Culture
This four-year-old wiz kid has already read more than 1,000 books!
Daliyah Marie Arana has loved books since before she was born, literally. She was only 2 years and 11 months old when she read her first book on her own.

Daliyah Marie Arana has loved books since before she was born, literally.
Daliyah Marie Arana loves books
Haleema Arana, Daliyah’s mother, would read books to her while she was pregnant, and then, after she was born, she loved listening to her older brother reading chapter books. By 18 months old, she could recognize the words in books her mother read to her.
“She wanted to take over and do the reading on her own,” Arana told The Washington Post.
“It kind of took off from there. The more words she learned, the more she wanted to read.”
Daliyah was only 2 years and 11 months old when she read her first book on her own.
Now, at 4 years old, Daliyah has read over 1,000 books, including a few at the college reading level.
Daliyah’s striking love for literature caught the attention of Carla Hayden, who leads the 14th Librarian of Congress, and Hayden invited the pre-schooler to come tour the library as a “librarian for the day.”
She just kept saying how the Library of Congress is her most favorite, favorite, favorite library in the whole wide world,” Haleema Arana said.
1,000 books program
Arana developed the idea to start counting the number of books Daliyah read from the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, and since Daliyah has already passed that number.
They hope to pass 1500 before Daliyah gets to Kindergarten, where she hopes to “help the teacher teach the other kids how to read.”
It was fun to have 4-year-old Daliyah Marie Arana of Gainesville, GA as “Librarian For The Day.” She’s already read more than a 1,000 books. pic.twitter.com/MQfwlUrakO
— Carla Hayden (@LibnOfCongress) January 11, 2017
Real stories. Real impact. Straight to your inbox. Join thousands others. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter today!
Follow us on Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, News Break
Discover more from Unheard Voices Magazine®
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Social Justice1 week agoLouisiana man freed after 34 years in prison as court cites hidden evidence and false testimony
Black and Missing2 weeks agoMissing Alabama teen found burned, dismembered after parents search woods themselves
Black Excellence2 weeks agoOakland valedictorian accepted into 31 colleges chooses LSU to pursue dream of becoming a doctor
Community2 weeks agoOnce homeless, Charlotte mother finds stability after community support transforms her future
In Memoriam4 days agoDr. Clarence B. Jones, civil rights activist who helped write MLK’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, dies at 95
Community1 week agoOhio man declared innocent after 27 years on death row, still waiting for state compensation as supporters launch GoFundMe
Social Justice2 weeks agoLeaders demand apology over comedian’s offensive George Floyd and Sheryl Underwood jokes during Kevin Hart Netflix Roast
Education1 week agoSpelman College makes history with seven valedictorians in the class of 2026
Black Excellence2 weeks agoWoman, 23, becomes youngest Ph.D. graduate in University of Houston history
Community1 week agoThe Crash on Netflix renews national attention, inspires scholarship fund honoring Davion Flanagan






















