Supporting Parents to be Their Child’s First and Most Important Teacher

The Little by Little Program is an evidence-based early literacy program for young children (ages 0-5) from families engaged in the WIC program. By providing free, high-quality books and parental support and instruction, our children’s literacy program fosters early literacy skills, improves school readiness, and helps children prepare basic literacy skills to succeed in school and in life.

How the Little by Little Program Works

The Little by Little Program is offered to children and families participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also known as WIC.

When families visit their local WIC center, they receive their choice of new, age-appropriate children’s books, handouts for parents, and guidance on the importance of starting and maintaining consistent reading practices at home. The Little by Little Program is a much-needed early literacy program for kids receiving WIC, who may have limited access to books or other literacy resources.

The Little by Little Program is made possible through grants and charitable donations from a variety of partners and funders. Our network of partners and donors is key to the program’s ongoing success.

The Consequences of Low Literacy Are Alarming

The consequences of low literacy can be profoundly challenging and can impact a child’s success in school and in life. This challenge is particularly true for children from families and communities facing barriers to progress and with fewer literacy resources available.

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of families with lower incomes have no children’s books in their homes.

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of children arrive at kindergarten without the skills necessary for lifelong learning.

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of children from communities that are facing barriers to progress enter first grade up to two years behind their peers.

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of America’s fourth graders read below proficiency level, and 82% of those children are from families with fewer resources available.

How Early Literacy Programs Can Help Close the Gap

Early literacy programs can help young children become more prepared for school and lifelong success by providing important early literacy practices, guidance, and resources during the most critical time of children’s brain development—ages 0-3.

Cognitive processes

develop rapidly in the first few years of life. By age 3, roughly 85% of the brain is developed.

The number of books in the home

correlates significantly with higher reading scores for children.

Children’s academic successes at ages 9-10

can be attributed to the amount of talk they hear from birth through age 3. Young children who are exposed to early language and reading also prove to be good readers later in life.

Children who are read to at least 3x per week

are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading comprehension compared to children who are read to less than three times per week.

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Get Involved

Our communities are stronger when we give everyone the resources they need to thrive. Programs like the Little by Little Program address social and economic inequities and set our future leaders up for success. Join us in helping to create equal access to opportunities for all children!

Start a Little by Little Program in Your Community

Bringing the Little by Little School Readiness Program to your neighborhood is an important step in building more supportive communities. Our team of experts are available to answer questions and provide detailed information on how to get started. Please visit our Start a Program page to learn more about what it takes to become a Little by Little Program provider.

Get in Touch With Our Team

Our team of early literacy experts are available to answer your questions about the Little by Little School Readiness Program, and the importance of fostering early literacy skills and practices. Visit our Contact Us page to ask us a question or request more information.

Donate to the Little by Little School Readiness Program

When you donate to the Little by Little Literacy Program for kids, you're helping families engage in strong literacy habits, ensuring that children enter school with better literacy, reading and language skills, and preparing them for academic and lifelong success. Your donation, of any size, will have a tremendous impact and help close the early literacy gap for young children at the most critical time in their development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Join us in our mission to support young children who benefit from access to early literacy resources. Learn more below about some key Little by Little Program facts.

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How is the Little by Little Program Funded?

The Little by Little Program is funded through grants and donations from a variety of individuals and organizations. Click here to find out more about our current funders and partners. Visit our Donate page to learn how you can support the Little by Little Program and young children’s early literacy development.

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How much does the Little by Little Program Cost?

In Los Angeles County, the Little by Little Program costs, on average, $52 annually per child. Children enrolled in the program receive up to four high-quality educational books each year, which they get to keep as they build their own home library. Parents also receive age-appropriate handouts during each Little by Little Program visit that provide important information on their child’s developmental milestones.

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Where is the Little by Little Program Located?

The Little by Little Program is currently located at ten WIC centers across Los Angeles County and five WIC centers in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Visit our Program Locations page for more information about where we offer the Little by Little School Readiness Program.

Visit the FAQ page for more information about the Little by Little School Readiness Program.

Help us engage 72,000+ children and families each year in home literary efforts.

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