At Scholastic, we believe that literacy – the ability to read, write and understand – is the birthright of every child and that the right book at the right time can light an emotional spark within children that motivates them to read more and read joyfully.
Through our strong relationships with organizations like the Reach Out and Read, Scholastic is able to get books into the hands of children across the country.
We are proud to announce that just last week, 500,000 books were distributed, from the Scholastic Possible Fund, to young children at wellness checkups through Reach Out and Read, a program that educates parents and caregivers about the importance of reading aloud starting from an infant’s first days.
The book donation and distribution are part of a national partnership announced by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the fourth annual Clinton Global Initiative America Meeting (CGI America) in June, 2014. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Reach Out and Read, Scholastic and Too Small to Fail are using a multi-pronged approach to ensure that medical caregivers have the information, tools and books they need to help families make reading aloud with their infants a daily practice.
This donation of books is critical to our earliest learners, as research shows that a child’s first three years offer an important window for brain development. Reading aloud, talking, singing and rhyming every day during these early years helps young children reach their full potential.
As we strive to “Open a World of Possible” for every child around the globe, access to the books kids want to read is key. Together with our partners, we can open doors of opportunity for future generations.
The distribution of the first shipment (258,950 books), listed by state, can be seen on: http://www.reachoutandread.org/media/43645/scholasticdelivery_1.pdf
The second shipment is scheduled for early summer.
