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Prescription for Reading
Partnership
January 14, 1998
CEN
National COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS Association
BOSTON
205 Daingerfield Road
MEDICAL
Alexandria, Virginia
Todd Dankmyer
22314-2885
Senior Vice President
phone
Dowling Building. 5 South
Communications
703.683.8200
CLAINE R. GROSSMAN, MEd
fax
Development Director
One Boston Medical Center Place
703.683.3619
Reach Out and Read
Boston, MA 02118-2393
Tel. 617 534 7554
www.ncpanet.org
Fax: 617 534 7557
Care You Can Trust
National Association of
Children's Hospitals
National Association of
and Related Institutions
Community Health Centers, Inc.
Kathy McNamara
Assistant Director
NACHRI
Lisa M. Tare
Department of Health Professions & Clinical Affairs
Vice President, Public Affairs
1330 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., Suite 122
Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone (703) 684-1355
Telephone (202) 659-8008
Fax (703) 684-1589
401 Wythe Street
FAX (202) 659-8519
[email protected]
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Jill Perlstein
ABA
Marketing Manager
READING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC.
Rachael W. Walker
AMERICAN
828 South Broadway
Special Projects Manager
BOOKSELLERS
Tarrytown, New York 10591
600 MARYLAND AVENUE, S.W.
ASSOCIATION
914-591-2665 Ext. 203
SUITE 600
I
EST.1900
Fax: 914-591-2720
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
http://www.bookweb.org
email:[email protected]
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20024
:
(202) 287-3371
FAX (202) 287-3196
EMAIL [email protected]
CEN
BOSTON
Boston University
MEDICAL
st
School of Medicine
Patricia S. Schroeder
President and
Chief Executive Officer
PERRI KEASS, MD
Maternity Building. Room 611
Medical Director
One Boston Medical Center Place
Boston, MA 02118-2393
Reach Out and Read
Tel: 617 534 3696
Boston Medical Center
Fax: 617 534.3690 7552
Association of American Publishers, Inc.
Assistant Professor of Pediatries
E-mail: [email protected]
1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 700
Boston University School of Medicine
Washington, DC 20009-1148
Voice 202-232-3335 ext. 231
Fax 202-745-0694
E.mail [email protected]
Janis Guerney, JD
50 East Huron Street
Telephone 312 280 2162
Assistant Director
Chicago, Illinois 60611-2795
800 545 2433 ext. 2162
Washington Office
USA
Fax 312 280 3257
202/347-8600 800/336-5475
E-mail:sroman(oala.org
Fax: 202/393-6137
http://www.ala.org
INTERNET: [email protected]
ALAAmericanLibraryAssociation
American Academy of Pediatrics
PEDIATRIC
Susan Roman, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Department of Government Liaison
The Homer Building
Association for Library Service to Children
601 13th Street, NW, Suite 400 North
Washington, DC 20005
and American Library Trustee Association
The American Academy of Pediatrics is
committed II) the anainment of optimal physical.
http://www.ala.org
mental. and social health for all infants.
children. adolescents. and young adults.
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
CLINTON LIBRARY PHOTOCOPY
AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION
Rx
-
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
INTONLIBRARY PHOTOCOPY
REA
4
"Today, thanks to advances in brain research, we know that reading with a child has
intellectual, emotional and physical benefits that can enhance the child's development.
The intimacy of sharing books and stories strengthens the emotional bonds between a
parent and child, helps a child learn words and concepts, and actually stimulates the
growth of a baby's brain.
That's why doctors and nurses are starting to prescribe
reading to babies along with regular checkups and vaccinations. It isn't very often
that we have before us such a simple, inexpensive and pleasurable way to improve our
children's health and development and raise their prospects for a brighter future."
-Hillary Rodham Clinton
Time, February 3, 1997
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
CLINTON LIBRARY PHOTOCOPY
ABA
AMERICAN
BOOKSELLERS
ASSOCIATION
EST. 1900
828 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591
(914) 591-2665, (800) 637-0037
Fax: (914) 591-2720
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: http://www.bookweb.org
Prescriptionfor
ABA
B
READING
ASSOCATION OF
AMERICAN
300*SELLERS FOR
BOOKSELLERS
ASSOCIATION
November 1997
Dear Bookseller:
On behalf of the American Booksellers Association and the Association of Booksellers for Children, we are delighted
to welcome you to our Prescription for Reading/Read to Your Bunny campaign! You will be pleased to learn that you are
one of almost fifteen hundred bookstores across the United States that will be distributing over 200,000 copies of Read to
Your Bunny between now and March of 1998.
The Children's Issues Committee of ABA and representatives of ABC-in conjunction with Scholastic. Inc.-have
worked hard to make this information kit as user friendly as possible. The kit includes your one hundred complimentary
copies of Read to Your Bunny by Rosemary Wells, as well as accompanying posters, coupons/prescription forms, and
other informational material. It has been designed to assist you in developing a working relationship with a local health-
care provider and is directed toward encouraging parents and other care-givers to read to their very young children on a
daily basis as a routine part of well-baby care. In addition to bringing new traffic into your store, this program puts you in
the forefront of President Clinton's "America Reads Challenge" while demonstrating your strong commitment to pro-
mote reading and support literacy. We could not be more proud of the enthusiastic response of the bookselling communi-
ty to this effort.
As you know, this innovative collaboration between ABA, ABC, and Scholastic, Inc., was created in response to the
Prescription for Reading (PFR) partnership, launched in April 1997 by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on the eve of the
White House Conference on Early Childhood and Brain Development. The partnership encourages businesses, community
organizations, and others to work with health-care providers to prescribe reading during "well-baby" checkups. PFR is
based on the successful work of a Boston-based organization, Reach Out and Read, which corroborates that reading to very
young children enhances the child's overall intellectual, emotional, and physical development. This specific PFR partnership
will run from November 1997 through March 1, 1998.
The program guidelines, found elsewhere in this kit, are designed to provide overall suggestions as to how this pro-
gram can work best. While we recognize that some bookstores may make modest adjustments to the program to tailor it
for their own communities, we believe that our suggested approach is the best way to achieve maximum results. Be sure
to note, however, that our agreement with Scholastic specifically states that the enclosed books cannot be sold
under any circumstance and that no books may be distributed after March 1, 1998. Any books left after that date
must be donated to an appropriate health-care facility.
If you have any questions about our Prescription for Reading program, please call Jill Perlstein of the ABA at
(800) 637-0037, ext. 283. For additional materials or for information about a complementary ABC companion program-
"The Most Important 20 Minutes of Your Day Read with a Child"-please contact the ABC national office at 4412
Chowen Ave. S. #303, Minneapolis, MN 55410, or call (800) 421-1665.
Thank you for taking part in this exciting initiative. Together, we will play a part in helping two hundred thousand
children to a good beginning (their parents, too!) and start them down the road of becoming lifetime readers!
Sincerely,
Barlara Bonds Thomas
Barbara Bonds Thomas (Toad Hall, Austin. TX)
President
American Booksellers Association
Diane Etherington
Diane Etherington (Children's Hour Bookstore,
Salt Lake City, UT)
President
Association of Booksellers for Children
P.S. We want to thank the Ingram Book Company for their generous assistance in the distribution of the Read to Your Bunny
materials to participating bookstores. Among ABA, ABC, Rosemary Wells. Scholastic, Inc., and the Ingram Book Company.
this has truly been a collaborative effort. Thanks to all!
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
October 3, 1997
Mr. Oren J. Teicher
Director of Government Affairs
American Booksellers Association
828 South Broadway
Tarrytown, New York 10591
Dear Mr. Teicher:
Thank you for writing and updating me on the national
campaign to encourage businesses, community organizations, and
others to work with health-care providers to "prescribe"
reading during well-baby checkups. Your program, in
cooperation with the Association of Booksellers for Children
and Scholastic, Inc., is a very important step in implementing
the Prescription for Reading Partnership.
We all realize that modest investments in the sound
development of our children, especially our youngest children,
will lay the groundwork for an American future with increased
prosperity, better health, fewer social ills, and ever greater
opportunities for our citizens to lead fulfilling lives:
Thanks to the work of Reach Out and Read, we know that reading
to very young children enhances the child's overall
intellectual, emotional, and physical development.
Thank you for your efforts in making a "prescription"
for reading to our children a genuine national effort.
Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Rodham Clinton Clinton
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
October 10, 1997
Mr. Oren J. Teicher
Director of Governmental Affairs
American Booksellers Association
838 South Broadway
Tarrytown, New York 10591
Dear Oren:
I commend you for taking a leadership role in supporting
the American Reads Challenge. By joining the President's
Coalition for the America Reads Challenge, you have made a
commitment to the future of our nation and its success in
the 21st century. We should all be concerned that more than
40 percent of our nation's fourth grade students read at or
below grade level. Your willingness to commit your time and
resources to ensure that every child reads well and independently
by the end of third grade is a testimony to the importance you
place on creating a literate society.
There are few greater gifts we can give than to open the
world to a child through reading. I encourage you to remain
diligent in your support of the America Reads Challenge and to
share your enthusiasm with others SO they might join in helping
us reach the program's goal. Together we can create a nation of
readers that will ensure a more prosperous and secure future for
all Americans. Thank you again for your support of the America
Reads Challenge.
Sincerely,
Brin Clinton
VIEWPOINT
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Comfort and Joy
The First Mom suggests reading as an easy way to help a baby's brain grow
HE NIGHT AFTER THE INAUGURAL, BILL AND 1 CATHERED
ation and the American Library Association, a national
T
with our family in the solarium on the third floor of the
campaign to put books in the hands of parents who bring
White House. After dinner our toddler nephews Tyler
their young children to the doctor, and to get doctors to
and Zachary climbed up on the couch with their Uncle
prescribe daily reading. My husband and I will be dis-
Bill to hear him read a story. They accompanied him with
cussing this and other activities to follow up on the latest
words, sounds, pointed fingers and a few tussles over who
findings about the brain at a White House conference in
would hold the book. As I watched them, I thought of all the
the spring.
times Bill and I used to take turns reading stories to Chelsea.
It's important that we take to heart what the neuro-
Every night one of us (and occasionally both) would stretch
scientists are telling us-without losing the heart of the
out on her bed, hold her in our arms, and either read or
reading experience. In today's high-tech world of E-mail
make up new tales about imaginary characters who em-
and microchips, it is easy to forget the importance of hu-
barked on improbable but breathtaking adventures.
man connections in our daily activities. Technology has
Bill and I did not know about brain cells or synapses or
brought many welcome conveniences to our lives. But it
the newest discoveries in neuroscience. Reading to
has the potential to create feelings of distance, detachment
Chelsea became a daily ritual because it's what our own
and isolation among us.
parents and grandparents had done with us, and because
Reading to a child while touching, hugging and hold-
we wanted to spend quiet time with her every day. Bill's
ing him or her can be a wonderful antidote to the im-
grandmother thought that
personal tendencies of the
reading to him would help
information age-for both
him develop a strong vo-
the adult and the child.
cabulary and the language
While critical to building
skills he would need later
brains, reading is equally
on in school. My mother
important to building
and father placed a similar
trusting and close relation-
premium on reading, and
ships. That's why many of
to this day 1 remember the
us remember the warm
feelings of security and
embrace or. the comfort-
comfort that I felt sitting in
able lap that cradled us
my grandfather's lap when
when we read books as
he read stories to my
children. And that's why
brothers and me.
reading should not be
Today, thanks to ad-
viewed solely as an intel-
vances in brain research,
lectual proposition, par-
we know that reading with
ticularly in the era in
a child has intellectual,
which we now live.
emotional and physical
If Americans take away
benefits that can enhance
Mrs. Clinton with her daughter In the crucial first three years
only one lesson from these
the child's development. The intimacy of sharing books
exciting scientific discoveries, I hope it's that reading to
and stories strengthens the emotional bonds between a
children is easy, affordable and feasible for parents no
parent and child, helps a child learn words and concepts,
matter what their level of education or economic station in
and actually stimulates the growth of a baby's brain.
life. Children's books are available for free at public
As I discussed in my book, It Takes a Village, scientists
libraries in every community and can be found at reason-
have discovered that children whose parents read and talk
able prices in many bookstores. Doctors, librarians, teach-
to them during the first three years of life create a stronger
ers, book publishers, business leaders and the news media
foundation for future reading success. In other words,
can help make books available to families and educate
what our parents and grandparents knew instinctively is
parents about the vital role that reading plays in our chil-
now backed up by hard scientific evidence.
dren's lives.
That's why doctors and nurses are starting to pre-
It isn't very often that we have before us such a simple,
scribe reading to babies along with regular checkups and
inexpensive and pleasurable way to improve our children's
vaccinations. Recently I went to Georgetown University's
health and development and raise their prospects for a
Medical Center with Maurice Sendak, the renowned
brighter future. Whether you lie down together on the rug,
children's author and illustrator. His book Where the
sit together in an old rocking chair or cuddle on your
Wild Things Are was one of Chelsea's-and Bill's-fa-
child's bed the way Bill and I used to with Chelsea, there
vorites. Mr. Sendak read the story to children, and I an-
is no better way to spend time than reading to your child.
nounced, along with representatives of the American
And now we also know that there are few better ways
Academy of Pediatrics, the American Booksellers Associ-
to help your baby's brain grow.
TIME, FEBRUARY3 1997
63
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES
The success of this program depends on your ability to partner with a local health-care provider who is
dedicated to the overall care of a child's physical health, including the child's emotional and intellectual
development. Your partner can be a pediatrician, doctor, nurse, a Reach Out and Read center (see enclosed list),
or any other organization that cares for a child's health. The distinguishing factor in choosing your partner
should be their ability to influence a parent's behavior in caring for a child. We understand that in your
community you may need to partner with a pre-school or similar organization; in this case, we would still
recommend that the program be targeted toward the parent rather than the child. If you have any questions or
concerns about how to administer this program, please contact ABA's Jill Perlstein at (800) 637-0037 or
(914) 591-2665, ext. 283. In accordance with ABA's and ABC's agreement with Scholastic Inc., you are not
permitted to sell this special edition of Read to Your Bunny and must complete this program by March 1,
1998. Any books not yet redeemed by that date, must be donated to a not-for-profit organization of your choice.
Thank you for your cooperation.
SOME COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
Q: What is in the starter kit?
A: 100 Read to Your Bunny paperback books, 125 prescription coupons, two full-color posters (one for the
health-care office and one for your store), one tent card (for the health-care office), one double-sided sign (for
your store), one 11" X 17" poster (for your store), samples of press releases and letters to health-care providers, a
list of Reach Out and Read centers, and copies of other information to guide you in running a successful
campaign.
Q: What is in a booster pack?
A: 100 Read to Your Bunny paperback books, 125 prescription coupons, two full-color posters (one for the
health-care office and one for your store), one tent card (for the health-care office), one double-sided sign (for
your store), and one 11" X 17" poster (for your store).
Q: What do I do first?
A: Review the enclosed materials and contact a local pediatrician, clinic, health-care center, hospital, Reach Out
and Read center (see enclosed list), or similar health-care provider. Review with your potential partner the
findings from the research studies cited in the enclosed materials and on the 11" X 17" poster. Ask your partner
to participate by prescribing reading to parents and guardians of very young children using the prescription
coupons provided in this kit. (Use insert DR1 (fill-in-the-blanks) or DR2 (ready-to-mail) for contacting potential
partners. Use SP for company background information. Refer to the 11" X 17" poster for statistical details.)
Q: How do I personalize the prescription coupons?
A: Use a sticker or a stamp to imprint your store's name and address on the coupon under "Get your free
paperback copy of Read to Your Bunny at" and on the bottom of the bookmark under "Remember to sign up
your child for a library card."
Q: How do I get the local media's attention?
A: Use the sample press releases in this kit or create your own press release. (Use insert PR1 (fill-in-the-blanks)
or PR2 (ready-to-mail) to deliver to the media. Use SP for company background information. Refer to the 11" x
17" poster for statistical details.)
Q: What do I do if I have unclaimed books on March 2, 1998?
A: Donate the books to a local not-for-profit organization of your choice. Be sure to stamp your store's name on
the inside cover or place your store's bookmark in each book.
DR1
NOTE TO BOOKSELLER: Recreate this sample letter on your store's letterhead, fill-in the underlined
portions with your information, or develop your own version. Send this letter to potential partners for the
program.
Today's date
Dear
:
Health-care provider's name
I am delighted to extend this invitation to you to play an important role in an exciting initiative to
encourage reading to very young children-the Prescription for Reading Partnership. This program,
launched in April 1997 by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, is based on the successful work of a
Boston-based organization, Reach Out and Read (ROR), which corroborates that reading to very young
children enhances the child's overall intellectual, emotional, and physical development. The partnership
encourages businesses, community organizations, and others to work with health-care providers to
prescribe reading during "well-baby" checkups.
A 1991 study by ROR found that:
. parents who had been given a book and literacy counseling during a clinic visit were four times
more likely to choose book sharing as an activity with their child.
And, prior to ROR's study, a 1985 National Commission on Reading study reported:
children's experiences being read to were the single most important predictors of later
reading success.
Prescription for Reading is an integral component of President Clinton's America Reads Challenge. The
goal of the America Reads Challenge, to be met by the year 2000, is to ensure that all children learn to
read well and independently by the time they enter third grade. Our bookstore,
,
Your bookstore
in partnership with the American Booksellers Association (ABA), the Association of Booksellers for
Children (ABC), and Scholastic Inc., will distribute over two hundred thousand free copies of Read to
Your Bunny by Rosemary Wells. This new book is a colorful, vibrant, paperback edition that delivers the
simple message that reading to a child is an important part of daily activities.
books will be
Number of books
distributed free with your help through our store to parents and guardians of young children in our
community. This stage of the partnership will run from November 1997 through March 1, 1998.
Insert specific plans
It is my hope that you, as the health-care expert, and myself, as the children's book expert, can work
together to introduce adults and young children to the world of books available at both local bookstores
and libraries in our community. It our vision that by working together, each in our respective role, we can
produce lifelong readers. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Your signature
DR2
ABA
AMERICAN
BOOKSELLERS
ASSOCIATION
EST.1700
November 1997
Dear health-care provider:
I am delighted to extend this invitation to you to play an important role in an exciting initiative to
encourage reading to very young children-the Prescription for Reading Partnership. This program,
launched in April 1997 by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, is based on the successful work of a
Boston-based organization, Reach Out and Read (ROR), which corroborates that reading to very young
children enhances the child's overall intellectual, emotional, and physical development. The partnership
encourages businesses, community organizations, and others to work with health-care providers to
prescribe reading during "well-baby" checkups.
A 1991 study by ROR found that:
parents who had been given a book and literacy counseling during a clinic visit were four times
more likely to choose book sharing as an activity with their child.
And, prior to ROR's study, a 1985 National Commission on Reading study reported:
children's experiences being read to were the single most important predictors of later
reading success.
