Next Big Book Sale

Every spring, thousands of people eagerly take part in the Calgary Reads Big Book Sale. Our many volunteers, book donors and shoppers all share incredible passion for childhood literacy, and together, we help ensure a bright start for local children and families.

The Big Book Sale is one more way you can support this important cause. We hope you got to be a part of our recent 20th Calgary Reads Big Book Sale!

2021-22 Report to Community

This was a special year for so many reasons. From our Little Red Reading Van sharing the joy of books to the biggest Big Book Sale yet, there was proof, everywhere, that early literacy matters. We are so grateful to have people like you helping to build a thriving community that reads.

Please take a moment to read our 2021-22 Report to Community: From Small Seeds Grow Big Things.

Early Literacy Matters

Every child has a right to read. Together, the Dandelion Seed Partners are carrying forward the important early literacy work of Calgary Reads to ensure more children have access to books, strong reading role models and safe, fun reading places. With these reading essentials, even more critical after the learning loss of the pandemic, children can enjoy a bright start in school and in life.
When children have a home library, as little as 20 books of their own, they achieve three more years of schooling than children who don’t have any books at home.
Source: We are Teachers
25% of children grow up in a home without books
Source: We are Teachers
By age 3, children from the wealthiest and poorest homes are separated by a gap of millions of words.
Source: University of Kansas study, Betty Hart & Todd Risley, & Mapping the Early Language  Environment Using All-Day Recordings & Automated Analysis, 2017

What can I do?

More than ever, children need your help to become stronger readers. We encourage everyone to keep the reading revolution alive by supporting our partners with books, advocacy and time.

Volunteer

Become a one-to-one reading volunteer, get books to young families or support the Big Book Sale. You can volunteer at Little Red Reading House and the Book Bank, and sign up for Big Book Sale opportunities.

Read As a Family

Take time for readalouds to build bonds and brains. Get resources, book picks and more at Little Red Reading House.

Put up a 'Readers Live Here' Sign

Show your hood how much you care about reading as a family and inspire others. To get your ‘Readers Live Here’ sign, stop by Little Red Reading House in Inglewood.

Join Left Unread

Join us in championing each child’s right to read so they can reach their full potential. Get involved in the Left Unread movement and read Canada West Foundation’s latest report: ‘The Case for Literacy in Alberta.’

‘The Teeth of the Lion’

As a very special Calgary Reads legacy project, we commissioned a children’s book celebrating the resilience of children. We were so fortunate to have writer Barry Thorsen and illustrator Jenny Dale collaborate to create ‘The Teeth of the Lion.’
In this video, join us for a readaloud of ‘The Teeth of the Lion during a Reading Rally at Valley View School, where Calgary Reads began… 
Copies of ‘The Teeth of the Lion’ are for sale at Little Red Reading House! 
over the last 22 years

166k+

books given to children at Little Red Reading House and via Book Bank

360k

hours read aloud to children

3.3k+

children visited Little Red Reading House

210

schools visited by our reading volunteers

250

families participated in LENA and 2,000 books were distributed to those families

24k+

volunteers

Thank you for helping us raise a generation of readers.

Questions? Looking for Steacy?

Steacy is looking forward to new ways of advocating for early literacy. If you’re interested in designing a children’s reading place, professional development or consulting, please get in touch.