About
SHI sponsors Baby Raven Reads, an award-winning program that promotes early-literacy, language development, and school readiness for Alaska Native families with children up to age 5. SHI currently offers the program in communities throughout Southeast Alaska and beyond.
Baby Raven Reads improves early literacy skills by translating cultural strengths into home literacy practices. The program provides family literacy events, training for care providers, and professional development for early childhood educators. A study by McKinley Research Group found measurable gains in phonetic knowledge, print concepts, and knowledge of letters and symbols, as well as increased parental and family engagement.
Special thanks to our partners, including the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Association of Alaska School Boards, Metlakatla Indian Community, Ketchikan Indian Community, Chilkoot Indian Association, Organized Village of Kake, and AEYC-SEA.
Interested? Enroll now!
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About
Baby Raven Reads has received numerous honors and awards since its inception, including:
- Best Practice Honoree, Library of Congress, 2017
- Best Picture Book Award for Shanyaak’utlaax̱: Salmon Boy, American Indian Library Association, 2018
- Picture Book Honor for Raven Makes the Aleutians, American Indian Library Association, 2020
- Recommended title for How Devil’s Club Came to Be, American Indians in Children’s Literature, 2018
- Recommended title for Cradle Songs of Southeast Alaska, American Indians in Children’s Literature, 2020
- Picture Book Honor for Celebration, American Indians in Children’s Literature, 2024
About
Family Literacy Events occur monthly in communities throughout Southeast Alaska. Storytelling, songs, and other literacy activities are available to Alaska Native families with children up to age 5. Through playful and culturally relevant activities with parents, children develop oral language, phonological awareness, print awareness, letter knowledge, and a strong connection to culture.
Interested in becoming a Community Liaison?
Application
About
SHI’s Baby Raven Roving Readers program brings the institute’s early childhood, culturally responsive curriculum into early learning programs and child care settings in Juneau. The materials are based on SHI’s Baby Raven Reads collection.
Interested in becoming a Roving Reader?
Application
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Childcare and early learning programs can earn their WINGS through Baby Raven Reads by participating in our coaching program, taking an introductory course on Southeast Alaska cultures, and gaining access to our Roving Readers. A stipend is given upon completion of the 25-hour asynchronous course, which introduces Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures.
Interested? Apply now!
Application
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SHI has developed lesson materials to complement some of its Baby Raven Reads books, including Shanyaak’utlaax̱: Salmon Boy, Picking Berries, Raven and the Hidden Halibut, Raven and the Tide Lady, Am’ala, 10 Sitka Herring, How Devil’s Club Came to Be, and Let’s Go! A Harvest Story. We encourage educators to use these resources.
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Shanyaak’utlaax̱ – Salmon Boy
Picking Berries
Raven and the Hidden Halibut
Raven and the Tide Lady
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