Prescription for Reading is an integral component of President Clinton's America Reads Challenge. The
goal of the America Reads Challenge, to be met by the year 2000, is to ensure that all children learn to
read well and independently by the time they enter third grade. Our bookstore, in partnership with the
American Booksellers Association (ABA), the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC), and
Scholastic Inc., will distribute over two hundred thousand free copies of Read to Your Bunny by
Rosemary Wells. This new book is a colorful, vibrant, paperback edition that delivers the simple message
that reading to a child is an important part of daily activities. Books will be distributed free with your help
through our store to parents and guardians of young children in our community. This stage of the
partnership will run from November 1997 through March 1, 1998.
It is my hope that you, as the health-care expert, and myself, as the children's book expert, can work
together to introduce adults and young children to the world of books available at both local bookstores
and libraries in our community. It our vision that by working together, each in our respective role, we can
produce lifelong readers. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
The Prescription for Reading Partners
828 South Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591
914.591.BOOK 800.637.0037 FAX 914.591.2720 INTERNET http://www.bookweb.org
PR1
NOTE TO BOOKSELLER: Recreate this sample press release on your store's letterhead, fill-in the
underlined portions with your information, or develop your own version. Send the press release to the
local media. Include an appropriate photograph.
ABA
AMERICAN
BOOKSELLERS
ASSOCIATION
EST.1700
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Contact name
Contact number
READ TO YOUR BUNNY BY ROSEMARY WELLS
INSPIRES NATIONAL READING PROGRAM AT
Your bookstore
SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOLASTIC, THE ASSOCIATION OF BOOKSELLERS
FOR CHILDREN, AND THE INGRAM BOOK COMPANY
(
) More than two hundred thousand free copies of a new book, Read to Your
Your town, today's date
Bunny, have been distributed to participating bookstores across the nation through a cooperative
initiative entitled Prescription for Reading. The Prescription for Reading Partnership, an integral
component of the America Reads Challenge, was launched in April 1997 by First Lady Hillary
Rodham Clinton on the eve of the White House Conference on Early Childhood and Brain
Development. Prescription for Reading is based on the successful work of a Boston-based
organization, Reach Out and Read, which corroborates that reading to very young children enhances
the child's overall intellectual, emotional, and physical development.
The American Booksellers Association (ABA), in partnership with the Association of Booksellers for
Children (ABC), Scholastic Inc., and
, has designed this program to encourage
Your bookstore
parents and guardians of very young children to make reading part of a daily routine. By working with
local health-care providers to prescribe reading during "well-baby" checkups, we can work toward
meeting the goal of the America Reads Challenge and ensure that all children learn to read well and
independently by the time they enter third grade.
Read to Your Bunny, a new Scholastic picture book by acclaimed author and illustrator Rosemary
Wells, is a colorful, vibrant story that delivers a simple message: Reading to a child is an important
part of daily activities. The book will be published by Scholastic in March 1998 (U.S. price $7.95).
page 2
is distributing "prescription coupons" for free paperback copies of Read to Your
Your bookstore
Bunny to pediatricians, well-baby clinics, and other health-care facilities including
,
Name of health-care provider
where they will be given to individual parents and guardians to be redeemed at
.
Your bookstore
We will also provide these parents and guardians with special reading lists for babies, toddlers, and
pre-schoolers. The promotion will run from November 1997 through March 1, 1998.
"Your program is a very important step in implementing the Prescription for Reading Partnership,"
wrote First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in a letter to the ABA. "We all realize that modest
investments in the sound development of our children, especially our youngest children, will lay the
groundwork for an American future with increased prosperity, better health, with fewer social ills, and
ever greater opportunities for our citizens to lead fulfilling lives."
(Add a quote from the bookstore owner and/or health-care provider.)
(Insert background information about your store.)
The American Booksellers Association, founded in 1900, is a not-for-profit trade organization
headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, and on the Internet at http://www.bookweb.org/. Its mission
includes protecting the well-being of retail bookstores and promoting the availability of books. The
ABA supports its members through education, research, and the dissemination of information.
For more than 75 years, Scholastic Inc., has been committed to creating quality educational materials
for students, teachers, and families. The company is one of the leading publishers and distributors of
children's books, magazines, and core curriculum materials. Scholastic also publishes educational
software products and produces children- and family-oriented videos and television programs. The
company's international operations include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and
Mexico.
The Association of Booksellers for Children is a national membership association that offers a support
network for professional children's booksellers who share the goal of encouraging quality and service
within the children's book industry.
The Ingram Book Company is America's largest wholesale distributor of books, audiobooks,
periodicals, and multimedia to booksellers, librarians, and specialty retailers.
###
828 South Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591
914.591.BOOK
800.637.0037
FAX 914.591.2720
INTERNET http://www.bookweb.org
PR2
ABA
AMERICAN
BOOKSELLERS
ASSOCIATION
$51,1200
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jill Perlstein, ABA
(914) 591-2665, ext. 283
READ TO YOUR BUNNY BY ROSEMARY WELLS
INSPIRES NATIONAL READING PROGRAM AT LOCAL BOOKSTORES
SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOLASTIC, THE ASSOCIATION OF BOOKSELLERS
FOR CHILDREN, AND THE INGRAM BOOK COMPANY
(Tarrytown, NY, November 1997) More than two hundred thousand free copies of a new book, Read
to Your Bunny, have been distributed to participating bookstores across the nation through a
cooperative initiative entitled Prescription for Reading. The Prescription for Reading Partnership, an
integral component of the America Reads Challenge, was launched in April 1997 by First Lady Hillary
Rodham Clinton on the eve of the White House Conference on Early Childhood and Brain
Development. Prescription for Reading is based on the successful work of a Boston-based
organization, Reach Out and Read, which corroborates that reading to very young children enhances
the child's overall intellectual, emotional, and physical development.
The American Booksellers Association (ABA), in partnership with the Association of Booksellers for
Children (ABC), Scholastic Inc., the Ingram Book Company, and local bookstores across the country,
has designed this program to encourage parents and guardians of very young children to make reading
part of a daily routine. By working with local health-care providers to prescribe reading during "well-
baby" checkups, we can work toward meeting the goal of the America Reads Challenge and ensure that
all children learn to read well and independently by the time they enter third grade.
Read to Your Bunny, a new Scholastic picture book by acclaimed author and illustrator Rosemary
Wells, is a colorful, vibrant story that delivers a simple message: Reading to a child is an important
part of daily activities. The book will be published by Scholastic in March 1998 (U.S. price $7.95).
Local bookstores are distributing "prescription coupons" for free paperback copies of Read to Your
Bunny to pediatricians, well-baby clinics, and other health-care facilities, where the coupons will be
given to individual parents and guardians to be redeemed at the sponsoring bookstore. Parents and
guardians will also be provided with special reading lists for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers. The
promotion will run from November 1997 through March 1, 1998.
"Your program is a very important step in implementing the Prescription for Reading Partnership,"
wrote First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in a letter to the ABA. "We all realize that modest
investments in the sound development of our children, especially our youngest children, will lay the
groundwork for an American future with increased prosperity, better health, with fewer social ills, and
ever greater opportunities for our citizens to lead fulfilling lives."
ABA/page 2
The American Booksellers Association, founded in 1900, is a not-for-profit trade organization
headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, and on the Internet at http://www.bookweb.org/ Its mission
includes protecting the well-being of retail bookstores and promoting the availability of books. The
ABA supports its members through education, research, and the dissemination of information.
For more than 75 years, Scholastic Inc., has been committed to creating quality educational materials
for students, teachers, and families. The company is one of the leading publishers and distributors of
children's books, magazines, and core curriculum materials. Scholastic also publishes educational
software products and produces children- and family-oriented videos and television programs. The
company's international operations include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and
Mexico.
The Association of Booksellers for Children is a national membership association that offers a support
network for professional children's booksellers who share the goal of encouraging quality and service
within the children's book industry.
The Ingram Book Company is America's largest wholesale distributor of books, audiobooks,
periodicals, and multimedia to booksellers, librarians, and specialty retailers.
###
828 South Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591
914.591.BOOK 800.637.0037 FAX 914.591.2720 INTERNET http://www.bookweb.org
SP
NOTE TO BOOKSELLER: Add your store's history to this list of sponsoring organizations' histories.
Include a copy with your correspondences to the media and to your potential partners.
Prescription for Reading Partnership
American Booksellers Association: The ABA, founded in 1900, is a not-for-profit trade organization
headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, and on the Internet at http://www.bookweb.org./. Its mission
includes protecting the well-being of retail bookstores and promoting the availability of books. The ABA
supports its members through education, research, and the dissemination of information.
Association of Booksellers for Children: ABC is a national membership association that offers a
support network for professional children's booksellers who share the goal of encouraging quality and
service within the children's book industry.
The Ingram Book Company: Ingram is America's largest wholesale distributor of books, audiobooks,
periodicals, and multimedia to booksellers, librarians, and specialty retailers.
Scholastic Inc.: For more than 75 years, Scholastic Inc., has been committed to creating quality
educational materials for students, teachers, and families. The company is one of the leading publishers
and distributors of children's books, magazines, and core curriculum materials. Scholastic also publishes
educational software products and produces children- and family-oriented videos and television programs.
The company's international operations include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom,
and Mexico.
THE
NEW
YORK
TIMES
ATIONAL
THURSDAY,
APRIL
17,
1997
D21
Studies Show Talking With Infants Shapes Basis of Ability to Think
By
neurologist at Wayne State Universi-
neural networks that are more intri-
ty in Detroit and one of the scientists
cately woven together, a process that
When , White House conference on
whose research has shed light on
starts in the first year.
TIMETABLE
early child development convenes to
critical periods tn child brain devel-
The complexity of the synaptic
day, one of the findings Hillary Rod-
ham Clinton will hear from scientists
opment What is new is the extent of
web laid down early may very well
The Growing Brain: What Might Help Your Infant
the research in the field known as
be the physical basis of what we call
is that the neurological foundations
for rational thinking. problem solv-
cognitive neuroscience and the re-
general intelligence, said Dr. Lazar
Dr. William Staso. an expert in neurological
stimulation than just an actual fork.
sulting synthesis of findings on the
at Vanderbilt. The more complex
development. suggests that different kinds of
ing and general reasoning appear to
influence of both nature and nurture.
that set of interconnections, the
be largely established by age 1 -
stimulation should be emphasized at different ages.
MONTHS 6 TO 7 The infant becomes alert to
long before babies show any signs of
Before birth, It appears that genes
brighter the child is likely to be since
At all stages, parental interaction and a
relationships like cause and effect the location of
predominantly direct how the brain
there are more ways to sort, file and
knowing an abstraction from a paci-
conversational dialogue with the child are important.
objects and the functions of objects. Demonstrate
establishes basic wiring patterns.
access experiences.
fier.
Here are some examples:
and talk about situations like how the turning of a
Neurons grow and travel into dis-
Of course, brain development
Furthermore, new studies are
tinct neighborhoods, awaiting fur-
doorknob leads to the opening of a door.
showing that spoken language has an
"happens" in stimulating and dull
FIRST MONTH A low level of stimulation reduces
ther instructions.
astonishing impact on an infant's
environments. Virtually all bables
stress and increases the infant's wakefulness and
MONTHS 7 TO s The brain is oriented to make
After birth, It seems that environ-
brain development In fact, some re-
learn to sit up, crawl, walk, talk, eat
mental factors predominate. A re-
alertness. The brain essentially shuts down the
searchers say the number of words
independently and make transac-
associations between sounds and some meaningful
cent study found that mice exposed
tions with others, said Dr. Steve Pe-
system when there is overstimulation from competing
activity or object. For example, parents can
an infant hears each day is the single
to an enriched environment have
tersen, a neurologist at Washington
sources. When talking to an infant, for example, filter
deliberately emphasize in conversation that the
most important predictor of later
more brain cells than mice raised to
intelligence, school success and so-
University School of Medicine in St.
out distracting noises, like a radio.
sound of water running in the bathroom signals an
less intellectually stimulating condi-
clal competence There IS one catch
Louis Such skills are not at risk
impending bath. or that a doorbell means a'visitor.
tions. In humans, the inflowing
- the words have to come from an
except to rare circumstances of sen-
MONTHS 1 TO 3 Light/dark contours. like high-contrast
stream of sights, sounds, noises,
attentive, engaged human being As
sory and social deprivation, like be-
pictures or objects, foster development in neural
MONTHS 9 TO 12 Learning adds up to a new level of
smells, touches - and most impor-
ing locked to a closet for the first few
networks that encode vision. The brain also starts to
awareness of the environment and increased interest
far as anyone has been able to deter-
mine, radio and television do not
years of life Subject to tremendous
discriminate among acoustic patterns of language.
in exploration; sensory and motor skills coordinate in
work.
variability within the normal range
like intonation, lift and pitch. Speaking to the infant,
a more mature fashion. This is the time to let the child
"We now know that neural connec-
of environments are the abilities to
Environmental
especially in an animated voice, aids this process.
turn on a faucet or a light switch, under supervision.
tions are formed very early in life
perceive, conceptualize, understand,
and that the infant's brain IS literally
factors seem to
reason, associate and judge. The
MONTHS 3 TO 5 The infant relies primarily on vision to
MONTHS 13 TO 18 The brain establishes accelerated
waiting for experiences to determine
ability to function in a technological-
acquire information about the world Make available
and more complex associations, especially if the
how connections are made," said Dr
ty complex society like ours does not
Patricia Kuhl, a neuroscientist at the
take over for
increasingly complex designs that correspond to
toddler experiments directly with objects. A rich
simply "happen"
real objects in the baby's environment; motion also
environment will help the toddler make such
University of Washington in Seattle
One implication of the new knowl-
genetic influence.
edge about infant brain development
attracts attention. A large-scale picture of a fork.
associations, understand sequences, differentiate
and a key speaker at today's confer-
ence. "We didn't realize until very
is that intervention programs like
moved across the field of vision, would offer more
between objects and reason about them.
recently how early this process be-
Head Start may be too little, too late,
gins," she said LN a telephone inter-
Dr. Lazar said If educators hope to
tantly. language and eye contact
make a big difference, be said, they
"We are concerned that many par-
over, children with professional par-
view. "For example, infants have
literally makes the brain take shape.
will need to develop programs for
ents are going to take this new Infor-
Challenging the
ents got positive feedback 30 times
learned the sounds of their native
It is a radical and shocking concept.
children from birth to 3.
mation about brain research and
an hour twice as often as working
language by the age of SIX months
This relatively new view of infant
Experience in the first year of life
Dr. Bettye Cakwell, a professor of
rush to do more things with their
deep belief that lots
class parents and five times as often
lays the basis for networks of neu-
pediatrics and an expert in child
bables, more activities, forgetting
as welfare parents.
brain development, supported by
rons that enable us to be smart,
that it's not the activities that are
The tone of voice made a differ-
many scientists, has obvious political
development at the University of Ar-
and social implications. It suggests
creative and adaptable in all the
kansas in Little Rock, who supports
important. The most important thing
of love is enough.
ence, Dr. Hart said. Affirmative
that infants and babies develop most
years that follow, said Dr. Esther
the importance of early stimulation,
is connecting with the baby and cre-
feedback is very important A child
rapidly with caretakers who are not
Thelen, a neurobiologist at Indiana
said that in early childhood educa-
ating an emotional bond," Mr.
who hears, "What did we do yester-
University in Bloomington
Lion there is a strong blas against
Melmed said
co-authored a book - "Meaningful
day? What did we see?" will listen
only loving but also talkative and
articulate, and that a more verbal
The brain is a self-organizing sys-
planned intellectual stimulation
There is some danger of overstim-
Differences in the Everyday Expert-
more to a parent than will a child
family will increase an infant's
tem. Dr. Theien said, whose many
Teachers of very young children are
ulating an infant, said Dr. William
ence of Young American Children."
who always hears "Stop that," or
chances for success. It challenges
parts co-operate to produce coherent
Laught to follow "developmentally
Staso, a school psychologist from Or-
The researchers studied 42 chil-
"Come here!"
some deeply held beliefs - that in-
behavior. There IS no master pro-
appropriate practices," she said,
cutt, Calif. who has written a book
dren born to professional, working
By age 2, all parents started talk-
lants will thrive intellectually if they
gram pulling It together but rather
which means that the child chooses
called "What Stimulation Your Baby
class or welfare parents. During the
tng more to their children, Dr. Har(
are simply given loss of love and that
the parts self-organize "What we
what be or she wants to do. The
Needs to Become Smart" Some peo-
first two and half years of the chil-
said. But by age two, the differences
purposeful efforts to influence ba-
know about these systems is that
teacher is a responder and not a
ple think that any interaction with
dren's lives, the scientists spent an
among children were so great that
bies' cognitive development are
they are very sensitive to initial con-
stimulator.
very young children that involves
hour a month recording every spo-
those left behind could never catch
harmful.
ditions," Dr. Theien said "Where
Asked about the blas Dr. Caldwell
their intelligence must also Involve
ken word and every parent-child in-
up. The differences in academic
If the period from birth to 3 IS
you are now depends on where
described, Matthew Meimed, execu-
pushing them to excel, be said But
teraction in every home. For all the
achievement remained in each group
crucial, parents may assume a more
you've been"
tive director of Zero to Three, a
the "curriculum" that most benefits
families, the data include 1,300 hours
through primary school.
crucial role in a child's intellectual
The implication for infant develop-
research and training organization
young bables is simply common
of everyday interactions, Dr. Hart
Every child learned to use Lan-]
development than teachers, an idea
ment IS clear. Given the explosive
for early childhood development in
sense, Dr. Staso said It does not
said, involving millions of ordinary
guage and could say complex sen-
sure to provoke new debates about
growth and self-organizing capacity
Washington, D.C., said that knowing
involve teaching several languages
utterances.
tences but the deprived children did
parental responsibility, said Dr. Irv.
of the brain in the first year of life,
how much stimulation is too much or
or numerical concepts but rather
At age 3, the children were given
not deal with words in a conceptual
ing Lazar, a professor of special edu-
the experiences an infant has during
too Little, especially for infants, is "a
carrying out an ongoing dialogue
standard tests. The children of pro-
manner, she said
cation and resident scholar at the
this period are the conditions that set
really tricky question. It's a dilemma
with adult speech Vocabulary words
fessional parents scored highest.
