{"id":6111,"date":"2025-08-25T15:11:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T15:11:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newworldsreading.com\/?p=6111"},"modified":"2026-03-10T14:23:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T14:23:16","slug":"florida-students-love-reading-with-new-worlds-reading","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newworldsreading.com\/en\/florida-students-love-reading-with-new-worlds-reading\/","title":{"rendered":"\"I Was Afraid to Read\": Florida Students Share How One Free Program Helped Them Fall in Love with Books"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-4a247341 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-df83b5f2\"><h2 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><strong>New video series from New Worlds Reading highlights the transformative power of literacy as families gear up for the back-to-school season.<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-09583771 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-8a127f9c\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\"><strong>Gainesville, Fla. (August 25, 2025) <\/strong>\u2014 Nearly one million children in Florida are not yet reading on grade level, but this back-to-school season, students like Jahara and Faustino are proving that one book can be the beginning of something bigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">Their stories are part of a new video series from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newworldsreading.com\/en\/\"><strong>New Worlds Reading<\/strong><\/a>, Florida\u2019s free at-home literacy program for eligible students in VPK through 5th grade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-f178a5bd\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u201cI don\u2019t want to read\u201d to \u201cI got this!\u201d, discover Jahara\u2019s reading journey with New Worlds Reading!\u200b\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OVk8pFReYx8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">Since launching in 2021, the statewide literacy program has shipped more than 11 million books to families across Florida. Each enrolled student receives nine free books per school year delivered directly to their home, accompanied by engaging activities. Families can select which books they\u2019d like to receive, along with their preferred reading language: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, or braille.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-70fafb77 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:0\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0\">Now, with the new school year approaching, the program is sharing the voices of real Florida students to bring its impact to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0\">One of those voices is Faustino, a Florida fifth grader from Argentina who moved to the U.S. without knowing any English. \u201cI felt afraid to read books,\u201d Faustino said, but with help from New Worlds Reading, he found a story that reflected his passion. Now, he says he loves reading in both English and Spanish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default has-ast-global-color-4-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-quote-is-layout-0784219e wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);font-size:18px\">\n<p class=\"has-ast-global-color-0-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-be370f59dd71662a1035f06466780654\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\"><strong>\u201cFrom New Worlds Reading, I chose a book about soccer, and I loved reading it,\"<\/strong> said Faustino. <strong>\"My mom urged me to study, study, study. Now, I feel\u2026 incredible.\"<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0\">Faustino\u2019s story is echoed by Jahara, a fourth grader who, in her words, used to pretend to be sick to avoid reading at school. Today, she\u2019s not only a proud reader, but she\u2019s also helping her younger sister, Jazuri, read, who recently enrolled in the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default has-ast-global-color-4-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-quote-is-layout-0784219e wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);font-size:18px\">\n<p class=\"has-ast-global-color-0-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b52f9dd3d5c25eceeaec21113f5be3cf\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\"><strong>\u201cPrograms like New Worlds Reading don\u2019t just send books. We help students see themselves as readers,\u201d<\/strong> said Robin Gregory, MSM., Assistant Director of New Worlds Reading. \u201c<strong>New Worlds Reading was designed to help Florida\u2019s striving readers strengthen their literacy skills, build confidence, and foster a lifelong love of reading. These stories show how a single book can open up an entirely new world.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image aligncenter uagb-block-45c8c2a7 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-center\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.newworldsreading.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NWRI-Two-Girls-Reading-300x240.jpg ,https:\/\/www.newworldsreading.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NWRI-Two-Girls-Reading-scaled.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.newworldsreading.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NWRI-Two-Girls-Reading-scaled.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newworldsreading.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NWRI-Two-Girls-Reading-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"Two sisters read a children's novel on their bed.\" class=\"uag-image-6113\" width=\"450\" height=\"360\" title=\"NWRI Two Girls Reading\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>As the new school year begins, New Worlds Reading is reminding families that a small moment, like receiving a book in the mail, can be the start of a powerful transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Watch Jahara and Faustino\u2019s stories <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLVD0fWaI6Tg0R3F5KNj73Y6893EeA4fcL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a>. To learn more or enroll your child, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newworldsreading.com\/en\/\"><strong>NewWorldsReading.com<\/strong><\/a>. Follow @NewWorldsReading on social media for more student stories, reading tips, and updates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New video series from New Worlds Reading highlights the transformative power of literacy as families gear up for the back-to-school 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