Celebrating Ten Years of Read to Reef

Budding Baltimore booklovers have been reading their way to free National Aquarium visits for a decade now, thanks to a longstanding partnership between two of the city's most well-known and iconic nonprofits: the National Aquarium and Enoch Pratt Free Library. In honor of Read to Reef's tenth anniversary, the Aquarium and the Pratt are celebrating the program's impact to date.

Of special note is the fact that over the past 10 years, more than 25,000 children have joined the Read to Reef book club—enough to fill CFG Bank Arena, twice! These impressive kids have read more than 126,000 books, and the Aquarium has welcomed more than 98,000 Read to Reef guests (children and family members) since the program's inception. These visits are equal to $3.4 million in tickets. Participation in Read to Reef is free for families with a Pratt library card.

"For the past 10 years, Read to Reef has shown what's possible when combining literacy, family engagement, and shared experiences," said Jennifer Driban, the Aquarium's interim president and CEO. "Through this program, children can discover a love of reading while building a deeper connection to the natural world. Our partnership with the Pratt is proof of what can happen when two trusted community institutions work together."

"Read to Reef is a powerful example of how strong partnerships can expand opportunities for children and families across Baltimore," said Chad Helton, president and CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. "Together with the National Aquarium, we've helped families build lasting reading habits, connect with libraries at branch locations throughout the city, and experience firsthand how stories can spark curiosity and open the door to new worlds. We're proud to celebrate 10 years of inspiring children to read, learn, and imagine what's possible."

Read to Reef launched in February 2016 to encourage young Baltimoreans to read and to connect with nature, both in the pages of books and in person at the Aquarium. Then as now, Baltimore-area children in grades five and under who have a valid Pratt library card can pick up a Read to Reef bookmark at Pratt library branches throughout the city. Kids read five aquatic- or conservation-themed books, track their reading on their bookmark, then redeem the completed bookmark for free tickets to the National Aquarium for themselves and their families. Fresh bookmarks are issued twice each year, in spring and fall, and children can receive one bookmark per program season. Each season, Aquarium staff and Pratt librarians curate a list of suggested books for a variety of reading levels.

"I really love this program because it allows me to enjoy reading with my children," shared one parent whose child has participated in Read to Reef. "The cherry on top is the excitement of taking my family to visit the Aquarium. We would not be able to visit the Aquarium without this."

Another parent said, "[Read to Reef] is a phenomenal program that has expanded my daughter's love of ocean life and her awareness of environmental issues. She went to the National Aquarium today and told the (kind and patient) staff what she had learned reading about coral reefs and climate change."

And a third added, "This program provides a great opportunity for my kids to be excited about reading together, and they love sharing what they learned while visiting the Aquarium."

One of the Aquarium's guiding priorities is to ensure that a visit to the Aquarium is within reach of all our neighbors. The Aquarium—Maryland's top attraction and one of the top three aquariums in the United States—offers a variety of community access initiatives, including Read to Reef.

The new spring season of Read to Reef begins on March 1, 2026.