A recent study of day care found
Center for Research in Human De-
the stage for everything that follows.
parents and educators face every
are a magnet for a child's thinking
Spoken language was the key vari-
the same thing Children who were
velopment at Vanderbilt University
In later life. what make us smart
day.' he said
and reasoning skills.
able, Dr. Hart said
talked to at very young ages were
in Nashville And It offers yet an-
and creative and adaptable are net-
In a poll released today, Zero to
This constant patter may be the
A child with professional parents
better at problem solving later on.
other reason to provide stimulating.
works of neurons which support our
Three found that 87 percent of par-
single most important factor in early
heard, on average, 2,100 words an
For an infant, Dr. Hart said, all
high quality day care for infants
ability to use abstractions from one
ents think that the more stimulation
brain development, said Dr. Betty
hour. Children of working-class par-
words are novel and worth learning-
whose primary caretakers work,
memory to help form new ideas and
a baby receives the r off the
Hart, a professor emeritus of human
ents I d 1,200 words
The key to brain development seems,
which is unavoidably expensive
solve problems, said Dr. Charles Ste-
baby is, Mr. Melmed said "A
development at the University of
with parents on welfare heard only
to be the rate of early learning DOG-
The idea that early experience
vens, a neurobiologist at the Salk
parents have the concept that a baby
Kansas in Lawrence. With her col-
600 words an hour. Profe
al par-
so much what is wired but
shapes human potential is not new,
Institute in San Diego Smarter peo-
IS something you fill up with informa-
league, Dr. Todd Ridley of the Uni-
ents talked three times as much to
of the brain
interconnected
to
said Dr. Harry Chugani, a pediatric
pie may have a greater number of
tion and that's not good," he said
versity of Alaska, Dr. Hart recently
their infants, Dr. Hart said. More-
those first months and years.
Reach Out and Read
National Sites
139 SITES IN 38 STATES AS OF AUGUST 1997
note to Bookseller:
COLORADO
Family Health Center Pediatrics-Denver
Larry Wolk, MD, MSPH
For those of you who have not yet established a
Sandos Westside Health Center-Denver
relationship with a local health-care provider,
Steve Vogler, MD
feel free to contact one of the
CONNECTICUT
Reach Out and Read centers listed here.
Bridgeport Hospital Primary Care-Bridgeport
Check your local directory for the telephone
Allyson Driggers, MD
Day Kimball Hospital-Putnam
number. If you need further information,
Jane Rovaldi-Garfield Danenhower, MD
contact the national Reach Out and Read office
Fair Haven Community Health Center-New Haven
Laurel Shader, MD
located in Boston, MA, at (617) 534-5701.
Park City Primary Care Center-Bridgeport
Laura Buffone; Veronique James, MD
ALABAMA
St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center-Hartford
Lower Alabama Pediatrics-Brewton
Jennifer Bryant-Sevigny; Paul Dworkin, MD
Marsha Raulerson, MD
Yale/New Haven Children's Hospital-New Haven
Sylvia Lavietes; Jody Platner; Janet Weiswasser, MD
ALASKA
Alaska Native Medical Center-Anchorage
FLORIDA
Jerry Nasenbeny, MD; Christina Sanchez
Cape Coral Pediatrics-Cape Coral
Sharon Landry; Ginny Blitzer, MD
ARIZONA
Pearl Plaza Pediatrics-Jacksonville
Kino Community Hospital-Tucson
Karen Toker, MD
Barbara Smith, MD; Elena D'Autremont; Candy Parsons
Tampa General Hospital/University of S. Florida-Tampa
Phoenix Children's Hospital-Phoenix
Sharon Dabrow, MD; Patricia Blanco, MD
Marcia Stanton, MSW; Jeffrey Weiss, MD
Sage Memorial Hospital-Ganado
GEORGIA
Rebecca Kazal; Louis Kazal, MD
Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital-Atlanta
Sells Indian Hospital-Tucson
Linda Grant-Ready, Set, Read!
Angie Williams, PA; Margaret Trouard, MD
Northwest Grady Clinic-Atlanta
B.J. Steele, MD
CALIFORNIA
Ware County Family Practice Center-Waycross
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Pediatric Clinic-Los Angeles
Brenda Landwehr, PA-C
Neil Kaufman, MD, MPH; Jan Leal, MSW
Child Crisis Center/UCLA Medical Center-Torrance
HAWAII
James Williams, MD
Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Health Center-Honolulu
Child Health and Youth Clinic-San Diego
Chris Derauf, MD; Kili Kono
Barbara Bale; Amethyst Cureg, MD
Children's Hospital Oakland-Oakland
ILLINOIS
Hilary Bethke; MD, Kim Kuehnert
Community Health & Emergency Services-Cairo
North Orange County Youth & Family Resource Center-Anaheim
Lynne Chambers, MSW; Jean Charlot, MD
Sharon Latona; Deborah Stewart, MD
Evanston Hospital Perinatal Family Support Center
Packard Children's Hospital-Palo Alto
Ronna Jacobson
Suzanne Everett; Tamar Gershon, MD
Illinois Masonic Medical Center-Chicago
San Francisco General Hospital/UC San Francisco
Lise Meryl Strom, MA; Dore Sobel, MD
Elena Fuentes-Afflick. MD; Lois Epstein. MD
University of Illinois-Chicago
Sutter Merced Medical Center/Kids Care-Merced
Peter Neronha, MD: Marylou Schmit, MD
Nancy McDonald. RN
UCSF Pediatric Primary Care Practices-San Francisco
INDIANA
Lucy Crain. MD; Elizabeth San Luis, PNP
Three Rivers Literacy Alliance-Fort Wayne
Vacaville Community Clinic-Vacaville
Ginny Clark; Sarah Reinke-Read To Me
Linda Hess: Stephen Boos, MD
Reach Out and Read
National S'tes
KANSAS
MGH Chelsea Health Center-Chelsea
Kansas University Children's Center-Kansas City
Janice Lowe, MD
Kathryn Veal, MD; Jean Harty, MD
Medical Center of Central MA/Memorial Hospital-Worcester
Keith Dubois
KENTUCKY
North Shore Children's Medical Center-Salem
Northern Kentucky Family Health-Newport
Phyllis Groskin; Owen Mathieu
Joyce Huffer, ARNP; Carol Roark. MD
River Street Health Center-Mattapan
University of Kentucky Family Care Center-Lexington
Dianne Morris, MD
Thomas Young. MD
South Boston Neighborhood Health Center-South Boston
Cathy Callahan
LOUISIANA
Tauton Family Medicine-Tauton
Baton Rouge General Family Health Center-Baton Rouge
Karen Shaker; Charles Walker, DO
Kim Kunefke, RN; Joan Carrone, MA; Dan Kalb, MD; Rachel
Uphams Corner Neighborhood Health Center-Dorchester
Hausmann, MD
Paul Geltman, MD; Robyn Souza, RN
Medical Center of Louisiana/University Hospital-New Orleans
Whittier Street Neighborhood Health Center-Roxbury
Ellen Beyer, BSN, MBA; Susan Berry, MD
Yvonne Nelson-Langley
MARYLAND
MICHIGAN
Druid Family Health Center-Baltimore
Children's Hospital of Michigan-Detroit
Delores Smith; Karen Nelson, MD
Teresa Holtrop. MD
East Baltimore Medical Center-Baltimore
Hurley Medical Center-Flint
Shannon Wright, RN; Pasquale Bernardi, MD
Janie Bruen, CPNP
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center-Baltimore
Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies/MSU-Kalamazoo
Dawn Breon; Lauren Jansson, MD
Donald Greydanus, MD; Allan LaReau, MD
Johns Hopkins Children's Center-Baltimore
Mary Ash, CCLS; John Andrews, MD; Teri Metcalf, MD
MINNESOTA
Matilda Koval Health Center-Baltimore
Children's Health Care Children's Clinic-Minneapolis
Heather Neblett, MD
Nancy Almquist, CLS; Stephanie Bisson, CPNP
St. Agnes Hospital-Baltimore
Community University Health Care Center/Variety Children's
Barbara Burns; Michael Burke, MD
Clinic-Minneapolis
Shore Clinical Foundation-Easton
Kathie Cerra, PhD; Amos Deinard, MD
Cathleen McGrath, MD
Sinai Hospital/Greenspring Pediatric Associates-Baltimore
MISSISSIPPI
Rebecca Hartman, LCSW-C; Oscar Taube, MD
Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center-Jackson
University of Maryland Pediatric Ambulatory Center-Baltimore
Dana Carbo, MD; Eva Henderson, MD
Alexa Cieslak; Virginia Keane, MD
MISSOURI
MASSACHUSETTS
Children's Mercy Hospital-Kansas City
Boston Evening Medical Center-Boston
Michele Kilo, MD; Wendy Turnbull, PhD
Carol Langford, MD; Ralph Schiff
Open Door Clinic-St. Louis
Boston Medical Center-Boston
Dotti Kastigar; Helen Haney, MD
Bobbi Philipp. MD; Patricia Lawrence, PNP; Peter Schwartz, RN
Brockton Hospital-Brockton
MONTANA
Jacqueline Hochstin, RN, CLS; Lisa Downs, MD
Crow/Northern Cheyenne Indian Health Service Hospital-Hardin
Cambridge, Mt. Auburn, Somerville Hospitals
Lori Byron. MD
David Osler, MD
Children's Hospital-Boston
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Jean Ciborowski, PhD; Rachel Salguero
Lamprey Health Care-Newmarket
Codman Square Neighborhood Health Center-Dorchester
Sarah Oxnard, MD; Priscilla Shaw
Angela Goss
Nashua Child Health Clinic-Nashua
Dimock Street Neighborhood Health Center-Roxbury
Christine Caron; Richard Slosberg, MD
Bonnie Hannibal
Dorchester House Multi-Service Center-Dorchester
NEW JERSEY
Pam Kuzia-Russell; Erin McNaughton
Beth Israel Medical Center-Newark
Geiger Gibson Community Health Center
Judy Shoobe, DO; Idressa Green
Yvonne Ruggles
Osborn Family Health Center/Our Lady of Lourdes Medical
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center-Lawrence
Center-Camden
Elise Henricks, MD
Deb Bokas, MSW; Georgiana Reynick
Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center-Dorchester
Adine Latimore, PNP
NEW MEXICO
Holyoke Health Center-Holyoke
Children's Hospital of New Mexico-Albuquerque
Jane Cross. MD
Julia Grimes, MLS: Barbara Small, MD
Lynn Community Health Center-Lynn
Farmington Community Health Center-Farmington
Sandra Broughton; Marc Levine, MD
John Garretson, MD
Manet Community Health Center-Quincy
Las Vegas Clinic for Children and Youth-Las Vegas
Louise Quinlan; Vibha Bhatmagar, MD
George P. Bunch, MD
Mattapan Health Center-Mattapan
Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital-Gallup
Toni Wortham
Herb Mosher: Mary Poel, MD
Holyoke Pediatric Associates-Holyoke
Anne Nugent, MD
Reach Out and Read
National Sites
NEW YORK
SOUTH DAKOTA
Child Health Clinics-NYC
Lower Brule Clinic-Lower Brule
Carmen Ramos-Bonoan, MD
Peter Magnus, MD; Molly Anderson, MD
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center-NYC
Rosebud Sioux Tribe Healthy Start-Rosebud
Wanda Lay; Mary McCord, MD
Lucy Reifel, MD
Court Street Diagnostic and Treatment Center-Utica
Charles McMahon; Thomas Clark, MD
TENNESSEE
East Harlem Child Health Clinic-NYC
Memphis Family Care Center-Memphis
Fort Greene Child Health Clinic-Brooklyn
Gerri Cannon-Smith, MD
Foster Care Pediatrics-Rochester
Elizabeth McMahon, MD
TEXAS
Gouverneur Diagnostic and Treatment Center-NYC
Scott and White Hospital-Temple
David Berger, MD; Miriam Rivera, MS; Ayman Mekhail, MS
Don Wilson, MD; Jan Upchurch, MA, Msc, CCLS; Lisa Ehl, MD
Irving Avenue Child Health Clinic-Brooklyn
University of Texas Medical School WIC Children's Clinic-Houston
Junction Boulevard Child Health Clinic-Corona (Queens)
Paige Atkinson, PNP
Metropolitan Hospital-NYC
Ruth Frank; Vidya Bhushan Gupta, MD
VERMONT
Montefiore Marble Hill Family Practice-Bronx
Community Health Center-Burlington
David Savarese, MD
Ann Goering, MD; Sally Anderson; Abby Foulk
Montefiore Medical Center-Bronx
University Pediatrics-Burlington
Charlotte Shandley, MD; Iman Sharif-Hassen; Rose Ayers
Wendy Davis, MD; Sally Anderson; Abby Foulk
Mount Sinai Medical Center-NYC
Upper Valley Pediatrics-Bradford
Marc Habert, MD; Leora Mogilner, MD; Mary Hogan
Nancy Foote, ARNP; Susan Farrell, ARNP; Mark Harris, MD
NYU Bellvue Hospital-NYC
Linda van Schaick, MS; Jane Burton
VIRGINIA
Open Book/Westchester Medical Center-Valhalla
Eastern Shore Rural Health System-Onancock
Reva Greenburg, EdD; Karen Edwards, MD
Evan Clements, RNC; Linda Crumb
Rochester General Hospital-Rochester
Healthy Families/CHIP-Arlington
Randy Evans; Robert Byrd, MD; Michael Weissman, MD
Anne VorderBruegge
Tremont Child Health Clinic-Bronx
University of Virginia Children's Medical Center-Charlottesville
Washington Heights Child Health Clinic-NYC
Linda Drake; Deborah Smith, MD
NORTH CAROLINA
WASHINGTON, DC
Mulberry Pediatrics/Caldwell Memorial Hospital-Lenoir
Children's National Medical Center GPAC
Vicki Coffey; Duane Herold
Sandra Cuzzi, MD
Olson Huff Center for Child Development-Asheville
Children's National Medical Center Child Protection
Adrian Sandler, MD
Lavdena Orr, MD
Wake Medical Center Special Infant Care Clinic-Raleigh
George Washington University Pediatrics
Cindy Callahan, MA; Melissa Johnson, PhD; Bethany Kelly
Leslie Meyers, MD; Marsha Spitzer, MD
OHIO
WISCONSIN
Children's Health Clinic-Dayton
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center-La Crosse
Terrie Kess, RN; Maria Nanagas, MD
Richard Strauss, MD; Cheryl Pearse
Crossroads Health Center-Cincinnati
Katie Connelly
Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital-Cleveland
Robert Needlman, MD
OKLAHOMA
Children's Medical Center-Tulsa
Out
Laura Taylor, DO
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia(CHOP)
Reach
and
PENNSYLVANIA
Trude Haecker, MD; Kate Wiggins, CCLS
Read
C. Eve Kimball, MD-Reading
RHODE ISLAND
Thundermist Health Associates-Woonsocket
Reach Out and Read
Brenda Whittle; Dennis Stanton; Laura Viehmann, MD
SOUTH CAROLINA
Greenwood Community Children's Center-Greenwood
William Allen, MD
Lowcountry Pediatrics-Beaufort
Sarah Anderson, RN; Francis Rushton, MD
Spartanburg County Health Department-Carole Bledsoe
Read
Read
Melody Wood, RN: Julie Kavanagh, MD; Joe Warren, MA
Out
and
United Way of Greenville-Greenville
Jane Leo; Paul Catalana, MD
Prescription FOR
READING
This bookstore is working with DOCTORS
to remind you that READING TO A CHILD can
be one of the MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS
a parent, family member, or caregiver can
take to stimulate a child's brain.
Spoken language has an astonishing IMPACT
on an INFANT'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.
Research studies indicate that early positive exposure to children's books
- especially through reading aloud — helps children learn to read.
Reading is learned and, therefore, must be taught, supported, and sustained. Reading does not come naturally as
does speech, and relies heavily on how we hear and manipulate sounds even before we see printed words.
The 1985 National Commission on Reading reported that children's
experiences being read to were the single most important predictors of
later reading success.
Some researchers say the number of words an infant hears each day is the single most important predictor of later
intelligence, school success, and social competence. There is one catch - the words have to come from an attentive,
engaged human being. As far as anyone has been able to determine, radio and television do not work.
Reading aloud facilitates language and cognitive development.
Although the eyes make visual contact with the printed word, the critical work involves the sounds of language.
Studies show that a reader's ability to remember, imitate, recall, manipulate, recode, and articulate sounds is essential
to early reading.
Sources: "National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Research Supports the America
Reads Challenge," 1997; New York Times, "Studies Show Talking with Infants Shapes Basis of Ability to Think,"
April 17, 1997; Reach Out and Read National Training Center.
Reach
Out
REACH OUT AND READ (ROR) PROGRESS
(Since Prescription for Reading 4/97)
and
ROR National Center has provided over $400,000 in grants to beginning
Read
ROR programs
First Book has devised a discounted book ordering system involving 13
publishers for all ROR sites
Bantam Doubleday has donated 107,000 books
Candlewick Press has donated 5,000 books
Barry Zuckerman, M.D.
Professor and Chairman of
ROR was spotlighted by President Clinton's America Reads Challenge
Pediatrics
Reader's Digest has donated 3,500 books
Boston Medical Center
Founding Director
Shaw's Supermarkets has donated 25,000 books
Reach Out and Read
American Booksellers Association distributed 200,000 free copies of
Read To Your Bunny to families via independent bookstores and
donated remaining books from their convention in May
ROR National Staff
Contributions from Mrs. Clinton's "It Takes A Village" Foundation and
the Paul Newman Foundation
Perri Klass, M.D.
Dreyfus awarded funding to a New York City hospital, which served as
Medical Director
a matching grant
Ronald McDonald House Charities awarded funding for books to ROR
Christine Angell
and First Book
Nancy Berman
Hasbro Foundation awarded funding for expansion to 17,000 children in
Pat Cowan, R.N.
Alabama
Elaine Grossman, M Ed.
Rhode Island Foundation awarded funding for expansion in Rhode
Abby Jewkes, Ed.M
Island hospitals and health centers
Matthew Veno
Harris Foundation awarded $110,000 to date for Chicago city-wide
Kate Williams
expansion
State-wide expansions are also underway in Texas and South Carolina
ROR programs in NYC have formed the first ROR City-Wide Coalition
Training session by ROR and plenary session by Barry Zuckerman, MD
at the American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Meeting in November
Partnership with National Association of Community Health Centers to
bring ROR to its 900 health centers; we are currently working to secure
AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers to serve in 100 ROR programs
National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions
sent information on ROR to all its members; 21 are ROR sites and over
40 have requested additional information on the program
ROR is working with Reading Is Fundamental on a collaborative state-
wide project
ROR is working with the Boston Public Library to develop volunteer
training and on-site library card distribution
Mrs. Clinton has kicked-off ROR programs in Baltimore, Chicago, and
Washington, DC
1/13/98
Reach Out and Read
Boston Medical Center
One Boston Medical Center Place
Fifth Floor High Rise
Boston, MA 02118
Tel 617-534-5701
Fax 617-534-7557
Reach
Out
and
Read
REACH OUT AND READ (ROR) PROGRESS
Barry Zuckerman, M.D.
Professor and Chairman of
Pediatrics
Boston Medical Center
Founding Director
Reach Out and Read
180 Reach Out and Read sites in 39 states serving over 500,000 children
2 million books have been distributed to 1 million children at hospitals,
health centers, and pediatric offices throughout the United States
ROR National Staff
4,000 pediatricians and nurse practitioners have been trained in early
literacy development
Perri Klass, M.D
ROR National Center has provided over $550,000 in grants to beginning
Medical Director
ROR programs since 1996
Scholastic has donated 125,000 books
Christine Angell
First Book has donated 100,000 books
Nancy Berman
Random House Children's Publishers has donated 30,000 books
Pat Cowan, R.N.
