A Book for Every Child

The Soroptimist International of Woodland's literacy outreach initiative, A Book for Every Child (ABC), achieved significant success in its latest iteration. The core objective of the ABC—Books for Kinders program is to foster a lifelong love of reading in young children and to encourage reading during the summer months, thereby helping to bridge the educational gap that often occurs during school breaks, such as the Thanksgiving and winter holidays.

In the current year, Soroptimist members engaged with 597 kindergarten students across 12 elementary schools within the Woodland Joint Unified School District. Each child was given the opportunity to select a book of their own, an experience that elicited visible excitement and gratitude as the children realized they could take the book home with them. The books were individually personalized with bookplates featuring the Soroptimist logo, and each child was encouraged to write their name inside their selected book, further personalizing their reading experience.

Feedback from kindergarten teachers and participating Soroptimist members was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing satisfaction with the program's impact. For all involved, the initiative proved to be a rewarding and meaningful experience, underscoring the crucial role of literacy in early childhood development and the inherent joy of reading. Soroptimist International of Woodland looks forward to continuing this impactful program in the coming years, further nurturing the development of young readers and promoting literacy within the community.