Reading Across the Nation: A Chartbook        On November 1, Reach Out and Read launched the nation's first report to track state by state daily rates of parents reading to young children. Reading Across the Nation: A Chartbook was prepared for ROR by the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families & Communities. The report reveals that across the U.S. there is considerable variation in rates of reported reading to young children. Highest rates were reported for Vermont, where 68% of children between the ages of birth and five years were reported to be read to every day, compared with only 38% for Mississippi. However, in almost every state, reading rates were lower in low-income and minority families. For the U.S. as a whole, just under half the young children were reported to be read to by a family member every day. "Reading to children everyday is one of the most enjoyable and important activities that parents can do for their children. This data suggests physicians and others need to do a better job communicating this information so more children will be read to daily," said Dr. Barry Zuckerman, ROR co-founder and CEO. The report was designed as a resource for policymakers and professionals who are working to optimize the early language and literacy experiences of young children. We encourage you to view the report on the ROR website here, and to use this information as you advocate for your program. Return