Book Babies

Book Babies welcomes families aboard the Storymobile for dedicated storytimes, where staff members model reading, playing, craft-making and nurturing in a safe, supportive environment. Caregivers share tips and resources along with companionship.

These neighborhood play groups foster friendships that deepen and grow with the little ones. At each visit, families pick up a bag of books, toys and learning activities to help give tots a happy, healthy start!

In Book Babies, as across our programming, we are highlighting books by Black and multicultural writers and illustrators, to ensure that even our tiniest learners can start to develop a positive racial identity through reading. Examples include “Skin Again” by bell hooks, “Antiracist Baby” by Ibram X Kendi, “Sunny Day: A Celebration of the Sesame Street Theme Song” illustrated by various artists including those of color, and “Follow Your Dreams, Little One” by Vashti Harrison.

Since the pandemic hit, Book Babies has started holding virtual storytimes on Facebook Live. The virtual platform has greatly increased accessibility, eliminating geographical barriers and other scheduling conflicts that can prevent some families from attending in person, which has allowed more moms and their little ones to join. We are now offering both virtual and in-person options for storytimes! Parents and caregivers can choose to watch online storytimes with their little ones from the comfort of their own homes – anytime they want! – and/or join us on our Storymobiles for weekly Book Babies sessions in the community, where we sing fun songs, play with bubbles and other interactive toys, learn together, and of course, read awesome new books!

Note: Reading is Fundamental Pittsburgh is a children’s literacy organization that works to lessen the literacy and achievement gaps in neighborhoods of need in Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg. Book Babies provides parents and caregivers with tools, information and support to nurture literacy development in children from birth through age 3. We offer weekly storytimes (both virtual and in-person) and free in-home resources. To qualify for Book Babies, you must have a child aged 0-3 years old and live within one of the seven neighborhoods of need that we serve. These neighborhoods include East Liberty, Hazelwood, Hill District, Homewood/East Hills, North Side, Southside and Wilkinsburg.