We’re imagineOne

An Independent Nonprofit Organization

imagineOne is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on preventing illiteracy before it begins.

As part of its programming, imagineOne utilizes My First Steps to Reading®, a phonics-based literacy system published by The Child’s World and used by families and educators for decades. imagineOne purchases these materials at mission-aligned pricing to support families and communities through its literacy initiatives.

At imagineOne, we are working to prevent illiteracy before it begins by equipping families, supporting educators, and engaging communities during the years that matter most.

Because when children are supported early, everything changes.

See Our Impact

Bring imagineOne to your community

How Our Passion Was Kindled

It started with a quad-shot of espresso early one morning at Neutral Groundz Coffeehouse and a statistic a father and daughter couldn’t ignore: nearly half of local high school graduates were not reading proficiently.

That number lit a fire.

Longtime advocates for children and literacy, Kristin Cain and her father George Peterson asked a simple but powerful question:

What if every family had access to the right tools before their child even started school?

At that moment, imagineOne was born.

Built on the belief that parents are their child’s first and most important teacher, imagineOne exists to give families the tools, guidance, and support to build strong reading foundations during the earliest years, when it matters most.

The Illiteracy Crisis Starts Earlier Than Most People Realize

Across the country, millions of children fall behind in reading before they ever enter a classroom.

And when children fall behind, the effects ripple far beyond the report card:

• social and emotional difficulties
• long-term health and economic disparities

• academic challenges
• behavioral struggles
• low confidence

Reading failure impacts entire communities. Yet most literacy efforts begin only after children have already fallen behind.

At imagineOne, we believe prevention must begin earlier. Before kindergarten. Before frustration. Before children start believing they cannot learn.

Proven. Trusted. Effective.

36 Million Books Sold

My First Steps to Reading® has sold more than 36 million copies nationwide, trusted by families and educators for over 40 years.

Grounded in the Science of Reading

Built on research-based methods that strengthen foundational literacy skills.

From Minnesota to California

From Southern Minnesota preschools to California school districts, communities of every size use imagineOne to help children build reading readiness.

Easy for Families to Use

Designed for real families, real educators, and everyday life.

We Believe Illiteracy Is Preventable

The Reading Ready Revolution is a growing movement of families, educators, healthcare providers, and communities who believe children deserve support before reading struggles begin.

This work is not about blame. It’s about possibility.

We believe:

• parents matter
• early years matter

• community matters
• prevention works

And we believe that every child deserves the freedom reading brings.