One of my favorite books to give a patient is But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton. My love for this book is not because of the beautiful way it is written, or the important lesson of inclusion that it teaches, but because I have a very vivid memory of my, now 17-year old, son sitting on the floor, flipping through this book, reciting “A hog and a frog cavort in a bog.”

If you have never heard a two-year old use the word “cavort,” you are missing out. 

Every time I give this book to a family, I am reminded that, if you give a child a book, you might just be setting off a magical chain of events.

If you give a child a book, they'll want their caregivers to read it to them. And as
they sit together as a family, flipping through pages filled with colorful illustrations and captivating stories, they will forge a stronger bond and make memories that will last a lifetime.

The child will learn new words, grasp complex sentence structures, and start to understand the rhythm and flow of language. With each story, their imagination will soar, painting vivid pictures in their mind's eye.

And when challenges inevitably arise, as they often do, children who are read to will be better equipped to face them. Reading together fosters resilience, teaching kids valuable lessons about perseverance, empathy, and the power of imagination. With each story they conquer, they'll gain the confidence to tackle whatever obstacles come their way.

But perhaps most importantly, when you give a child a book, you're laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Studies have shown that children who are read to from an early age not only perform better academically, but also develop a lifelong love of reading. And as they grow, this love of reading will open doors to new opportunities, broaden their horizons, and empower them to reach for the stars.

With your support, pediatrician participants in Reach Out and Read-Alabama do all of this and more. Because when you give a child a book, you're giving them so much more than just a story; you're giving them the keys to a world of endless possibilities.

Reach Out and Read-Alabama is now available in 67 medical sites across Alabama, and we reached over 81,000 children in 2023! We are overjoyed about our impact, and we couldn't have done it without you.

During well-child visits, we have shared an incredible 137,888 books and facilitated almost 203,000 precious face-to-face conversations between caregivers and young children. These moments are the cornerstone of our work, and we are thrilled you have been a part of these moments that happen in our program sites each day.

When Reach Out and Read is part of a routine well-child visit, appointments are more engaging, meaningful, and conversational. Thanks to our program, providers have natural opportunities to speak with the patient and family and observe their behaviors and reactions. When given a book, does the baby put it in their mouth? Does the child hold it right-side up? Does the parent engage with the child around the book and show interest? In these moments, providers can learn about developmental milestones and the child/caregiver relationship through the simple act of spending time with the family. These organic moments put patients and families at ease, making them more willing to share their experiences and more receptive to receiving new information.

When the relationship between a provider and family is strengthened thanks to Reach Out and Read, it’s easier to build trust, share critical information, and work as a team to ensure the child can thrive.

In October 2023, we were awarded our first grant from the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention. As Alabama’s only state agency designated to prevent child abuse and neglect, its goal is to encourage and support communities in the state in their efforts to find new and effective solutions for preventing child abuse before it occurs and ultimately strengthening Alabama families to prevent this tragedy in the future. This was an ideal match for the work that ROR-AL practices perform daily. Our pediatric health providers have a unique opportunity to prevent child abuse and neglect by creating supportive relationships with families centered around reading.

This grant, in combination with support from other partners listed below, has allowed us to support the book purchases of our program sites 100%.

…appointments are more engaging, meaningful, and conversational. Thanks to our program, providers have natural opportunities to speak with the patient and family and observe their behaviors and reactions. When given a book, does the baby put it in their mouth? Does the child hold it right-side up? Does the parent engage with the child around the book and show interest? In these moments, providers can learn about developmental milestones and the child/caregiver relationship through the simple act of spending time with the family. These organic moments put patients and families at ease, making them more willing to share their experiences and more receptive to receiving new information. When the relationship between a provider and family is strengthened thanks to Reach Out and Read, it’s easier to build trust, share critical information, and work as a team to ensure the child can thrive.

View a list of our program sites.

Watch the videos below as our providers share what happens if you give a child a book.

Reach Out and Read-Alabama’s (ROR-AL) 14th annual summer reading campaign answered what takes place if you give a child a book.

Throughout June and July, 48 ROR-AL sites organized activities and events as part of the If You Give A Mouse A Cookie summer campaign, sharing almost 5,000 books with children and families and celebrating what happens "if you give a child a book."

Download the Impact Report here.