Please join us in bringing new books to children living in poverty in our communities. Your tax-deductible donation is greatly needed to help children break the cycle of poverty and avoid the "summer slide" by continuing their reading endeavors during school vacation.

By fourth grade, literary skills become a foundation for learning in every class. Without that foundation, students may fall behind their peers and may never catch up, causing frustration and lack of confidence. Students who cannot read at grade level by fourth grade are more likely to struggle academically, fail to graduate on time, and eventually may drop out of school.

We believe that every child should have an equal opportunity to succeed and that pathway begins with reading. With your support, we will level the playing field so that children can experience a summer of growth, overcome barriers to learning, and come to school ready to learn. Together, we can help them begin to break the cycle of poverty.

Children from low-income households lose valuable reading skills during the summer because they lack access to books. Having books in homes will increase the level of education children will attain and that children of less educated parents benefit the most. As few as 20 books in the home will have a significant impact on propelling a child to a higher level of education. Low-income homes have one book for every three hundred children versus thirteen books per child in middle-income homes. Reading comprehension is an essential skill to understand other subjects, and without a solid foundation, students are at risk for falling behind and not graduating.

Many low-income families live in “book deserts” where there are no bookstores or libraries in their neighborhoods. Even if a library is nearby, they are rarely a viable option, as these libraries tend to have smaller budgets, less staff, and are open for less hours. Other obstacles include a requirement to show identification to obtain a library card, lack of transportation, not open after working hours, and a leeriness of having their name put on a government database. Ebooks are generally not an option either, as there is often a lack of internet access or devices.

Students who lose reading ability over the summer rarely catch up. Over time, the summer learning slide can add up to the equivalent of three years of reading loss by the end of fifth grade. Once children reach the fourth grade level, they are “reading to learn.” A child unable to keep up academically at this level will face increased challenges. By this age if they cannot read proficiently they will be more likely to struggle academically and eventually drop out of school. A lack of academic achievement is a key reason students drop out of high school, as well as a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. More than 8,000 children quit high school every day.

Poverty and illiteracy go hand in hand and illiteracy keeps people trapped in a cycle of poverty. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, children of parents with low literacy skills have a 72% chance of being at the lowest levels themselves. Childhood poverty is intergenerational and connected to the educational level of parents with 73% of children whose parents have less than a high school diploma live in low-income families. Approximately 60% of low-income families cannot afford books. Reading comprehension starts at home and the earlier children read, or are read to, the better opportunity they have to succeed.

Support Up With Books!

Putting Books into the Hands and Hearts of Children in Need