The Empowered Readers Literacy Project is a non-profit dreamed up by a 5-year-old little girl who set out to tackle illiteracy by helping families build strong reading rituals and by getting kids excited about reading. We take a holistic, emergent approach to literacy. We believe that literacy is more than a set of skills that enable a child or adult to memorize words and sound out phonics. We believe that literacy is not something that is simply taught, and it does not start when a child begins schools. Literacy is a complex process that starts at birth and requires family and community connection. We are helping kids and families change the focus of reading by engaging them in imaginative Adventures and tapping into their creativity. We believe that books with diverse, engaging content shared in connection with real human interaction will get kids excited about reading on their own and with their families.