Parents with young children can take part in an eight-week program called Raising a Reader in which they will learn about the importance of literacy and how to help teach their children to read, according to a press release.

Organized by Surprise and Southwest Human Development, the program will feature literacy specialists who will explain how to engage children with books through an evidence-based model that concentrates on developmental milestones and brain development, the release said.

The program which will take place from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fridays, starting Aug. 11 at the Surprise Resource Center, 12425 W. Bell Road, Suite 124 in Surprise. 

Participants will receive award-winning children’s books at the end of each week.