Prime Time Family Reading

Program Overview

Prime Time is a free six-week family reading program sponsored by Humanities Nebraska and offered in schools, libraries, and community centers in Grand Island, Holdrege, Kearney, Lexington, Lincoln, Norfolk, North Platte, Omaha, and other Nebraska cities. Prime Time Family Reading is for families with children ages 6-10. Prime Time Preschool is for families with children ages 3-5. Contact info@humanitiesnebraska.org for more details about programs in your area.

Every Prime Time session starts with a free meal and continues with the reading and discussion of award-winning children's books. After a book is read aloud by storytellers, discussion leaders ask questions to help children and their adults think about the situations and issues in the story. Questions may ask about bravery, fairness, trust, compassion, and what it means to be family. This promotes reasoning, questioning, and critical thinking skills that lead to a better understanding of what is read, more reading enjoyment, and better success in school. Some programs are bilingual or multilingual, offering books and conversations in English, Spanish, Karen, and other languages. Families get free books to take home and keep.

Cost Info

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

Children learned their voices, thoughts and imaginations mattered because the adults in the room were listening to them and asking them questions. They go to explore language, thoughts and imagination in the centers. -Discussion Leader

We really enjoyed this program and looked forward to this every week. I appreciated having an evening activity, since we work during the weekday. Building multicultural awareness and community is so important. Thank you! Also, having a meal served with an activity was super helpful. We often do not have time to eat meals and have enough activity time, so that was fantastic. -Program Participant

The books often reflect real-life situations that many of the families in our programs have experienced or are currently facing. This connection allows families to see themselves in the stories, which creates a natural bridge to meaningful conversation. It becomes more than just reading. -Storyteller