Open the door to a lifetime of reading.
Little Red Reading House is a place where children discover the magic of reading and families discover the joy of reading together.
What is Little Red Reading House?
It’s a real house, full of books, in the charming neighbourhood of Inglewood in Calgary, Alberta. Between visits, you can access online resources and workshops.
As a teacher of early education, I was amazed at the care and thought that went into the design of Little Red Reading House. This is one of those "secret gems" in Calgary, I want everyone to know about it but also want it to be all mine too! What a wonderful place to celebrate reading, in such a loving environment that children feel instantly comfortable in! Can't wait to go back!
—Teacher
My daughter was so excited to get her first chapter book and have a "this book belongs to" sticker with her name.
—Calgary parent
All volunteers were so welcoming and helpful. One volunteer actually found a book with my granddaughter’s name in the title. Sophie and I enjoyed all the enjoyable little corners for reading and crafts. That house is like a hug!
—Regular family guests
Why does the Little Red Reading House exist?
Reading puts children on a path to success.
Reading is the basis of all learning. Children without access to books and family reading time are at risk of entering kindergarten without school readiness. Worse yet, if a child doesn’t achieve grade-level reading by grade 3, it’s unlikely they’ll ever catch up to their peers.
25%
of Canadian children grow up in a home without books*
27%
start school with literacy and developmental vulnerabilities*
40%
lack the literacy needed by age 15 to enjoy lifelong benefits*
Together, we can inspire children
Families play a critical role in a child’s learning capacity before age 8. With age-appropriate books in homes and an environment that promotes reading together, families can help a child learn to read by grade three.
Early literacy has long-term benefits
When children learn to talk and read early, they are able to develop knowledge, learn and apply skills, and fully participate in society. They are also more likely to enjoy better overall health and find meaningful employment.
A 1% increase in literacy skills could lead to a 3% increase in Canada’s GDP – $54B per year, every year – and a 5% increase in productivity.*
How do we help?
We put books in homes
Having books at home makes it easier for families to read together. Through our Book Bank and partnerships with agencies and public health nurses, we give books
to children furthest from opportunity. Every time a child visits Little Red Reading House, we give them an age-appropriate book they can add to their home library.
We help families start early
Reading with children is a new experience for many families. We offer virtual and in-person workshops that develop this skill, plus online resources that will help you create a culture of reading at home.
We inspire reading places
Wherever books and children can be brought together, there’s an opportunity to create a reading place. Our digital toolkit and collaborations help create reading places in homes, schools, agencies, and businesses.
We make reading fun and memorable
Little Red Reading House embodies the magic of reading. The house is bright, colourful, and full of comfortable nooks perfect for curling up in. It’s a remarkable place to share a memorable experience.
* IALSS 2003, Statistics Canada, and noted in the paper Literacy Matters: A call for action (TD Bank report).
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