Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based nonprofit organization of medical providers who promote early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud. Reach Out and Read builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning at 6 months of age. Reach Out and Read serves more than 4 million children and their families annually. Reach Out and Read families read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten better prepared to succeed, with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills. During the preschool years, children served by Reach Out and Read score three to six months ahead of their non-Reach Out and Read peers on vocabulary tests. These early foundational language skills help start children on a path of success when they enter school.www.reachoutandread.org
32
MENTIONS
5
EPISODES
5
PODCASTS
Search complete. 32 mentions across 5 episodes found for "Reach Out and Read".
Oct 17, 2026
speaker_2HOST
A medical doctor.
speaker_1HOST
And the national medical director of an organization called Reach Out and Read.
speaker_2HOST
And this is the moment the National Book Foundation completely recontextualizes the fundamental utility of a book.
speaker_1HOST
It's a huge pivot.
speaker_1HOST
When was the last time you thought of your pediatrician as a literary hero? We have been socially conditioned to strictly separate the clinical, empirical world of medicine from the cozy, imaginative, subjective world of reading.
speaker_1HOST
They feel like opposing disciplines.
speaker_2HOST
But Klass' entire career and the mission to Reach Out and Read is built on the scientifically proven premise that they are inextricably linked.
speaker_1HOST
Okay, tell us more about Reach Out and Read.
David FreudbergHOST
Dr. Perry Klass is professor of journalism and pediatrics at New York University.
David FreudbergHOST
She also serves as national medical director of Reach Out and Read, a network of pediatricians who give books to parents of young children to encourage reading and storytelling as a daily activity.
speaker_12ADVERTISER
[upbeat music] You can hear more episodes of our series at humankindpodcast.org. That's humankindpodcast.org.
David FreudbergHOST
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a review at Apple Podcasts or another podcast service.
Pamela Winkler-TewGUEST
It's certainly a big part of what they do.
Pamela Winkler-TewGUEST
Um, there's another evidence-based program here in New Jersey called Reach Out and Read.
Pamela Winkler-TewGUEST
It's a national model.
Pamela Winkler-TewGUEST
Um, it uses a book to model to caregivers how to have positive interactions around early literacy, early math skills, um- For children in that primary care setting with a book.
Kristen KnowlesGUEST
or further their education.
Kristen KnowlesGUEST
We have a fund that's called Reach Out and Read.
Kristen KnowlesGUEST
So there are local pediatric offices that at children's well visits, they give out a free book.
Kristen KnowlesGUEST
And so donations to the foundation support purchasing those books, and then they're distributed to kiddos in our community.
Kim MiddletonHOST
I'm your host, Dr. Kim Middleton, Area 1 Representative of the Alabama Chapter of the AAP.
Kim MiddletonHOST
We're heading to the end of the year already, which means it's time to talk about Reach Out and Read Alabama.
Kim MiddletonHOST
Joining us today is our favorite nonprofit team.
Kim MiddletonHOST
We have Selena Soule, Communication Specialist, Rachel Latham, our Program Director, and Chrissy Henderson, Program Manager.
Rachel LathamGUEST
So we're doing great.
Kim MiddletonHOST
Awesome.
Kim MiddletonHOST
Well, Chrissy, tell us more about yourself and how you came to be at Reach Out and Read Alabama.
Kim MiddletonHOST
Thank you.