4 Book Campaigns Bridging the Reading Literacy Divide 

By Aziah Siid | Word In BlackPhoto by Pixabay: Books in black wooden book shelf(WIB) – Experts have long considered reading the cornerstone of K-12 education. Besides helping practice literacy basics — letters, words, sentence structure — and helping shape school readiness, books can unlock a child’s imagination, transport them to different worlds and set them up for lifelong learning. But there is a literacy gap: Black children, Hispanic children, and children from lower-income households “enter kindergarten with substantially lower reading skills than do their White and higher-income peers,” according to the Department of Education. Experts say households with little or no books at home are associated with literacy levels below 50%.& Fortunately, there are organizations across the country that are working to bridge that gap.& From laundromats to barbershops, these organizations are putting free books in the hands of kids who could use them most — helping prepare children for kindergarten, keeping elementary students’ minds active and helping convince Black boys that reading isn’t just for girls.& Here are four book campaigns looking to bridge the reading literacy divide:1.& The 100 Book Campaign& Launched as a local book drive in Baltimore,& & the 100 Book Campaign& wants to put...