Target and Ready. Sit. Read! Motivate the Love of Reading in Children

As part of it’s commitment to supporting education, Target recognizes the integral role reading plays in shaping a child’s future. Because reading is the foundation for lifelong learning, Target supports early childhood reading through its Ready. Sit. Read! initiative.

 

Ready. Sit. Read! is a national initiative aimed at fostering a love of reading at an early age. It focuses on children from birth to age 9, and was developed in partnership with the United States Department of Education. Through Ready. Sit. Read!, Target supports book festivals across the country, sponsors a national writing contest in partnership with the Library of Congress and puts books in the hands of parents through pediatrician visits.

 

 

Throughout the year, Target sponsors major reading and book festivals nationwide, featuring live, family-focused entertainment, from readings by children’s authors to appearances by costumed characters to musical performances. Featuring the larger-than-life Big Red Chair, which measures almost five feet wide, Target aims to encourage reading in a fun and recreational way. Some of the book festivals Target supports include the following:

 

Target partners with United Through Reading^® to sponsor its military read-aloud-by-videotape program, which helps military families stay connected during deployment. This program offers children a chance to see and hear his or her parent read a story via videotape or DVD, and for the child to read along. The program has served 220,000 military personnel and their families since its inception and aims to increase bonding through the positive, educational experience of reading aloud. Thanks to support from Target, this program is now available to all branches of the United States Military.

 

Library of Congress: Letters About Literature

 

Target sponsors the Library of Congress Letters About Literature program, which invites students in grades 4-12 to write a letter to an author, past or present, who has inspired them or altered their view of the world or themselves. The program encourages young readers to explore their thoughts and feelings about a book and express their discoveries in a creative and unique way. Target awards six national winners a $500 Target GiftCard and a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the National Book Festival. State winners each receive a $50 Target Gift Card for their appreciation of reading.

 

 

Target has teamed up with Reach Out and Read (ROR), a national nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy by making books a routine part of pediatric care. Since 1989, ROR has provided the link between literacy and a healthy childhood to millions of children, with a special emphasis on children growing up in poverty. Target has partnered with ROR to bring the ROR message to pediatrician offices throughout the nation.

 

 

Target has teamed up with Scholastic to sponsor Summer Reading BUZZ! 2007. The goal of this multi-faceted national campaign is to motivate kids in grades K-8 to read four or more books during the summer so they maintain and improve their skills while they are out of school. Summer Reading Buzz! also champions the important role parents, educators and librarians play in helping kids find books they will really love reading. Through this partnership, Summer Reading BUZZ! information, book lists, interactive activities, games, sweepstakes and prizes will be available both in schools nationwide and online at Scholastic.com/summerreading.

 

Read Across America

 

Target partners with the National Education Association to support the Read Across America program. On February 25, 2007, all Target stores nationwide hosted in-store events including readings by volunteers and local notables, and reading activities and giveaways.

 

 

Target has partnered with PTO Today to offer 80,000 schools across the country the tools needed to create and host a Family Reading Night event. This program is dedicated to encouraging families to read together by having local schools host a night for parents and children focused on books and stories.

 

 

Every Target store provides grants to early childhood reading programs in its local community. Target team members also are very involved with community volunteer efforts that encourage reading and make it a fun and important part of children’s lives. Volunteering is done at various locations including schools, shelters and libraries.

 

More information on the RSR! initiative and other reading resources for families is available at Target.com/education.

 

Since opening its doors, Target has given five percent of its income to organizations that support education, the arts and safe families and communities. Today that translates to $3 million every week.