Today is World Literacy Day, and odds are, you’ve got better things to do than sit around pondering global statistics. Fair enough. But before you scroll on, hear me out—because this one hits close to home.
Recently, a study found that only sixteen percent of Americans reported reading for pleasure on a given day in 2023—down from twenty-eight percent in 2004—and reading with children? Just two percent of people said they did it, even though more than one in five have young kids at home.
Let that sink in: reading is slipping, and we’re losing time with our kids that could light a lifelong spark.
Why Reading To Children Matters
Kids don’t learn to love stories by reading later—they catch that magic in the voice across their lap.
Picture it: a toddler drifts off because of Goodnight Moon, a first grader sits wide-eyed through Where the Wild Things Are, or a kindergartner asks, “What happens next?” That moment—that heart? That’s the bridge to curiosity, empathy, imagination.
Reading to children isn’t a chore; it’s planting seeds for confidence, school readiness, and a deeper connection to the world.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: Pages That Matter
If you’ve got kids under five in your house (or know someone who does), you’ve probably heard of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. It’s a simple but powerful idea: every enrolled child receives a high-quality, age-appropriate book every month, for free, delivered right to their mailbox.
Research shows it works: families report richer home literacy environments, more comfortable reading routines—and children who are excited when the mail arrives. In some schools, kids enrolled in the program meet or exceed literacy benchmarks at much higher rates.
Locally, the Imagination Library is already at work, making sure children in our own communities grow up with shelves full of stories and a love of books that lasts a lifetime.
What World Literacy Day Means for Us
Here in Southeastern Indiana—small towns, big hearts—literacy is more than a skill. It’s a lifeline. It’s the quiet confidence in a parent reading Make Way for Ducklings. It’s a child discovering “adventure” could be more than a word in a story.
So today, here’s a simple ask:
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Dig out that bedtime story and share it tonight.
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Send someone a book, or say “thank you” to your local librarian.
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Spread the word about Imagination Library. For just thirty-two dollars, a local child gets a year of books—rich with adventure, learning, and love.
Reading isn’t just putting words together. It’s opening doors—one page at a time.