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Prime Time Family Reading

Prime Time Family Reading is a national program serving 6- to 10-year-old kids and their families. Participating families build early literacy skills, engage in critical thinking, and connect with each other through literature and discussion.

During the six weeks of each program, 15-20 families gather once a week to share a meal, read stories together, and talk about the big ideas that are foundational to our society – like empathy, justice, and truth. Featuring lively storytelling and conversation, these gatherings offer opportunities for families and young children to bond, find connection, think deeply, and have a lot of fun with books and reading.

Application Deadlines

  • Spring 2027 Programs: October 29, 2026
  • Fall 2027 Programs: March 31, 2027
Prime Time Family Reading logo

Join the Award-Winning National Network

Prime Time Reading received the 2025 Library of Congress Literacy Awards American Prize. The American Prize is awarded to an organization based in the United States for making a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels in the U.S. or the national awareness of the importance of literacy.

Thanks to a grant from the State of New Jersey, Prime Time Family Reading is expanding in 2027!

Want to learn more? Join our virtual information session at 12:30 p.m. on September 23, 2026.

RSVP for Prime Time Family Reading Information Session

Please RSVP if you plan to attend the virtual information session.

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RSVP Here

Join NJCH’s Director of Programs and past participants on September 23 to learn about our upcoming host site availability for Prime Time Family Reading.

Becoming a Prime Time Family Reading Host Site

Participation requires recruitment, program administration, and running weekly sessions. Prime Time Family Reading hosts receive an award of $5,000 - $6,500 to support the planning and implementation of their programs.

The Program

  • Prime Time Family Reading takes place in person once a week over six consecutive weeks.
  • During each program, families first gather to share a meal together.
  • Then a storyteller reads a children’s book and a facilitator helps guide families through a discussion about the story.
  • These discussions encourage kids and adults alike to find personal connections to cultural themes and values in the story and talk through big ideas in ways that are uniquely relevant to each community served.

The Partnership

  • Host sites work in partnership with NJCH to bring Prime Time Family Reading to their communities, recruiting 15-20 families to participate, dedicating existing staff to the administration of the program, and running the weekly sessions.
  • NJCH provides training, assistance with program development, and funding to support program costs, including books, meals, giveaways, program team stipends, and other expense categories.
  • For more details, review the Guidelines.

Application

  • This program is open to public libraries and other youth-serving organizations in New Jersey.
  • Applications are open for 2027 programs taking place in the spring (March 1-July 30) or fall (September 1-December 30).
  • Sites wishing to host their programs in spring 2027 must apply by the October 29 deadline. Sites wishing to host in the fall may apply either by the October 29 or March 31 deadlines.
  • Eligible organizations must have an account in our grants administration system in order to apply. Login or set up a new account by clicking "Apply Now" below or at njhumanities.org/portal.

Contact

For questions about this program, please contact Gigi Naglak at gnaglak@njhumanities.org.