The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is proud to support high-quality early learning opportunities for all young children across the Commonwealth. From birth through school age, children’s earliest experiences shape their lifelong learning, health, and well-being. That is why OCDEL continues to invest in initiatives that strengthen early literacy, promote family engagement, and build strong, connected communities where children can thrive.

Early childhood education programs play a vital role in this work. Pennsylvania’s early learning professionals are not only educators but also community builders and leaders. Their programs are often the first place families turn for guidance, connection, and support. By fostering welcoming spaces that promote literacy and learning, early learning professionals help create strong foundations not only for children but for entire communities.

Early literacy begins at birth. Through everyday moments like sharing books, telling stories, singing songs, and talking with caring adults, children begin to build the language and literacy skills they need for future success. Access to books is a critical part of this process, and small, consistent opportunities to engage with print can make a big difference.

To further support this important work, OCDEL is pleased to offer Pennsylvania-certified early learning providers the opportunity to request a Little Library at no cost for their program and community. The Little Library program will begin implementation in February 2026.

Little Libraries are small, free book-sharing boxes that allow community members to “take a book, share a book.” They offer a simple but powerful way to increase access to reading materials, encourage family engagement, and promote a love of reading. For early learning programs, a Little Library can be an additional way to support early literacy while reinforcing the role as a trusted community leader and resource.

Below are resources for early learning programs as they support early literacy efforts in their communities through the Little Library project.

Order Your Little Library

Stay tuned for the impact of the Little Libraries in early learning programs and communities throughout Pennsylvania!

You’ve Set Up Your Little Library—What’s Next?

A well-used Little Library becomes a gathering point for families, children, and community members. With a bit of planning and ongoing care, it can grow into a trusted community resource that supports early literacy for everyone and strengthens your role as a trusted educator and community leader.

1. Finding Books (No Buying Required!)
   Gently used books are perfect to share in your Little Library! There are many ways to build your library without buying new books from stores or online.
   • Community Donations
     • Check the libraries within your classrooms. Are there books ready to be transitioned for use outside the classroom?
     • Ask families, staff, and community members to donate gently used children’s books.
     • Set up a short book drive with clear guidelines (board books, picture books, early readers).
     • Share a wish list by age group or topic (babies, toddlers, preschoolers, diverse stories, bilingual books).
   • Libraries & Community Partners
     • Reach out to your local public library about withdrawn or surplus children’s books.
     • Partner with literacy organizations, United Way chapters, civic groups, or early childhood coalitions.
     • Connect with faith-based organizations, service clubs, or local nonprofits that support families.
     • Consider including no-cost early learning materials from the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).
   • Schools & Programs
     • Ask elementary schools if they have books they are rotating out.
     • Coordinate book swaps between classrooms or programs.
   • Special Events
     • Collect donated books during back-to-school nights, family engagement events, or community fairs.
     • Encourage families to donate a book their child has outgrown.
2. Promoting Your Little Library
   People can’t use your Little Library if they don’t know it’s there!
   • Make It Visible
     • Add colorful signage that says, “Take a Book, Share a Book.”
     • Place the library where families naturally gather—near entrances, playgrounds, or pick-up areas.
   • Spread the Word
     • Share photos and updates in newsletters, emails, and social media. Tag PA’s Promise for Children in your social media!
     • Ask families to tell friends, grandparents, and community members.
     • Invite community partners to help promote it through their networks.
   • Celebrate It
     • Host a Little Library Kickoff or reading day.
     • Invite families to stop by, choose a book, and read together.
     • Tie promotions to events like National Poetry Month (February), National Reading Month (March), Read Across America Day (March 2), Month/Week of the Young Child (April), National Library Week (April), National Early Literacy Month (September), or summer reading.
     • Check out these other awareness months, weeks, or days to celebrate and raise awareness about literacy from Reading Rockets and Build Book Buzz.

