Parent Newsletter | September 2026 | | |
This month, we’re celebrating the many ways families help children learn, grow, and find their voice, from building strong reading foundations at home to playing an essential role in their children’s education.
In this issue, explore our new Family Guide to the Science of Reading and celebrate Latino Heritage Month through stories that reflect the richness of our communities. We’re also recognizing Banned Books Week and the importance of children having access to books where they can see themselves and learn about others.
Keep reading, sharing, and making your family’s voice heard!
In community,
| | Introducing FIS’s Science of Reading Family Guide | | | | |
Every parent and caregiver wants their child to read and thrive. Learn more about what you can do with our new guide, "A Family Guide to the Science of Reading," to support your child’s early literacy journey.
The guide breaks down the science of reading and what families can do to build strong reading foundations at home and partner with the children’s teachers.
Reading starts at home and takes root in the classroom. When families and teachers share the same understanding of how children learn, every child has the opportunity to become a confident, capable reader.
| | Celebrate Latino Heritage Month with Latino Children’s Books! | | Happy Latino Heritage Month! To honor the rich and diverse cultural heritage, contributions, and stories across our Latino communities, FIS and members of the Read LA! Coalition have picked out children’s books by Latino authors as recommendations for what you could explore with your child throughout this celebration month and all year round: | |
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Plátanos Go with Everything by Lissette Norman
“I love this book because it reminds me of my Mom's cooking and how food brought us together!”
— Tiarha Huerta, Sr. Manager, Partnerships, Waterford.org
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River of Mariposas by Mirelle Ortega
“This book is pure magic. The story touches on family connections, imagination, and the beauty of the unexpected. English and Spanish sit side by side throughout the text, and the endnotes share additional details about Mexican geography, history, foods, and music that are mentioned in the story. Plus, the illustrations are gorgeous!”
— Lauren Wagman, Executive Director, Ready, Set, Read!
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Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto
“I LOVED this book growing up. It celebrates the holiday tradition of making tamales and the warmth of being surrounded by family, even when making mistakes like losing a ring in a batch of tamales!”
— Sara Noji, Special Projects Manager & Board Liaison, Los Angeles Education Partnership
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Yefferson, Actually by Katherine Trejo
“I love this book because it reminds every child that their name is part of who they are, and they deserve to have it said with care and pride.”
— Olga Corona De La Cruz, Vice President of Programs, FIS
| | | | | Banned Books Week: October 4-10, 2026 | | |
Americans have marked Banned Books Week for over 40 years, celebrating the freedom to read. Unfortunately, efforts to ban books are on the rise—not just at public libraries, but in schools.
At FIS, we believe that every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported and to have books that reflect diverse families and identities. In 2025, nearly 4 out of every 10 challenged books featured content related to people of color and LGBTQ+ people. These are a few examples of children’s books that have faced challenges:
| | Take LAUSD’s Survey on Expanding Childcare & Infant Programs | | |
LAUSD is expanding its childcare & infant services and needs your input!
What challenges have you experienced accessing care?
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BD7: SOUTH BAY / HARBOR REGION
Monster Mash Halloween Puppet Show at San Pedro Regional Branch Library
Thursday, 10/1, 3:30–4:15 pm
| Kick off the Halloween season with a chillingly fun Puppet show! Oh no, the Count has stolen every holiday and birthday, replacing them with Halloween. Will he get away with this? Not if the kids in the audience have anything to say! An adult must accompany any children under the age of 13. | |  | |
BD1: CENTRAL LA
Watch It, Read It at the Washington Irving Branch Library: Friday, 10/2, 3–5 pm
| See the movie, read the book, and share the fun! Children and their families are welcome to screen a film or short based on a book and are encouraged to grab a copy of the book after the screening so they can read it together. The film will be Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, inspired by the book series, A Series of Unfortunate Events. This is intended for ages 7 and older. | | | |
BD6: EAST VALLEY
Sugar Skulls: Dia de los Muertos Craft for Tweens and Teens: Tuesday, 10/13,
4:15–5:15 pm
| Celebrate the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) with Sugar Skulls (Calaveras) at the Sylmar Branch Library. Decorate two-inch sugar skulls with sequins, glitter glue, embossed foil, feathers, and paper hat patterns. Maximum 40 participants, so please arrive early. Intended for ages 10 and older, but all ages are invited. | | | |
BD4: WEST LA
“Spiders and Goblins and Ghosts, Oh My!” at the Palms - Rancho Park Branch Library: Thursday, 10/15,
4:15–5 pm
| Join the library for a Halloween extravaganza presented by Flights of Fantasy Story Theatre! Their team will weave together folk tales, fables, and rhymes into a performance sprinkled with a touch of spookiness, a hint of chills, and plenty of laughter. Don’t miss out on the fun! Recommended for ages 5 and up. | | | |
BD3: WEST VALLEY
Early Literacy Storytime and Workshop at the Granada Hills Branch Library: Wednesday, 10/21, 10:30–11 am
| Prepare your child for kindergarten with literacy focused stories, songs, and activities at the Granada Hills Branch Library. Literacy backpacks will be available for checkout. Recommended for families with children between the ages of 3 and 5. | | | |
BD2: DOWNTOWN LA
Celebrating Diwali at the Central Library
Sunday, 10/25, 2–4 pm
| Celebrate the richness of South Asian culture at a vibrant, all-ages Diwali festival that’s free and open to everyone. Enjoy an afternoon filled with hands-on crafts, engaging authors, and captivating performances. Experience Diwali through stories of family, tradition, adventure, and light. Explore books for children, teens, and adults, including titles by authors featured at this year’s festival. | | | |
BD5: NORTHEAST LA
Arty Loon Presents: ¡Loco en su Coco - Una Celebración del Día de los Muertos!
Tuesday, 10/27, 4–4:45 pm
| Celebrate at the Atwater Village Branch Library with magician Arty as he takes you through the rich folklore of Día de los Muertos. Using music, puppetry, storytelling, and magic, Arty presents an engaging and immersive experience through the land of the dead, from learning how to create an altar or understanding the meaning of the sugar skull, to paying respect to our loved ones who have come and gone. | |
| | Connect with Us on Social Media! | | For 25 years, Families In Schools (FIS) has served low-income, immigrant, and communities of color, knowing that education remains the single most important opportunity for them. The mission of Families In Schools is to involve families and communities in their children’s education to achieve lifelong success. Read LA!, powered by FIS, is a campaign to ensure all children in Los Angeles can read and thrive. | | | | |