Mellon Trust awarded funding for expansion to 25,000 children at
Elaine Grossman, M.Ed.
Boston health centers
Abby Jewkes, Ed.M
Casey Foundation awarded $50,000 for Baltimore city-wide expansion
Matthew Veno
Kate Williams
1/13/98
Reach Out and Read
Boston Medical Center
One Boston Medical Center Place
Fifth Floor High Rise
Boston, MA 02118
Tel 617-534-5701
Fax 617-534-7557
New York Times
Boston Journal
December 26, 1997
Health Clinic's One Rx for All: Books
By SARA RIMER
BOSTON, Dec.
25 - For those
who think televi-
sion and video
games have
dampened children's enthusiasm for
books, a visit to the pediatrics clinic
at the Boston Medical Center is in-
structive.
In the waiting room on Tuesday, a
5-year-old girl named Nada Maou-
moud was looking at the pictures in
Charles M. Schulz's "It's the First
Day of School."
DeShaun Cash, 7, was reading
aloud from "The Very Hungry Cater-
pillar.'
Mariano Neris, 7, was holding
tightly to "Circus!"
Pat Cowan, who directs the clinic's
volunteer readers, was reading
"Bedtime for Frances," about a
hedgehog, to Uju Obejebi, a 4-year-
old girl from Nigeria in a pink Bar-
ney jacket.
The chief of pediatrics, Dr. Barry
Zuckerman, was showing the pic-
tures in a miniature version of "The
12 Days of Christmas" to 9-month-
old Tanya Brown. A smiling Tanya
took the book from the doctor, and
stuck it in her mouth.
Dr. Zuckerman beamed. His mis-
sion is to get children to love books,
Ed Quinn for The New York Times
and reading. Chewing on them is one
Dr. Barry Zuckerman dispenses free books and a love of reading to his
way to get started.
young patients at the pediatric clinic of Boston Medical Center. The
Nine years ago, Dr. Zuckerman
program he helped found has been cited as a national model.
and his colleagues were bringing
their children's books from home
gave away more than half a mil-
More recent research has shown
into the clinic for the young patients
to look at in the waiting room.
lion books around the country last
that stimulation, like reading aloud,
Then one of the doctors com-
year. The books are crucial for chil-
is crucial to brain development in the
plained. "He said some of the par-
dren from poor neighborhoods,
early years.
ents and children were taking the
where bookstores and libraries are
The publishing industry has been
books home," Dr. Zuckerman re-
scarce and, Dr. Zuckerman says,
slow to catch on, but this year sev-
called. "I said, 'Great!'
"families don't have a lot of discre-
eral publishers have given thousands
He decided to start giving books to
tionary income for books."
of remainder books to Reach Out and
the children who visited the clinic,
In addition, many of the parents
Read. Stacked on a tablein the mid-
which serves Boston's poor families.
were not read to as children, and
dle of the waiting room were beauti-
And SO Reach Out and Read was
often they do not have the habit of
ful new books.
born. The national program, cited as
reading aloud to their children. The
More books lined the medicine
the model for the reading initiative
pediatricians introduced the ritual
cabinets of each doctor's office. The
the White House began last spring,
by "prescribing" reading aloud.
doctors make the books a part of the
makes books a part of pediatric pri-
"Given a choice, most kids would
checkup. The idea is that literacy is
mary care.
rather be with a parent reading a
book than watching TV," said Dr.
as important to children as immuni-
Starting at 6 months and continu-
Zuckerman, who still has the biogra-
zation and good nutrition.
ing until age 5, children are given one
phy of Buffalo Bill he won in a grade-
"It's not about teaching the alpha-
new book at each checkup. By the
time they start school, they own at
school reading contest.
bet," said Dr. Zuckerman, a national
least 10 books, a library that costs all
Carmela Rivera, 11, who had come
ly known children's advocate. "It's
of about $30.
to the clinic with her 2-year-old sis-
about sharing books, and having
"Where can you get a better bar-
ter, Ingrid, agreed. "You get more
books becoming familiar objects."
gain than that?" said Dr. Zucker-
things in your brain by reading
Alarmed by the rising tide of con-
man, a founder of Reach Out and
books," said Carmela, whose person-
sumerism, with children barraged
Read, which is part of Read Boston, a
al favorite is "The Little Mermaid."
by television advertisements for toys
citywide effort to insure that by third
A 1985 study by the National Com-
their parents may not be able to af-
grade all children are reading at
mission on Literacy found that read-
ford, he said he wanted to start a
grade level.
ing aloud to children when they were
movement in children's gift-giving
Reach Out and Read, which relies
young was the single most important
for next Christmas. He already has
on money from private foundations,
tool in helping them learn to read.
the slogan: "Just give books."
United Discussion: The Language
JULY 1997
ScheolLibrary Journal
For Children's, Young Adult &
School Librarians
A CARNERS = BONKER :: IBLICATION
Born
to Read
Bringing Babies
RECEIVED & Books Together
1997
ALSC
Fun on the Web:
Where do YAs Go?
Public Library
Career Kit
Brad
Ooooh
Baby,
By Cara Barlow
What
Born to Read works to
reach children during
the years most crucial
a Brain!
to brain development.
() bite book!" is a common cry
N
in our household. Anna. my
year-old daughter ton page 211
often gets so caught up in exploring her
books that she not only looks at and
handles them. but bites too. You can tell
which books are her favorites by the
toothmarks on the spine and the rum-
pled and taped pages.
Babies are hard on books. but they also
need them. How else are they to learn
how a book works. how to turn pages.
and that books are to be enjoyed and
read (but not bitten)?
Children's librarians have steadily
lowered the age of children they serve
at storytimes and through outreach pro-
grams to take advantage of this early de-
velopmental period. This spring.
interest among the general pub-
iic in the development of chil-
dren from birth through age three
intensified as Hillary Rodham
Born
Clinton chaired the White House
Conference on Early Childhood
Development and Learning. The -1
to
Am Your Child" campaign that began
Read
ROSEMARY
in late April included an ABC televi-
sion special and a special edition of
Newsweek on the status of young
children.
While research (see
page 23) shows that the
foundations of literacy
are laid at a very early
age. other studies show
that infants and toddlers
are simultaneously threatened
by economic and social problems.
Cara Barlow ([email protected]) is a
New Hampshire-based freelance writer
and former Head of Children's Services
at the Winchester (MA) Public Library.
John Fortunato
20
School Library Journal/July 1997
The Early impact of
Books & Libraries
gram. I wills incredibly excited to
first year. and now serves as a model for
be a volunteer-1 would be work-
similar projects. runded locally
ing with a segment of the popula-
tion with which I'd had relative-
Iv little contact. and Il would be
A Trio of Born to Read Sites
in a hospital setting. not a li-
To see what the project entailed. 1 inter-
brary. The volunteers read to
viewed librarians at the Carnegie 1.i-
children in the waiting room
brary of Pittsburgh and the Provo UT)
and pediatricians give out a
City Library. also spoke with Deborah
book to their young patients
Halsted at the Houston Public Library,
each visit.
which ran a Born to Read program but
But reading to sick children
used alternate funding. Each library ap-
for their restless siblings) who
proached its Born 10 Read project III a
may not speak English OF who
different way.
have never handled .1 book
Pittsburgh Starts Early. Pittsburgh's
before is no-casy task Lotten
Carnegie Library and its affiliate group
ended up IUN chatting with
Beginning with Books launched Born
parents about their children
to Read III 1995 without waiting for the
and children's books. The
babies to arrive. They started by doing
books given out by the doctors.
outreach to mothers-to-be.
Cara Bariow
though. were a huge in with both pain
Pregnant adolescents scheduled for
1994 Carnegie study called "Starting
ents and children. The American Acade-
checkups and parenting classes at the
Points"
www/carnegie.org/staruing
nov of Pediatries now encourages pedia-
Magee-Womens Hospital participate 11)
points/) provides evidence of the "quict
tricians to give books to their patients.
a program called the Read-Aloud Par-
crisis" that confronts children under
Similarly. Born to Read. a project ad-
ent Club. which is designed to appeal
three. Among the problems the study
ministered by ALA's Association for
to teens. according 10 Elizabeth Segel
tound are madequate prenatal care.
Library Service to Children (ALSC)
of Beginning with Books. In addition 10
parental isotation due to more divorces
and initially funded by the Prudential
an introduction 10 the library and dis-
substandard child care. and poverty. In
Foundation. has attempted 10 build part-
cussions on topics like "the reading-
ract. a full quarter of families with chil-
nerships between public librarians and
writing connection" and "eelebrating
aren under inree live in poverty. accord-
health care providers 10 reach out to
diversity." the facintator includes active
mg to the report The findings also
new and expectant at-risk parents. The
thes to toster the teens' involvement 111
snowed that only 50 percent of intants
hope is that together hbrarians and
the program. such as crafting home-
and toddlers are read 10 routinely by
health care providers may be able to
made photograph albums or encourag-
their parents. and many parents give 111.
break the cycle of illiteracy. help parents
mg club members to compose greetings
sufficient attention to their child's intel-
improve their reading skills. impress
to their soon-to-arrive children.
lectual development.
upon them the importance of reading to
After the Born 10 Read grant ran out.
their children. and promote awareness
Pittsburgh's Drue Heinz Trust agreed to
of the health and parenting resources
fund the Read-Aloud Parent Club for a
A Collective Brainstorm
available in libraries
year. through June 1997. Talking with
Reaching at-risk parents. most of whom
Born to Read is part of a decade-long
young women about the importance of
are not library users and may not be able
collective brainstorm that links health
reading while they wait to see a doctor
10 read themselves. is difficult. When I
care. children's reading. and family lit-
may not seem like much. but the mes-
inved in Boston volunteered for Boston
eracy. The project started by distributing
sage of why parents should prepare a
City Hospital's Reach Out and Read pro-
five $30,000 grants 10 sites in 1995. its
story-filled home for their children got
Pittsburgh's Carnegie Library...doesn't wait
for babies to arrive-they reach out to
mothers-to-be.
School Library Journal/July 1997
21
"The younger you are, the less attention
you Mathews, Youth Advocate
through in a big way. One participant
to be nourished and enriched by read-
Pittsburgh and Provo. Houston usec
sent her husband to the club when she
ing," said Morris.
$8,350 from a U.S. Department of Edu-
couldn't attend. and another came back
Provo's first-year Born to Read pro-
cation Title I grant.
to the hospital for a session just days
gramming also included Time with Dad.
Children's librarians visit two clin-
after giving birth.
a feature that Morris hopes to return to
ics twice a week to model reading to
Provo Targets Dads. Utah's Provo
in the future. For fathers and their chil-
children and use ethnically correct
City Library has the largest audience in
dren. Time with Dad sessions featured
dolls. according to Deborah Halsted
the nation for children's programming:
visits with author Dean Hughes. who
HPL's Coordinator of Programming
34 percent of its population is under 18.
writes sports books for children. and
The program. which started in October
and 6,000 babies are born each year in
with Brigham Young University basket-
1996. offers coupons for free board
the county. Provo's population is highly
ball players. who talked about what
books in both Spanish and English. re-
educated. but low income levels exist
books they liked to read when they were
deemable at the branch libraries. Par-
due to a large student population at
kids. Also included in the mix were sto-
ticipants attending at least three ses-
Brigham Young University that marries
rytelling. puppets. and magic.
sions receive a Born to Read bib. :
young and has large families.
"Dads liked it." said Morris. "They
board book. a book for themselves
"Our focus is infants." says Head of
liked having their own night, and they
about reading to their children. and in-
Children's Services Carla Morris. "We
were just like the moms-they enjoyed
formational packets. Because the pro-
have 16 storytimes a week. nine of
meeting each other and talking about
gram is so new. Halsted said they are
which are infant programs. We have a
their kids. I think it made them teel like
still ironing out wrinkles.
lot of kids and want to make sure that
they were good dads." Despite the em-
people know the library is welcoming to
phasis on sports. Morris said that the fa-
children."
thers brought both sons and daughters.
No Easy Task
Another of the original Born to Read
Because of the success of Born to
At-risk parents are one of the toughest
sites. Provo's program continues today.
Read, the library won a $4,800 Federal
groups for librarians to reach. and the
During the tirst year. the library dis-
Community Development Block Grant
fact that most librarians are white. mid-
tributed 3,000 Born to Read packets to
to continue distributing hospital pack-
dle-class. English-speaking women does
two area hospitals. purchased materials
ets. The Book Babies. Mother Goose.
not help. Reaching parents who do not
for infants. and expanded infant pro-
and Toddler Times programs have all
share the same background without
gramming: Book Babies for infants.
been funded and staffed as permanent
seeming condescending or patronizing is
Mother Goose for 12- to 24-month-olds.
programs.
a constant concern. And if there's a lan-
and Toddler Times for two-year-olds.
Houston Models Reading. The Born
guage barrier. reaching them can be lit-
Born to Read funding also provided
to Read program at the Houston Public
erally impossible. Selecting the correct
postnatal nursing care for at-risk fami-
Library is designed to reach at-nsk
time. place. and staff for outreach pro-
lies. "A child needs to be nourished in
African-American and Hispanic parents
grams is essential. If anything shows that
his body. but also his spirit and soul need
through local health clinics. But unlike
we need a more ethnically diverse pro-
fession. it's the need to more easily
reach minority and immigrant families
with infants who are not accustomed to
To Attract More Babies
using public libraries.
"There's mounting evidence. too
strong to be refuted. that relates to brain
Here are resources to help you create infant- and toddler-centered
development and literacy," said Virginia
services.
H. Mathews. a well-known advocate fol
To start a Born to Read program
library services to youth and author of
"Kids Can't Wait, Library Advocacy
Born to Read
Now" (SLJ. March 1997. pp. 97-101)
Association for Library Service to Children
"We've never paid much attention to
50 East Huron St.
Chicago. IL 60611
Born
young children-the younger you are
the less attention you get. Now that's
(800) 545-2433 or (312) 280-1398
been turned upside down."
[email protected]
www.ala.org/alsc/born.htmi
Read
For more information
Butler, Dorothy. Babies Need Books
(Atheneum. 1982)
Born to Read demonstration sites
Greene. Ellin. Books, Bubies. and Li
H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library. Henderson. SC
braries. (ALA, 1991)
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Judge, April. "Nurturing a Baby's Love
of Learning." American Librarie.
Provo (UT) City Library
(December 1995): 1134
Sutter County Library. Yuba City. CA
Klass. Perri. "For Children's Good
Memphis/Shelby County (TN) Public Library and Information Center
Health. a Book at Every Check-Up.
Boston Globe (October 27. 1996): D1
22 School Library Journal/July 1997
Building Blocks for Literacy:
What Current Research Shows
By Steve Herb
The foundation for literacy is in
baby's emotions and pairs that
with a cultural idea of a fa-
preschool language experiences.
vorite book. and the librarian
who knows the songs and
W
hat is it about the preschool years that make them so im-
rhymes taught by families
portant in the development of future reading skills?
This cultural sharing is neces-
Provo (UT) Library
Although young children may learn many concepts and
sary for learning because :!
skills from books-e.g., the range of blues that make up
provides continuity between
"blue" and. at an even earlier age. which publisher produces
what is already known and the
the tastiest book covers-the foundation for emergent litera-
new learning offered.
cy is in preschool experiences with language. And the only
By examining the learning
sound means of transmitting those experiences IS through
theories of Vygotsky and his fel-
human interaction. the social aspects of learning.
low psychologists Jerome Bruner.
We ve learned that the roots of literacy appear to be strong-
Urie Bronfenbrenner. and Albert
" grounded in orality (speaking and listening) and playful-
Bandura. we understand that liter-
ness. in fact. playful oral language experiences prepare chil-
acy learning is facilitated when
aren to understand and experiment with written language. In
children have:
ins book 1 Is for Or Pantheon. 1994). cultural historian Barry
1. opportunities to participate
Born
Sanders makes a passionate call for society to reinvest in our
in Interacy activities that are guid-
children's Interacy. He speaks of a growing number of violent
ed and paced by a more skillful
and illiterate young people as "post-illiterates at home nei-
member of the child's world:
ther 111 orality nor in literacy."
2. opportunities for learning that enable the child to ac-
Sanders's historical research leads him to conclude that chil-
tively participate:
dren need to be immersed in an oral culture intimately connect-
3. opportunities for intimate learning: that is. learning with
ed to their families before they can absorb text later on.
support from someone who knows the child well enough to
make appropriate judgments about when and what the next
learning steps should be-the distinct advantage of the parent
Literacy and Learning Theory
as a child's first teacher: and
The personal and social interactions of an adult and child with
4. support for learning that resides not just in families
a book are well covered in a variety of learning theories.
and schools. but across a range of cultural contexts-e.g..
One excellent example is from the work of psychologist
libraries-that directly and indirectly influence children's
Lev Vygotsky. Vygotsky proposes that children's mental abil-
development.
thes originate from social interactions with members of the
child's culture. Learning first occurs within this social con-
Text. and only later does the child internalize it.
Research Findings on Books
He further distinguishes between development and learn-
In this age of the Internet and an overwhelming emphasis on
mg. Learning takes place when a more competent person
technology. the 32-page picture book is still the best means of
gives the child the support needed to engage in a task that
linking an adult and a child in those social bonds that produce
would he 100 difficult to do alone at the child's present de-
a literate human being. Research findings regarding children's
velopmental level Vygotsky calls this area in which learning
books indicate that:
occurs the Zone of Proximal Development. Examples of en-
children's early experiences with books directly relate to
hancing literacy learning through the Zone of Proximal De-
their success in learning to read in school. Specific aspects of
velopment are:
these books make the experience even more effective. such as
a parent who remembers that her four-month-old baby
the interest level and case of understanding and remembering
squeals excitedly at a particular page in a cardboard book.
the story:
keeps track of the book. and reads it to the baby regularly. and
children are more motivated to request being read to. and
a librarian who notices a two-year-old say "pumpkin-
10 "read" or explore on their own books with which they are
eater" when he touches a jack-o-lantern at the library and
already familiar:
takes a moment 10 squat down to chant the whole rhyme with
there is a relationship between how much children have
the child. perhaps repeating it at storytime.
been read to and how well they will read: and
Notice that in both examples there is a shared cultural con-
storvbook reading is a more effective influence on liter-
text between child and adult: the mother who can "read" her
acy development when children have opportunities to engage
in conversation about the story.
Steven Herb is Education Librarian at Pennsylvania State
This material is based on research conducted for " paper-in-prepa-
university in University Park, PA. and outgoing President of the
ration entitie d Preschool Education Through Public Libraries. by
Association for Library Service to Children
Steven Herb and Sara Willougnow-Herb for Westat/American Library
Association.
