New York, NY – September 27, 2022 – Scholastic Book Clubs announced today the second year of The United States of Readers™, a version of its signature classroom program determined to bridge the literacy gap through increased book access, ownership and choice, as well as motivate students to develop their identities as readers. Bestselling author James Patterson increased his donation for the 2022-23 school year from $1.5M to $2M, allowing the program to increase the participation rate by 40% and reach 45,000 preK-8th grade students and their teachers in 2,200 classrooms in high Title I schools.

 

To learn more about The United States of Readers, visit: unitedstatesofreaders.scholastic.com  

 

“Through leading Scholastic Book Clubs for nearly 30 years, I know the life-changing power of a classroom program to inspire all students to see themselves as readers, and to support teachers to help all their students choose high-quality, grade-appropriate books to read and own, and build their home libraries,” says Judy Newman, President and Reader in Chief of Scholastic Book Clubs. “It is unconscionable that not all children in our country have equal access to books and reading programs, and that so often teachers use their own money to provide these empowering classroom experiences for their students. Thanks to James Patterson’s tireless dedication and tremendous generosity, we at Scholastic Book Clubs have been able to develop a successful, innovative program with the goal to eliminate this inequity. The second year of The United States of Readers builds upon its pilot year with 100% of the teachers returning and expanding to even more classrooms. We are proud to bring book clubs to kids and their teachers who otherwise wouldn’t have this experience and we look forward to continuing to evolve the program to reach millions more throughout the United States.”

 

According to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report: 7th Edition, high-income families have nearly twice the number of books in their home libraries as low-income families. The United States of Readers is committed to changing these statistics by increasing access to Scholastic Book Clubs and directly growing students’ home libraries. The 127 rural, suburban and urban schools participating in the program for the 2022-23 school year are high Title I and in economically disadvantaged communities that are under-resourced with books both at school and in the home. Every state in the U.S., plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, is included, reflecting the program’s commitment to create a united reading community among classrooms across the country.

 

Dedicated to developing literacy throughout his career, James Patterson shares the same belief as Scholastic Book Clubs: that every child can become a reader when they have access to great books of their choice. Patterson’s $2 million donation to sponsor The United States of Readers’ 2022-23 year brings the total he has already donated to teachers and schools through Scholastic Book Clubs to $14.5 million. Partnering with Scholastic Book Clubs since 2015 has allowed both teachers and families across the country to grow their classroom and home libraries and support students who struggle with literacy.

 

James Patterson said, “I am proud to support The United States of Readers, because all kids need access to books they want to read, with characters and stories they identify with and help them understand the world around them. I’m particularly excited about this program as it activates the trusted school book club model and brings the empowering experience of choosing and owning your own books to those communities that need them the most, and ones that we haven’t served before.”

 

Erna Gregory, the Library Media Specialist for Lummi Nation School in Bellingham, WA, which has participated in The United States of Readers since its launch, said, “As the Library Media Specialist serving the Lummi Nation, I can attest to the anticipation and joy our students and staff feel when the boxes from The United States of Readers arrive. The self-selection process each individual student experiences multiple times a year; the thrilling opportunity to access brand new ‘cool’ books. Our students form their own book clubs in the most holistic, organic way: ‘I got this one!’ ‘Oh cool! I want that one too!’ This program allows students the opportunity to exercise intellectual curiosity and freedom and to begin the most important of tasks, to build their own library and the love of reading.”

 

Crafted on the traditional Scholastic Book Clubs model, five times a year teachers participating in The United States of Readers will receive colorful, seasonal flyers—all curated by professional editors and filled with a quality, diverse, grade-appropriate selection of books that kids want to read. Students choose two books from each flyer, so that by the school year’s end every student in participating schools will be the proud owner of 10 brand-new books. Each participating teacher will also receive 25 free books for their classroom library, and their classrooms will gain entry into The United States of Readers’ community that is a hallmark of the program and which includes authors, illustrators, reading role models, and exciting opportunities for students across the nation to communicate with each other about what they are reading. 

 

Since 1948, Scholastic Book Clubs has offered diverse, curated, grade-appropriate books to students across the United States, supported teachers in building classroom libraries and literacy-rich environments, and helped spark a love of reading and book ownership in generations of kids. The United States of Readers aims to extend the power of book clubs to the millions of children and their teachers in Title I schools and provide them with choice, empowerment, and community through books and reading.

 

 

For more than 100 years, Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) has been encouraging the personal and intellectual growth of all children, beginning with literacy. Having earned a reputation as a trusted partner to educators and families, Scholastic is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books, a leading provider of literacy curriculum, professional services, and classroom magazines, and a producer of educational and entertaining children's media. The Company creates and distributes bestselling books and e-books, print and technology-based learning programs for pre-K to grade 12, and other products and services that support children's learning and literacy, both in school and at home. With 15 international operations and exports to 165 countries, Scholastic makes quality, affordable books available to all children around the world through school-based book clubs and book fairs, classroom libraries, school and public libraries, retail, and online. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.

 

James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author. His enduring fictional characters and series include Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, Maximum Ride, Middle School, and Ali Cross, along with such acclaimed works of narrative nonfiction as Walk in My Combat Boots, E.R. Nurses, and his autobiography, James Patterson by James Patterson. Bill Clinton (The President Is Missing) and Dolly Parton (Run, Rose, Run) are among his notable literary collaborators. For his prodigious imagination and championship of literacy in America, Patterson was awarded the 2019 National Humanities Medal. The National Book Foundation presented him with the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, and he is also the recipient of an Edgar Award and nine Emmy Awards. He lives in Florida with his family.