Organization Details:

The mission of Reach Out and Read is to make literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care, so that children grow up with books and a love of reading. Pediatricians encourage parents to read aloud to their young children and give books to their patients to take home at all pediatric check-ups from six months to five years of age. Parents learn that reading aloud is the most important thing they can do to help their children love books and start school ready to learn.

Description and/or History:
The mission of Reach Out and Read is to make books a routine part of pediatric primary care so that children grow up with a love of books and reading. The Reach Out and Read model, a scientifically validated approach to early literacy development, includes:
-Doctors and nurses trained in the development strategies of early literacy talking to parents about the importance of reading aloud to their children and offering age-appropriate tips and encouragement.
-Children age six months to five years receiving a new, developmentally appropriate book from their medical professional.
-Enthusiastic volunteers in the waiting areas, modeling for parents and children the pleasures and techniques of looking at books together.

Pediatricians and early childhood specialists founded Reach Out and Read in 1989 at the pediatric clinic at Boston City Hospital. In it's 17th year, Reach Out and Read has grown to serve 2.6 million children living in poverty in over 3,100 clinics and hospitals in all 50 states and have distributed over 4.3 million free books to these children at their pediatric appointments, each year.

Contact person: Sonia Lugo, Program Coordinator, (212) 241-5495, (email)

Address:

One Gustave L. Levy Place Box # 1202A New York, NY 10029 (See a map)

Directions:

We are located at 1468 Madison Avenue and 100th Street. Annenberg 4, Pediatric Associates -General Pediatric Clinic   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 6 train to 96st,   Walk distance (in minutes): 10   Nearest Bus Stop: M1, M2, M3, M4, M106 to 101st st, 2 minute walk