Summary: This program gives a hard-back book to every Wyoming 1st grader and fosters an early love of reading.
Literacy is fundamental to being a productive member of society. Early childhood literacy sets a child on the path to reading at grade level, which subsequently puts them on a path toward high school graduation. Wyoming Reads works with libraries and schools across the State of Wyoming (and in surrounding states as well) to instill an early appreciation for reading. The distribution of books is most often accompanied by a Wyoming Reads Celebration where local leaders are invited to model reading to the children in their community. The Governor of Wyoming historically proclaims Wyoming Reads Celebration Day as Wyoming Literacy Day for the entire state. The event began 23 years ago as a Natrona County Wyoming event and a few short years later spread across the state, and has received state-wide and national awards for its impact to literacy. To date, an estimated 145,000 hard-back books have been gifted to Wyoming 1st graders, with each book having a personalized book plate inside the front jacked proudly proclaiming "This book belongs to [we list the child's name]" and includes it is a part of the Wyoming Reads Program.
