Reach Out And Read Of Greater New York

Reach Out and Read of Greater New York is an early learning program that works with pediatricians to provide books and literacy guidance to New York's youngest children, with an emphasis on children in underserved communities. We distribute books to over a quarter of a million children annually at more than 230 Reach Out and Read clinical locations throughout New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley. Reach Out and Read of Greater New York is a regional affiliate of Reach Out and Read, Inc., which serves 3.9 million children nationwide. Reach Out and Read is an innovative program that partners with pediatricians to provide free, new books to America's youngest children and literacy guidance to their parents, with an emphasis on encouraging parents to read aloud with their children daily. The program begins at the 6-month checkup and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities. At each checkup, children receive a free developmentally-appropriate book to keep, and parents or caretakers are counseled on the importance of reading aloud to children for the development of language and pre-reading skills. Children who participate in Reach Out and Read have stronger vocabularies and language skills, and start school ready to learn to read.