Reading Is Fundamental
Reading Is Fundamental works to disrupt the alarming U.S. literacy crisis by inspiring the joy of reading in children, a critical element to driving the frequency, motivation, and engagement needed to create skilled readers. We know that if we build a foundation of joy for children, then development, discovery, and opportunity follow.
"The excitement on the children's faces when picking out a book and learning they get to KEEP it is priceless. We put books into the hands of many children who have limited access to literature outside of school. Being a high-poverty school, grant opportunities like this help reduce the equity disparity in access to print at early ages." - Kelly Stengel, Educator, Adams Elementary School
Financials
Programs
Books for Ownership
Books for Ownership, RIF’s flagship reading program, enables children to select new, age-appropriate books to take home and own and is supported by resources for families, educators, and local literacy advocates to create a culture of reading. This program relies on a simple yet fundamental truth: if you allow children choice and access, they will become more engaged readers and learners.
Read for Success
Read for Success is designed to support children birth through grade 3 as is an interactive read-aloud solution that uses high-quality, diverse, interdisciplinary books with research-backed strategies and activities to engage children in the reading experience and encourage a passion for reading. This research-backed program is based on the wide body of research that demonstrates that both reading to children and independent reading are key components of literacy development.
Skybrary
Skybrary is RIF’s carefully curated digital library of eBooks and video explorations for children ages 2 to 9. This interactive library offers nearly 1,000 children’s books from celebrated authors, illustrators, and leading publishers. It also features hundreds of video field trips hosted by beloved storyteller LeVar Burton to engage young readers and encourage a passion for reading. Skybrary engages children through child-friendly navigation and themed collections of eBooks, with optional read-to-me narration and interactive animation. Skybrary is available for use in the classroom and at home.
Literacy Central
Literacy Central is an online destination for teachers, families, and literacy volunteers, offering over 30,000 free resources tied directly to the books children love and teachers turn to every day. Literacy Central offers curated book collections with a wide selection of diverse books by diverse authors, literacy activities including games and puzzles, monthly activity calendars, read-aloud videos, and much more.
Literacy Network
Literacy Network is RIF’s online community support center offering a suite of resources, information, and tools to support RIF program implementation, community capacity building, and local literacy impact. It serves as a one-stop destination for educators, volunteers, and families to access turnkey, customizable solutions. Literacy Network augments local literacy efforts, offering information and support around literacy issues, RIF’s programmatic solutions, program implementation resources, and volunteer opportunities.
Volunteering + Events
Volunteer with RIF
You can be a RIF Reader, Fundraiser, Book Drive Organizer, or Virtual Volunteer. Check out the link below for more information.
Partner with RIF
Reading Is Fundamental collaborates with our corporate and foundation partners to design custom partnerships that align with your mission, vision, and goals. Learn how your organization can inspire the joy of reading in children to create skilled readers—and close glaring equity gaps. We’d love to hear from you!
