Meet CLiF's 2026-2027 Year of the Book Cohort!

Press Release

Fourteen schools in New Hampshire and Vermont were selected to receive the Children’s Literacy Foundation’s (CLiF) competitive $25,000 Year of the Book literacy grant for the 2026–2027 school year.

Five public elementary schools in New Hampshire and nine in Vermont will participate in the program, which is awarded annually to pre-K through grade 6 schools that demonstrate both a strong commitment to literacy, and innovative ideas for engaging students in reading and writing. Priority is given to schools serving a significant number of students who are not yet proficient in literacy skills, and who come from under-resourced backgrounds.

“We received many very compelling applications this year, which made the selection process extra challenging,” said CLiF Executive Director Laura Rice. “These 14 schools have demonstrated their dedication to fostering literacy in their communities, and CLiF is proud to partner with their educators, students, and families.”

Designed to build a lasting culture of literacy, the Year of the Book program brings author and storyteller visits, interactive workshops, and family engagement events to each school. The grant also provides new books for students, classrooms, school libraries, and local public libraries, ensuring children have ongoing access to high-quality, diverse reading materials.

Funding continues into the subsequent academic year, allowing schools to sustain momentum through additional book distributions and literacy-focused programming that keeps students excited about reading and writing.

“Our students deserve to see themselves as capable, confident readers with access to stories that expand their world,” said Melissa Couture, a reading specialist at Milton Elementary School in Milton, NH. “The Year of the Book grant will help ensure that every child at Milton Elementary not only experiences the joy of reading at school, but also carries that joy home.”

Since its launch in 2011, the Year of the Book program has reached 155 elementary schools across the Granite and Green Mountain states.

“CLiF’s Year of the Book program has a proven track record of enhancing literacy within school communities,” said CLiF Program Manager Cassie Willner. “The energy that comes from new ideas and experiences makes this an especially powerful opportunity for schools. The goal is simple: to inspire a lifelong love of reading and writing.”

2026–2027 CLiF Year of the Book Schools

New Hampshire
Bristol Elementary School, Bristol
Henry Wilson Memorial School, Farmington
Milton Elementary School, Milton
Wheelock Elementary School, Keene
Woodsville Elementary School, Woodsville

Vermont
Berlin Elementary School, Berlin
Eden Central School, Eden
Ferrisburgh Elementary School, Ferrisburgh
Milton Elementary School, Milton
Molly Stark Elementary School, Bennington
Proctor Elementary School, Proctor
Waterford School, Waterford
White River Valley Elementary School – Bethel Campus, Bethel
Windsor School, Windsor