One Good Book
By Mark W.F. Condon, Unite for Literacy vice president
That is how it begins. The first step toward a life of avid and fulfilling reading begins with one good book.
For children learning about books and reading, the only thing as good for them as their first favorite book is the next intriguing book.
My son Tyler’s first favorite book was Little Golden Book’s version of Jack and the Beanstalk, featuring Mickey Mouse as Jack. We read it every day for weeks, sometimes twice or more a day. And then, in only a few short years, his favorite book became The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Tyler remains an avid reader and I believe it’s because we always had an assortment of books flowing through our home and hands.
Each book that flows into a home has the potential to add innovative ideas, new language, vicarious experiences, eye-opening evidence, new perspectives, information, connections, and images. Each book can change conversations in the home. Together, books and the conversations they spawn help create a “Family Scholarly Culture.” That enriched environment equips children with a continually growing foundation for access to a world of information and a range of book-delivered experiences that serve as solid connections to learning throughout children’s lives.
Research indicates that just 100 books in a home seems to maximize the likelihood of school success for a family’s children. We at Unite for Literacy are committed to providing a growing digital library of free picture books for new readers and those new to the English language. The library has more than 600 titles narrated in 60+ languages by native speakers. We also print our books and work with nonprofit organizations, educational entities, businesses, and philanthropic funders to distribute books to children and their families. We want to ensure that all young learners (birth to age 8) have sufficient access to books that will inspire them to read. Currently, children in almost every country in the world read books from the Unite for Literacy library.
Enthusiastic beginning readers can easily enjoy five or more of these 20-page books in a day. As kids’ book choices grow longer and more complex and their schoolwork loads increase, books may be consumed at a slower rate, a rate that can last for an individual’s entire life, yet still adds up to thousands of books read over a lifetime.
Would everyone like to see more children reading? More children around the world becoming literate? More children doing well in school? Well, of course we would! So, please share the free digital book library with every parent of small children, every English language learner, and every preschool or primary teacher you know or meet. If you’re interested in learning more about acquiring printed books for your community, please email us.
Together we can make a difference when we Unite for Literacy.