Thanksgiving is that special time of year that we devote to being grateful for the many gifts we have in our lives (and to turkey, of course!). While other gifts can come and go, one priceless, lifelong gift is reading -- a powerful skill that opens doors to endless opportunities.

A friend was in the library recently and witnessed the sweetest moment between a child and a library patron. It warmed my heart.

As a new school year has begun, Reading Is Fundamental works to inspire families, empower educators, and encourage volunteers and literacy advocates about the difference they can make in the lives of children through power of literacy. Literacy is the fundamental building block to a child’s future, no matter what path they choose to follow.

Recently the first grade students in eleven elementary schools in Escambia County, Florida were the recipients of a wonderful gift – books to keep forever! Every student received three books each, thanks to the generosity of International Paper and the efforts of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) to turn donations into a way to give books to children.

Every August, beach bags begin to get traded for backpacks and portable fans for folders. Back to school season affects everyone, not just children. Parents begin to adjust to a different morning routine, teachers prepare their classrooms for students, and everyone else adjusts to the school buses that can slow down traffic.

Reading can sometimes feel like a chore to young readers, especially those struggling to develop their skills. When children have difficulty reading, they may go to extreme lengths to avoid even opening a book; but, when they find the perfect story that speaks to their individuality and interests, a whole new world of imagination and wonder opens its doors.

As children, we’ve all been there before - feeling the dread when a parent or educator told us to read a book. They may have assigned it for a school assignment or perhaps decided that they wanted the children in their lives to read more. Whatever the reason, being given a book -- without much of a choice in the title -- can be dreadful. 

Today, you may have young readers in your life who need a bit of encouragement with their reading. They can’t seem to find books they enjoy and, therefore, aren’t reading. Don’t worry! Here are some steps to engage children and introduce them to the joys of reading.

Late evening sunlight slanted through the forest trees. A chorus of birds and crickets chirped in the distance. A campfire, ringed by sleeping bags and canvas chairs, flickered in the dark. This was the scene of Reading Is Fundamental’s Books for Ownership event sponsored by RJ and Heidi Narang at Groveton Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia on June 4th

Perseverance, determination and dreaming big – the themes of Reeve Lindbergh’s Nobody Owns the Sky – were on display on June 3 at Francis T. Evans Elementary School in Clinton, MD where 200 PreK-5 students were rewarded for a year of reading. National children’s literacy nonprofit Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), in partnership with long-time supporter State Farm Insurance, surprised the students as they near an end to their school year with an event to celebrate their year-long reading challenge, “Our Reading Takes Flight.”

RIF AND NESTLÉ CELEBRATE NATIONAL READING MONTH AND NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH!

Alpha Chi members make an impact for kids across the country

2019 marks 15 years of Reading Is Fundamental’s (RIF) partnership with Kappa Kappa Gamma.  Through our work together, the women of KKG have raised more than $1.2 million in support of Reading Is Fundamental’s mission to give every child the opportunity to own a book and experience the life-changing power of reading. That’s more than 400,000 books for kids! Together, we can help every child aspire to be a reader!

Reading Is Fundamental is excited to highlight a guest blog from the Salt Lake City School District, a program site which benefitted from a partnership between RIF and the Panda Cares Foundation. Read on to learn how students at Riley Elementary felt about getting getting new books through the generous support of the Panda Cares Foundation. 

The holidays can be stressful for families but they’re also a great opportunity to spend time for those closest to you. Spending time reading with your children is a great reason to turn off the television, cuddle up, and relax. Try some of these fun literacy activities to bust holiday stress!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

As we enter the holiday season, I wanted to take this opportunity to give thanks to all of you that are committed, as Reading Is Fundamental is, to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to read. 

1. Read aloud to your child every day
●    Read to babies even before they can talk
●    Let your child see and touch the book
●    Play with voices and the sounds of words

Reading with a child is an important part of developing reading skills. Reading a book aloud, taking turns reading, acting out a book, and discussing a book are all critical elements to engage a child in the reading process. Reading together starts children on a path to obtain the necessary reading skills to become proficient, interested, and hopefully lifelong readers. Here are some basic tips to consider when reading with one child or many.

We recently caught up with Dr. Maryanne Wolf about her book Reader Come Home, which discusses the challenges of being a reader in the Digital Age. This is the second in a series of interviews with Dr. Wolfe. The first interview was around her book Proust and the Squid.