Some Amazing Literacy Statistics

“Children who have not developed some basic literacy skills by the time they enter school are 3 to 4 times more likely to drop out in later years.”

— US Department of Education

“74% of children who are poor readers in 3rd grade are poor readers in 9th grade.”

— Bob Chase, President, National Education Association

“So strong is the link between literacy and being a useful member of society that some states use 3rd grade‐level reading statistics as a factor in projecting future prison construction.”

— Bob Chase, President, National Education Association

Only 18.5% of state prison inmates are high school graduates.

Only 2.7% are college graduates.

— National Institute for Literacy

Only 29.2% of children under age 6 living at poverty rate have a parent that was a high school graduate.  Only 2.8% have a parent with a college degree.

— National Center for Children in Poverty

“To grow up reading is to grow up with power and freedom.”

— Dr . Perri Klass, Director, Reach Out and Read

More information from the National Institute for Literacy:

http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/facts/facts.html

“To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence” is available as a book or free 98 page document from the National Endowment for the Arts

website: http://www.arts.gov Publications, literature

Book Review — “There’s A Mouse About The House”

There’s a Mouse About the House
Series: Slot Books
Author: R. Fowler

• Ages: 3 years and up
• Size of book: 6 1/8 x 14 5/8 inches
• Pages: 20
• This title is available as part of the February Starter Kit
• Save $5.96! with the 5 title value pack
Bedtime Stories Set
• Save $23.92! with the 9 title value pack
Super Saver Combo Set 2
• This title is available as part of this season’s Business Builder Kit

Tracey’s review — This is such a cute book!  When I first became a consultant with Usborne Books & More in November of 2008, this book was in my starter kit.  My two older boys, then ages 5 and 3, fell in love with it right away.  They wanted me to read it first.  They still ask to be able to play with it or have me read it.

My first thought when I saw this book, I must say, was, “Oh sure — that mouse will get lost quick.”  Surprisingly, we haven’t lost it!  When I turned the book over, I saw that there was a template to make a new mouse…just in case.  That’s nice.

This book helps to teach pre-reading skills, too, because you lead the little mouse on a trail from left to right.  It also helps little ones learn to only turn one page at a time, because when you slip the mouse through the slots you can only retrieve the mouse on the next page.  If you skip a page, you won’t find the mouse!

– Tracey

Usborne Books & More Supervisor

Don’t forget to enter my $50 in free books drawing!