Frequently Asked Questions
Need something answered? Check out our resources below for further information.
Application & Enrollment Questions
What happens after I apply?
After you apply, there will be a waiting period while we confirm your child's eligibility for New Worlds Reading using their education records. This process may take several months. You will not receive books until verification is complete.
You will receive a verification email notifying you of your child's enrollment status. After you receive an email confirming your child is eligible, they will begin receiving books after 8 weeks. While you wait to be verified, use our free reading activities on our website.
What information do families have to provide when they apply?
Caregivers provide:
• Parent/Caregiver Information
• Phone number
• Email address
• Full Legal Student Information
• Date of birth
• Grade
• School district & School
• Shipment Address
• Book Interests
• Book Language Preference
Why do you ask for my child's information when we apply?
We use this information to match the child's application to their educational records to confirm if the child is eligible for our program. Without this information, verification and shipments will be delayed. As an institution within a public university, the UF Lastinger Center abides by all rules and regulations regarding the security of personal student information.
What do I do if I can’t find my K-5th grader’s public or charter school on the school list?
If your child’s public or charter school does not appear in your district, check the district list to see if your school is under a special district. If you still cannot find your child’s public or charter school, email new.worlds@coe.ufl.edu.
What district do I select if my child attends a virtual school?
• If your child attends Florida Virtual School, select virtual as your district.
• If your child attends a district-specific virtual school, select your district as normal, and input your specific school.
What happens after I apply?
After you apply, there will be a waiting period while we confirm your child's eligibility for New Worlds Reading using their education records. This process may take several months. You will not receive books until verification is complete.
You will receive a verification email notifying you of your child's enrollment status. After you receive an email confirming your child is eligible, they will begin receiving books after 8 weeks. While you wait to be verified, use our free reading activities on our website.
What information do families have to provide when they apply?
Caregivers provide:
• Parent/Caregiver Information
• Phone number
• Email address
• Full Legal Student Information
• Date of birth
• Grade
• School district & School
• Shipment Address
• Book Interests
• Book Language Preference
Why do you ask for my child's information when we apply?
We use this information to match the child's application to their educational records to confirm if the child is eligible for our program. Without this information, verification and shipments will be delayed. As an institution within a public university, the UF Lastinger Center abides by all rules and regulations regarding the security of personal student information.
What do I do if I can’t find my K-5th grader’s public or charter school on the school list?
If your child’s public or charter school does not appear in your district, check the district list to see if your school is under a special district. If you still cannot find your child’s public or charter school, email new.worlds@coe.ufl.edu.
What district do I select if my child attends a virtual school?
• If your child attends Florida Virtual School, select virtual as your district.
• If your child attends a district-specific virtual school, select your district as normal, and input your specific school.
Program Questions
Is this program actually free?
Yes! New Worlds Reading was created and funded by the Florida Legislature in June 2021, and is kept sustainable through donations. Families never have to pay for books or materials from New Worlds Reading.
How can a caregiver change a student’s application information, like their address?
Email support@newworldsreading.com or call (855) 399-1147. Our support team is available between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (EST), Monday - Friday.
How can a caregiver unenroll a student?
Email support@newworldsreading.com or call (855) 399-1147. Our support team is available between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (EST), Monday - Friday.
How will books be delivered to students?
The New Worlds Reading Initiative delivers books directly to students’ homes through the mail.
What if I can't receive books at home?
If circumstances such as homelessness, migrancy, or transience require an alternative delivery method, the UF Lastinger Center will work with the school and/or district to identify an alternate plan. Email new.worlds@coe.ufl.edu, and our team will be happy to assist.
Once my application is accepted, when will books start being delivered?
After you receive a confirmation email that your child is eligible and successfully enrolled, your first shipment of books may take several weeks to arrive. After your first shipment arrives, shipments will continue monthly through June.
How often will books be delivered?
Books are delivered on a monthly basis from October through June.
How many books will students receive each year?
Enrolled students will receive nine books per school year, no matter what month they were found eligible in. As a result, some students will receive shipments with more than one book and resources to ensure nine books will arrive for that school year.
What languages are available?
Books are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and braille.
What formats are available to accommodate exceptional learners?
We are working diligently to make this program as inclusive as possible. Alternative book formats will be offered as available with plans for continued expansion.
Is this program actually free?
Yes! New Worlds Reading was created and funded by the Florida Legislature in June 2021, and is kept sustainable through donations. Families never have to pay for books or materials from New Worlds Reading.
How can a caregiver change a student’s application information like their address?
Email support@newworldsreading.com or call (855) 399-1147. Our support team is available between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (EST), Monday - Friday.
How can a caregiver unenroll a student?
Email support@newworldsreading.com or call (855) 399-1147. Our support team is available between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (EST), Monday - Friday.
How will books be delivered to students?
The New Worlds Reading Initiative delivers books directly to students’ homes through the mail.
What if I can't receive books at home?
If circumstances such as homelessness, migrancy, or transience require an alternative delivery method, the UF Lastinger Center will work with the school and/or district to identify an alternate plan. Email new.worlds@coe.ufl.edu, and our team will be happy to assist.
