Rainy Day Books

When I was in grade school, I was always eager to buy the latest Goosebumps book or anything else that might grab my curiosity. Before I had ever heard of Borders or Barnes & Noble, a small used book store called Rainy Day Books was my most beloved childhood destination. Not only did it spark in me a craving for books, it was the only place where I could convince my mom to make any kind of purchase. Since most of these trips took place during the summer months, I was always given a minimum daily reading requirement to ensure I kept my mind rolling.

Unfortunately, many kids don’t have the opportunity to discover reading during the summer months. Summer, in fact, plays a crucial role in the increasing achievement gap between lower- and middle-class children. A whopping two thirds of this gap occurs during the summer months. By the end of fifth grade, many children living in poverty have fallen more than two years behind in verbal achievement.

So, it’s time to turn off the cartoons and turn on the imagination. One simple way to help bridge the achievement gap is this: help your kids read more. It’s vital to encourage reading in the summer, whether at home or in summer school programs.  Many public libraries offer children’s programs as well. If children read one million words a year, at least one thousand words will be added to their vocabulary.

First Book believes summer reading should be a reality for kids in need and our efforts to provide and increase access to new books are just one step towards this goal. Help those kids who don’t have access to the little book store that so much played a vital role in my childhood. One book can go a long ways. Thank you for joining us to improve the lives of thousands of children, making the future just a little bit brighter, one book at a time.