Research shows that early literacy is one of the strongest indicators of a child’s future success, yet we’re facing a literacy crisis in America.
- 65% of American fourth graders read at below-proficient levels.
63% of New Hampshire and Vermont fourth graders read at below-proficient levels. - 61% of low-income families have no children’s books in their homes.
Access to high-quality reading materials is the most successful way to improve reading skills. - Children who are not read to are exposed to up to a million fewer words by kindergarten than children who are.
- The average middle-class child is exposed to 1,000-1,700 hours of one-on-one picture book reading, while the average low-income child has only been exposed to 25 hours of reading.
- Reading books to young children exposes them to a wider vocabulary and prepares them for future academic success.
