Every great story starts somewhere.
For many children, it starts with someone reading a book aloud. A favorite character. A familiar rhyme. The excitement of turning the page to see what comes next.
That’s the idea behind Little Voices, Big Stories, a special literacy campaign brought to you by the Oklahoma Education Impact Initiative and Mix 102.3.
Throughout the campaign, local students will join us each day to read a portion of a beloved children’s book on the air. It’s a simple way to celebrate reading, encourage young readers and remind families that building strong literacy skills can start with something as easy as sharing a story together.
Tune In and Read Along
Starting September 14, we’re inviting you and your little ones to tune in every weekday at 3:45 p.m. for a new chapter of a classic children’s favorite:
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
And that’s just the beginning.
September 21-25: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
September 28- October 2: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Each day, a local student will help bring the story to life by reading a portion of the book. So grab your little reader, settle in and listen together.
Why Reading Matters
The fun is at the heart of Little Voices, Big Stories, but there’s an important reason behind the campaign, too.
Reading proficiency remains a significant challenge in Oklahoma. Recent state testing data show that only about 27% of Oklahoma third-graders were reading at or above grade level, meaning roughly 73% were below grade level.
Oklahoma’s Strong Readers Act was created to help address that challenge through early screening, intervention, evidence-based reading instruction and additional support for students who need it.
But helping kids become strong readers isn’t just the responsibility of schools. Parents, families and communities all have a role to play.
Sometimes that role can be as simple as reading one more story before bedtime, asking a child to read a few pages, visiting the library or, in this case, tuning in to the radio at 3:45 and reading along with us.