Author Phyllis Grann Donates 220,000 Books to Reach Out and Read

Boston, MA, December 15, 2018 --(PR.com)-- It is with great pleasure that Reach Out and Read announces that 220,000 copies of I Will Talk to You, Little One, written by Phyllis Grann and illustrated by award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Tomie dePaola, will be distributed to mothers of newborns during December to hospitals across the United States. The book exemplifies the mission of Reach Out and Read and the importance of reading aloud to your child, beginning at birth.

Thanks to the generous support from retired publishing executive Phyllis Grann, who at the height of her career worked with Kurt Vonnegut, Sue Grafton, Tina Brown and many other authors, Reach Out and Read has received a donation of nearly half a million books over the years. The books will be given during the first newborn well visit to parents at more than 90 locations, including clinics and hospitals throughout the United States.

Reach Out and Read’s objective is to promote positive parent-child interaction during the period of rapid brain growth and development between birth and age five. “Reach Out and Read is deeply grateful to Mrs. Grann for her generous and ongoing support. These beautiful books encourage parents to be their child’s first teacher,” said Brian Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer, Reach Out and Read.

About Reach Out and Read: Founded in 1989 at Boston City Hospital (now Boston Medical Center), Reach Out and Read is the only national literacy program delivered through pediatric care providers and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. We are a national nonprofit organization that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. Reach Out and Read currently serves 4.7 million children and their families, reaching 1 out of every 4 low-income children in the US. The Reach Out and Read network brings together 32,000 medical providers at over 6,000 clinical locations in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The Reach Out and Read model is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Learn more at www.reachoutandread.org; follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Reach Out and Read is a registered 501c3.