Although the pandemic has meant more screen time than ever for children, Christopher House continues to ensure our low-income scholars have access to physical books during this challenging time. In March, Christopher House celebrated “Literacy Week,” a virtual celebration of the enrichment that reading offers young learners. The week included book giveaways and spirt days with themes such as “Storybook Character Day” and “Hats Off to Literacy Day.”
Christopher House elementary school teachers also launched the Christopher House Engages Every Reader (CHEER) program in 2020 to get scholars in grades K-5 excited about reading physical books and reading independently. Scholars set reading goals and track their progress in a reading log. Christopher House collects book donations so scholars can come to the school parking lot and pick out books as a reward for their dedication to reading. So far, 2,380 books have been passed out to scholars. The books we read with our scholars are thoughtfully selected with inclusivity in mind, representing a diverse collection of authors and stories that are representative of the largely Black and Latinx communities we serve.
Research by the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital shows that scholars benefit more from reading physical books than e-books. Parents and children are less likely to verbalize and interact when reading e-books, which means children do not develop language or comprehension as effectively.
We are always looking for more book donations. To support Christopher House scholars’ love of reading during the pandemic, please donate through our wish list on Bookshop.org.
