Our Story

Celeste Learns began the same way many good ideas do: with a parent trying to do right by their child.

I come from a long line of educators, but when it came time to teach my own daughter how to read, I felt overwhelmed. There were so many programs, so many opinions, and a quiet fear that choosing the wrong one might set her back. I knew early reading mattered. What I didn’t know was how to do it in a way that felt calm and right.

What ended up working for us wasn’t complicated.

When my daughter was a toddler, we found that short moments of repetition, simple pictorial cues, and focusing on sounds and blending made the biggest difference. We kept it light. We skipped the pressure. Learning felt steady and approachable, not rushed or stressful.

Years later, during the COVID break when my daughter was seven, we looked back on those early years and asked a simple question: What actually helped? That reflection became the foundation of Celeste Learns. Together, we turned those early methods into short, calm videos and a friendly green snake who needs a child’s help to learn to read. My daughter played a key role in making sure everything stayed light, fun, and welcoming for young learners.

Celeste Learns was created to make early reading feel calmer and less intimidating for both children and parents. It isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up each day, following a simple plan, and letting confidence grow over time.

We are deeply grateful to the many people who helped bring this idea to life over the past five years. Celeste, our friendly green snake, was illustrated by Chris Kindrick, whose work brings warmth and personality to early learning. We also thank our partners at Stone Ward and 360 Filmworks for helping us bring this vision to life in ways we never could have imagined alone. We are especially grateful to Amber Dodillet, our master pronunciation guide in the Celeste Learns to Read videos. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a Master of Science in Special Education. And we are thankful to all the educators, speech therapists, and homeschooling parents who generously shared their insight and guidance to ensure this program truly supports how young children learn to read.

Our hope is simple: that Celeste Learns makes a big milestone feel less overwhelming, and gives both you and your child the confidence to begin today.