Reading Inspires by Reading Is Fundamental

In this Every Book Counts webinar, host Erin Bailey welcomes Dr. Jill Pentimonti, Associate Research Professor at the University of Notre Dame and Executive Director of Research Advancement, to explore shared book reading as one of the most powerful tools for building young children's language, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. Dr. Pentimonti explains the essential building blocks of early reading success—word recognition and language comprehension—and how shared book reading uniquely supports pre-reading skills including print knowledge, phonological awareness, and oral language development. She emphasizes that reading is not a simple process but requires building neural pathways through deliberate practice and instruction, and that decades of research confirm shared book reading's significant impact on children's literacy outcomes when done interactively.

The session provides practical, evidence-based strategies for making shared reading more intentional and engaging, including asking open-ended questions, building vocabulary with child-friendly definitions, pointing out initial sounds and letters, and having conversations before, during, and after reading. Dr. Pentimonti stresses the importance of reading a balanced diet of both narrative books (which build story structure and comprehension strategies) and information books (which introduce technical vocabulary, content knowledge, and text features like tables of contents and indexes). She demonstrates these strategies through a live read-aloud of "A Den for Bay Bay," showing how even a simple information book with few words can spark rich conversations about letters, vocabulary, and real-world knowledge. The webinar concludes with resources from Reading is Fundamental to help educators and families implement these high-impact strategies in their daily reading routines.

About Dr. Jill Pentimonti:
Dr. Jill Pentimonti is an Associate Research Professor in the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Executive Director of Research Advancement in the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Notre Dame, where she also leads the Early Learning Foundations (ELF) Lab. Her work focuses on language, literacy, and learning in the preschool and early elementary years. 

Dr. Pentimonti’s research centers on supporting young children’s language and literacy development, particularly for those at risk for reading difficulties. She has led multiple large-scale, federally funded studies examining classroom practices, instructional supports, and interventions that foster children’s early learning. Her work has also advanced the use of innovative tools and methods—including AI-powered assessments—to better understand and improve early learning experiences for children, families, and teachers.