• "In middle-income neighborhoods the ratio of books per child is 13 to 1, in low-income neighborhoods, the ratio is 1 age appropriate book for every 300 children." SOURCE:  Neuman, Susan B. and David K. Dickinson, ed. Handbook of Early Literacy Research, Volume 2. New York, NY: 2006, p. 31.
   

• Limited access to books is a problem for all young children, but for those in low-income areas, it may be tantamount to reading failure. SOURCE: (Susan Neuman, Access for All: Closing the Book Gap for Children in Early Education, International Reading Association, (2001).)
   

• Illiteracy and crime are closely related. The Department of Justice states, ‘The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading failure.’ Over 70% of inmates in America’s prisons cannot read above a fourth grade level. SOURCE: (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, “Reduced Recidivism and Increased Employment Opportunity Through Research-Based Reading Instruction,”1993)
   

• If more access leads to more reading, and if more reading leads to better reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and a larger vocabulary, this means that the first step any literacy campaign needs to take is to make sure children have access to plenty of books. SOURCE: Stephen Krashen, Literacy Network News, (2007)

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My goal is to get books in the hands of children at a very early age.  As I researched early childhood reading, the statistics were alarming and tugged at my heart.  A desire was birthed in me to get books into the hands of kids all over the world.  Reading means so much to many people.  For some, reading is an escape, it's relaxing, it's educational, it's fun, and much more.  To think that there are children all across this world missing out on the experience and joys of reading is disheartening.  As I mediated on the reading statistics, I realized that reading is an issue that if not mastered could turn into a social problem.  When children don't read or can't read, it affects them socially.  The odds are against them early.  "More than 80 percent of students who fail to earn a high school diploma were struggling readers in third grade." And, "almost 85 percent of teenagers in the juvenile justice system are functionally illiterate."  "Seven out ten adult prisoners can't read above a fourth grade level." -  

RECH Foundation

I’m joining forces with a non-profit organization, RECH Foundation (Reaching and Educating for Community Hope), to donate books to children of incarcerated parents.  RECH helps individuals and families whose lives are impacted by crime and incarceration. Their vision is to create a thriving, sustainable community that is inclusive of those affected by crime and incarceration. Their slogan, “Help in the House,” describes efforts toward ensuring that every child with an incarcerated parent has a book available to them at all times, including school time, leisure/play time and vacation time. Books are a sustainable and thriving force in every child’s home; books are their “Help in the House.”
 

Will you join me and HELP these children by providing them with the gift of books to brighten their day and their minds as well? Together, we can impact the community and bring about change. Our children not only deserve to see themselves in books, but to have one of their own to treasure. To support this mission by sponsoring my book(s), please Sponsor below⬇️

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Thank you for being a blessing to children during a difficult time in their lives.

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HELP me get books to children who do not have access to books but deserve access to books.  Let's CHANGE the world ONE CHILD and ONE BOOK at a time!

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