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The 2023 Reading by 9 guide was created through the generous support of the Ballmer Group and features contributions from the Los Angeles Public Library, First 5 LA, Raising a Reader, Zero to Three, Sprout Speech and Language Pathology and Read to a Child. This year’s guide spotlights articles, activities, book recommendations and more for parents and educators of children ages 0-5.
Leer en Español | Download the 2023 guide | Last year’s guide
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Tips and tricks for our readers
Instilling a love for reading is important. Building a foundation for literacy can help children grow their vocabulary, confidence and imagination.
From our friends at the Los Angeles Public Library: Literacy is built on the below pre-reading skills.
Ask your young learner questions and encourage sensory activities during their first years. Those practices will help lay the foundation for literacy.
A children’s librarian shares what it was like to teach her child to love reading from birth. Start teaching early and be creative and consistent, she shares.
Teach your child to read with online help. Sprinkle in some fun with these apps and access new books as you help your child learn letters and sounds.
Encourage your child to think more deeply about what the book they’re reading by asking them questions about the characters and their actions.
Being multilingual can build your child’s problem solving skills and expand their social network. Make an effort to talk and read in all languages.
Learn more about navigating screen time, encouraging your child to read and choosing the right learning environment for your child. We answer parent questions.
From Raising a Reader Reading: books with your young child and telling stories together can reduce stress, strengthen family bonds and support your child’s social-emotional development.
Point to pictures and labels and keep your language simple. As children grow older, introduce the main idea and begin to ask comprehension questions.
Parents can help sharpen a child’s literacy skills. Use new words, build on their interests and don’t make a big deal about speech mistakes as they learn sounds.
From Zero to Three
Go on a name safari. Walk around your house or neighborhood with your toddler.
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Book Recommendations
By Katherine Durgin-Bruce, Mike Byrne
Pretend play is key for these characters who show readers how easy it is to turn everyday household objects into fantastic, creative playscapes.
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By Roseanne Greenfield Thong, John Parra
Cultural traditions can be joyful, delicious, and colorful! Join the party with this Mexican family and learn how all the colors of the rainbow flt into their lives.
Buy here
By Monique Gray Smith, Julie Flett
A bilingual celebration of the moments and tender connections that bring people of all ages joy.
Buy here
By Cynthia Weill, Quirino & Martin Santiago
Beautiful and whimsical authentic hand-painted animals from Oaxaca teach kids about opposites in Spanish and English!
Buy here
By Rene Colato Lainez, Joe Cepeda
With this wonderful adaptation of “The Wheels on the Bus,” kids can sing out vehicle names in both English and Spanish!
Buy here
By Laura Joffe Numeroff, Felicia Bond
When a generous boy shares a cookie with a hungry mouse, it is the beginning of a chain of events that keeps the boy busy all day long, and might keep him busy for days to come.
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By Sara Levine, Marta Alvarez Miguens
At bedtime, Marco’s stuffed animals don’t want to go to sleep. They swim, slither and fly out of their bins! Will Marco calm the animals and make everyone happy? This Spanish bilingual story offers a fun exploration of sorting and classifying.
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By Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, Alyssa Bermudez
Three kids play at the park and when three more arrive, they struggle to understand each other. Three only speak English, and the other only Spanish, but they learn they are more alike than different and make new friends.
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By Monica Brown, Sara Palacios
Marisol is unique in all her own ways. As a Peruvian Scottish American girl, she doesn’t match in a world trying to put her in a box. She prefers peanut butter and jelly burritos and matching polka dots and stripes.
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By Juan Felipe Herrera, Blanca Gómez
A young girl walks from her kitchen to her yard to the house next door, learning about the things that are close to her. In this colorful and simple book, children learn more about the concepts of close and far.
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By Carmen Tafolla, Amy Cordova
Young readers learn about rebozos (traditional Mexican shawls) and all the things you can do with them, like use them as a blanket or as a superhero’s cape.
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By Ina Cumpiano, José Ramirez
How does Quintino spend his days? If it’s sunny, he goes to the park. If it’s rainy, he stays inside. When he’s tired, he goes to sleep. Early readers learn all about opposites and how to find them in everyday life.
Buy here
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Literacy Programs
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Support Services
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Libraries
Los Angeles Public Library
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Los Angeles County Library
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Orange County Public Libraries
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This supplement did not involve the editorial or reporting staff of the Los Angeles Times except where noted.
The guide is free to parents, educators and organizations working with children and families. To contact us with comments and questions or to receive more information, email public.affairs@latimes.com.
Los Angeles Times Public Affairs manages philanthropy, community engagement and corporate social responsibility at the nation’s largest metropolitan daily news organization. We broaden perspectives, empower storytellers and inspire our community to question and transform the world around them. For more information, visit latimes.com/readingby9.
A recipient of the nation’s highest honor for library service — the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services — the Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest and most diverse urban population of any library in the nation. Its Central Library, 72 branch libraries, collection of more than 6 million books, state-of-the-art technology accessible at lapl.org and diverse programs provide everyone with free and easy access to information and the opportunity for lifelong learning.
