Literacy Skills, Early Language . By Maya Smart | July 15 , 2024

How Your Words Drive Your Baby’s Brain Development & Prepare Them to Read

Parents literally build babies’ & toddlers’ brains through interactive conversation. Parenting author & literacy expert Maya

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Parent-School Partnership, Community, Library & Literacy Advocacy . By Maya Smart | February 10 , 2025

5 Things Parents Need to Know About the 2024 NAEP Reading Scores Crisis

What do the 2024 NAEP national reading scores mean for your child? Get key takeaways and action steps for

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Social Emotional . By Maya Smart and Laila Weir | June 01 , 2026

Raising a Lifelong Reader: Keeping Book Joy Alive as Your Child Grows

Don't let reading become a chore. How to help your child transition from story time to school without losing the spark—and keep

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Family Activities . By Maya Smart and Laila Weir | June 15 , 2026

Don’t Have Time to Read to Your Child? Think Again (Easy Tips for Busy Parents)

Discover how to make time to read aloud to kids even on your busiest days—with simple tips for fitting literacy into the small

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Library & Literacy Advocacy . By Maya Smart | January 06 , 2025

Literacy Champion Offers a Case Study in How to Be an Advocate (Hint: Lead With Curiosity)

Attorney Kevin Long didn’t set out to become a literacy advocate. But thoughtful curiosity drove him to become a catalyst for

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Early Language . By Maya Smart | December 16 , 2024

Language Milestones & Literacy Targets for Babies

Discover what your baby should learn & do to grow into a thriving reader, and how to use milestones to support their

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Early Language, Parent-School Partnership . By Maya Smart | January 13 , 2025

Language Milestones & Literacy Targets for Kindergarten and Early Elementary

Discover what your child should learn & do to grow into a thriving reader, and how to use milestones to support their progress in

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Maya's Favorites, Literacy Skills, Early Language, Ask Maya . By Maya Smart | March 09 , 2026

Ask Maya: Can I Help My Child Read If I’m Not Comfortable Reading?

Not comfortable reading aloud? Learn how storytelling, conversation, and the TALK Method build your child’s vocabulary,

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Maya's Favorites, Literacy Skills, Early Language, Ask Maya . By Maya Smart | February 16 , 2026

Ask Maya: Should I Talk and Read to My Child in Spanish or English? What Research Says

Stop second-guessing your home language. Talking and reading in Spanish helps your child in English,

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Kids Books . By Maya Smart | December 08 , 2025

What Makes a Great Children’s Book? Expert Tips for Choosing Your Child’s Next Read

Turn your children’s book choices into purposeful acts. Learn expert criteria for finding stories that inspire and expand young

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