City Residents Invited to Join, Boston Reads, A New Citywide Literacy Initiative to Support Boston Children And Their Families.
Written by b87fm on 09/08/2025
Boston Families Invited To Join New Citywide Literacy Effort, Boston Reads
Boston is turning the whole city into a storybook. With the launch of Boston Reads, families across the city will now have more opportunities to support early literacy and build a culture of reading in every neighborhood.
The new initiative connects Boston Public Schools, the Boston Public Library, the Boston Public Health Commission, and more than 30 community organizations to bring free, fun, and accessible literacy opportunities directly to children and their families. From classrooms to parks, from bus stops to markets, Bostonians can expect to see more reading events, installations, and family-friendly activities designed to spark a lifelong love of books.
What Families Can Expect
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Boston Reads Days: Volunteers will visit classrooms across the city to share stories, starting September 25. Guest readers will highlight books tied to Boston’s cultures and communities.
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Story Stops: Interactive story installations at landmarks like Moakley Park and Boston Public Market will turn everyday spaces into reading adventures for kids.
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Story Starters: Fun prompts—like “Do dragons live in cities?”—will appear around Boston to inspire storytelling and imagination during walks, commutes, and family time.
For parents and caregivers, Boston Reads is about making it easier to access resources that support literacy beyond the classroom. The program also connects families with the Focus curriculum, which Boston Public Schools uses to help kindergarten through second grade students build strong reading foundations.
Boston students have already shown progress thanks to new literacy strategies in schools, with many elementary programs seeing major gains in state accountability scores. Boston Reads aims to build on that momentum by extending the love of reading into homes, parks, libraries, and neighborhoods.
Reading is more than a school skill—it’s a community value. By coming together, Boston is working to make sure every child, in every neighborhood, grows up with the confidence and joy of being a reader.
Families can learn more and get involved at boston.gov/boston-reads.
