On April 9^th, Mayor Kenney participated in the Sunday Literacy Program at the Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library.

The Sunday Literacy Program, at the Free Library, offers additional help to students in 1^st through 3^rd grades who are learning to read. The program consists of sessions run by a teacher and includes the following elements: Read Aloud; Independent Reading; Literacy Games; and Writing.

During his visit, the Mayor read The Paper Bag Princess along with students and discussed their favorite parts of the story, like the Princesses’ feisty personality and the dragon’s fire breathing.

The Sunday Literacy Program is currently being piloted at eleven libraries. The program is part of Read by 4^th, which aims to increase the number of students in Philadelphia entering the 4th grade at reading level by 2020.

This program is an example of why Rebuild, the $500 million plan to improve our libraries, rec centers, and parks, is so important for our communities — because safe, accessible, high-quality facilities are critical to ensuring all our kids can learn, play and grow.

Want to learn more about Rebuild — or do you want to get involved? Join the team at rebuild.phila.gov!