School Library Journal/July 1997
23
4
FIRST BOOK
January 1998
the next three years (1997-1999). First Book's
Book
FIRST BOOK
THE URBAN LIBRARY COUNCIL First Book
Book
commitment caught the attention of The Oprah Winfrey
has committed to new partnership initiatives with the
Show, which highlighted First Book in an edition of the
Urban Library Council, an association of 132 urban
show featuring General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.),
public libraries throughout the country. The partnership
1997 Annual Report
January 1998
Chairman of the Board for America's Promise. In
will focus on local and national literacy efforts.
reaching the 1.0 million book distribution mark, First
Book successfully fulfilled its first year goal in its pledge
First Book Distributes 1.0 Million Books
Establishing First Book's Web Site
to America's Promise and aspires to double its success in
1998.
The First Book web site is officially "under
First Book, a national nonprofit literacy
developmental stages (total 170). First Book expects to
construction" and will become fully operational in early
organization, celebrates the distribution of over 1.0
develop an additional 100 local boards in 1998.
Exciting New Initiatives
1998. The site is being designed on a pro-bono basis by
million new books to children in more than 170 cities,
Intervisage. The web site is expected to appeal to and
towns, and counties throughout the United States in
Regional Offices Launched with
Great things are on the horizon for First Book in
service First Book's many audiences, including donors,
1997. The mission of First Book is simple: to work with
1998, including:
local board volunteers, national partners, media contacts,
its local volunteer board members and national partners to
AmeriCorps*VISTA
and local advisory board members. The First Book site
provide new books to disadvantaged children participating
This year, in partnership with the Corporation for
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES
domain will likely be www.firstbook.org. Until the web
in existing community-based tutoring, mentoring and
National Service, First Book established four of a
Congressman Danny K. Davis and Ronald McDonald
site construction is complete, you can email First Book's
family literacy programs. In this way, First Book
planned six additional "First Book Regional Community
joined 175 local mentors and volunteers in Chicago, IL on
national office at [email protected].
leverages its national resources at the local level to
Outreach Offices." These offices, led by
November 14, 1997 to launch First Book-Chicago Local
facilitate and support the heroic work of teachers,
AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers, are responsible for
Advisory Board. The event also celebrated Ronald
Unsurpassed National Board
mentors, tutors, parents and others working to ensure the
working with the national office to build, manage and
McDonald House Charities' $125,000 grant award to
success of our nation's youth.
First Book for the distribution of 50,000 new books to
Leadership
support First Book Local Advisory Boards in their
Books and reading have the power to change lives and
respective states.
children across America.
the simple gesture of giving a child new books creates a
First Book's national Board of Directors provides the
As local boards require nurturing in the
wonderful ripple effect of joy, learning and success. First
organization with the fund-raising expertise and program
developmental and early phases, the six
PHILADELPHIA
EAGLES
YOUTH
guidance imperative to its success. The Board includes:
Book distributes books to at-risk children in local literacy
AmeriCorps*VISTA regional coordinators are essential
PARTNERSHIP The Philadelphia Eagles Youth
Peter Gold, Chairman, President, The Gold Group,
programs through on-going book grants, special events in
in ensuring that First Book increases its network and
Partnership issued a challenge grant of $50,000 to the
Chartered; Kyle Zimmer, President, First Book; Elizabeth
bookstores and several national literacy initiatives.
distribution capacity. The new regional offices are in:
First Book-Philadelphia Local Advisory Board. The grant
Arky, Attorney; Louis Harris, Founder, Harris Polls;
Elmsford, NY; Nashville, TN; Jackson, MS; Chicago,
strongly increases First Book's impact in the Philadelphia
Richard Krinsley, Executive Vice President, (Ret.),
Local Advisory Boards (LABs)
IL; Houston, TX; and Sacramento, CA.
area and also serves as a challenge for other NFL teams to
Scholastic, Inc.; Eleanor Lewis, Senior Associate, Bass
support local First Book activity in their communities.
Strengthen Communities
and Howes; Melissa Moss, President, Women's
Northwest Project Achieves Early
Consumer Network; Carolynn Reid-Wallace, Senior Vice
The cornerstone of the First Book model is a network
HOUSING OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT On
President, Education and Programming, Corporation for
of volunteer local advisory boards (LABs), which work
Success
December 22, 1997 Vice President Al Gore and Housing
Public Broadcasting; Sally Susman, Vice President,
to distribute books and develop resources to support book
Secretary Andrew Cuomo announced a program to
In June 1997, First Book received a $1.0 million
International Public Affairs, The American Express
distributions in their communities. A local advisory board
distribute a half-million new books to homeless children
dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education,
Company; Tom Tolworthy, President, Barnes & Noble
consists of volunteers who work as a team to distribute
nationwide. 205,000 books have already been donated for
Fund for the Improvement of Education. The funds are
Bookstores; and Judith Zimmer, Deputy Director, Street
new books to area literacy programs.
distribution by First Book. Participating publishers
being used to conduct an intensive regional First Book
Law Inc.
The composition of First Book Local Advisory Boards
include Disney Publishing, Simon and Schuster, Inc. and
program in the states of Washington and Oregon. The
is as diverse as the communities they serve and volunteer
Time Warner, Inc.
program is headquartered in Portland, OR, which serves
First Book is pleased to share information regarding
board members come from a variety of backgrounds
its mission and related activities across the country.
as the seventh regional First Book office.
including people from the business, educational, political
BARNES
&
NOBLE
COLLEGE
First Book has available: a local advisory board
Thus far, the project has enlisted 170 volunteers who
and nonprofit fields. The common thread among members
BOOKSTORES, INC. In December 1997,
handbook, brochures, press packets, and a short
are serving on 18 First Book Local Advisory Boards and
is that they feel strongly about children and the power of
Barnes & Noble College Bookstores, Inc., a privately held
video. To request information or discuss
over 120 organizations have been receiving deliveries of
books and reading, and are able to devote time, talent,
company associated with Barnes & Noble, Inc., selected
opportunities, contact First Book's national office:
an initial round of new books. Two additional local
1319 F St., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC, 20004,
contacts, and energy to making First Book books available
First Book as the recipient of an annual donation made in
boards are slated to begin operation in early 1998, which
Phone: 202-393-1222, Fax: 202-628-1258,
in their community.
honor of their customers.
will complete the grant goal of establishing 20 local
Electronic mail: [email protected].
As of December 1997, First Book has 51 existing
boards.
First Book local boards and 119 local boards in various
2 FIRST BOOK
January 1998
3 FIRST BOOK
January 1998
The Northwest Project is expected to distribute a
First Book Story Time In September 1997, Barnes
CORPORATION
FOR
PUBLIC
low-income, First Book, in partnership with the
total of 300,000 books to children whose families have
& Noble launched First Book Story Time, a monthly
BROADCASTING (CPB). First Book continues to
pediatricians and other health center staff, help "fill" the
been aversely affected by the economic downturns in the
event during which a pre-selected children's book is read
participate as a partner with the Corporation for Public
families' prescription by giving new books to the
fishing and timber industries. The grant also contains an
to customers and their children. The publisher of each
Broadcasting in the Ready To Learn Service initiative.
children. In 1997, 180 health centers were a part of the
extensive model-evaluation component, headed by Louis
book highlighted during First Book Story Time makes a
Through this national outreach, free books in English and
ROR initiative, which was founded by Dr. Barry
Harris, which will provide First Book with an opportunity
donation to First Book's national office, which allows
Spanish are provided to children of low income families in
Zuckerman, Boston City Hospital.
to assess the effectiveness of its locally-driven book
First Book to continue to expand its outreach efforts.
tandem with educational programming on public television
distribution model. First Book has begun discussions with
Holiday Book Drives During the 1997 holiday
stations, a bimonthly family magazine and workshops to
SCHOLASTIC INC. Scholastic Inc. is a long-
several corporate partners to ensure that the established
season, Barnes & Noble stores had the opportunity to
help parents and caregivers connect television to reading,
standing First Book publishing partner. In addition to
local boards continue to flourish long after the federal
have a First Book "giving tree," or similar display, in
language and learning skills.
providing substantial discounts on thousands of
project ends.
their stores to benefit First Book local recipient groups.
One-hundred-and-twenty-five Public Broadcasting
children's soft cover books, the publisher provides each
During the in-store promotion, customers were invited to
Service (PBS) stations around the country anchor and
new First Book Local Advisory Board with an initial free
National Partners Fuel Outreach
select an "ornament," detailing the age of a child, and buy
provide the Ready To Learn Service to their local
set of "community-starter" books. The starter books
a special new book for that child. The promotion resulted
communities. Funded in part by a grant from the U.S.
provide a great incentive to local volunteers and help new
First Book has assembled a sustaining network of
in thousands of children receiving new books to read
Department of Education, the Ready To Learn Service is
First Book boards immediately begin the local book grant
strategic national partnerships that have been vital to the
during the holiday season.
an initiative developed by public broadcasting in response
process.
organization's growth and outreach to our nation's most
In New York City, Barnes & Noble bookstores held
to the national educational goal that all American children
vulnerable children. Each of these partners work
the "1997 Children's Holiday Book Drive" to benefit
begin school ready to learn.
SHARE OUR STRENGTH (SOS). First Book
nationally and through their local representatives to build
First Book and metropolitan area recipient groups. From
In 1997, First Book began processing all Ready To
was again selected by Share Our Strength as one of the
upon the strength of the First Book model. Highlights
November 1 through December 31, 1997, customers were
Learn Book orders, previously managed by the CPB staff.
national beneficiaries of its 1997 Writers Harvest: The
from 1997 include:
encouraged to donate a new children's book to First
During this transition, CPB staff members and local PBS
National Reading promotion. Writers Harvest is an
Book. Each book donation was matched 1:1 by
station liaisons provided tremendous support to First
annual event that brings together hundreds of novelists,
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (ALA).
Barnes & Noble and participating customers received an
Book. First Book also provided extra incentives to
essayists and poets to college campuses and bookstores
The American Library Association, through the
extra incentive a free pint of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream.
participating PBS affiliates. For example, 38% of First
across the country. Participants in Writers Harvest hold
Association for Library Service to Children and the Born
As a result, it is expected that 30,000 new books are
Book Parties benefitted local literacy programs associated
in-store readings and other activities to help raise the
To Read program, supports First Book by including
being distributed in more than 100 community programs
with Ready To Learn. Also, 35 Ready To Learn
awareness of the problem of hunger and its causes. On
information on the ALA Internet home page. A large and
throughout the greater New York area.
coordinators participate on First Book Local Advisory
behalf of Writers Harvest, Share Our Strength is
growing number of public librarians also serve on First
First Book Liaison In January 1998, a full-time
Boards. In addition, First Book participated in both the
expected to make a donation of $45,000 to First Book, in
Book Local Advisory Boards, providing expertise on
"First Book Liaison" staff member, sponsored by
CPB and the PBS annual conferences.
support of its efforts to fight illiteracy nationwide.
children's literature and community literacy activities.
Barnes & Noble, begins working with First Book to assist
In cooperation with Share Our Strength, First Book
with the coordination of Barnes & Noble/First Book
NATIONAL SCHOOL SUPPLY AND
held a Children's Writers Harvest event at the
BARNES & NOBLE, INC. Barnes & Noble, Inc.
partnership initiatives. The staff member will reside in
EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATION (NSSEA). The
Barnes & Noble bookstore in Tacoma, WA. Seattle
supports First Book in a myriad of ways. All of the
First Book's national office and will be dedicated to
NSSEA continued its support of First Book's literacy
Seahawk quarterback, John Friesz attended the event
programs are designed to help coordinate Barnes & Noble
helping design, promote, and facilitate First Book
efforts by making donations of products, holding book and
where he read several books to children, signed
booksellers, First Book Local Advisory Board members,
promotions with the more than 469 Barnes & Noble
supply parties, and encouraging their membership to serve
autographs, and challenged parents to purchase books in
national literacy program liaisons, and local literacy
bookstores. In addition, the staff member will support the
on local First Book boards. First Book works closely with
support of First Book and SOS. Share Our Strength is
program representatives to collect and distribute new
participation of Barnes & Noble staff on First Book
NSSEA's Education Excellence Foundation to continue to
the nation's largest hunger relief organization.
books to disadvantaged children.
Local Advisory Boards.
develop outreach activities which best engage the
First Book Parties In 1997, First Book benefitted
association's 1,600 member organizations on behalf of
Keeping America's Promise
from Barnes & Noble "Preview Nights" at all new
B. DALTON BOOKSELLER. Throughout 1997,
literacy.
bookstore locations. The funds raised through the new
B. Dalton Bookseller stores held in-store promotions to
First Book made a major commitment to the
store opening promotions are used to host First Book
benefit First Book. The promotions centered on the sale
REACH OUT AND READ (ROR). First Book
Presidents' Summit For America's Future, which was
Parties for children participating in programs with local
of special ties depicting favorite Seuss characters. In
launched a book-buying service in partnership with Reach
held in Philadelphia, PA in April 1997. America's
First Book recipient groups. Since launching the initiative
addition, B. Dalton stores continued to host in-store First
Out and Read, a nationally recognized program designed
Promise-The National Alliance for Youth is the nonprofit
in 1996, approximately 30,000 books have been
Book Parties for over 3,000 children and 30 B. Dalton
to engage the pediatric health community in early literacy
organization established to ensure that organizations
distributed to more than 9,600 children.
employees participate on First Book Local Advisory
efforts. Through this program, all parents receive a
fulfill their pledges to the President's Summit. First Book
Boards in their neighborhoods.
"prescription for reading" for their children during
pledged to provide two million new books and establish
regular well-baby visits. In cases where the family is of
100 additional First Book Local Advisory Boards over
4 FIRST BOOK
January 1998
the next three years (1997-1999). First Book's
THE URBAN LIBRARY COUNCIL First Book
Book
FIRST BOOK
Book
commitment caught the attention of The Oprah Winfrey
has committed to new partnership initiatives with the
Show, which highlighted First Book in an edition of the
Urban Library Council, an association of 132 urban
public libraries throughout the country. The partnership
1997 Annual Report
show featuring General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.),
January 1998
Chairman of the Board for America's Promise. In
will focus on local and national literacy efforts.
reaching the 1.0 million book distribution mark, First
Book successfully fulfilled its first year goal in its pledge
First Book Distributes 1.0 Million Books
Establishing First Book's Web Site
to America's Promise and aspires to double its success in
1998.
The First Book web site is officially "under
First Book, a national nonprofit literacy
developmental stages (total 170). First Book expects to
construction" and will become fully operational in early
organization, celebrates the distribution of over 1.0
develop an additional 100 local boards in 1998.
Exciting New Initiatives
1998. The site is being designed on a pro-bono basis by
million new books to children in more than 170 cities,
Intervisage. The web site is expected to appeal to and
towns, and counties throughout the United States in
Regional Offices Launched with
Great things are on the horizon for First Book in
service First Book's many audiences, including donors,
1997. The mission of First Book is simple: to work with
1998, including:
local board volunteers, national partners, media contacts,
its local volunteer board members and national partners to
AmeriCorps*VISTA
and local advisory board members. The First Book site
provide new books to disadvantaged children participating
This year, in partnership with the Corporation for
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES
domain will likely be www.firstbook.org. Until the web
in existing community-based tutoring, mentoring and
National Service, First Book established four of a
Congressman Danny K. Davis and Ronald McDonald
site construction is complete, you can email First Book's
family literacy programs. In this way, First Book
planned six additional "First Book Regional Community
joined 175 local mentors and volunteers in Chicago, IL on
national office at [email protected].
leverages its national resources at the local level to
Outreach Offices." These offices, led by
November 14, 1997 to launch First Book-Chicago Local
facilitate and support the heroic work of teachers,
AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers, are responsible for
Advisory Board. The event also celebrated Ronald
Unsurpassed National Board
mentors, tutors, parents and others working to ensure the
working with the national office to build, manage and
McDonald House Charities' $125,000 grant award to
success of our nation's youth.
First Book for the distribution of 50,000 new books to
Leadership
support First Book Local Advisory Boards in their
Books and reading have the power to change lives and
respective states.
children across America.
the simple gesture of giving a child new books creates a
First Book's national Board of Directors provides the
As local boards require nurturing in the
wonderful ripple effect of joy, learning and success. First
organization with the fund-raising expertise and program
developmental and early phases, the six
PHILADELPHIA
EAGLES
YOUTH
Book distributes books to at-risk children in local literacy
guidance imperative to its success. The Board includes:
AmeriCorps*VISTA regional coordinators are essential
PARTNERSHIP The Philadelphia Eagles Youth
programs through on-going book grants, special events in
Peter Gold, Chairman, President, The Gold Group,
in ensuring that First Book increases its network and
Partnership issued a challenge grant of $50,000 to the
Chartered; Kyle Zimmer, President, First Book; Elizabeth
bookstores and several national literacy initiatives.
distribution capacity. The new regional offices are in:
First Book-Philadelphia Local Advisory Board. The grant
Arky, Attorney; Louis Harris, Founder, Harris Polls;
Elmsford, NY; Nashville, TN; Jackson, MS; Chicago,
strongly increases First Book's impact in the Philadelphia
Richard Krinsley, Executive Vice President, (Ret.),
Local Advisory Boards (LABs)
IL; Houston, TX; and Sacramento, CA.
area and also serves as a challenge for other NFL teams to
Scholastic, Inc.; Eleanor Lewis, Senior Associate, Bass
support local First Book activity in their communities.
Strengthen Communities
and Howes; Melissa Moss, President, Women's
Northwest Project Achieves Early
Consumer Network; Carolynn Reid-Wallace, Senior Vice
The cornerstone of the First Book model is a network
HOUSING OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT On
of volunteer local advisory boards (LABs), which work
Success
President, Education and Programming, Corporation for
December 22, 1997 Vice President Al Gore and Housing
Public Broadcasting; Sally Susman, Vice President,
to distribute books and develop resources to support book
Secretary Andrew Cuomo announced a program to
In June 1997, First Book received a $1.0 million
International Public Affairs, The American Express
distributions in their communities. A local advisory board
distribute a half-million new books to homeless children
dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education,
Company; Tom Tolworthy, President, Barnes & Noble
consists of volunteers who work as a team to distribute
nationwide. 205,000 books have already been donated for
Fund for the Improvement of Education. The funds are
Bookstores; and Judith Zimmer, Deputy Director, Street
new books to area literacy programs.
distribution by First Book. Participating publishers
being used to conduct an intensive regional First Book
Law Inc.
