New free book program designed to bridge summer reading losses

New free book program designed to bridge summer reading losses

City officials are working to get free books into the hands of low income children in an effort to bridge summer reading skills losses.

Mayor Michael Nutter announced a pilot program called the Playstreet Book Clubunder which developmentally appropriate books will be given to kids at specially selected siteswhere free lunches are offered.

Children who receive the books will be given a reading assessment, then sent home with five new books. Volunteers through the city’s Foster Grandparents program will also offer reading tutoring at the locations where the books are given out.

Kids can lose up to two months worth of reading skills over the summer.