Did you know that 20 minutes of reading per day exposes children to 1.8 million words per year? In
fact, reading to a child three times a week can double their chance of a top 25% reading assessment
score! However, reading to a kiddo requires owning books. For families in poverty, this can be a major
barrier to child literacy. For every 300 children in a low-income area, there’s only one
age-appropriate book.
That’s why we have a Little Library! Our Little Library
enhances our students’ access to age-appropriate
books, encouraging their literacy. As children engage
with these stories, they encounter new words in
context. Their parents can explain the meanings of
these new words, fostering students’ vocabularies.
After repeated exposure, students will incorporate
these words into their spoken vocabulary. With 20 minutes a day, that means students might know
and use the 1.8 million words they learned in one year! Reading also increases and improves world
knowledge, academic performance, and empathy! Making reading a routine cultivates a love for
reading at an early age. This love sets the foundation students need for lifelong learning!
We’re so grateful to all the amazing supporters who made this Little Library possible. Every dollar
makes a difference!
Sources: National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Center for Education Statistics, Handbook of Early Literacy Research (Volume 2)
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