Book Trust, a non profit agency dedicated to building the literacy skills of children from low-income homes through book choice and ownership, and Seattle Public Schools are teaming up Thursday, March 27 to showcase critical services being offered in Seattle. They will be at West Seattle Elementary which has participated in the Book Trust program since 2007, and since that time, students have been able to choose and own thousands of books.

Research indicates that children living in middle-income communities, on average, own 13 books. Yet, more than half of the children living in low-income communities do not have any books in their homes. In fact, in areas of poverty, the ratio of books to children is one book per every 300 children. Without access to books, children will never develop the literacy skills necessary to be successful in school. In fact children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Book Trust is committed to changing these trends.

Book Trust’s unique program of book choice and ownership sparks a love of reading and contributes directly to increasing literacy skills of children from low-income families—skills that are essential to developing habits for life-long learning.

Join us to learn about the Book Trust program, pass out new books to our kids, read along with them—and witness the impact Book Trust makes in the lives of children who would not otherwise be able to choose and own books of their very own at West Seattle Elementary on Thursday, March 27th. There’s no better way to start your day. For the kids, it feels like Christmas in the Classroom every month of the year.

Amy Friedman, Executive Director of Book Trust will join West Seattle Elementary Principal Vikki Sacco, parents, students and teachers who have participated in Book Trust for years at the event.