Reach Out and Read Minnesota

We’re building a future for Minnesota where every child is read to every day and every child is supported by loving relationships they need to thrive.

One book at a time, one check-up at a time, we’re building a brighter future for Minnesota kids. 

We need your support to turn this vision into a reality for every family in our state.

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2026

For far too many Minnesota families, it has not been an easy year.  In fact, in 2026 it is hard to remember the last time we had a "normal" year since 2020, we’ve lived through a global pandemic, wide-reaching social movements, major changes and cuts across the healthcare sector, and most recently, Operation Metro Surge, which left thousands of Minnesota families feeling unsafe. 

The one thing that has remained constant? Our commitment to giving Minnesota families the resources and support they need to help their young children thrive. Amid all of the uncertainty of this year, we believe in a brighter future for every young child in Minnesota. 

Reach Out and Read Minnesota is asking for your support to help bring our brain-building, family-bonding program to young children across the state. We know that while the future holds much uncertainty for Minnesota families, the central truth behind our program remains:

Sharing a book with a loved one can change the trajectory of a child's life. 

Shared reading boosts children's brain development Shared reading helps build bonds between children and their caregivers. Shared reading can help children process toxic stress, allowing their brains to develop healthily. Shared reading can bring moments of joy to children and their parents alike, no matter what is happening in the outside world. 

Our program seeks to bring the powerful effects of sharing a book to every child in Minnesota, no matter their zip code, what their family looks like, or what language they speak at home. This is why our team is working harder than ever to bring the highest-quality version of our evidence-based program to Minnesota families. 

With a growing network of over 300 clinics all across the state, we have an opportunity to make a resounding, lasting impact on our state's youngest learners and their families.

But we need your help to make this happen. 

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Each well-child visit, complete with a brand-new book and compassionate, evidence-based coaching from trained clinicians only costs $10. 

• For $50, you can support our program at 5 well-child visits, including 5 brand new books for children to take home. 
• For $200 you can support our program at 20 well-child visits — that's enough to support two children through the course of our program. That's 20 books and 20 moments of connection between child, parent, and clinician! 
• For $500 you can support our program at 50 well-child visits. That's 50 books and 50 moments of joy and learning! 
• For $1,000 you can support our program at 100 well child visits. That's enough to support 10 children through their entirety of our program — 100 books, 100 chances for parents and clinicians to connect and help young children thrive! 

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Your support will help us:

• Buy the best books for our clinics caring for underserved populations, including books that represent our diverse patient populations and books in families' preferred languages.
• Get our staff into our clinics for visits in every corner of the state, ensuring that each site is having their greatest impact on the families they serve every day. 
• Bring on new clinics and train clinicians, reaching new families and helping change the standard of pediatric care in Minnesota! 

"It’s a simple gift, but you can see how it transforms a routine well-child visit into an opportunity for connection, learning, and joy.” 

 -St. Croix Health, Lindstrom Clinic.

"The Reach Out and Read program lets me easily talk with families about the importance of reading. Having a book in hand helps me engage with the child, model reading, and assess communication and social skills in a fun, low stress way. For low-income families who may not have books at home, this program provides important tools to support their children’s development.”

- Madeline Mangin, MD, CentraCare Pediatrics, St. Cloud