Reach Out and Read believes that all families should have access to books and the meaningful moments that are created by shared reading with children. By integrating reading into pediatric practices, advising families about the importance of reading aloud, and giving books at well-child visits, we foster enduring family bonds between caregivers and their children that promote healthy childhood dev
elopment. At the simplest level, we provide the training, resources, and support that providers need to make books, reading, and meaningful moments accessible to every child they serve. Through our work, we break down barriers for under-resourced communities and lift up storytellers of all backgrounds, focusing on the strengths of parents and caregivers. We undertake and promote leading research into healthy child development. And we inspire compassionate donors to support a national network that is changing the face of pediatric care—one story at a time. Our Reach Out and Read program in Alabama is a partnership between the National Center and the Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics.
