CLiF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire a love of reading and writing among under-resourced children up to age 12 throughout New Hampshire and Vermont.
CLiF arranges for more than 65 professional authors, illustrators, poets, graphic novelists, and storytellers to give inspiring presentations for children. These memorable events help kids get excited about books, stories, reading, and writing. CLiF holds nearly 1,000 events each year.
At almost every CLiF event children can select new, high-quality books of their choice from hundreds of titles. In some CLiF programs, children can pick at least ten new books of their choice over one year. CLiF also donates significant collections of new, high-quality children’s books to school libraries, public libraries, classrooms, shelters, affordable housing developments, and other locations where children and families may be found.
CLiF provides a wide variety of literacy resources, and support to parents, caregivers, and staff members at organizations that serve our target audience. CLiF also hosts periodic conferences for educators and librarians.
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Early literacy skills are one of the strongest indicators of a child’s future success. Yet more than two-thirds of fourth graders from low-income families in New Hampshire and Vermont do not read proficiently. Many have limited access to inspiring literacy programming and high-quality new books. CLiF’s programs aim to increase children’s enjoyment of reading and writing; provide access to high-quality reading materials that meet the interests of young readers; and give families, schools, libraries, correctional facilities, and other organizations the tools they need to encourage literacy skills.
Our ImpactCLiF has provided free and inspiring literacy programs and brand-new books to under-resourced children up to age 12 in almost 85% of the communities in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Please contact us if you’re interested in attending an event. Details may be subject to change.
The Whitingham Free Public Library will wrap up its CLiF Rural Library grant with a finale event at the Halifax Elementary School. Author/illustrator John Steven Gurney will deliver two presentations for K-6 students. After the presentation, each student will select two new books to bring home and to celebrate summer reading season.
Storyteller Simon Brooks will visit Randolph Elementary School to cap off and celebrate their Year of the Book grant for 2022-23.
Author Matt Forest Esenwine will visit the Enfield Village School to cap off and celebrate their Year of the Book grant for 2022-23.