I think this was a wonderful idea and a great way to help busy families instill a joy for reading. I also love that it was a definite excuse for digital detox! Thank you for all that you do and your joy in teaching my little to read!!!!
This excerpt from a letter by a Portsmouth parent named Vanessa truly captures the essence of what makes the All District Reads program model so magical.
“Reading alone is a deeply enjoyable activity. But being read to has its own irreplaceable allure.” Thus begins an article by Melissa Kirsch appearing in The New York Times on January 11, 2025. “Is there a person on earth who doesn’t love to be read to?” Kirsch adds later. “Children get storytime, nightly if they’re lucky, but once we know how to read we typically do it by ourselves.” She goes on to point out several key benefits of the read-aloud experience:
- You’re free to interpret, to perform.
- It’s a process of co-discovery.
- It’s about connecting and it’s also about consuming art together.
- It’s cozy.
Access the full article here.
According to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report, nearly three out of four parents (74%) report that they have used a children’s book to help their child do things such as:
- explore interests
- understand feelings and emotions
- get ready for a new experience or event
- discuss a difficult or challenging topic
- understand others’ identities
- understand an aspect of their own identity
- discuss race or racial backgrounds
- navigate bullying, and more
In terms of helping children deal with emotions, the Kids & Family Reading Report indicates that nearly six in 10 parents (59%) have used children’s books to help their child deal with confidence, anger, happiness, love, fear, sadness, worry, and other feelings and emotions.
The report also notes that the percentage of children who identify themselves as “frequent readers” (reading for fun 5 or more days a week) declines with age, from 46% among 6-8 year-olds to 32% among 9-11 year-olds to just 18% for children ages 12 and older. Read more key findings from the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report here.
So what does all this mean? It means that the All District Reads program addresses several key issues:
- Extending the magic of the read-aloud experience throughout the elementary years
- Encouraging parents and children to discuss important issues together
- Stimulating the love of reading at an age when fewer children report reading for pleasure