Mission: Founded in 1989, Reach Out and Read gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. Our objective is to improve emergent literacy and social-emotional health during the span of rapid brain development between birth and age five, particularly in economically disadvantaged families who are at risk for adverse outcomes. We partner with pediatric medical providers who incorporate our evidence-based model into standard well-child visits, educating parents on the importance of daily shared reading and giving developmentally-appropriate new books to children. Families served by Reach Out and Read, read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills, better prepared to achieve their potential.
Over 32,000 medical providers at 6,000 clinical locations participate in Reach Out and Read, serving 4.8 million children and families annually.

Reach Out and Read, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization, with an IRS ruling year of 1999, and donations are tax-deductible.