3. Sharing Information with Families
   Help families understand how the little library supports their child’s learning.
   • Keep It Simple
     • Explain that families can take a book, keep it, or bring it back later.
     • Emphasize that there are no rules, no fines, and no pressure.
   • Connect Books to Daily Life
     • Share quick tips like:
       • Read during bedtime or mealtime.
       • Talk about the pictures, even if you don’t read every word.
       • Let your child choose the book!
     • Use Multiple Ways to Communicate
       • Flyers or posters near the library
       • Short blurbs in family handbooks or newsletters
       • Verbal reminders during drop-off and pick-up
       • Translated materials for families who speak languages other than English

4. Engaging the Wider Community
   Your Little Library can be a shared neighborhood resource.
   • Invite local leaders, librarians, or authors to visit and read.
   • Encourage community members to donate books or help maintain the space.
   • Share the library’s location with community groups, WIC offices, barber/beauty shops, corner stores, laundromats, housing providers, or family support agencies.

5. Tips & Tricks for a Well-Used Little Library
   • Keep It Fresh
     • Rotate books regularly so families see something new.
     • Feature themed books (seasons, feelings, animals, family routines). PA’s Promise for Children has book recommendations based on interest!
   • Make It Inclusive
     • Include books that reflect different cultures, languages, abilities, and family structures.
     • Add wordless books and picture-heavy stories for all reading levels.
   • Maintain It with Care
     • Check for damaged books and weather wear.
     • Keep it clean, organized, and welcoming.
   • Invite Ownership
     • Let children help choose or sort books.
     • Add a simple sign: This library belongs to our community.
   • Track What Works
     • Notice which books disappear quickly—those are favorites!
       • Ask families what they’d like to see more of.

Your Little Library doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. When families feel welcome and supported, your library becomes more than a box of books—it becomes a place where stories, connections, and learning begin.

Resources

Why Early Literacy Is Important: Research-Backed Overviews

• Early Language & Brain Development (Reading Foundation). Explains how early reading, talking, and play help build brain connections and vocabulary long before school starts.
• Early Literacy & Long-Term Success (Children’s Institute / REL Northwest)
  Focuses on literacy from birth to age 8, why it matters for academic outcomes, and links to evidence-based tools.
• Early Literacy Basics (American Library Association). Clear summary of what early literacy is (not just reading words!) and why shared reading builds skills.
• Pediatric Perspective (American Academy of Pediatrics). Highlights early reading as part of healthy development from birth and the role of shared reading.

How to Encourage & Support Early Literacy: Practical Strategies for Families & Educators

• Early Literacy Foundation (First Things First). Focus on “Talk. Read. Succeed.”, emphasizing everyday interactions that grow vocabulary and reading readiness.
• readaloud has many great resources to share to inspire reading every day. Find many new resources through the Partner Toolkit, which includes:

• • Posters
  • Parent Handouts
  • Bookmarks
  • Reaching Trackers
  • Activity Sheets
  • Web Graphics
• The PA One Book program has printable Activity Guides with early learning activities around early literacy.

Tips & Ideas to Share with Families

Here are low-effort, high-impact activities families can do at home or in your program:

• Read Aloud Daily: Break up reading into bite-sized sessions that fit into routines.
• Talk Through the Day: Conversations, not just reading, support vocabulary and comprehension.
• Sing & Rhyme: Songs and rhymes boost phonemic awareness (the sounds that make up words).
• Create Print-Rich Spaces: Labels, signs, and books around the home or classroom make text meaningful.
• Ask Open-Ended Questions: During reading, ask, “What do you think happens next?” or “How does that character feel?”
• Encourage Storytelling: Let kids tell their own stories. This supports narrative skills, which are foundational to literacy.
• Sign up for the monthly family-friendly newsletters through PA’s Promise for Children. Each month includes early learning and early literacy activities that align with the PA Early Learning Standards. Anyone can subscribe, and subscribing is free!