The composition of First Book Local Advisory Boards
include Disney Publishing, Simon and Schuster, Inc. and
program in the states of Washington and Oregon. The
is as diverse as the communities they serve and volunteer
Time Warner, Inc.
program is headquartered in Portland, OR, which serves
First Book is pleased to share information regarding
board members come from a variety of backgrounds
as the seventh regional First Book office.
its mission and related activities across the country.
including people from the business, educational, political
BARNES
&
NOBLE
COLLEGE
First Book has available: a local advisory board
Thus far, the project has enlisted 170 volunteers who
and nonprofit fields. The common thread among members
BOOKSTORES, INC. In December 1997,
handbook, brochures, press packets, and a short
are serving on 18 First Book Local Advisory Boards and
is that they feel strongly about children and the power of
Barnes & Noble College Bookstores, Inc., a privately held
video. To request information or discuss
over 120 organizations have been receiving deliveries of
books and reading, and are able to devote time, talent,
company associated with Barnes & Noble, Inc., selected
opportunities, contact First Book's national office:
an initial round of new books. Two additional local
contacts, and energy to making First Book books available
First Book as the recipient of an annual donation made in
1319 F St., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC, 20004,
boards are slated to begin operation in early 1998, which
Phone: 202-393-1222, Fax: 202-628-1258,
in their community.
honor of their customers.
will complete the grant goal of establishing 20 local
Electronic mail: [email protected].
As of December 1997, First Book has 51 existing
boards.
First Book local boards and 119 local boards in various
2 FIRST BOOK
January 1998
3 FIRST BOOK
January 1998
The Northwest Project is expected to distribute a
First Book Story Time In September 1997, Barnes
CORPORATION
FOR
PUBLIC
low-income, First Book, in partnership with the
total of 300,000 books to children whose families have
& Noble launched First Book Story Time, a monthly
BROADCASTING (CPB). First Book continues to
pediatricians and other health center staff, help "fill" the
been aversely affected by the economic downturns in the
event during which a pre-selected children's book is read
participate as a partner with the Corporation for Public
families' prescription by giving new books to the
fishing and timber industries. The grant also contains an
to customers and their children. The publisher of each
Broadcasting in the Ready To Learn Service initiative.
children. In 1997, 180 health centers were a part of the
extensive model-evaluation component, headed by Louis
book highlighted during First Book Story Time makes a
Through this national outreach, free books in English and
ROR initiative, which was founded by Dr. Barry
Harris, which will provide First Book with an opportunity
donation to First Book's national office, which allows
Spanish are provided to children of low income families in
Zuckerman, Boston City Hospital.
to assess the effectiveness of its locally-driven book
First Book to continue to expand its outreach efforts.
tandem with educational programming on public television
distribution model. First Book has begun discussions with
Holiday Book Drives During the 1997 holiday
stations, a bimonthly family magazine and workshops to
SCHOLASTIC INC. Scholastic Inc. is a long-
several corporate partners to ensure that the established
season, Barnes & Noble stores had the opportunity to
help parents and caregivers connect television to reading,
standing First Book publishing partner. In addition to
local boards continue to flourish long after the federal
have a First Book "giving tree," or similar display, in
language and learning skills.
providing substantial discounts on thousands of
project ends.
their stores to benefit First Book local recipient groups.
One-hundred-and-twenty-five Public Broadcasting
children's soft cover books, the publisher provides each
During the in-store promotion, customers were invited to
Service (PBS) stations around the country anchor and
new First Book Local Advisory Board with an initial free
National Partners Fuel Outreach
select an "ornament," detailing the age of a child, and buy
provide the Ready To Learn Service to their local
set of "community-starter" books. The starter books
a special new book for that child. The promotion resulted
communities. Funded in part by a grant from the U.S.
provide a great incentive to local volunteers and help new
First Book has assembled a sustaining network of
in thousands of children receiving new books to read
Department of Education, the Ready To Learn Service is
First Book boards immediately begin the local book grant
strategic national partnerships that have been vital to the
during the holiday season.
an initiative developed by public broadcasting in response
process.
organization's growth and outreach to our nation's most
In New York City, Barnes & Noble bookstores held
to the national educational goal that all American children
vulnerable children. Each of these partners work
the "1997 Children's Holiday Book Drive" to benefit
begin school ready to learn.
SHARE OUR STRENGTH (SOS). First Book
nationally and through their local representatives to build
First Book and metropolitan area recipient groups. From
In 1997, First Book began processing all Ready To
was again selected by Share Our Strength as one of the
upon the strength of the First Book model. Highlights
November 1 through December 31, 1997, customers were
Learn Book orders, previously managed by the CPB staff.
national beneficiaries of its 1997 Writers Harvest: The
from 1997 include:
encouraged to donate a new children's book to First
During this transition, CPB staff members and local PBS
National Reading promotion. Writers Harvest is an
Book. Each book donation was matched 1:1 by
station liaisons provided tremendous support to First
annual event that brings together hundreds of novelists,
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (ALA).
Barnes & Noble and participating customers received an
Book. First Book also provided extra incentives to
essayists and poets to college campuses and bookstores
The American Library Association, through the
extra incentive a free pint of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream.
participating PBS affiliates. For example, 38% of First
across the country. Participants in Writers Harvest hold
Association for Library Service to Children and the Born
As a result, it is expected that 30,000 new books are
Book Parties benefitted local literacy programs associated
in-store readings and other activities to help raise the
To Read program, supports First Book by including
being distributed in more than 100 community programs
with Ready To Learn. Also, 35 Ready To Learn
awareness of the problem of hunger and its causes. On
information on the ALA Internet home page. A large and
throughout the greater New York area.
coordinators participate on First Book Local Advisory
behalf of Writers Harvest, Share Our Strength is
growing number of public librarians also serve on First
First Book Liaison In January 1998, a full-time
Boards. In addition, First Book participated in both the
expected to make a donation of $45,000 to First Book, in
Book Local Advisory Boards, providing expertise on
"First Book Liaison" staff member, sponsored by
CPB and the PBS annual conferences.
support of its efforts to fight illiteracy nationwide.
children's literature and community literacy activities.
Barnes & Noble, begins working with First Book to assist
In cooperation with Share Our Strength, First Book
with the coordination of Barnes & Noble/First Book
NATIONAL SCHOOL SUPPLY AND
held a Children's Writers Harvest event at the
BARNES & NOBLE, INC. Barnes & Noble, Inc.
partnership initiatives. The staff member will reside in
EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATION (NSSEA). The
Barnes & Noble bookstore in Tacoma, WA. Seattle
supports First Book in a myriad of ways. All of the
First Book's national office and will be dedicated to
NSSEA continued its support of First Book's literacy
Seahawk quarterback, John Friesz attended the event
programs are designed to help coordinate Barnes & Noble
helping design, promote, and facilitate First Book
efforts by making donations of products, holding book and
where he read several books to children, signed
booksellers, First Book Local Advisory Board members,
promotions with the more than 469 Barnes & Noble
supply parties, and encouraging their membership to serve
autographs, and challenged parents to purchase books in
national literacy program liaisons, and local literacy
bookstores. In addition, the staff member will support the
on local First Book boards. First Book works closely with
support of First Book and SOS. Share Our Strength is
program representatives to collect and distribute new
participation of Barnes & Noble staff on First Book
NSSEA's Education Excellence Foundation to continue to
the nation's largest hunger relief organization.
books to disadvantaged children.
Local Advisory Boards.
develop outreach activities which best engage the
First Book Parties In 1997, First Book benefitted
association's 1,600 member organizations on behalf of
Keeping America's Promise
from Barnes & Noble "Preview Nights" at all new
B. DALTON BOOKSELLER. Throughout 1997,
literacy.
bookstore locations. The funds raised through the new
B. Dalton Bookseller stores held in-store promotions to
First Book made a major commitment to the
store opening promotions are used to host First Book
benefit First Book. The promotions centered on the sale
REACH OUT AND READ (ROR). First Book
Presidents' Summit For America's Future, which was
Parties for children participating in programs with local
of special ties depicting favorite Seuss characters. In
launched a book-buying service in partnership with Reach
held in Philadelphia, PA in April 1997. America's
First Book recipient groups. Since launching the initiative
addition, B. Dalton stores continued to host in-store First
Out and Read, a nationally recognized program designed
Promise-The National Alliance for Youth is the nonprofit
in 1996, approximately 30,000 books have been
Book Parties for over 3,000 children and 30 B. Dalton
to engage the pediatric health community in early literacy
organization established to ensure that organizations
distributed to more than 9,600 children.
employees participate on First Book Local Advisory
efforts. Through this program, all parents receive a
fulfill their pledges to the President's Summit. First Book
Boards in their neighborhoods.
"prescription for reading" for their children during
pledged to provide two million new books and establish
regular well-baby visits. In cases where the family is of
100 additional First Book Local Advisory Boards over
4 FIRST BOOK
January 1998
the next three years (1997-1999). First Book's
THE URBAN LIBRARY COUNCIL First Book
Book
FIRST BOOK
Book
commitment caught the attention of The Oprah Winfrey
has committed to new partnership initiatives with the
Show, which highlighted First Book in an edition of the
Urban Library Council, an association of 132 urban
show featuring General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.),
public libraries throughout the country. The partnership
1997 Annual Report
January 1998
Chairman of the Board for America's Promise. In
will focus on local and national literacy efforts.
reaching the 1.0 million book distribution mark, First
Book successfully fulfilled its first year goal in its pledge
First Book Distributes 1.0 Million Books
Establishing First Book's Web Site
to America's Promise and aspires to double its success in
1998.
The First Book web site is officially "under
First Book, a national nonprofit literacy
developmental stages (total 170). First Book expects to
construction" and will become fully operational in early
organization, celebrates the distribution of over 1.0
develop an additional 100 local boards in 1998.
Exciting New Initiatives
1998. The site is being designed on a pro-bono basis by
million new books to children in more than 170 cities,
Intervisage. The web site is expected to appeal to and
towns, and counties throughout the United States in
Regional Offices Launched with
Great things are on the horizon for First Book in
service First Book's many audiences, including donors,
1997. The mission of First Book is simple: to work with
1998, including:
local board volunteers, national partners, media contacts,
its local volunteer board members and national partners to
AmeriCorps*VISTA
and local advisory board members. The First Book site
provide new books to disadvantaged children participating
This year, in partnership with the Corporation for
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES
domain will likely be www.firstbook.org. Until the web
in existing community-based tutoring, mentoring and
National Service, First Book established four of a
Congressman Danny K. Davis and Ronald McDonald
site construction is complete, you can email First Book's
family literacy programs. In this way, First Book
planned six additional "First Book Regional Community
joined 175 local mentors and volunteers in Chicago, IL on
national office at [email protected].
leverages its national resources at the local level to
Outreach Offices." These offices, led by
November 14, 1997 to launch First Book-Chicago Local
facilitate and support the heroic work of teachers,
AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers, are responsible for
Advisory Board. The event also celebrated Ronald
Unsurpassed National Board
mentors, tutors, parents and others working to ensure the
working with the national office to build, manage and
McDonald House Charities' $125,000 grant award to
success of our nation's youth.
First Book for the distribution of 50,000 new books to
Leadership
support First Book Local Advisory Boards in their
Books and reading have the power to change lives and
respective states.
children across America.
the simple gesture of giving a child new books creates a
First Book's national Board of Directors provides the
As local boards require nurturing in the
wonderful ripple effect of joy, learning and success. First
organization with the fund-raising expertise and program
developmental and early phases, the six
PHILADELPHIA
EAGLES
YOUTH
Book distributes books to at-risk children in local literacy
guidance imperative to its success. The Board includes:
AmeriCorps*VISTA regional coordinators are essential
PARTNERSHIP The Philadelphia Eagles Youth
Peter Gold, Chairman, President, The Gold Group,
programs through on-going book grants, special events in
in ensuring that First Book increases its network and
Partnership issued a challenge grant of $50,000 to the
Chartered; Kyle Zimmer, President, First Book; Elizabeth
bookstores and several national literacy initiatives.
distribution capacity. The new regional offices are in:
First Book-Philadelphia Local Advisory Board. The grant
Arky, Attorney; Louis Harris, Founder, Harris Polls;
Elmsford, NY; Nashville, TN; Jackson, MS; Chicago,
strongly increases First Book's impact in the Philadelphia
Richard Krinsley, Executive Vice President, (Ret.),
Local Advisory Boards (LABs)
IL; Houston, TX; and Sacramento, CA.
area and also serves as a challenge for other NFL teams to
Scholastic, Inc.; Eleanor Lewis, Senior Associate, Bass
support local First Book activity in their communities.
Strengthen Communities
and Howes; Melissa Moss, President, Women's
Northwest Project Achieves Early
Consumer Network; Carolynn Reid-Wallace, Senior Vice
The cornerstone of the First Book model is a network
HOUSING OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT On
of volunteer local advisory boards (LABs), which work
Success
President, Education and Programming, Corporation for
December 22, 1997 Vice President Al Gore and Housing
Public Broadcasting; Sally Susman, Vice President,
to distribute books and develop resources to support book
Secretary Andrew Cuomo announced a program to
In June 1997, First Book received a $1.0 million
International Public Affairs, The American Express
distributions in their communities. A local advisory board
distribute a half-million new books to homeless children
dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education,
Company; Tom Tolworthy, President, Barnes & Noble
consists of volunteers who work as a team to distribute
nationwide. 205,000 books have already been donated for
Fund for the Improvement of Education. The funds are
Bookstores; and Judith Zimmer, Deputy Director, Street
new books to area literacy programs.
distribution by First Book. Participating publishers
being used to conduct an intensive regional First Book
Law Inc.
The composition of First Book Local Advisory Boards
include Disney Publishing, Simon and Schuster, Inc. and
program in the states of Washington and Oregon. The
is as diverse as the communities they serve and volunteer
Time Warner, Inc.
program is headquartered in Portland, OR, which serves
First Book is pleased to share information regarding
board members come from a variety of backgrounds
its mission and related activities across the country.
as the seventh regional First Book office.
including people from the business, educational, political
BARNES
&
NOBLE
COLLEGE
First Book has available: a local advisory board
Thus far, the project has enlisted 170 volunteers who
and nonprofit fields. The common thread among members
BOOKSTORES, INC. In December 1997,
handbook, brochures, press packets, and a short
are serving on 18 First Book Local Advisory Boards and
is that they feel strongly about children and the power of
Barnes & Noble College Bookstores, Inc., a privately held
video. To request information or discuss
over 120 organizations have been receiving deliveries of
books and reading, and are able to devote time, talent,
company associated with Barnes & Noble, Inc., selected
opportunities, contact First Book's national office:
an initial round of new books. Two additional local
1319 F St., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC, 20004,
contacts, and energy to making First Book books available
First Book as the recipient of an annual donation made in
boards are slated to begin operation in early 1998, which
Phone: 202-393-1222, Fax: 202-628-1258,
in their community.
honor of their customers.
will complete the grant goal of establishing 20 local
Electronic mail: [email protected].
As of December 1997, First Book has 51 existing
boards.
First Book local boards and 119 local boards in various
2 FIRST BOOK
January 1998
3 FIRST BOOK
January 1998
The Northwest Project is expected to distribute a
First Book Story Time In September 1997, Barnes
CORPORATION
FOR
PUBLIC
low-income, First Book, in partnership with the
total of 300,000 books to children whose families have
& Noble launched First Book Story Time, a monthly
BROADCASTING (CPB). First Book continues to
pediatricians and other health center staff, help "fill" the
been aversely affected by the economic downturns in the
event during which a pre-selected children's book is read
participate as a partner with the Corporation for Public
families' prescription by giving new books to the
fishing and timber industries. The grant also contains an
to customers and their children. The publisher of each
Broadcasting in the Ready To Learn Service initiative.
children. In 1997, 180 health centers were a part of the
extensive model-evaluation component, headed by Louis
book highlighted during First Book Story Time makes a
Through this national outreach, free books in English and
ROR initiative, which was founded by Dr. Barry
Harris, which will provide First Book with an opportunity
donation to First Book's national office, which allows
Spanish are provided to children of low income families in
Zuckerman, Boston City Hospital.
to assess the effectiveness of its locally-driven book
First Book to continue to expand its outreach efforts.
tandem with educational programming on public television
distribution model. First Book has begun discussions with
Holiday Book Drives During the 1997 holiday
stations, a bimonthly family magazine and workshops to
SCHOLASTIC INC. Scholastic Inc. is a long-
several corporate partners to ensure that the established
season, Barnes & Noble stores had the opportunity to
help parents and caregivers connect television to reading,
standing First Book publishing partner. In addition to
local boards continue to flourish long after the federal
have a First Book "giving tree," or similar display, in
language and learning skills.
providing substantial discounts on thousands of
project ends.
their stores to benefit First Book local recipient groups.
One-hundred-and-twenty-five Public Broadcasting
children's soft cover books, the publisher provides each
During the in-store promotion, customers were invited to
Service (PBS) stations around the country anchor and
new First Book Local Advisory Board with an initial free
National Partners Fuel Outreach
select an "ornament," detailing the age of a child, and buy
provide the Ready To Learn Service to their local
set of "community-starter" books. The starter books
a special new book for that child. The promotion resulted
communities. Funded in part by a grant from the U.S.
provide a great incentive to local volunteers and help new
First Book has assembled a sustaining network of
in thousands of children receiving new books to read
Department of Education, the Ready To Learn Service is
First Book boards immediately begin the local book grant
strategic national partnerships that have been vital to the
during the holiday season.
an initiative developed by public broadcasting in response
process.
organization's growth and outreach to our nation's most
In New York City, Barnes & Noble bookstores held
to the national educational goal that all American children
vulnerable children. Each of these partners work
the "1997. Children's Holiday Book Drive" to benefit
begin school ready to learn.
SHARE OUR STRENGTH (SOS). First Book
nationally and through their local representatives to build
First Book and metropolitan area recipient groups. From
In 1997, First Book began processing all Ready To
was again selected by Share Our Strength as one of the
upon the strength of the First Book model. Highlights
November 1 through December 31, 1997, customers were
Learn Book orders, previously managed by the CPB staff.
national beneficiaries of its 1997 Writers Harvest: The
from 1997 include:
encouraged to donate a new children's book to First
During this transition, CPB staff members and local PBS
National Reading promotion. Writers Harvest is an
Book. Each book donation was matched 1:1 by
station liaisons provided tremendous support to First
annual event that brings together hundreds of novelists,
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (ALA).
Barnes & Noble and participating customers received an
Book. First Book also provided extra incentives to
essayists and poets to college campuses and bookstores
The American Library Association, through the
extra incentive a free pint of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream.
participating PBS affiliates. For example, 38% of First
across the country. Participants in Writers Harvest hold
Association for Library Service to Children and the Born
As a result, it is expected that 30,000 new books are
Book Parties benefitted local literacy programs associated
in-store readings and other activities to help raise the
To Read program, supports First Book by including
being distributed in more than 100 community programs
with Ready To Learn. Also, 35 Ready To Learn
awareness of the problem of hunger and its causes. On
information on the ALA Internet home page. A large and
throughout the greater New York area.
coordinators participate on First Book Local Advisory
behalf of Writers Harvest, Share Our Strength is
growing number of public librarians also serve on First
First Book Liaison In January 1998, a full-time
Boards. In addition, First Book participated in both the
expected to make a donation of $45,000 to First Book, in
Book Local Advisory Boards, providing expertise on
"First Book Liaison" staff member, sponsored by
CPB and the PBS annual conferences.
support of its efforts to fight illiteracy nationwide.
children's literature and community literacy activities.
