CLEVELAND — Now is your chance to change some lives right here in Northeast Ohio. It’s time for News 5’s annual If You Give a Child a Book campaign. On Wednesday, News 5 anchor Katie Ussin spent some time with a few kids who were eager to share how much reading means to them.
The money we raise through “If You Give a Child a Book” stays right here in Northeast Ohio, providing free Scholastic book fairs at two Title I schools in Cleveland: Stephanie Tubbs Jones School and Wade Park.
This is our 8th year of the campaign, and your donations are having a meaningful impact on the lives of children and their families.
Royel is a second grader at Stephanie Tubbs Jones School. It’s one of two Title I schools that benefit from the campaign. He’s still early in his reading journey, but he’s caught the bug.
“I like to read every one,” he said, when Katie asked what books he likes to read. That’s thanks, in part, to his big brothers. Messiah is in the 5th grade. He likes the Dog Man books. Cortez is the oldest; he’s in the 6th grade.
“I read to both of them,” he said of his two younger brothers. Big brothers reading to little brothers, growing their own skills along the way.
“Builds teamwork,” Cortez told us. To which Royel enthusiastically responded: “And teamwork makes the dream work!”
This trio has been able to build up their home library thanks to free Scholastic Book Fairs held each spring and fall, funded by your generous donations during this campaign.
Sixth grader Rylee can’t wait for the next one.
“The book fair is awesome,” she said.
Her parents have instilled in her a love of reading, along with a love of the arts. She wants to be an artist when she grows up. She may even find some inspiration now, in stories.
“I like getting books that I want, whether they’re older books or newer books or middle age books or something like that,” she said.
Even kids who don’t necessarily love to pick up a book know it’s still important. As an 8th grader, Artavia told Katie, “Reading is actually good for you, even if you like it or don’t like it.”
She knows building this skill is essential. She’s thinking about becoming a hairstylist or maybe a chef. Either will require her to do some reading.
“Recipes, reading the ingredients on the box, tablespoons, how many to put in there,” she said.
All of these kids know that books open doors.
“Some kids don’t get the opportunity to get or read books in life,” Rylee said. “They may not be the best reader, but with more books at our school, that’s an awesome opportunity because you get to read a lot of books.”
Students can pick out their own books to take home and keep them all for free!
This is our 8th year of the campaign, and your donations are having a meaningful impact on the lives of children and their families.
“She's a people person,” said Jamella Smith about her daughter Rylee, 11. “Everybody loves her, her energy is just so awesome."
Rylee is a sixth grader at Stephanie Tubbs Jones School.
“She’s very artistic and she likes to draw and read and create her own type of personality which I think every child should find within themselves," said Ryan Kinsey, Rylee’s dad.
Parents Jamella and Ryan love seeing their daughter write her own story in life, which started with books.
“I’ve been reading to Rylee ever since she was in my womb,” said Jamella.
And continues today as they help instill the importance of building a strong future from a foundation of being a lifelong reader. This is also the mission of News 5’s childhood literacy campaign, “If You Give a Child a Book.”
“Some communities don't even have a library,” said Jamella. “So, this is so awesome that the kids are allowed to get books here."
Your donations allow scholars to pick out at least 10 free books over two book fairs to build their libraries at home.
“We don't realize sometimes how important it is that 15 minutes,” Johnnietta McGrady said about reading with children at home. “What it has pulled out that child, and then that child can turn around and show his sibling, ‘Let's do this together.’”
McGrady loves reading with her three nephews, using flashcards to help them develop their reading skills.
Research shows that access to books is one of the strongest predictors of academic success. The campaign is distributing high-quality, free books to children.
“Reading is powerful in every aspect,” said McGrady.
“And it gives you some time for like, one on one interaction,” said Jamella.
“Exactly, which is so important,” said Ryan.
Third grade is a critical year when children are transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn.
“Definitely happy,” Karen Parker, third-grade teacher at Stephanie Tubbs Jones School in Cleveland, said to a group of students at a literacy station. “How can we tell she has that emotion? What are the clues that the author and the illustrator provide?"
Parker said she is emphasizing vocabulary this year, focusing on understanding the meanings of individual words to improve reading and comprehension.
“It carries over into all subject areas,” she said. “The vocabulary is so crucial in the math, understanding word problems. Understanding the content vocabulary, being able to read it, being able to write it, and being able to correctly speak about it.”
Data show that a child who cannot read at grade level by the third grade is four times less likely to graduate from high school.
Scholars at Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Wade Park Schools get even more practice and support with the books they pick out during two free Scholastic book fairs during the school year, thanks to your generous support.
“They love to read,” said Parker. “When they get their books from the book fair, they come in, they're so excited about all the different characters they get.”
“My favorite book is Judy Moody because her story is funny,” said third grader Miracle.
Books can help change a child's story.
Miracle said she knows the importance of being a good reader so she can go to college.
And while much remains unwritten now for these young students, the possibilities are limitless.
Last year, with your help, News 5 raised nearly $44,000 to purchase more than 6,000 books for more than 600 students. There is no better return on your money than being part of a child’s success.
Every dollar donated to the “If You Give a Child a Book” campaign helps us put high-quality books into the hands of children in underserved neighborhoods.
You can also text “WEWS” to 50155 to donate.