Once my application is accepted, when will books start being delivered?
After you receive a confirmation email that your child is eligible and successfully enrolled, your first shipment of books may take several weeks to arrive. After your first shipment arrives, shipments will continue monthly through June.
How often will books be delivered?
Books are delivered on a monthly basis from October through June.
How many books will students receive each year?
Enrolled students will receive nine books per school year, no matter what month they were found eligible in. As a result, some students will receive shipments with more than one book and resources to ensure nine books will arrive for that school year.
What languages are available?
Books are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and braille.
What formats are available to accommodate exceptional learners?
We are working diligently to make this program as inclusive as possible. Alternative book formats will be offered as available with plans for continued expansion.
Book Selection Questions
How will you determine the appropriate level of books for students?
Books are chosen in consultation with the Florida Department of Education’s Just Read, Florida! office, selected from the Florida B.E.S.T. Standards for each grade level. Additional titles are selected to meet the needs of students based on reading levels. Some titles will be selected that may be above the child’s reading level for caregivers to share with their children.
What kinds of books do you send families?
All books are selected in collaboration with Florida Department of Education. We work with our partner, Scholastic, to provide families with a variety of high-quality books based on children’s interests, grade level, and Florida B.E.S.T. Standards. Kids can choose both fiction and nonfiction books in a wide variety of genres and topics to appeal to their interests. You can see our full list of books here.
Will students and families get to choose their own books?
Students and their families will have the opportunity to select different sets of books that they would like to receive from a variety of categories. Our book sets represent a variety of topics, characters, settings, and stories.
What languages are books available in? Do any books come in bilingual formats?
Books are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, or braille. Depending on which language you select, some materials you receive could be bilingual!
• Selecting English means your child will receive grade-level books and companion literacy resources in English.
• Selecting Spanish means your child may receive grade-level books in Spanish or bilingual (Spanish and English) formats. Companion literacy resources contain both Spanish and English.
• Selecting Haitian Creole means your child will receive grade-level books in Haitian Creole or bilingual (Haitian Creole and English) formats. Companion literacy resources contain both Haitian Creole and English.
• Selecting braille means your child will receive grade-level books in English braille, along with non-braille literacy resources tailored to support readers with visual impairments.
How will you determine the appropriate level of books for students?
Books are chosen in consultation with the Florida Department of Education’s Just Read, Florida! office, selected from the Florida B.E.S.T. Standards for each grade level. Additional titles are selected to meet the needs of students based on reading levels. Some titles will be selected that may be above the child’s reading level for caregivers to share with their children.
What kinds of books do you send families?
All books are selected in collaboration with Florida Department of Education. We work with our partner, Scholastic, to provide families with a variety of high-quality books based on children’s interests, grade level, and Florida B.E.S.T. Standards. Kids can choose both fiction and nonfiction books in a wide variety of genres and topics to appeal to their interests. You can see our full list of books here.
Will students and families get to choose their own books?
Students and their families will have the opportunity to select different sets of books that they would like to receive from a variety of categories. Our book sets represent a variety of topics, characters, settings, and stories.
What languages are books available in? Do any books come in bilingual formats?
Books are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, or braille. Depending on which language you select, some materials you receive could be bilingual!
• Selecting English means your child will receive grade-level books and companion literacy resources in English.
• Selecting Spanish means your child may receive grade-level books in Spanish or bilingual (Spanish and English) formats. Companion literacy resources contain both Spanish and English.
• Selecting Haitian Creole means your child will receive grade-level books in Haitian Creole or bilingual (Haitian Creole and English) formats. Companion literacy resources contain both Haitian Creole and English.
• Selecting braille means your child will receive grade-level books in English braille, along with non-braille literacy resources tailored to support readers with visual impairments.
UF Lastinger Learning Labs Program Questions
What is Books & Cooks?
Books and Cooks is a seven-week literacy and nutrition program created in partnership with UF/IFAS Extension. Families in select Florida counties attend educational sessions that highlight different children’s books, cooking demonstrations and reading activities. You can learn more on the UF Lastinger Center’s website.
What is the Kibeam Wand?
New Worlds Reading offers kindergarteners through second graders the opportunity to receive a free Kibeam™ Wand while supplies last. The Kibeam™ Wand is a screen-free, handheld tool that transforms New Worlds Reading books into an interactive adventure - making reading fun while helping build essential skills. You can learn more on the UF Lastinger Center for Learning’s website.
What is Books & Cooks?
Books and Cooks is a seven-week literacy and nutrition program created in partnership with UF/IFAS Extension. Families in select Florida counties attend educational sessions that highlight different children’s books, cooking demonstrations and reading activities. You can learn more on the UF Lastinger Center’s website.
What is the Kibeam Wand?
New Worlds Reading offers kindergarteners through second graders the opportunity to receive a free Kibeam™ Wand while supplies last. The Kibeam™ Wand is a screen-free, handheld tool that transforms New Worlds Reading books into an interactive adventure - making reading fun while helping build essential skills. You can learn more on the UF Lastinger Center for Learning’s website.