1. BORN TO READ Promoting literacy right from the start MISSION To promote literacy and school success by encouraging parents to read to their babies and providing information and resources that support early reading.

2. Infancy offers a critical window for learning with rapid brain development that doesn’t occur at any other time. Newborns are hardwired to learn based on interactions with humans. The more interactions, the more words they hear, the greater the brain development.

3. Need for Born to Read 1.40% of local children are starting school at lowest level of learning readiness. 2.Less than half (48%) of young children in the US are read to daily. 3.Reading aloud is the single most important thing parents can do to prepare a child for school & life-long success. 4.Born to Read aims to get this message in front of parents at the earliest possible time and encourage them to build reading into daily routines.

4. How Born to Read Serves Our Community Welcome Baby kits with free book to 1000 new parents each year Traverse Area District Library provides Born to Read tote bags and second free book to first time baby visitors Provides book bins at Great Start play groups and other community sites WE WANT TO DO MORE!

5. YOU CAN HELP! Become a Born to Read Ambassador! Participate in 3-hour early literacy training on Saturday, September 26, 9:30-12:30 at the Traverse Area District Library. Register at www.rotaryborntoread.orgwww.rotaryborntoread.org Spread our message to friends and neighbors. Volunteer to host book bins at community sites and talk to caregivers about why it’s so important to read to their young children.