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Hooked on Phonics Challenges Americans to Resolve to Help Children Read in the New Year

Posted on: Thursday, 18 December 2008, 08:30 CST

Company to Donate 15,000 Learn to Read Programs to First Book to Help Low-income Families

BALTIMORE, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hooked on Phonics, maker of award-winning educational tools to help parents teach their children to read, plans to donate 15,000 of its Learn to Read programs to First Book, a nonprofit group that distributes books to children from low-income families, as part of an effort to urge more adults to "resolve" to help children read in the new year.

"For New Year's Day, adults across the country will set many worthy goals for 2009 --- quitting smoking, exercising more, eating better or spending less, but they should also make a resolution for their children and pledge to share the joy of reading with their child," said Judy L. Harris, CEO of Smarterville, the company that owns, creates, manufactures, and distributes Hooked on Phonics. "Our company is based on the knowledge that, in child literacy, there is no force greater than caring families, and now, in partnership with First Book, we hope to help thousands of children learn and love to read in 2009."

"There's no substitute for reading with a child," says Kyle Zimmer, President and Co-Founder of First Book. "Early and frequent reading with children builds important skills and helps them learn to love reading, and it's fun to do. We applaud Hooked on Phonics for encouraging adults to make this resolution and for making this important contribution to help promote reading among low-income families and communities."

To make their 2009 reading resolution, parents, relatives, caregivers, educators and volunteers are encouraged to visit http://www.learntoread2009.com. There, they can pledge their resolution and ask Hooked on Phonics to donate a Learn to Read program in their name to First Book. There is also an option to sign up to receive a newsletter with tips to help child read and to share stories and make connections with other adults making the same commitment.

About Hooked on Phonics

Hooked on Phonics, operated by Smarterville Inc., is a leading creator of research-based educational products for families that are fun, easy to use, and effective. The company works with professional educators, interactive designers, writers, artists, and parents to develop step-by-step learning systems that help teach children critical reading, math, and study skills. Since the company was founded in 1987, more than two million families and thousands of schools have turned to Hooked on Phonics' library of award-winning programs. Hooked on Phonics products are available at major retailers worldwide and online at www.hookedonphonics.com.

About First Book

First Book provides new books to children in need addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy --- access to books. An innovative leader in social enterprise, First Book has distributed more than 60 million free and low cost books in thousands of communities. First Book now has offices in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about the nonprofit First Book please visit http://www.firstbook.org or call 866-393-1222.

SOURCE Hooked on Phonics

Source: PR Newswire

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