7,552 students in Lynn to receive free books for the summer

LYNN - Kicking off a summer of learning for every elementary student in Lynn Public Schools, teachers and volunteers are this week distributing 7,552 books - one for each student grades pre-K through five - at 17 elementary schools in Lynn.  The distribution, a partnership of Lynn Public Schools, Centerboard and United Way, is taking place across the City of Lynn this week through Thursday, June 14th.

"Lynn Public Schools are thrilled that our elementary students are receiving a book for the Summer Reading Program," said Candy McCallum, Assistant Director of Curriculum at Lynn Public Schools.  "Student success has been the central goal of the collaboration between the United Way, Centerboard, and Lynn Public Schools."

Today, New York Times best-selling children's author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds is donating 1,000 copies of his best-seller "So Few of Me" to the book distribution, as well as visiting and reading "The Dot" to first grade students at the Cobbet Elementary School in Lynn.  "I am delighted to donate books and share a story with the students," said Reynolds. "Within each and every child lies the potential to improve their own life and the lives of those around them - helping to unlock that potential in every child is my passion and mission." Reynolds is also the co-founder of FableVision, a multi-media design and development firm co-located in Boston's Innovation District and his hometown of Dedham, Massachusetts.

Centerboard and United Way partnered with Scholastic Books and First Books to provide the additional 6,552 books.  The North Shore Navigators are also contributing to the program by giving each student who receives a book two tickets to their July 11th game against the Brockton Rox.  Children's author Linda Phillips Teitel, known for "Angus MacMouse Brings Down the House" will be reading to children on Thursday.

"Summertime can be a carefree break from school and classroom," said Michael K. Durkin, United Way president.  "For many children, however, it is increasingly referred to as a time when important progress made during the school year is lost.  This partnership will ensure that every elementary student in Lynn has a book to read this summer from their school reading list, a small act that can have a big impact on their future success."

"The prevention of summer reading loss is a high priority as we move into vacation time," said Carla Scheri, Special Projects Coordinator at Centerboard.  "By distributing these books to the Lynn students, we hope to inspire them to not only keep reading this summer but to develop a love of reading that will last them a lifetime."

Research shows that low-income children are particularly vulnerable to what is increasingly known as summer learning loss. They experience summer learning loss at a much higher rate than their middle-class peers, who typically benefit from enriching summer programs and experiences. Each summer, this difference can result in an approximate three-month gap in reading skills between the two groups of children.  By middle school, this summer learning loss may add up to two full years of achievement.