Making literacy a family affair has long been a goal of the volunteer members of the Junior League of Denver (JLD), but making reading fun is the key measure of success. Since 2000, JLD volunteers have teamed up with local schools to help make promoting reading and to have fun while doing it a reality in the lives of thousands of children and families across Metro Denver. Read2Kids, which is free and open to the public, puts free in the hands of children and encourages reading aloud.
Not only is reading a vitally important family activity, it’s a vitally important life skill. Daily reading can account for higher reading and math test scores, as well as increased self-esteem for children. According to the 1991 Carnegie Foundation report, 35% of U. S. children enter public schools at substantial risk for early academic difficulties because they lack school readiness skills. If a child cannot read at a proficient first grade level by age 7, it is very unlikely that he or she ever will - children who start school behind typically stay behind. 1 In fact, only 10% of these children have ever shown future proficiency. 2 One critical factor in determining a child’s school readiness is a child’s exposure to language and reading. The average middle-income child has 1,200 hours of being read aloud to before entering school, compared to 25 hours for low-income children. 3 
Since the Junior League started Read2Kids more than 175 JLD members have volunteered over 1,000 hours and given away nearly 10,000 books to children in the Metro Denver area. This year, JLD volunteers anticipate giving over 3,000 books to more than 1,250 children and families. In addition to receiving books, participants will have the opportunity to hear stories read by local celebrities, authors and firefighters in period costume and participate in a variety of fun activities such as face painting and balloon making. There will also be plenty of refreshments and entertainment on hand, from clowns and a visit with Clifford the Big Red Dog to arts and crafts and exotic animals from the Denver Zoo.
To learn more about the Read2Kids book fair or the Junior League of Denver, please contact read2kids@jld.org">read2kids@jld.org.
1. Colorado Department of Education
2. Children's Literacy Initiative
3. Children's Literacy Initiative