Barnes & Noble, begins working with First Book to assist
In cooperation with Share Our Strength, First Book
with the coordination of Barnes & Noble/First Book
NATIONAL SCHOOL SUPPLY AND
held a Children's Writers Harvest event at the
BARNES & NOBLE, INC. Barnes & Noble, Inc.
partnership initiatives. The staff member will reside in
EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATION (NSSEA). The
Barnes & Noble bookstore in Tacoma, WA. Seattle
supports First Book in a myriad of ways. All of the
First Book's national office and will be dedicated to
NSSEA continued its support of First Book's literacy
Seahawk quarterback, John Friesz attended the event
programs are designed to help coordinate Barnes & Noble
helping design, promote, and facilitate First Book
efforts by making donations of products, holding book and
where he read several books to children, signed
booksellers, First Book Local Advisory Board members,
promotions with the more than 469 Barnes & Noble
supply parties, and encouraging their membership to serve
autographs, and challenged parents to purchase books in
national literacy program liaisons, and local literacy
bookstores. In addition, the staff member will support the
on local First Book boards. First Book works closely with
support of First Book and SOS. Share Our Strength is
program representatives to collect and distribute new
participation of Barnes & Noble staff on First Book
NSSEA's Education Excellence Foundation to continue to
the nation's largest hunger relief organization.
books to disadvantaged children.
Local Advisory Boards.
develop outreach activities which best engage the
First Book Parties In 1997, First Book benefitted
association's 1,600 member organizations on behalf of
Keeping America's Promise
from Barnes & Noble "Preview Nights" at all new
B. DALTON BOOKSELLER. Throughout 1997,
literacy.
bookstore locations. The funds raised through the new
B. Dalton Bookseller stores held in-store promotions to
First Book made a major commitment to the
store opening promotions are used to host First Book
benefit First Book. The promotions centered on the sale
REACH OUT AND READ (ROR). First Book
Presidents' Summit For America's Future, which was
Parties for children participating in programs with local
of special ties depicting favorite Seuss characters. In
launched a book-buying service in partnership with Reach
held in Philadelphia, PA in April 1997. America's
First Book recipient groups. Since launching the initiative
addition, B. Dalton stores continued to host in-store First
Out and Read, a nationally recognized program designed
Promise-The National Alliance for Youth is the nonprofit
in 1996, approximately 30,000 books have been
Book Parties for over 3,000 children and 30 B. Dalton
to engage the pediatric health community in early literacy
organization established to ensure that organizations
distributed to more than 9,600 children.
employees participate on First Book Local Advisory
efforts. Through this program, all parents receive a
fulfill their pledges to the President's Summit. First Book
Boards in their neighborhoods.
"prescription for reading" for their children during
pledged to provide two million new books and establish
regular well-baby visits. In cases where the family is of
100 additional First Book Local Advisory Boards over
First Book
1319 F Street, N.W.
Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20004
First Book
Phone (202) 393-1222
Fax (202) 628-1258
MEDIA ALERT
For Immediate Release, January 1, 1998
Contact: Kyle Zimmer, President, First Book, 202-393-1222
FIRST BOOK DISTRIBUTES OVER 1.0 MILLION NEW BOOKS TO AT-RISK CHILDREN
IN 170 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON, DC - First Book, a national nonprofit literacy program, celebrates the distribution of over
1.0 million new books to disadvantaged children in 1997. Active in 170 of America's cities, towns, and
counties, First Book facilitates community-based solutions to illiteracy and supports the heroic work of
teachers, mentors, tutors, parents and others working to ensure the success of the next generation.
First Book works through a network of local volunteer boards and national partners to distribute new books
to disadvantaged children participating in existing community literacy programs. First Book brings
strength to local literacy initiatives by providing communities with the benefits of its national partnerships,
including those with: the American Library Association; Association of Junior Leagues International;
Barnes & Noble, Inc.; B. Dalton Bookseller; Barnes & Noble College Bookstores, Inc.; Corporation for
National Service, AmeriCorps 'VISTA; Corporation for Public Broadcasting; U.S. Department of
Education, Fund for the Improvement of Education; National School Supply and Equipment Association;
Mondo Publishing; Reach Out and Read; Scholastic Inc.; and Share Our Strength.
In reaching the 1.0 million book distribution mark, First Book successfully fulfilled its first year goal in its
pledge to America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth, led by General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), which
strives to improve the lives of more than 15 million at-risk youth. First Book aspires to double its success
in 1998.
First Book's national Board of Directors includes: Peter Gold, Chairman, President, The Gold Group,
Chartered; Kyle Zimmer, President, First Book; Elizabeth Arky, Attorney; Louis Harris, Founder, Harris
Polls; Richard Krinsley, Executive Vice President, Retired, Scholastic Inc.; Eleanor Lewis, Senior
Associate, Bass and Howes; Melissa Moss, President, Women's Consumer Network; Carolynn Reid-
Wallace, Senior Vice President, Education and Programming, Corporation for Public Broadcasting; Sally
Susman, Vice President, International Public Affairs, The American Express Company; Tom Tolworthy,
President, Barnes & Noble Bookstores; and Judith Zimmer, Deputy Director, Street Law Inc.
First Book was established in 1992 in recognition of the central role played by underdeveloped literacy
skills in many social problems including poverty, hunger, drug addiction, and crime. For more information
on First Book, call Kyle Zimmer, at 202-393-1222.
##
recycled paper
ASSOCIATION OF
AMERICAN PUBLISHERS, INC.
1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW
news
Washington, D.C. 20009-1148
Telephone 202 232-3335
Fax 202 745-0694
FACT SHEET ON
http://www.publishers.org
THE IMPORTANCE OF READING TO INFANTS
AND YOUNG CHILDREN
American families need relevant, focused, timely information concerning their children's well-
being. Most parents know that it is nice to read to children every day, but are unaware of the
newest discoveries in neuroscience showing that reading aloud actually stimulates the growth of a
baby's brain. The AAP has put together a short list of citations to help adults understand that
reading aloud to children is as important as fastening their seat belts and providing good nutrition.
A burst of research activity in the past few years is giving us a whole new understanding of how
the brain develops and the crucial role of early language experiences, including reading.
Extraordinary advances in neuroscience have been facilitated by the development of sophisticated
research tools such as brain imaging technologies, making it possible to study the actual growth
and workings of the brain.
These technological advances have come at a time of growing concern about the health, well-
being and academic achievement of America's children.
Several important conferences, including a White House Summit in the Spring of 1997, have
focused not only on the scientific findings but on their public policy implications as well.¹
What the research shows:
An infant's brain structure is not genetically determined. Early experiences have a decisive
impact on the architecture of a baby's brain.²
"A child care provider reads to a toddler. And in a matter of seconds, thousands of cells in
these children's growing brains respond. Some brain cells are 'turned on,' triggered by this
particular experience. Many existing connections among brain cells are strengthened. At
¹Brain Development in Young Children: New Frontiers for Research, Policy and
Practice, University of Chicago, June 1996; White House Conference on Early Childhood
Development and Learning, April 1997.
²Rethinking the Brain: New Insights Into Early Development, Report of the Conference
on Brain Development, University of Chicago. (This report is available from the Families and
Work Institute, 330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001).
the same time, new brain cells are formed, adding a bit more definition and complexity to
the intricate circuitry that will remain largely in place for the rest of these children's
lives."³
The development of early literacy skills through early experiences with books and stories
is critically linked to a child's success in learning to read.⁴
Development of literacy is a continuous process that begins early in life and depends
heavily on environmental influences.
Children who are read to from an early age are more successful at learning to read.⁶
" reading aloud to children is the single most important intervention for developing their
literacy skills," according to a 1985 study by the National Commission on Reading⁷
Early reading experiences are now recognized as being of such importance that the
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that "pediatricians prescribe reading
activities along with other instructions given to parents at the time of well-child visits."
The President of the Academy, Dr. Robert E. Hannemann, stated: "We strongly
recommend daily reading to children from six months of age."⁸
³Ibid
4Snow, C.E. & Ninio, A. (1988) "The Contracts of Literacy: What Children Learn from
Learning to Read Books," in W.H. Teale & E. Sulzby (Ed.) Emergent Literacy: Writing and
Reading, Norwood (as cited in Reach Out and Read Program Manual)
⁵Schickendanz, J.A. (1986), More Than the ABCs: The Early Stages of Reading and
Writing, National Association for the Education of Young Children, Washington, DC
Teale, W. (1988). "Emergent Literacy as a Perspective for Examining How Young
Children Become Readers and Writers," Emergent Literacy, Norwood.
7 As quoted in "A Pediatric" Early Literacy Program," the Program Manual for Reach Out
and Read.
⁸Press Statement, American Academy of Pediatrics, April 16, 1997 (for additional
information, American Academy of Pediatrics, Chicago, IL-- 847-981-7131)
National Association of
LAWRENCE A. McANDREWS. FACHE
Children's Hospitals
President & Chief Executive Officer
and Related Institutions
NACHRI
January 8, 1997
Mrs. Hillary R. Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mrs. Clinton:
I hope you and your family enjoyed a joyous holiday season, and we look
forward to working with you in the coming year. Already, it appears that it will
be a busy year and, as always, we appreciate the leadership roles you and the
President are taking on child care. children's health coverage and other key
children's issues.
To start the year off on a promising note, I want to update you on the
significant progress the children's hospital community has made in just one
year in promoting early reading to parents and children.
When you launched the national Prescription for Reading effort in April, 1997,
NACHRI and the nation's children's hospitals took an active role in the effort to
increase early exposure to books and encourage a love of reading among our
nation's children. Since then, NACHRI has stepped up its efforts to promote
the establishment of early reading programs at children's hospitals, and we
have delivered the message of the importance of early reading directly to
parents. Specifically:
NACHRI's summer 1997 edition of Children's Hospitals Today magazine
carried an article promoting early reading programs to its readership of
children's hospital CEOs. administrators, trustees, clinicians and community
supporters (circulation - 5,000).
A special NACHRI publication. "Healthy Children in Healthy Families,"
featured a nuts and bolts article on how to establish a Reach Out and Read
program at a children's hospital. This publication was sent to community
education directors. child advocacy directors and clinicians at children's
hospitals nationwide.
401 Wythe Street, Alexandria. VA 22314
(703) 684-1355 Fax (703) 684-1589
Mrs. Hillary R. Clinton
January 13, 1998
Page Two
NACHRI's consumer newsletter for parents, Starting Out Healthy, brought
the message of the importance of early reading to more than 400,000
parents this summer.
These efforts, along with our ongoing work with Barry Zuckerman. M.D., and
the Reach Out and Read staff, have generated dozens of inquiries from
hospitals, physicians and parents, and resulted in a significant increase in the
establishment of early reading programs at our member hospitals. Specifically:
The number of children's hospitals with established Reach Out and Read
programs has doubled since last year, bringing the total to 21.
Forty-five additional children's hospitals have expressed interest in
establishing an ROR program in the near future.
In 1997, NACHRI hospitals in Baltimore, New York City and Kansas City,
MO hosted ROR training conferences for physicians that were attended by
410 individuals from 50 health care organizations.
In 1998. several Reach Out and Read training conferences will be conducted
at NACHRI hospitals in New Haven, Birmingham, Atlanta, Cleveland and
Salt Lake City.
I am pleased that Lisa Tate from my staff will be joining you and your staff on
January 14 to discuss our progress and how we might move forward. Please do
not hesitate to contact me at 703-684-1355 if you have any questions or need
additional information.
Sincerely,
Larry Lawrence A. McAndrews
CC:
Jennifer Klein
Barbara Woolley
Enclosures
Scholastic Parent Involvement Materials
Translated in the following languages:
Arabic
Cambodian
Chinese
English
French
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Vietnamese
Scholastic Multi-lingual books
Translated in the following languages:
Arabic
Cambodian
Chinese
English
Haitian-Creole
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Vietnamese
ISCHOLASTIC
Read together.
Your Child will love It!
No matter how young or old
your child is, read together often.
Babies love hearing your voice,
enjoy looking at pictures, and can
understand more than you think.
Older children - even if they are
starting to read on their own -
love to be read to.
SCHOLASTIC
To get the most out of
reading together, try some,
or all, of these suggestions:
Show Your Child That Reading
is Important To You
Put your child on your lap and look at
the book together.
Make sure your child sees you reading.
No matter what you like to read - news-
Turn off the TV, the radio, or any music.
papers, magazines, romance novels,
Your child will concentrate without any
comic books - it is important that your
distractions.
child knows that you enjoy reading too.
Don't worry about reading every word.
Keep books, magazines, and newspapers
You can add or leave out things to make
around the house.
the story more interesting for your child.
Read in any language. If you don't read
Turn the pages slowly. Talk about the
in English, don't worry. Read to your
pictures and encourage your child to do
child in the language you're most com-
the same-and praise her efforts!
fortable with! What's important is that
Try changing your voice when you read
your child sees that you enjoy reading
different parts. It really brings the story
together.
to life.
Take children's books with you wherev-
Read a book over and over again! You
er you go: to the doctor, to the market,
are telling a story that your child wants
on the bus, anywhere. Restless children
to hear - and will want you to tell over
love having a book to keep them busy.
and over again. Children love repeti-
Let your child have his own special
tion and learn from it.
place to keep his books - a shelf, a
Make reading together a special time for
milk crate or a corner of a bookshelf.
you and your child - every day!
Encourage your child to sit with a book,
to look at and talk about the pictures; or
just to pretend she is reading.
Make It Fun!
Reading to your child takes time and energy.
But it should be a special activity for you
and your child to share every day. And it
should be fun. How do you do this?
Listen to your child. She'll tell you what
stories she wants to hear - and she'll let
you know when she is tired of a book.
Don't make reading a chore! If your child
is just learning how to read and asks you for
help reading a word, give him a hint, or
even the answer. Don't simply say "Sound
Encourage your child
it out." Children need lots of support and
to read anything
encouragement when they're first starting
out.
and everything!
Children learn to read in many different
ways. Some kids like to sound out words,
others like to memorize whole words, while
still others "guess" at the meaning of sen-
tences, and often use the pictures in a book
to give them hints. Whichever way your
child likes is OK! Just try to keep it fun.
Take your child to the local library. It is a
wonderful place for kids. The library is
safe, quiet, free, and filled with books,
storytelling, and events that make books
special. Most libraries let kids have their
own library card when they can write their
name.
Encourage your child to read anything -
cereal boxes, trading cards, signs, magazine
ads, pictures in the newspapers.
Reading Games are
Make a Book Together - Your child can
Fun Too!
create his own book, using family photos
and drawings he has made. Staple sheets
Story time - After you have finished
of paper together, paste or tape in the
reading a book together, encourage your
pictures, and then let your child tell you
child to retell the story; or make up a
words to write on the pages. Read the
new ending or character together.
story together over and over.
Sometimes you might want to make up
whole new stories together. Children
Some Last Thoughts
especially love to tell stories about a spe-
Children love books. They love being
cial imaginary friend, and they love
read to, and they love just looking at
telling the same story over and over
books. The most important thing you
again.
can do to help your child's reading and
learning is to encourage his/her excite-
Favorite Words - Ask your child to find
ment about books.
pictures of his favorite food, color, toy,
etc. When he does, write the word or
Try to spend time with your child and a
words that best describe the picture, and
book every day. Your child learns from
encourage him to save it in a special
the pictures and words that she sees.
"scrapbook."
And the joy that the two of you share
from books will be something you will
Sound & Pictures - Look at a magazine
remember forever.
with your child. Ask her to find a pic-
ture that starts with the "A" sound.
To grow up loving books is probably the
Then find a picture that start with the
most important "school" skill your child
"B" sound. And so on.
can ever get. Now is the time to start!
I Spy - As you travel around the city
with your child, point to a store sign, and
ask him to guess what it says.
Shopping & Reading - When your child
goes to the market with you, ask her to
find, or point out certain items that you
need: milk, cereal, bread.
Read together - Your Child Will Love It!
No matter how young or old your child is, read together. To get the
most out of your reading time, try some, or all, of these suggestions:
Put your child on your lap and look at the
want to make up a whole new story
book together.
together. Children especially love to tell
stories about a special imaginary friend,
Turn off all disractions: the TV, the radio,
over and over again.
or any music.
Favorite Words -
Don't worry about reading every word.
Ask your child to find pictures of his
You can add or leave out things to make
favorite food, color, toy, etc. When he
the story more interesting.
does, write the word or words that best
Turn the pages slowly. Encourage your
describe the picture, and encourage him to
child to talk about the pictures.
save the labeled picture in a special
"scrapbook."
Set aside a special reading time with your
child - every day!
Sound & Pictures -
Look at a magazine together. Ask your
Reading Games
child to find a picture that starts with the
"A" sound. Then find a picture that starts
Try these easy games to put more fun
with the "B" sound. And so on.
and variety into your reading times!
Make a Book Together -
Your child can create his own book, using
Story time -
family photos, drawings he has made.
After you have finished reading a book
Staple sheets of paper together, paste or
together, encourage your child to retell the
tape in the pictures, and then let your
story - or make up a new ending or char-
child tell you words to write on the pages.
acter together. Sometimes you might
Read the story together over and over.
SCHOLASTIC
READ TOGETHER.
READ TOGETHER.
READ TOGETHER.
READ TOGETHER.
Your Child Will
Your Child Will
Your Child Will
Your Child Will
Love It!
Love It!
Love It!
Love It!
To get the most out of
To get the most out of
To get the most out of
To get the most out of
reading with your child,
reading with your child,
reading with your child,
reading with your child,
try these suggestions:
try these suggestions:
try these suggestions:
try these suggestions:
Put your child on your lap
Put your child on your lap
Put your child on your lap
Put your child on your lap
and look at the book together.
and look at the book together.
and look at the book together.
and look at the book together.
Don't worry about reading
Don't worry about reading
Don't worry about reading
Don't worry about reading
every word.
every word.
every word.
every word.
Turn the pages slowly and
Turn the pages slowly and
Turn the pages slowly and
Turn the pages slowly and
encourage your child to talk
encourage your child to talk
encourage your child to talk
encourage your child to talk
about the pictures.
about the pictures.
about the pictures.
about the pictures.
Make reading together a
Make reading together a
Make reading together a
Make reading together a
special time for you and your
special time for you and your
special time for you and your
special time for you and your
child - every day!
child - every day!
child - every day!
child - every day!
