Brooksville, FL (September 30, 2025) – As part of the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties’ (ELCPH) Early Literacy Partnerships, ELCPH proudly unveiled our Owlivia’s Book Nook at You Thrive Florida in Brooksville!
This cozy and inviting corner is designed to spark imagination and inspire a love of reading among families and young children as they enter the You Thrive Florida lobby. Access to books at an early age plays a critical role in healthy childhood development. Early exposure to stories and print helps children develop language, literacy, and social skills, while also boosting cognitive growth.
“Our goal is to reach at-risk communities within the areas we serve, focusing on families we can meaningfully impact by promoting the importance of early literacy. These early experiences build a solid foundation for lifelong learning and academic success. ELCPH is grateful to our sponsor, Highlights, for helping us inspire a love of reading where we can celebrate early literacy with Brooksville’s youngest citizens,” said Dr. Steve Knobl, Executive Director of ELCPH.
“At Highlights, we believe children are the world’s most important people. And we are proud to support early literacy through our continued partnership with ELCPH! The new Owlivia’s Book Nook at You Thrive Florida in Brooksville is a warm, welcoming space where young children and families can discover the joy of reading together. We’re working together to help children become their best selves and to build brighter futures, one book at a time,” said Laureen Reynolds, Director of Product for Highlights Early Learning.
For nearly 80 years, Highlights for Children have been a beloved resource for families, fostering a deep connection to learning, creativity, and self-expression. To learn more about our generous sponsor, click here to learn more about Highlights!
Get Involved: ELCPH is currently expanding its Book Nook initiative to partner with local agencies serving families in Pasco and Hernando Counties. We invite businesses, community groups, and advocates to join us in this meaningful mission to support early childhood literacy. For partnership opportunities or to sponsor a Book Nook in your area, please contact: Melinda Velez, Strategic Partnerships, ELCPH, Phone: 727-233-8291 x115 or email: m.velez@elcph.org.
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ELCPH About Us: The Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc. is a 501c3 organization and one of 30 Early Learning Coalitions in Florida. Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program is for all children who are four years old on or before September 1. School Readiness provides subsidized childcare for low-to-moderate-income working families. The nonprofit service providers over 10,000 children between infancy and twelve years old, working with over 300 childcare providers in both counties. Learn more by visiting Elcph.org.
Highlights Abouts Us: For generations, families have trusted Highlights for Children to help kids become curious, creative, caring, and confident. What began as a magazine has grown into a mission to nurture young learners. Today, we bring this same spirit into classrooms, fostering kindness and creativity through resources that support the whole child on their journey to becoming their best selves. We’re proud to partner with educators to provide guided learning through curricula, books, and more—especially supporting Florida’s youngest learners.
