Read to Them programs show schools and families the wide array of benefits that come from reading aloud together. A child’s positive relationship with literacy provides the basis for a lifetime of learning. Our school-wide reading programs support reading together at home and learning together at school by providing schools with the necessary tools, resources, and guidance to create a culture of literacy in their community.
We use the power of reading aloud together to build connections across families, schools, and communities to cultivate students’ learning and success.
A culture of literacy in every community.
Connection: We foster togetherness and strengthen relationships through shared stories.
Accessibility: We strive for equity by recognizing and removing obstacles.
Empowerment: We help people craft their own stories and imagine new possibilities.
Imagination: We encourage innovation and curiosity.
Since One School, One Book was launched in 2004, our family literacy programs have expanded to suit district, state, and nationwide needs. It is our shared belief in the value of childhood literacy that has made each of these strides possible.
have been added to home libraries after families have read together each night.
have communities enriched by Read to Them programs, as well as 6 Canadian Provinces and 4 U.S. Army bases overseas.
(and counting) have celebrated the joy of sharing a book and reading together as a community.
have enriched communities nationwide through programs like One School, One Book and One District, One Book.
What We’re Looking For
Read to Them looks for engaging, well-written books that can be enjoyed by a broad audience of student readers and their families. Books with strong characters you can connect with, and captivating plots and themes that grab your attention. Books written in memorable prose, that show and don’t tell, and can even impact and improve students’ own writing. Books with memorable phrasing, voices, and tone. Books that can be understood by younger elementary students and still engage older elementary or even middle school students. We want books rich in detail that evoke discussion in both the home and at school.
In order to do all that, Read to Them books have to experiment and explore variety. That means realistic books that take place in familiar environments like the classroom and the home. Here, you’ll find books that take place in unfamiliar environments and books that use animal characters to tell stories about feelings and friendships and families and adventures.
Ultimately, we are looking for books that are accessible, uproarious, enriching, inspiring, affirming.
Who Does the Choosing
Read to Them relies on a team of seasoned educators – librarians, media specialists, reading specialists, classroom teachers, former administrators – who review and discuss prospective titles all year long. Our selection committee pays special attention to potentially sensitive content, eliminating some books and approving others. No book is approved unless this selection committee has found the title worthwhile overall.
Have an interest in joining our Book Selection Committee? You can fill out this form. Once we receive your response, we’ll let you know how you can get involved.
And Sensitive Content?
It’s essential to have a diverse array of titles, books with a variety of characters, settings, themes, details, and techniques. Books will include conflict, good guys and bad guys, tension, growth, character arcs, friendships disintegrating and forming, love lost or discovered – among animal or human characters. Authors make their own distinct choices in how to make each story novel, fresh, convincing, effective. Inevitably, some of these choices may present content that can be perceived sensitively by some readers – students, parents, school leaders. If some books on our list contain material that might be perceived as sensitive content, it’s because Read to Them and its Selection Committee has found the book entire – its context, themes, and lessons – worthwhile overall.
** If you would like to read more about how Read to Them selects titles – or how sensitive content can end up in some of them – find out more here. ***
