Creating Positive Change

---

Access to books is one of the leading barriers to childhood literacy.  With so many of our community's children living in poverty, we knew we couldn't make a difference without getting books into the hands of kids and letting them keep the books.  'Meet them where they are' is the foundation on which Boerne Reads was created.  Through local social services organizations, crisis facilities, the library and through schools, we have created ways to get books in to the hands of our communities most vulnerable children. 

"The only behavior measure that correlates significantly with reading scores is the number of books in the home."The Literacy Crisis: False Claims, Real Solutions

"Children growing up in homes with at least twenty books get three years more schooling than children from bookless homes, independent of their parents’ education, occupation, and class." Evans, M. D., Kelley, J., Sikora, J., & Treiman, D. J. 

"Having books in the home is twice as important as the father’s education level." Research in Social Stratification and Mobility

Mothers are extremely important to a child's early reading development.  By educating mothers on the importance of reading to their babies and helping them learn to create reading environments in their homes, we are allowing them to give their children the gift of literacy.  Regardless of reading levels, mothers can help their children develop a love of reading and the habit of reading daily.

'According to the Department of Justice, “The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welding to reading failure.” Statistics back up this claim: 85% of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate, and over 70% of inmates in America’s prisons cannot read beyond a fourth grade level.' Literacy, Inc.

Research shows that children living in poverty are not as prepared as their middle income peers when entering kindergarten.  Through Head Start we have been able to provide access to books and volunteers who read regularly to the children.  Children are able to take books home and return them or keep them.  As a result of the success of this, parents are now requesting books.  

 Through organizations like Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA and Love Boerne Kids, we are giving children books to enjoy in the after school ours.  

"80% of preschool and after-school programs serving low-income populations have no age-appropriate books for their children."  National Reading Association