Baby’s First Book Bag
Introduction
The purpose of the Baby’s First Book Bag program is to help families in the Black Hills start building a home library and support early literacy from birth.
Each bag includes books, reading tips, developmental resources, and information about local supports for families with young children. The goal of the program is to help parents and caregivers feel confident reading, talking, and engaging with their children during the early years.
Black Hills Reads partners with local organizations to distribute bags throughout the community, and eligible families may also be able to receive bags directly through Black Hills Reads.
Suggested age: 0–3 years
How it works
For Families
Families who meet eligibility guidelines may request or receive a Baby’s First Book Bag directly through Black Hills Reads or through one of our community partners.
Bags are intended to be shared in a one-on-one setting whenever possible so families can learn more about:
- The importance of early literacy and language development
- Simple ways to support learning at home
- Local literacy and early childhood resources available in the Black Hills
During these conversations, families may be asked a few short questions to help us better understand community needs and program impact.
For Community Partners
Black Hills Reads partners with organizations across the Black Hills to help distribute Baby’s First Book Bags to families they serve.
We strongly encourage bags to be provided during a one-on-one interaction with a parent or caregiver whenever possible. These conversations help families better understand the purpose of the program and the importance of reading and talking with young children from birth.
Suggested conversation questions include:
- How old is the child?
- How often do you read with your child during the week?
- About how many children’s books do you currently have in your home?
Partners may also be asked to participate in follow-up surveys or feedback opportunities to help us evaluate the impact of the program and improve services for families.
Why One-on-One Conversations Matter
One-on-one conversations are one of the most important parts of this program.
We know that many parents and caregivers want to support their child’s learning but may not always have access to books, resources, or information about early literacy. These conversations create an opportunity to encourage families, answer questions, and share simple ways to build reading routines at home.
Research shows that talking, reading, singing, and engaging with children during the early years helps build language skills and supports school readiness. By pairing books with encouragement and resources, we hope families feel empowered to make reading part of everyday life.
Bag Contents
Each Baby’s First Book Bag contains the following resources & materials:
- Parent Letter (with reading tips and literacy resources)
- Developmental Guides & Resources (including the CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” resources)
- 3 Books (titles may vary)
- Resources to local entities that support literacy (note: we encourage you to add to this based on your clients’ needs).
How to Request or Order Bags
For Families
Families interested in receiving a Baby’s First Book Bag may complete this online request form or contact Hanna Glissendorf at hanna@unitedwayblackhills.org to learn more about eligibility and request a free bag.
For Existing Partners:
To order more bags, please complete our online request form.
Please use the provided template (or something similar) to track your organization’s Baby’s First Book Bag data throughout the year and send back to us 12 months later.
Download Data Spreadsheet Template
For New Partners:
Please fill out and sign the Baby’s First Book Bag Partnership Agreement before submitting a request for bags. This form should then be submitted to the Director of Early Education at hanna@unitedwayblackhills.org.
Questions
For any questions, please email or call the Director of Early Education, Hanna Glissendorf at hanna@unitedwayblackhills.org or call 605-343-5872.