“There’s no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books.”
—James Patterson

I walk, talk, and work among many champions of children’s literacy—people who understand that it is essential to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that every child is able to read. And that the way to get kids to read fluently and proficiently is to give them access to choose and own age-appropriate, quality books they are interested in. Motivation matters most!

All authors love to have as many children, teachers, and families as possible read their books. Publishers want to find ways to distribute their books to places—schools, libraries, bookstores—where children can have easy access to choose and own their own books and build their home libraries. Foundations and philanthropists conduct impact investing to support literacy organizations they believe do a good job of advancing and enhancing literacy, and to challenge the pernicious and appalling fact that in the US, 70 percent of kids cannot read proficiently by third grade.

And there are some deeply conscientious folks among us who also realize that our best chance of changing that unacceptable trajectory of illiteracy is to support teachers.  

But James Patterson—above anyone I have met—does it all.

As an author, publisher, philanthropist, and son of a teacher, James Patterson uses his considerable influence to support literacy for all kids and their grown-ups—and teachers in particular—without whom most kids would have no access to books and reading. 

No one walks the walk like Jim!

His brand-new New York Times bestselling book, Thank You, Teachers: True Stories from America’s Teachers, Our Last Line of Defense and Our First Line of Hope, is out now, and it is the perfect end-of-school-year gift for special teachers you know.

This Spring, to tie in with the publication of Thank You, Teachers and to celebrate teachers in a truly meaningful way, James Patterson is donating $200,000, so 1,000 teachers can each get $200 Scholastic eGift cards to purchase books and materials for their classrooms.

Here is a video where he announces the program.

And here is the link to nominate a teacher or apply yourself. 

James Patterson is also the founding supporter of Impact Reading’s flagship program, the United States of Readers, which, in partnership with Scholastic, aims to bring book choice and ownership to millions of children attending high Title 1 schools—along with their teachers and families—who currently have no access to choose their own books, build their home libraries, and develop their confidence as readers.

James Patterson spends his life spreading gratitude. Now it’s time we thank him! Please join me in expressing appreciation for a true champion of literacy. 

–Judy

Thank You, Teachers Giveaway

We at Impact Reading are giving away free copies of Thank You, Teachers to the first 10 readers who email me at jnewman@impactreading.org with a thank you message for James Patterson (cards, notes, letters, drawings—all accepted).

Judy Newman, Chief Impact Officer Emeritus, Scholastic