By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Dr. Seuss Enterprises is displaying its love of reading by partnering with the non-profit group First Book on a massive book giveaway for young students.
The company, which manages the Dr. Seuss publishing programs and its brand, says it will mark the back-to-school season by gifting backpacks packed with books and supplies to 50 classrooms in all 50 states in the U.S.
The backpacks will include the brand-new Dr. Seuss title Sing the 50 United States! as a special gift from Random House Children’s Books, the longtime publishing home of the Dr. Seuss books.
Alongside copies of Dr. Seuss’s newly published Sing the 50 United States! students will receive activity books, crayons, and the beloved Seuss classic The Cat in the Hat, providing engaging reading experiences that inspire curiosity and a love of learning both inside and outside the classroom.
“As students head back to school, we’re proud to partner with First Book to help classrooms across the country start the year with beloved stories, essential school supplies, and resources that support learning and growth,” said Susan Brandt, President and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises. “At Dr. Seuss Enterprises, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to experience the joy of reading.
“Together with First Book, we’re expanding access to books and educational resources, helping more children and families discover the transformative power of reading during this important back-to-school season.”
The project is being undertaken in partnership with First Book, which works to promote child literacy. First Book says that ongoing access to books is one of the most powerful drivers of literacy development, reading engagement, and academic achievement.
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However, in low-income communities, researchers have found as few as one book for every 300 children.
First Book’s mission is to remove barriers to education and level the playing field for kids in under-resourced communities. The non-profit has built a network of more than 600,000 members, the largest and fastest growing online community of individual educators, professionals and volunteers serving children in need.
The organization also has a research arm, First Book Research & Insights, which listens to educators and responds with the most relevant books and resources for children’s success and educator excellence.
“Starting the school year with beautiful books from our partners at Dr. Seuss and Random House Children’s Books not only fuels learning in classrooms, it makes children excited about reading, and it provides much-needed support for educators,” said Kyle Zimmer, First Book’s President and CEO. “First Book exclusively serves teachers, librarians, program leaders, and volunteers working in low-income communities, where schools and programs often have limited or no budgets for books.”
For that reason, First Book says support from Dr. Seuss Enterprises marks an important initiative that will help thousands of children and teachers in every state in the country.
“In member surveys, 93 percent of teachers said they pay for books and resources out of their own pocket, most spending hundreds of dollars every single year,” First Book says. “This support from Dr. Seuss means the world, brightening classrooms, boosting literacy, and creating opportunities for children and families to fall in love with reading, with stories that they can enjoy together again and again!”
In addition to providing books to 50 classrooms across 50 states, representatives from First Book and Dr. Seuss Enterprises will be on hand on Sept. 9 to help distribute backpacks to kids at Noyes Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
The celebration will include a special appearance by none other than The Cat in the Hat. Each backpack will include Sing the 50 United States! as well as other favorite Dr. Seuss books, activity books, and crayons to welcome students for the new school year.
If your company is interested in supporting First Book, you can learn more at www.firstbook.org.