Program Spotlight: Prime Time Family Reading
February 27, 2025
by Rebecca Olsen, PhD, Senior Programs Officer
It’s a Wednesday evening at your local library, and twenty families are gathered in a semicircle. A librarian has just passed out copies of Freedom Soup by Tami Charles. On one side of the group, a boy and his father read the title page out loud together. On the other side, two young siblings hold each side of their book. They flip through its pages, looking at the pictures, while their grandmother leans over their shoulders to peek. A storyteller asks the group what excites them most about the book in their hands. Small hands shoot up into the air, eager to share with the group. The sense of comradery is palpable. Six weeks ago, these families were strangers to one another. Now, at the final session, families easily know one another by name.
This scene is Prime Time Family Reading: a program that builds strong foundations of literacy and critical thinking for 6 to 10-year-old children and their families. Delaware Humanities is proud to be the newest state-level affiliate partner of Prime Time Family Reading. After successfully piloting three programs in fall 2023 and spring 2024, we committed to regularly bringing Prime Time to communities across Delaware.
Prime Time programs model strategies for continued family bonding through literature. Families are guided through reading and discussion by trained “storytellers” and “scholars” — educators, librarians, and other professionals whose passion for teaching and dedication to their communities are evident in every moment of the program. And Prime Time is more than storytelling or reading comprehension. Families participate in the discussion of big ideas together. They’re encouraged to form their own opinions, to suspend judgement, and to personally connect with the stories and with their fellow participants. Prime Time helps demonstrate that in literature, as in life, there is rarely one simple “right” answer.
As Senior Programs Officer at Delaware Humanities, I feel privileged to work with Prime Time Family Reading. Witnessing first-hand the growth and connection that families build together is a genuinely moving experience. Furthermore, the professionals that collaborate with us to make Prime Time possible are incredibly dedicated to creating an unforgettable experience for the children and families that attend.
“Being the Community Organizer for Prime Time Family Reading is amazing. I get to meet and interact with so many wonderful families and watch the kids grow and get more excited over the course of the program, as well as make some friends along the way,” shares John Dillon, Operations Director at Community Collaboration of Delaware, “By the end of the program, everyone is like one big family, the kids seem more excited to read than at the beginning, and the parents have smiles on their faces when they see the progress they’ve made in the program. I don’t know what could be more enjoyable and rewarding.”
Critically acclaimed, thematically grouped children’s books are at the heart of each program. For example, the “Cares” series—featuring well-loved classics such as The Rainbow Fish alongside newer acclaimed titles such as The Last Stop on Market Street—focuses on themes of community, resilience, and altruism. Families read two books a week and keep their copies of each book to build their home libraries. Our Storytellers take the utmost care in providing a rewarding experience for the children and their families. During each Prime Time session, the Storyteller takes time to not only read the books, but also provide context when needed, and develop an environment that encourages asking questions, stating opinions, and sharing experiences.
“As a Storyteller in the Prime Time Family Reading program, I’ve had the privilege of watching families come together over stories that spark curiosity, conversation, and connection. It’s incredible to see children and parents engage with one another in a way that not only builds a love of reading but also strengthens their relationships and their connections to the community,” says Kim Jones, Deputy Director, Community Collaboration of Delaware, “Prime Time isn’t just about books; it’s about building bridges between generations and creating lasting memories. I’m honored to be part of a program that empowers families through storytelling and literacy.”
Prime Time wouldn’t be possible without our local libraries, community centers, and librarians. Over the last two years, we have been privileged to work with various libraries and organizations throughout Delaware that have served as host sites. When a library or community center serves as a host site, not only do they provide a physical location for the program, but they expose the children and their families to a space of shared community where reading is celebrated. The children can see firsthand the rows and rows of books at their disposal, other members of their community reading, and learn how to foster relationships with their local librarians.
“Prime Time Family Reading is a program that I am always excited to be a Site Coordinator for. As a librarian, one of my favorite parts of the program is being able to share the wealth of resources we have available through the library and our partner organizations, and it’s always wonderful to see families get excited about a program or service that they didn’t know existed,” shares Ewa Wojciechowska, Youth Services Librarian at New Castle Public Library, “Besides encouraging reading, Prime Time is about strengthening communities by giving families the tools they need to keep succeeding, which is why I am so happy to see that many of our participants continue to visit the library long after our last Prime Time session.”
Delaware Humanities is excited to continue to partner with libraries and other organizations to bring Prime Time Family Reading to communities across our state. Two more Prime Time programs begin this March, one at the Bear Public Library and one at the Claymont Community Center in partnership with the New Castle Public Library and the Claymont Public Library. We hope to continue to grow this program and bring the joy of reading to many more children and their families.
If you’re interested in supporting Prime Time Family Reading, join our Do More 24 campaign happening March 6-7, 2025. For Do More 24, we are raising funds to purchase new children’s books for the Prime Time Family Reading. All proceeds will go towards the purchase of the new books. Make your donation here: https://www.domore24delaware.org/fundraisers/delaware-humanities
Learn more about the Prime Time Family Reading program and ways to get involved, here.