Director’s Corner
A Favorite Book, a Family Tradition, and the Power of Literacy
This month, I’m doing something a little different for Director’s Corner.
Like many nonprofit leaders this time of year, our team has been deep in grant applications, reports, and all the behind-the-scenes work that keeps Parenting Matters strong and sustainable. Instead of sitting down to write, I found myself reflecting on something that feels especially fitting right now: children’s literacy and the quiet traditions that shape it.
When I was young, I had a favorite book—All Through the Town. It was well-loved, full of fold-out pages and tiny surprises, and I saw myself in its story every time I opened it. My mom, in her wisdom, saved that book and gave it back to me as an adult. Today, it’s taped, worn, and treasured—proof of how deeply stories can root themselves in our lives.
That book reminds me that literacy isn’t only about learning to read. It’s about shared moments, imagination, and the sense of belonging that grows when families return to stories together. When children experience books along with parents, grandparents, or caregivers, those experiences become part of who they are.
At Parenting Matters, we see this every day. Family literacy builds connection, confidence, and resilience. It becomes tradition. And those traditions ripple forward, shaping not just individual children, but families and communities for generations.
Thank you for supporting work that helps families create those moments.
…moments that last far beyond childhood.
Warmly,
Katie Becker
Executive Director, Parenting Matters