SCHOLASTIC
SCHOLASTIC
SCHOLASTIC
ISCHOLASTIC
Clinton Presidential Records
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BUNNY Read Your
ROSEMARY WELLS
ISCHOLASTIC
this coupon for your
Prescription FOR
READING
Free cofy
suggested reading list
Ask your neighborhood
bookseller or. local librarian
Read to Your Bunny
for other titles
by Rosemary Wells
BABIES
BUNNY Read Your
Clap Your Hands
Lorindo Bryan Cauley, Putnom
ADING criot FOR
12
LETED BY
Illustration copyright a 1997 by Rosemory Wells
Fuzzy Yellow Dücklings
Matthew Van Fleet Diali
Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by
Clement Hurd, HarperCollins
PROVIDER:
ROSEMARY
My Very First Mother Goose
lono Opie, illustrated by
Rosemary Wells, Candlewick
Pot the Bunny, Dorothy Kunhardt
Golden Books/Western Publishing
Time for Bed, Mem Fox) illustrated by
June Dyer, Harcourt Brace
Other Health Care Provider
TODDLERS
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
ffer expires March 1, 1998
Bill Martin, Ji: and
Supplies are limited
John Archambault, illustrated:by
Lois Ehlert, Simon: & chuster
your free paperback copy
Good Night, Gorilla,
of Read to Your Bunny at
Peggy Rathmann Putnom
In the Small, Small Pond
Denise Fleming, Henry Hölt
"K" Is for Kiss Good Night
Jill Sardegna, illustrated by Michael
Hays, Bantam Doubleday Dell
Available in Sponish?
Crescription FOR
READING
Prescription FOR
suggested reading list:
D
TODDLERS (con't)
More More More Said the Baby,
Vera Williams, Greenwillow
So Much! Trish Cooke, illustrated
Scientific research has shown that
by:Helen Oxenbury, Candlewick
reading to a very young child can
When m Sleepy,
enhance theichild s'overall intellectual,
Jane R Howard illustrated by
emotional andrphysical development.
Lynne Cherry, Dutton
A daily regime of reading to your child
for 20 minutes a day will reap
PRESCHOOL
0 lifetime of rewards.
Angus and the Ducks, Marjorie
Flack Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Blueberries for Sal,
"Today, thanks to advances in brain
Robert cCloskey, Puffin
research, we know that reading with a
fisiYour Mama 0 Llama?,
child has intellectual, emotional and
Deborah Guarino, illustrated by
physical benefits that can enhance the
Steven Kellogg, Scholastic
child's development. The intimacy of
Mama Do You Love Me?,
sharing books and stories strengthens
Barbara Joosse illustrated by
the emotional bonds between.a.parent and child, helps a child
Barbara Lavellee Chronicle
learn words and concepts and actually stimulates the growth
Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very
of a baby's brain: That's why doctors and nurses are
Young, Jack Prelutsky, illustrated
starting to prescribe reading to babies along with regular
by:Marc Brown, Knopf
checkups and vaccinations isn very often that we have
before us such a simple, inexpensive and pleasurable way to
Sheeplin Jeep, Nancy Show,
improve our children's health and development and raise
Houghton Mifflin
their prospects for a brighter future."
Where Wild Things Are,
Maurice Sendak HarperCollins
-Hillary Rodham Clinton
Available:ir Spanish.
Time, February 3, 1997
Remember to sign up your child
for library card.
ABA
This bookstore is a participant in the
Prescription for Reading partnership.
Redeem your "prescription" coupon here or ask how
reading to your child for 20 minutes a day
can make a difference in your child's life.
Copyright ©.1997 by Rosemary Wells by permission of Scholasti Inc
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
READING CHECKUP GUIDE
Readme
a Story"
HELPING YOUR CHILDREN
BECOME BETTER READERS
THE
BROUGHT TO
VISA
YOU BY VISA
can make a difference in your child's life.
Ask US how reading to your child for 20 minutes a day
Prescription for Reading partnership.
This health-care office is a participant in the
-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, January 10, 1997
seriously."
economic levels to take this mission of reading to and talking to their young babies
the next 10 years in this country than to persuade parents of all educational and
"There are few things that I believe could make a more dramatic difference over
litustration copyright 0 1997 by Rosemery Wells
Illustration codyright 0 1997 by Rosemory Wells
"There are few things that I believe could make a more dramatic difference over
the next 10 years in this country than to persuade parents of all educational and
economic levels to take this mission of reading to and talking to their young babies
seriously."
-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, January 10, 1997
This health-care office is a participant in the
Prescription for Reading partnership.
Ask US how reading to your child for 20 minutes a day
can make a difference in your child's life.
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
REMEMBER THE
I am SO glad you gave me this book SO I
could read it over again. My little sister
love[s] it and I do like it too. I am a book
reader lover.
-Child participating in a literacy program
supported by First Book's Philadelphia
chapter.
My parents never read to me, and I want
to make a difference in my daughter's life. I
am using these books to do that.
-Father of a child participating in an El Paso
First Book/Ready To Learn program.
The First Book program not only
encourages parents and kids to read
together, it gives them the tools they need
to do it.
-Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent,
Maryland Public Schools
First Book provides the tools to assist
programs like our D.C. Family Literacy
Project, which teaches prisoners to read
with their children.
-Richard L. Roe. Professor of Law
Director, Street Law Program.
Georgetown University
First Book is an outstanding organization
that believes in people and in the power of
books to transform the lives of children.
-Carolynn Reid-Wallace.
Senior Vice President, Education and
Programming. Corporation for Public
Broadcasting
First Book wishes to thank Barnes & Noble
First Book
for its generosity in printing this brochure.
Cover photo courtesy of M. B. Marks. Special thanks to
Kam Moriarty, Julie DeAtley and ATS Inc. for brochure
design and development.
First Book
Million
Represent
Listen to your doctor.
8
00ol 153
SCHOLASTIC
NOIVIDOSSV
BOOKSELLERS
BOOKSELLERS FOR
to NOUVOOSSY
Я
ABA
every day. OF
twenty minutes
$
Rx Read to your bunny
Illustration © 1997 by Rosemary Wells
READING Is FUNDAMENTAL, INC.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Lynda Johnson Robb
PRESIDENT
William E Trucheart
Reading Is Fundamental
Prescribes Family Reading
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is a national nonprofit organization that works for literacy where
it begins -- with America's children. RIF involves children in reading-related activities,
encourages families to get involved in their children's education, and enables children to select
books to own -- some 173,000,000 to date -- at no cost to them or their families.
Founded in 1966, RIF is now the nation's largest children's literacy organization, serving some
3.7 million children annually at 17,000 locations throughout the U.S. and its territories. Over
218,000 volunteers bring the RIF program to children in schools, libraries, early childhood
centers, and community recreation centers, as well as in at least 21 hospitals and clinics (where
over 1,000 volunteers bring the RIF program to 93,000 children).
RIF provides technical assistance on volunteer recruitment, publicity, book selection and
ordering, and development of effective reading motivation activities, as well as other services;
book discounts from over 200 book companies nationwide; and often funding for books (from
federal and/or private sources when available) to the local volunteers to help them run effective
RIF programs.
The simplicity of the RIF program makes it a natural partner to other literacy efforts. RIF's basic
elements of reading activities, parent involvement, and books for children complement many
existing programs focused on promoting a love of reading in children and encouraging family
reading. Hospital and clinic literacy efforts naturally fit into the RIF model, as attested by the
existing RIF programs successfully reaching children either in in-patient programs for
chronically ill children or through well-child visits to health clinics. Attached are descriptions of
21 such programs from across the country.
600 MARYLAND AVENUE, S.W., SUITE 600
WASHINGTON, DC 20024-2569
TEL: (202) 287-3220
FAX: (202) 287-3196
READING Is FUNDAMENTAL, INC.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Lynda Johnson Robb
PRESIDENT
William E. Trueheart
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)
and the Mississippi State Department of Health Immunization Program
When the Mississippi State Department of Health decided to provide some sort of incentive for
parents to bring their children for their initial and follow-up shots as well as WIC certification,
they considered t-shirts or tote bags as opposed to the historic candy incentive before they hit
on a book. To Mississippi Department of Health officials, literacy and health are a natural
partnership in the developmental life of the children in her state.
Under the name "Healthy Start/Smart Start," the Mississippi State Department of Health
Immunization Program began a partnership with Reading Is Fundamental. Our goal was to
provide a books to children during their two-, six- and 12-month immunization visits at all 110
Mississippi State Department of Health clinic sites. Now the children served include older
children who come for immunizations or come with younger siblings. Virtually any child who
comes to a clinic can choose a book as part of the program.
Mississippi, which has the lowest per capita income in the nation, the highest teen pregnancy
rate, the highest school drop out rate, the lowest literacy level, and one of the highest infant
mortality rates, also has one of the most active and accessible public health systems. The
MSDH provides at least 85% of all childhood immunizations and pre-natal care in the state.
Because clinics are located statewide and can be found in especially rural areas, the program is
reaching the neediest of Mississippi's children. Most health clinic patients have little or no
money to purchase books. Many are unaware of the importance of reading to children at an
early age and its link to success in school.
Before the program was put into place, focus groups were conducted to ensure books would be
an effective incentive for parents to bring their children in to get their shots. Health clinic
clients are encouraged to take part in the process of reviewing titles and play an active role in
the book selection process.
The program recently began its second year with an increase in state funding--up to $350,000.
The Mississippi Department of Health expects to serve up to 60,000 children throughout the
state during the year. Every child who receives an immunization receives a RIF book and
every child who enters a clinic is offered a book. To emphasize the link between a healthy
and smart start for children, a video of Mrs. Pat Fordice, First Lady of Mississippi reading
Itchy, Itchy Chicken Pox plays in the waiting rooms of the clinics.
The Mississippi Department of Education, Rotary, and the Governor's office provide
volunteers for this statewide RIF program. Volunteers read with patients, share books and fun
activities, and talk with parents about the importance of reading.
600 MARYLAND AVENUE, S.W., SUITE 600
WASHINGTON, DC 20024-2569
TEL: (202) 287-3220
FAX: (202) 287-3196
Reading Is Fundamental Programs
at Reach Out and Read Sites
The Child Development Project
10,000 kids birth - 5 years
(6,000 birth-2)
Boston City Hospital
50,000 books
Boston, MA
30 volunteers
1 location
This original ROR site pulls volunteers from local universities. the junior league. local business
partners, and others to read to children waiting for their pediatrician at the outpatient clinic.
Celebrity guest readers come in on special occasions. They hold periodic family read-aloud
contests. and literacy-related art activities. They are committed to involving parents as much as
possible.
Rhode Island Hospital
2,600 kids pre-k -6th grade
(468 birth-2)
Pediatric Primary Care Center
14,000 books
Providence, RI
200 volunteers
2 locations
This project reaches children from low-income communities who receive primary care in its clinic.
In many homes, Spanish is the primary language. Pediatricians and educators developed their
"Read to Me" program, based on the Boston "Reach Out and Read" program. 150 reading
volunteers from the community (students, teachers. librarians. service club members, health
care/social workers, and community business people) come into the hospital and read to the
children while they are waiting to see their pediatrician. Research shows a significant increase in
parents reading with their toddlers after only two visits where the children selected books,
volunteers modeled reading aloud. and parents received handouts encouraging home reading.
St. Agnes Health Care
1,200 kids six months-11 years
(408 birth-2)
Baltimore, MD
6,600 books
34 volunteers
1 location
Located in Southwest Baltimore city, St. Agnes also serves patients from Anne Arundel.
Baltimore. and Howard counties in its pediatric clinic. Most of the patients are from low-income
families. Volunteers (healthcare/social workers. teachers. librarians. and other community
members) read to the children as they wait for their pediatrician.
Fair Haven Community
1,450 kids six months-5 years
(290 birth-2)
Health Center
12,250 books
New Haven. CT
18 volunteers
1 location
Fair Haven is in an inner-city neighborhood with an increasingly racially diverse population. The
health center is the sole source of health care in an isolated neighborhood. Children waiting for
their routine pediatric check-ups participate in the program. Volunteers include senior citizens.
"celebrity readers" and healthcare workers.
Fulton-Dekalb Hospital Authority 1,265 kids birth-5 years
(823 birth-2)
Ready, Set, Read Program
7,000 books
Pediatric Appointment Clinic
15 volunteers
Atlanta, GA
1 location
Ready, Set. Read serves low income families in the Pediatric Appointment clinic of a publicly
funded hospital. Many of the patients live in public housing and receives AFDC. A survey of the
parents coming the clinic revealed that 48% had never been read to at home. Waiting room
activities include reading with each family, demonstrating appropriate shared reading techniques
for different ages and distribution information about the public library. Pediatric residents also
provide parents with guidance about reading with their children at home. Other volunteers
include foster grandparents and hospital personnel.
Navaho Reach Out and Read
2,000 kids birth-5 years
(600 birth-2)
Sage Memorial Hospital
4,000 books
Ganado, AZ
56 volunteers
1 location
The population reached at this pediatric clinic is over 99% Navajo. Children coming for routine
check-ups participate in the program. Parents play a substantial role in the program. including
selecting and ordering books and helping other parents learn how to encourage family reading.
Other volunteers include hospital employees. teachers. students, and volunteers from the Navajo
Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Brockton Hospital
3,000 kids birth-5 years
(2400 birth-2)
Reach Out and Read
35,000 books
Brockton, MA
79 volunteers
1 location
Brockton Hospital reache S children who come in for well-child visits. They just began their RIF
program in February 1997.
North Shore Children's Hospital
1,000 kids pre-k -12 grade
(500 birth-2)
Neurological Development Ctr.
5,500 books
Salem. MA
15 volunteers
1 location
In addition to reaching children at their health clinic, the North Shore Children's Hospital also
does outreach into the community as a way to encourage families to come to the clinic for well-
child visits and to make them less scary to the children.
Other RIF Programs Serving Children
at Hospitals/Clinics
Kunsberg School at
100 kids k-8 grade
National Jewish Hospital
350 books
Denver, CO
44 volunteers
1 location
Students at Kunsberg school all have chronic illness and a majority also live in extremely poor
financial situations. This project has just signed on to run RIF (effective date 4/97). They plan to
engage the kids in reading-related art activities, reading challenges. and to involve the parents.
Telamon Corp.
20 kids birth-5 years
Summer Migrant Program
40 books
Lansing, MI
5 volunteers
1 location
Telamon reaches children of migrant farmworkers across the state at community centers, migrant
camps. summer Head Start programs, and other summer centers. One site reaches children at a
migrant health clinic.
Lights of Jewish
300 kids pre-k-10 years
(6 birth-2)
Special Needs Society
1,175 books
St. Louis, MO
12 volunteers
2 locations
This service club provides RIF for young patients staying at Shriners Hospital for Crippled
Children and Ranken-Jordan Children's Rehabilitation Center. Volunteers from their group
engage the children in storytelling. Parents are encouraged to read with their children.
RIF of St. Louis
1,000 kids 3-15 years
St. Louis, MO
3,000 books
1 location
RIF of St. Louis. in addition to going into St. Louis schools. reaches children staying at the
Children's Hospital in St. Louis. Community volunteers read to the children on a monthly basis.
Allendale County Health Dept
530 kids 3-7 years
Allendale, SC
1,749 books
17 volunteers
3 locations
This program serves a low income community through outreach in an elementary school and
through a program at the health department. Parents of the children are actively involved in the
program. selecting books. acting as guest readers. and helping plan activities. Other volunteers
include teachers and administrators.
Mississippi Dept of Health
60,000 kids birth-18 years (45,000 birth-2)
Immunization Program
150,000 books
Jackson, MS
242 volunteers
110 locations
Now in its second year. MSDH's goal is to reach every child in the state through their visits to
state clinics for immunizations. This program serves the dual purpose of acting as an incentive to
get families into the clinic to get their children immunized and to encourage family reading. The
governor's wife has videotaped a reading of "Itchy. Itchy Chicken Pox." which plays in the
waiting room. Volunteers include parents. teachers. and healthcare workers.
RIF in Chicago
4,200 kids
Chicago, IL
12,600 books
1 location
RIF in Chicago just this year started up a RIF program at Children's Memorial Hospital. A core
of volunteers wheels a cart from clinic to clinic within the hospital and reads stories to any
children they find. The volunteers reach children at the hospital for out-patient care as well as
patients in the hospital for long-term care. The program is so successful after only one year that
other hospitals in the area plan to get involved.
Hospital Education Program
90 kids pre-k-12th grade
Richmond. VA
500 books
5 locations
Patients at Richmond Children's hospital in obstetrics, pediatrics. neo-natal intensive care. and
AIDS clinics all participate in this program. Volunteers include "Hospital Grannies" parents and
family members of the children. teachers. and health care workers. Children participate in
reading-related art activities. see a puppet show. and other activities.
Lovelace Clinic Foundation
1,000 kids birth-5 years
(500 birth-2)
Albuquerque. NM
3,250 books
20 volunteers
1 location
All children who participate in the program are Medicaid recipients visiting the clinic for well-
child visits. Parents are actively involved. including a small core group who help select books and
read to children (some volunteers are videotaped & then the tape is shown in the waiting room).
Healthcare workers. librarians. and other community volunteers read to the children. Many of the
books and activities are done in Spanish.
The Child Life Program
450 kids pre-k-12th grade
of SUNY
3,000 books
Brooklyn, NY
8 volunteers
1 location
The University Hospital serves chronically ill children from the New York Metropolitan area. RIF
reaches these children as they stay at the hospital. Patents. teachers. students. and healthcare
workers volunteer for the program. Guest readers and a poetry writing contest are favorite
activities.
Child Development
3,600 kids birth-12 years
(1260 birth-2)
at Cornell Medical College
20,050 books
New York. NY
25 volunteers
6 locations
Most of the children served are eligible for Medicaid. Children are reached when they come into
the walk-in pediatric clinic through a program called "Heads Up!". Parents are given a
"prescription for reading" containing three important points of literacy development
corresponding with the age of the child. Volunteers read stories and poetry to the children and
help the children create their own books. They model activities for the parents and discuss further
reading activities that can take place at home.
MCV's Children's Medical Center
1,000 kids
Arthur Ashe
3,000 books
Reading Is Fundamental Room
20 volunteers
Richmond, Virginia
1 location
This project provides a reading room located adjacent to the waiting room of the Randolph
Minor Pediatric Group Practice. for a comfortable place for families with children to read with
and to their children. Books are available for reading while the approximately 22,500 children
who visit the clinic are waiting for appointments. and some young children are able to select
books of their own to keep. The informal setting of the waiting room library provides a unique
opportunity to model appropriate speaking and listening experiences important to literacy
development. Volunteers staff the library and hold regular story times.
Harlem Hospital
500 kids
Arthur Ashe
2000 books
Reading Is Fundamental Room
20 volunteers
New York, New York
1 location
This project provides a reading room in the adolescent wing of Harlem Hospital. It consists of
approximately 4 bookcases stocked with books suitable for adolescent youth 12-15 years of age.
The Reading Room. run by the staff of the St. Aloysius Education Clinic in cooperation with
parents and the community at large, provides services and materials which enrich and enhance
the intellectual lives of the children and adolescents in Harlem Hospital. Books were provided
to all the children and adolescents in the hospital four times a year as part of the RIF Program.
RIF Projects at Reach Out and Read
RIF Projects at other Hospital/Clinic
Clinics
Locations
9
locations reaching
134
locations reaching
22,515
kids with
72,790
kids with
134,350
books and
201,714
books and
447
volunteers
908
volunteers
Totals:
143
hospitals/clinics reaching
95,305
kids with
336,064
books and
1,355
volunteers