The Board of the National Book Foundation awarded its inaugural Innovations in Reading Prizes for individuals and groups working “in the service of creating and sustaining a lifelong love of reading.” One individual and four groups received $2,500.00 and a framed certificate.
New Mexico teacher Robert Wilder received the prize for his work in elementary and high school students in Santa Fe. Novelist James Patterson’s ReadKiddoRead initiative, the Fathers Bridging the Miles: Fathers Bridging the Miles program by Read to Me International, the book website readergirlz, and Arizona Maricopa County Library District‘s unique filing system were also recognized by the new award. (Update: a previous version of this list was incomplete.)
Here’s more from James Patterson: “There are
millions of kids who have never read a book they’ve liked. There are
also thousands of children’s books out there. This site lists the ones
they won’t be able to resist… The site is working. And with the
National Book Foundation on our side, I hope many more adults will be
inspired to take their kids’ reading habits into their own hands.”