Rep. Pallone Reads to Children at Asbury Park Pediatrics In Support of Reach Out and Read Program

Long Branch, NJ – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) read to children at Asbury Park Pediatrics as part of the Reach Out and Read program that prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by training doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and to give books to children at checkups from 6 months through 5 years. Through Reach Out and Read, each child starts kindergarten with a home library of up to 10 new, carefully chosen books and a parent who has heard at every health supervision visit about the importance of books and reading.  Bilingual books are available in 12 languages.

Asbury Park Pediatrics is one of nine Reach Out and Read programs in Representative Pallone’s congressional district that participate in Reach Out and Read, providing books to more than 10,000 children and their families annually.  Reach Out and Read-New Jersey serves children at nearly 80 locations across the state, reaching more than 70,000 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers each year. 

Reach Out and Read doctors and nurses distribute over 6.5 million books to more than 4 million children and their families annually at 4,946 pediatric practices, hospitals, clinics and health centers in all 50 states.

“Reach Out And Read has proven to be among the most effective strategies to promote early language and literacy development and school readiness,” said Congressman Pallone.  “I will continue to fight in Congress to fully fund innovative approaches to literacy programs that contribute to the success of Reach Out and Read and help to better prepare New Jersey’s children for success.”

Congressman Pallone was named a Champion of Reach Out and Reach by the national organization.