Our Story

As a parent, you want to do everything you can to set your child up for success.

When my daughter was born, I was determined to teach her to read before kindergarten. I believed that if she could learn to read early, she could read to learn, and that would open a world of possibilities, imagination, and opportunity throughout her life.

The problem was that I had no idea where to start.

I tried everything. Hooked on Phonics. ABC Mouse. The alphabet song. Reading books. Worksheets. "100 Easy Lessons." Every resource seemed to teach something different, and none of it felt simple enough to fit into everyday life. I wasn't lacking effort, I was just lacking a clear path.

Then one morning, everything changed.

My daughter blended her first word.

I still remember the look on her face when it clicked. It was a lightbulb moment for both of us. In that instant, I realized reading wasn't nearly as complicated as I had been making it. The challenge wasn't finding more resources, it was about finding the right system.

Years later, during COVID, my daughter and I found ourselves homeschooling together. By then, she had become a passionate reader, devouring books like The Chronicles of Narnia and Little House on the Prairie.

Looking back on our journey, we began asking a simple question:

What if we could make learning to read easier for other families?

We knew any solution had to be simple, effective, and realistic for busy parents. So we got to work.

Over the next five years, we collaborated with educators, speech therapists, parents, and early literacy experts to create Celeste Learns—a calm, science-based reading program designed for children ages babies to 5.

Built on seven proven literacy pillars, Celeste Learns simplifies early reading into one easy habit: your child watches the same short video each day for 30 days before moving to the next lesson. No complicated schedules. No overwhelming curriculum. Just a simple system designed to help children build reading skills step by step.

In as little as three months, children can begin recognizing letter sounds, blending simple words, and connecting meaning to those words. The full program takes nine months to complete, creating a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Our mission is simple: Help children learn to read early so they can imagine ALL that’s possible—and go for it.

A Special Thanks

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 . 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.