Recent reports on children's literacy bring a mix of encouraging news and a clear call to action. While our youngest learners have made remarkable strides since the pandemic, progress is beginning to slow. This highlights a crucial truth: the journey of learning to read is a partnership, with both schools and families playing vital roles. For parents, this moment is an opportunity to lean in, understand the landscape, and double down on the joyful, impactful work that can happen at home.

At MamaBear Books, we closely follow these trends because they inform our mission to create stories that spark curiosity and foster connection. This post will break down the latest news in early learning, from new data on reading skills to the emerging role of AI in classrooms. More importantly, we’ll show you how your family can be the most powerful force in your child's literacy journey, with simple, effective strategies and books designed to make reading a magical experience.

The Big Picture: What’s Happening in Early Literacy?

The conversation around reading is buzzing with new data and developments. Recent DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessments show that while K-2 students have made significant post-pandemic gains, this recovery is losing steam. By the end of the 2024–25 school year, 70% of kindergartners were on track, a huge jump from 49% in 2020–21. However, this still leaves three in ten children significantly behind, reminding us that our work is far from over.

This data underscores what educators and experts have been emphasizing: strong school-family partnerships are essential. When schools empower parents with tools and guidance, they help create a home environment where reading is not just practiced, but treasured. This becomes even more critical as new policies, like the push for "science of reading" initiatives and the use of AI tools for assessment, reshape classroom instruction. While these strategies are promising, their success hinges on consistent reinforcement and a genuine love for learning, which often begins at home.

Even the medical community is weighing in. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently highlighted early literacy as a key social determinant of health, noting that reading with children from infancy promotes brain development and strengthens family bonds. The message is clear: the simple act of sharing a story is one of the most profound investments we can make in a child’s well-being and future.

Your Role in the "Science of Reading"

The "science of reading" is an evidence-based approach that focuses on five key pillars needed to become a skilled reader. While the term sounds academic, the principles are easy and fun to practice at home. You don't need flashcards or formal lessons—just a playful attitude and a few great books.

1.      Phonemic Awareness: Playing with Sounds

This is the ability to hear and manipulate the individual sounds in words. It's all about sound, so no reading material is needed.

• Rhyme Time: Play games like "I'm thinking of a word that rhymes with cat." Or, while reading a rhyming book, pause and let your child fill in the rhyming word.

• Clap it Out: Say a word and clap for each syllable (or "beat") you hear. "Butter-fly" gets three claps!

• I Spy the Sound: Instead of spying a color, spy a sound. "I spy something that starts with the /p/ sound."

2. Phonics: Connecting Letters to Sounds

Phonics is the bridge between spoken sounds and written letters.

• Letter Hunt: Grab a magazine and have your child find and circle all the letter 'B's they can find.

• Play-Doh Letters: Rolling out Play-Doh "snakes" to form letters is a fun, hands-on way to practice letter formation.

• Letter Swat: Write letters on sticky notes, spread them on the floor, and call out a letter sound. Have your child swat the correct letter with a fly swatter

3. Fluency: Reading Smoothly and with Expression

Fluent reading sounds natural, like talking. The best way to model this is by reading aloud every single day.

• Echo Reading: You read a sentence with lots of expression, and your child repeats it back, mimicking your tone.

• Repeated Reading: It’s okay to read the same book over and over! Each time, your child becomes more familiar with the words and rhythm, building their fluency and confidence. Our new "The Day I Had a Series" books are perfect for this, as their fun, repetitive structures invite children to chime in.

4. Vocabulary: Building a World of Words

The more words a child knows, the better they can understand what they read.

• Talk, Talk, Talk: Narrate your day. Use rich, descriptive words. Don't shy away from big words—just explain what they mean.

• Interactive Reading: As you read, pause to talk about the pictures and what's happening. In "The Day I Had a Spaceship," you can ask, "What do you think it would feel like to float in zero gravity?"

5. Comprehension: Understanding the Story

Comprehension is the ultimate goal of reading. It’s about making meaning from the text.

• Ask Questions: Before, during, and after reading, ask open-ended questions. "What do you think will happen next?" "How did the main character feel?" "What did this story make you think about?"

• Act it Out: Encourage your child to act out scenes from a book. Our book "Handy Pandas," which focuses on helpfulness and teamwork, is perfect for inspiring imaginative play where children can practice the story's themes.

• Retell the Story: After you finish a book, ask your child to tell you the story in their own words. This simple activity is a powerful way to check their understanding.

Bringing It All Home with MamaBear Books

Knowing these strategies is one thing; having the right tools is another. We design our books to naturally support these pillars of reading. The engaging narratives in "The Day I Had a Spaceship" expand a child’s vocabulary with exciting, new concepts, while its captivating plot encourages deep comprehension. The playful, problem-solving scenarios in "Handy Pandas" provide endless opportunities for discussion and connection to a child's own experiences. The entire "The Day I Had a Series" is built to encourage prediction and repeated reading, boosting fluency and confidence.

The journey to literacy is a marathon, not a sprint. While trends and policies will continue to evolve, the power of a family that reads together remains constant. By embracing your role as your child's first and most important teacher, you can build on the progress happening in schools and, most importantly, cultivate a joyful, lasting love for stories.