Early literacy is the foundation of future success.
City’s First Readers engages parents, caregivers, and communities across New York City to ensure all children develop critical early literacy skills.
About
City’s First Readers
City’s First Readers, an initiative of the New York City Council, is a collaboration of nonprofits and libraries that work together to create opportunities for community driven early literacy programs that benefit children and families from all New York City neighborhoods.
Featured Neighborhood Events
Find free events to learn, play, and discover in your neighborhood
09 Jul, 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Virtual Storytime
**While our in-person events are on hold, we are offering virtual programming via Facebook Live broadcasts from our branches!** Join us for virtual storytime with books, songs, and tips for your child to acquire early literacy, fine motor, and language developmental skills. We will be live from the New Utrecht Library facebook page!
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09 Jul, 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Virtual Storytime
Join us for virtual storytime with books, songs, and tips for your child to acquire early literacy, fine motor, and language developmental skills! View the live broadcast from the Carroll Gardens Facebook Page.
Learn More
09 Jul, 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Virtual Storytime
**While our in-person events are on hold, we are offering virtual programming via Facebook Live broadcasts from our branches!** Join us for virtual storytime with books, songs, and tips for your child to acquire early literacy, fine motor, and language developmental skills. We will be live from the New Utrecht Facebook page!
Learn More
09 Jul, 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
Your Story Creation
Kids 10-14: Join Ms. Angela Perez, children’s librarian at Flushing Library, and friends for a different creative storytelling activity each week in this interactive series, including Minecraft Story, Digital Comics, DIY Zines, Escape Rooms, and more. Email FlushingYouth@queenslibrary.org; Subject: Your Story, for a link to the program.
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Resources for Parents
Get tips, advice, and resources for supporting early literacy skills
City’s First Readers
Preschoolers 3 – 5 Years Old
Parents, you are your child’s first, and most influential teacher! City’s First Readers has a number of resources to help you build strong literacy skills with your children. It’s much easier than you think, and we give you ideas to make learning fun for the entire family.
City’s First Readers
Toddlers 2 – 3 Years Old
Parents, you are your child’s first, and most influential teacher! City’s First Readers has a number of resources to help you build strong literacy skills with your children. It’s much easier than you think, and we give you ideas to make learning fun for the entire family.
City’s First Readers
Babies 0 – 2 Years Old
Parents, you are your child’s first, and most influential teacher! City’s First Readers has a number of resources to help you build strong literacy skills with your children. It’s much easier than you think, and we give you ideas to make learning fun for the entire family.
Latest News
Read news, press, and updates from City’s First Readers Partners
LINC’s Letter to the New York Times
A response to the article School Reforms Fail to Lift U.S. On Global Test, published on December 3rd, 2019
Our Children Deserve Excellence
LINC empowers parents to lead change in their communities so that all children can grow up reading. Read about Silvia’s leadership in action
Daddy and Me
For the seventh year, LINC led community programs for Dads Take Your Child to School Day
LINC’s Response to Ocasio-Cortez’s Anti-Poverty Initiative “A Just Society”
If we are going to address the systems that are the root causes of poverty, we cannot ignore literacy