Inspire Reading Joy Build A Nation Of Lifelong Readers America S

Leo Migdal

-Dec 12, 2025, 11:17 AM

inspire reading joy build a nation of lifelong readers america s

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) | November 17, 2023 Across the nation, children are well on their way with the new school year – learning, exploring, and building friendships. It’s a welcome return to normalcy after schools and families have navigated (and continue to navigate) the many challenges and long-term effects of the pandemic. And while we know we’ve come a long way, we have to recognize a difficult reality: there is a literacy crisis in America that has been deeply exacerbated by the pandemic. Recent results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the nation’s report card, indicate reading scores are at a 30-year low. This data confirms our worst fears about the impact of the pandemic on our nation’s children and demonstrates the urgency to rally together and take action.

For nearly six decades, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) has been working tirelessly to provide books and reading resources to children, inspiring the joy of reading, and putting children on a path to reading proficiency. We work to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, discover, and achieve their full potential. During this season of gratitude, we are more thankful than ever to our many supporters and partners who have enabled our work to support and empower educators, families, and children. And now is the time to come together for our nation’s young readers and join with RIF to inspire the joy of reading to build a nation of lifelong readers. Together, we can create a nation of skilled readers and ensure that all children are on a path to read and succeed. Published 2:51 pm Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Bess the Book Bus began its annual expedition across the United States this month to deliver book ownership to early elementary students. On Monday and Tuesday, the bus made stops in Lake Charles. Based out of Tampa, Fla., Bess the Book Bus is a nationwide mobile literacy initiative that aims to bring the joy of reading and book ownership to students, educators and families in economically vulnerable... The bus makes 19 to 25 stops a year across the United States to provide free books to pre-kindergarten to first-grade students. It was founded in 2002 by Jennifer Frances, and named after her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth “Nana Bess” O’Keefe. Nana Bess instilled the joy of reading in Frances and her cousin.

And as someone from a family of “story lovers and storytellers,” she decided she wanted to share that passion with students. “When I was looking for something to do in my community, I wanted to find something that I thought was a missing piece, but also something I was passionate about.” Reading has always been an essential part of a young person’s education. Still, the idea that kids should love reading and that books should be necessary for their identity has lost urgency in the digital age. This shift is reflected in declining student outcomes and a decrease in young people reading for pleasure. We know that reading positively impacts academic performance.

It supports empathy, critical thinking, and even social connection. My take? The best way to inspire today’s youth to read is by building a culture that celebrates their book choices and makes reading as fun and engaging as the media they already love. As a parent and former educator, I’ve seen it repeatedly: students who never considered themselves “readers” suddenly get hooked once they find the right story or format. When I was in the classroom, I distinctly remember a group of students who became avid readers after one of them read The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah. What was true then, and now, is that students need time and motivation to find books with which they connect.

They also need encouragement that extends naturally from a culture of reading. Creating a positive reading environment, or reading culture, starts with dedicating time to reading, whether through a 15-minute block in the morning, a quiet moment after recess, or a daily routine at home. And then there’s choice. If we want students to build reading stamina, they need some control over what and how they read. That means embracing graphic novels, listening to audiobooks, or—in my case, with The Coldest Winter Ever—offering books that would not otherwise be selected for school reading. The more ownership students have, the more likely they are to keep reading.

Just as important is making reading visible and valued. When teachers discuss what they’re reading, display student book reviews in the hallway, or let kids recommend titles to one another, they create a culture where books matter. It sends a powerful message when students see their peers recognized for reading. BALTIMORE, Sept. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of National Literacy Month, Celebree School, a leader in early childhood education offering infant and toddler care, preschool, before and aftercare, and summer camp programs, invites families nationwide... Launching today through September 30, the initiative offers simple, creative ways for parents to make literacy a part of everyday life –at home, in the classroom, and in the community.

With 25 million children in America unable to read, the need to inspire young learners has never been greater. "With 25 million children in America unable to read, the need to inspire young learners has never been greater," said Kristen Miller, Director of Education at Celebree School. "Literacy isn't just about reading books, it's about sparking curiosity through every conversation, game, and shared story. This year's campaign combines the magic of traditional storytelling with the possibilities of new technology, giving families simple, joyful ways to make words part of their everyday world." As part of the month-long celebration, Celebree School will host a free, live parent webinar, AI & Early Literacy: Rethinking How Children Learn in a Digital Age, on Wednesday, September 24, from 6–7 PM... Led by Dr.

Ying Xu, Assistant Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the discussion will explore how artificial intelligence is shaping early childhood development and what it means for the future of reading, comprehension, and... REGISTER HERE. Why Literacy Matters NowRecent data from the Nation's Report Card shows U.S. reading scores at their lowest in decades, with 37% of children entering kindergarten without foundational literacy skills. Meanwhile, a national study shows that 13% of parents feel most overwhelmed by their child meeting developmental milestones, underscoring the urgent need to address the literacy crisis. Join us as we celebrate World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) on February 5, 2025.

Each year, WRAD helps spotlight storytelling’s power to immerse young readers in diverse perspectives and broaden their understanding of the world. This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of WRAD, which has grown into a global movement since its launch by LitWorld. Reading aloud nurtures literacy, cognitive growth, and emotional well-being in children. In addition to helping to boost academic learning, reading aloud can reduce stress and strengthen bonds between children and caregivers. Explore how Reading Coach and Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat help you transform classroom reading activities and inspire lifelong learners. Reading Coach, a Learning Accelerator, helps students discover the joy of reading while improving literacy skills—whether practicing challenging words or co-creating stories with responsible AI.

Reading Coach makes reading fun for everyone. By providing real-time feedback and personalized tips, it helps students improve reading skills at their own pace by tracking their progress over various time periods, ensuring they remain engaged and continue to build their... Reading Coach is designed to support independent reading practice, making it an ideal tool to use throughout the school year—and to celebrate occasions like WRAD. To keep learners motivated, it offers encouragement through digital badges and rewards. Readers can earn streak badges for completing reading practice and they can also unlock new characters and story settings for every 20 minutes they spend reading. Rewards can even be traded with friends, gamifying the reading experience and inspiring curiosity for what comes next!

THE UNITED STATES OF READERS PROGRAM KICKED OFF ITS OFFICIAL LAUNCH AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TWO-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM “OUR NATION IS EXPERIENCING A LITERACY CRISIS,”says Judy Newman, Chief Impact Officer for Scholastic, Inc., which publishes and distributes children’s books. “National data reports that millions of students are reading below grade level, and only 14% of students are reading for fun.” Recognizing the negative impact this will have on future generations, Scholastic has teamed up with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to turn the page and promote literacy through reading for fun. This first-of-its-kind program, “The United States of Readers,” was launched in Quincy, Massachusetts, in mid-October of 2024 and will be introduced in five Title I school districts across the Commonwealth this school year. Here’s how it works: The program provides access to books for 10,000 students in grades Pre-K to 8 who attend Title I schools in Quincy, Revere, Holyoke, Framingham, and the southern Berkshires.

Students choose from a curated selection of grade-appropriate titles, a total of 10 books (two books, five times a year) to add to their home libraries at no cost to families. In addition, teachers will receive 25 books a year for their own classroom libraries. This ambitious program is aimed at boosting the literacy rates that have stagnated for decades and is using a proven model created by teachers and Scholastic to make reading fun and joyful. This approach is backed by research. According to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report, more than 90% of children say that their favorite books—and the ones they are more likely to finish—are the ones they pick themselves.

Inspire Reading Joy Build A Nation Of Lifelong Readers America S

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