In honor of National Reading Month, Children’s Aid is celebrating the most critical time for children to develop strong reading and literacy skills: early childhood. Children’s vocabulary as early as age 3 can predict their third-grade reading achievement.

We have teamed up with prominent, award-winning children’s authors for our annual “Reading on the Rug” series throughout March. Nine authors will read their original works to the 3-to-5-year-olds in our early childhood classes to celebrate the importance of story time and reading to children regularly. Chosen books will also explore identity, diversity, and community – themes that will create strong foundations for our little ones’ ever-growing intellectual curiosity and help cement their love of reading early.

We’ve listed the authors and their works below, and we will be posting pictures of the readings throughout March. You can also join us at home by following our “Reading on the Rug” series on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Show us what you’re reading with your young ones: post pictures or video of story time and tag us @childrensaidnyc #ReadingOnTheRug.

We look forward to reading on the rug with you!

Nina Crews is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. Her first book, “One Hot Summer Day,” was published in 1995 and is still in print in hardcover and paperback. Other favorite titles include “I’m Not Small,” “Below,” “The Neighborhood Mother Goose,” and “Not Done Yet.” She is the recipient of the 2023 New York State Library Association’s Empire State Award. Nina is the daughter of children’s book authors and illustrators Donald Crews and Ann Jonas. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and son.

Dan Saks is an acclaimed author, music therapist, and creator of “Noodle Loaf,” an award-winning music podcast for kids. His board books celebrate the beauty of diverse family experiences (“Families Belong, Families Can, Families Grow”) and highlight the importance of community and connection (“We Share This School, We Share This Earth, We Share This Neighborhood”). Through his work, Dan fosters creativity, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging for readers and listeners of all ages.

Selina Alko spends her days melding words and mixed-media art to convey stories of hope and inspiration—as well as an alternative viewpoint. Growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia, with a Turkish Jewish father who spoke seven languages and taught painting, and a Jewish mother who worked in the family’s century-old metal recycling business, she was surrounded by the melody of words and stories from different places. Some of her children’s books include: “The Keeper of Stories, Sharing Shalom (a National Jewish Book Award winner),” “The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage,” and “I is for Immigrants (winner of Silver Medal from The Society of Illustrators).”

Denise Rosario Adusei serves as the visionary leader and changemaker at the helm of the Bronx Children’s Museum (BxCM). Denise is also a children's book author, known for her picture book “Cesaria Feels the Beat,” which celebrates Afro-Latinx culture. Her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion is evident in her co-founding of Latinx Pitch and Black Creators HQ, organizations dedicated to increasing representation in children's books.

Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning author and illustrator of picture books including the “Over and Under” series with author Kate Messner, which was praised for its "stunning retro-style illustrations" (New York Times). He makes books that feature animals, shapes, science, friendship and silliness, and strives to create diverse and inclusive characters that reflect the kids and parents who read his books. Neal's author debut titled "Everyone" was praised by Publisher's Weekly as "simple, honest, lyrical". His board book series, “Animals Colors, Animal Shapes,” received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus. Neal lives with his wife and two boys in Brooklyn, NY.

John Parra is a best-selling, award-winning artist, illustrator, author, and educator, widely recognized for his award-winning, Latino themed children’s picture books and commercial artwork. Passionate about art and literacy, he frequently speaks as a visiting artist at schools and literary conferences across the country. John currently resides in Queens, New York.

Jessica Jackson is an Afro-Latina educator and author who was born in the South Bronx. Growing up, she spent her time between NYC and Massachusetts. Her professional career is centered around important issues such as; educational equity, people management & development and most importantly, spreading joy to children. She’s excited to join you for the reading of one of her books, “The Otter in Charge,” a social emotional story that has important conflict resolution concepts for both of the main characters in her story to learn and apply to their lives as siblings.

Misa Saburi (MEE-sah sah-BUR-ree) is a Japanese illustrator who was born in Sleepy Hollow, NY and raised in Tokyo, Japan. She now lives in Brooklyn, NY. Some images are made in Photoshop while some on paper with ink and watercolor, often while watching soccer games and listening to Japanese radio shows.

James Yang has won over 250 awards for design and illustration including best of show from 3×3 Magazine. He has taught and lectured at a variety of institutions including SVA, Parsons, FIT, SCAD and was an executive board member for ICON, a biennial illustration conference. His book, “Bus! Stop!” was selected as an outstanding picture book by The New York Times and the follow up “Stop! Bot!” is the 2020 Geisel award winner for the most distinguished American book for beginning readers. “A Boy Named Isamu,” called by Kirkus review “A marvel of prose, illustration and design”, is the 2022 APALA-American Library Association Honor picture book for Asian American Literature.