KinderCare believes all children should have access to books, both at school and at home.   Just spending a few minutes each day sharing a story with children in their earliest years sets the foundation for future educational success.  I know in my house we have a huge library.  However, it all starts with just one book.  A book ignites a child’s imagination, lays the foundation for future school success, and a book can spur a child’s motivation, confidence and curiosity in the world.

Did you know that as a nation…

· Two-thirds of 4^th graders are below reading proficiency and 83% of low-income 4^th graders are below proficient (National Assessment of Educational Progress)

·Some 42 percent of American children (31MM) lack the income to cover basic needs including child care and access to books (National Assessment of Educational Progress)

·In some of the lowest-income neighborhoods in the country there is only one book available for every 300 children. (University of Nevada Study)

·44 million adults in the U.S. can’t read well enough to read a simple story to a child. (National Adult Literacy Survey)

I’d like to change that.  How about you?  Read. Share. Give is a national book sharing program that kicked off in Denver on June 30^th with a goal of “one million story times” this summer.  This summer you are invited you to READ and SHARE a book so that you can GIVE a book to those in need.  Here what to do:

•Pick a children’s book to read with your family

• Visit kindercare.com/read to download and print out a book label, enter the book’s code and start following your book’s journey

•Place the label into the inside front cover of the book and pass it on to family and friends to do the same

It is that easy!  The best is that more people who participate, the more books KinderCare will donate to Reach Out and Read!  Have fun with books this summer!

Related articles

• KinderCare Learning Centers Summer Camp (mythoughtsideasandramblings.com)