It might start with books, but that isn't where it ends.

In the United States, 54% of adults are below a 6th grade reading level. The U.S. ranks 36th overall from a global perspective.* Beyond the political and economic impacts this has on the U.S., illiteracy prevents us from having important conversations in our day to day lives (see any social media post ever).

How can we turn that around?

• Investing in early childhood education

• Expand access to reading materials through programs like Reach Out and Read and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library so that all kids have access to books, including when parents add to their families through adoption, childbirth, or surrogacy

• Invest in quality public education including educator's salaries

• Expand and invest in our public libraries

• Change the dialogue around reading and education— it's actually kinda cool to learn new things
  
  
  *https://www.thenationalliteracyinstitute.com/post/literacy-statistics-2024-2025-where-we-are-now