Building Home Libraries of Diverse Books
Households with home libraries help children expand their vocabulary and allow for better reading comprehension. Studies have shown that being read to as a child and having books in the home are the two most important indicators of future academic success. Lehigh Valley Reads is creating a movement to build home libraries and supply diverse books to celebrate stories that represent the people in our communities and the families who read them.
Lehigh Valley Reads Campaign Director Angela Zanelli gave an excellent presentation on the program and explaining why the focus on the need for children to be on reading level by he end of Third Grade. Research has shown conclusively the ability to read on grade at the Third Grade level is a most important life success indicator.
Lehigh Valley Reads focuses on getting "home libraries" in place throughout the Lehigh Valley. "Home Libraries" are the placement of 10 age appropriate books reflecting the needs of our diverse community families. Their strategy follows very closely with the Rotary initiative for Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness.
A comment often heard, "do prison builders really use third grade reading scores to predict the number of prison beds they’ll need?" Various studies and work by reporters and fact checkers have concluded this not to be the case. Well, technically untrue at least. There is an undeniable connection between literacy skills and incarceration rates.
You see, a student not reading at his or her grade level by the end of the third grade is four times less likely to graduate high school on time–six times less likely for students from low-income families. Take that and add to it a 2009 study by researchers at Northeastern University that found that high school dropouts were 63 times (!) more likely to be incarcerated than college grads and you can start to see how many arrive at this conclusion.
But once incarcerated, not all hope is lost. In fact, literacy instruction can help on both ends of the correctional system; studies have shown that inmates enrolled in literacy and other education programs can substantially reduce recidivism rates. One study of 3,000 inmates in Virginia found that 20% of those receiving support in an education program were reincarcerated, while 49% not receiving additional support returned to prison after being released.
So, while prison planners do not use third grade reading scores to determine the number of prison beds they’ll need in the decade to come, there is a connection between literacy rates, high school dropout rates, and crime. While we should file this claim as an urban legend, let’s recognize why it resonates with us: it speaks to the important ways that poor reading skills are connected with unfavorable life outcomes. 
2013 Study
2013 StudyTeaching children to read is an incredible gift lasting a lifetime.
For more information please visit the following links: www.lehighvalleyreads.org LV READS PROMO VIDEO Why We Need Diverse Books from Lehigh Valley Reads www.waterford.org
