UNC-TV:ORPGM: Literacy

First Book Program at UNC-TV Increases Reading Among Children of Lower Income Families

UNC-TV also distributes PBS
Families Magazine in English and
Spanish, containing activity suggestions to accompany the books every month, to 7,000 parents, childcare providers and teachers each year. The magazine impacts at least 14,000 children, some of who are also receiving free books.

Hispanic families have been some of the most thusiastic recipients. Rachel Harris of North Carolina's Cooperative Extension says First Book has given children at Eastway Elementary School in Durham a chance to succeed. A school that has a 99% minority population, 33% of whom are Hispanic, Eastway has traditionally been the second lowest performing school in the state. To improve literacy in that area, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the National Council of Negro Women-Durham Chapter and Topicradiohave been providing "First Book nights" once a month for families, in which leaders read a book and then offer hands-on activities. Harris says she has at least 200 parents and children at that event each month.

"One child even passed on the opportunity to go to a birthday party because he wanted, more than anything, to go to his program on Thursday," Harris said. "He has made it his own program, and his mother wouldn't be able to get books any other way."

In every county, parents are just as happy to receive the books as children, several agency members reported.

"There is a lot of enthusiasm about the books," said Cindy McCorkle of Wake County Human Services. "The parents love the program."

"The most popular are the books we can get in English and Spanish," said Donna Wishon of Stokes County Family Support Network. Spanish - peaking parents, who ordinarily do not read to their children because they cannot read books written in English, say they read the books not only for the children, but to educate themselves in English. Lisa Kennamer of Wake County Human Services said that many families ask specifically for books in both Spanish and English because bookstores and libraries don't carry them.

"They love to have them in their own language," she said. "The children can read both languages, but the parents can't."

In fact, First Book partners have found in general that parents who don't typically read to their children will read a story that the child has brought home. Many First Book partners expressed gratitude for the program because it has generated excitement for reading in both parents and children. Alice Kunka of Corazon, Inc. in Cary, N. C., says she looks forward to receiving the books from UNC-TV every month and then handing them out.

"You can see the smiles on the parents' faces when they get the books," she said.

For more information on First Book at UNC-TV, call Pamela Hines at 919-549-7149 or e-mail phines@unctv.org.






				First Book Program at UNC-TV Increases Reading Among Children of Lower Income Families ...continued UNC-TV also distributes PBS Families Magazine in English and Spanish, containing activity suggestions to accompany the books every month, to 7,000 parents, childcare providers and teachers each year. The magazine impacts at least 14,000 children, some of who are also receiving free books. Hispanic families have been some of the most thusiastic recipients. Rachel Harris of North Carolina's Cooperative Extension says First Book has given children at Eastway Elementary School in Durham a chance to succeed. A school that has a 99% minority population, 33% of whom are Hispanic, Eastway has traditionally been the second lowest performing school in the state. To improve literacy in that area, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the National Council of Negro Women-Durham Chapter and Topicradiohave been providing "First Book nights" once a month for families, in which leaders read a book and then offer hands-on activities. Harris says she has at least 200 parents and children at that event each month. "One child even passed on the opportunity to go to a birthday party because he wanted, more than anything, to go to his program on Thursday," Harris said. "He has made it his own program, and his mother wouldn't be able to get books any other way." In every county, parents are just as happy to receive the books as children, several agency members reported. "There is a lot of enthusiasm about the books," said Cindy McCorkle of Wake County Human Services. "The parents love the program." "The most popular are the books we can get in English and Spanish," said Donna Wishon of Stokes County Family Support Network. Spanish - peaking parents, who ordinarily do not read to their children because they cannot read books written in English, say they read the books not only for the children, but to educate themselves in English. Lisa Kennamer of Wake County Human Services said that many families ask specifically for books in both Spanish and English because bookstores and libraries don't carry them. "They love to have them in their own language," she said. "The children can read both languages, but the parents can't." In fact, First Book partners have found in general that parents who don't typically read to their children will read a story that the child has brought home. Many First Book partners expressed gratitude for the program because it has generated excitement for reading in both parents and children. Alice Kunka of Corazon, Inc. in Cary, N. C., says she looks forward to receiving the books from UNC-TV every month and then handing them out. "You can see the smiles on the parents' faces when they get the books," she said. For more information on First Book at UNC-TV, call Pamela Hines at 919-549-7149 or e-mail phines@unctv.org. General - Initiative for Children - Resources - First Book
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