Our Mission
Forty-five percent of our nation's children live in neighborhoods that lack public libraries and stores that sell books, or in homes where books are an unaffordable or unfamiliar luxury. At the same time, two-thirds of the schools and programs in our nation�s lowest-income neighborhoods can�t afford to buy books at retail prices. That means that, today, 32.4 million American children go without books�even as study after study has shown that literacy is crucial to success in school, future earning potential, and the ability to contribute to the nation�s economy.—Randi Weingarten, American Educator, Spring 2015
Kids Need to Read Mission Statement:
Kids Need to Read helps children discover the joy of reading and the power of a literate mind by providing inspiring books and literacy programs to underfunded schools, libraries, and community agencies across the United States, especially those serving disadvantaged children.
Kids Need to Read Vision Statement:
All children and adolescents will have access to quality books no matter their race, economic status, or capabilities. Further, our organization will provide inspiring programs to increase literacy rates and decrease dropout rates throughout the United States. These programs will be presented in a manner that will foster and uphold dignity and self-respect. We will consistently demonstrate to children and adolescents the need to read, as we believe literacy contributes to school and life success.
About Kids Need to Read:
Founded with a passion to improve the lives of disadvantaged children by providing inspiring book collections and engaging literacy programs to underfunded schools, libraries, and organizations across the nation, Kids Need to Read aspires to empower and embolden every last child through a culture of reading. For many of the children it serves, Kids Need to Read represents a crucial link to a strong literacy education, and its programs help build and nurture support systems for the development of literate mimds. By immersing children in an integrated world of literary experiences that teaches them, firsthand, the impact of reading on every aspect of life, imagination is ignited and confidence is built for a prosperous future, regardless of race, economic status, or personal capabilities.
Reading together not only effectively impacts reading proficiency levels among children but also helps to promote positive bonding between children and their caregivers, leading to cognitive, social, and emotional development. Caregivers can encourage reading by having books available in the home and setting aside time for children to read daily. Here are a few helpful ideas:
- Be sure to take regular adventures to your local public library, Little Free Library, garage sales, bookstore, or used bookstore to keep your children's lives enriched beyond measure! Make sure children are regularly bringing books home from their school library.
- Have children read aloud in the kitchen while a caregiver is cooking or washing dishes.
- Encourage children to take turns reading the bedtime stories so everyone can spend time reading AND listening.
- Cuddle in a chair together alternating the adult reading one side of the book and the child reading the other.
- When reading aloud to budding readers, point to the words as you read them. This will help develop sight recognition of words.
- If a child is reluctant to read aloud to an adult, have them read to a pet, baby, or younger sibling. Many humane societies welcome kids to read to the animals waiting to be adopted, as well.
- Allow children to read wherever they enjoy reading: a special chair, by a pool, under a tree, etc.
- Tell children they can stay up 30 minutes beyond bedtime provided they are reading.
- Families with older children can read novels individually and then schedule regular book discussions together.
- Help adolescents create a Teen Book Club with their peers.
- Never leave home without a book. Whether waiting at a doctor's office or waiting for a movie to begin, have a book ready to read together. Passengers can read to children during car trips, too—a terrific alternative to endless video gaming or DVDs.
- Model excellent reading behavior in your home. Establish an exclusive reading time where the entire family is reading.
Family Reading Tips Flyer (English/Spanish) PDF 
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Valley Focus Features Kids Need to Read (December 2016):
Kids Need to Read
950 West Birchwood Ave, Suite 11
Mesa, Arizona 85210
Phone: 480-256-0115
email
Kids Need to Read was founded as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation in 2008 by PJ Haarsma, Denise Gary, and Nathan Fillion. The mission of the foundation was based on the work of a 2007 project of the same name.
To read the history of Kids Need to Read, click here.