Hi, I am Reiko, an educator, content creator, and the heart behind The Reading Garden. With a background in education, media, and early literacy, I spent many years helping children build a strong start through stories, creativity, and meaningful connections. As a mom, I know how powerful story time can be for learning and bonding. I have relaunched The Reading Garden to give parents simple, beautiful tools to make reading at home feel magical. Every printable, every post and every idea here is rooted in the belief that reading is more than a skill; it is a gift we give our children every time we open a book together. Thank you for being here. I hope you find something that brings joy to your story time today.
I wise man once said...
“What we teach children to love and desire will always outweigh what we make them learn.”
- Jim Trelease
About The Reading Garden
When I founded The Reading Garden in 2015, it was born from a desire to bring meaningful educational experiences closer to my home in South Trinidad. As a SAHM living in South Trinidad, I often travelled into Port-of-Spain to find enriching activities for my son and me, and this drove my passion to create something educational, fun, and lasting for children and parents alike closer to home.
After months of researching and tapping into my love of storytelling, music, and dramatization, I launched The Reading Garden. It began with Parent & Me sessions for children aged 0–3, where I introduced early literacy through songs, stories, and sensory play. In 2017, I started the beloved Jump-In sessions for children ages 4–7, where storytelling came alive through themed props and immersive environments handmade and designed to let children "walk through" a story.
When I moved abroad in 2018, The Reading Garden Jump-In sessions continued under the leadership of a team that shared my vision. But like many small businesses, The Reading Garden was forced to shut down entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Reading Garden is returning, adding a digital space with a renewed focus. Through story-inspired digital downloads, blog posts, and creative resources, I am once again helping parents bring the book back by fostering connection, creativity, and a lifelong love of reading for children everywhere.
