ReadBoston, the City’s early literacy initiative, which is supported by the Boston Redevelopment Authority, is on its summer book tour. For the next six weeks, ReadBoston’s Storymobiles will travel to over 80 locations each week across the city to host over 400 reading events for young children. Children in attendance will each receive a free book and have the opportunity to hear a captivating story read aloud by a professional storyteller.
As ReadBoston’s signature program, the Storymobile is the centerpiece of the city’s efforts to engage children in early reading through an interactive, community-based approach. Each summer the Storymobile program serves children in Boston, playing an active role in promoting children’s literacy when school is not in session.
For the second summer in a row, ReadBoston will supplement the Storymobile’s efforts with the pedal-powered Book Bike. The Book Bike, which offers the same unique experience as the Storymobile, will make appearances at six locations around Boston that typically have high foot traffic.
The summer tour will close with a week of special events in August, when the Storymobile will visit the historic USS Constitution Museum and two of Boston’s hidden gems, Spectacle Island and Jamaica Pond. These events will draw on the unique features and resources of each site to make the learning experiences even more memorable.
ReadBoston’s goal of incorporating literacy into summer programs aims to create a positive association between reading and other activities for children ages 3 to 8 years old. The broader objective of ReadBoston is to help ensure that children in the city are reading at grade level by the time they complete third grade.
Typical host locations for the Storymobile include neighborhood libraries, daycares, summer camps, and children’s shelters. For more information on the Storymobile program, call the ReadBoston hotline at (617) 635-READ or visit their web site.
