WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. May 14, 2022 — The White Plains Teachers Association today is giving away 40,000 free books for students of all ages as part of a literacy fair promoting reading and family wellness.
The event at Eastview Middle School, which continues until 3 p.m., features a wellness tent, music, guest readers and more. Photos and b-roll from the event will be available here: nysut.cc/3KZP6oz
The 40,000 free, age-appropriate books, including English, Spanish and bilingual titles, have been provided through a partnership between the American Federation of Teachers and First Book Inc., which is dedicated to providing books and educational resources to children in need. This event is the latest being held across the country as part of the AFT’s Reading Opens the World initiative, focused on family and community engagement, supporting literacy among students, and providing professional development for teachers and school staff.
The AFT set a goal of distributing 1 million free books nationwide by the end of 2022 for students’ and families’ home libraries, educators’ and school staff classroom collections, school libraries, as well as afterschool and community programs. By the end of May, the AFT will have distributed 300,000 books. More information on Reading Opens the World can be found at aft.org/read.
“Whether they’re reading about a proud turning point in American history or the magic of a far-off land, books open entire new worlds for kids — and not just those worlds their imagination takes them to. Reading is foundational to instilling a lifelong love of learning and curiosity in our students that they need to become the next generation of leaders,” WPTA President Kara McCormick-Lyons said. “We’re thrilled to team up with our White Plains Public Schools community to promote literacy and wellness for every family and create learners for life.”
A First Book poll of educators found that 87 percent reported children’s interest in reading increased after they received free books from First Book, and 88 percent reported that those resources helped close the achievement gap for the kids they serve. A 2019 study published in the journal Social Science Research found that having books at home helps children build literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills.
“Reading is key to life, to joy — to our very existence. Whether you’re a kid in rural West Virginia or White Plains, opening a book means you’re opening the world,” AFT President Randi Weingarten said. “Reading opens possibilities and makes dreams more of a reality. It creates confidence. But reading is hard without books. That’s why the AFT launched the Reading Opens the World campaign — to first and foremost give children and young people free books to read, love and keep, and to open their world.
“But this campaign is more than a book giveaway,” Weingarten continued. “It’s a long-term investment in working with parents, caregivers, teachers and support staff to help support them as they support their students and children in learning to read, and then reading to learn. This multiprong investment can’t wait after the two years of disruption and isolation that kids, families and communities have endured as a result of the pandemic.”
“Books unlock a world of possibilities for children, helping students build up critical skills they’ll use in the classroom and nurturing their interests in the world around them,” New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta said. “The commitment of White Plains educators, administrators, parents and community members alike to providing students with opportunities to read and hone their skills is a real example of how working together we can build on the teaching and learning that happens every day in classrooms across the state.”
School district and community partners have joined in the effort to share the joy of reading and learning with kids from across White Plains.
“We know how important it is for our children to have unfettered access to high-quality literature,” said Dr. Joseph Ricca, White Plains City School District superintendent. “This partnership provides an extraordinary opportunity for our children and families to add to, or even start, a family library of engaging and exciting books while also reinforcing the importance of literacy throughout our community. We are grateful for the efforts of the WPTA, New York State United Teachers, First Book, our elected officials and our Board of Education to seek innovative, fun, family-centered efforts that enrich our students’ educational experiences at every turn.”
“PTA Council is excited about the opportunity to combine forces with the WPTA to amplify our annual free book fair event,” White Plains PTA Council President Jessica Buck said. “With the support of our community partners, this innovative way of distributing books to K-12 students across the district will make an even bigger and longer-lasting impact in the City of White Plains.”
“The White Plains Public Library is excited to take part in the great book giveaway at Eastview Middle School,” said Joshua Carlson, manager of youth services at the White Plains Public Library. “Childhood literacy is so critical to the growth of kids as scholars and people, and whether they’re picking up free books from an event like this or visiting their local library, we’re thrilled to help White Plains children grow their love of reading.”