{"id":4581,"date":"2024-04-30T17:02:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T17:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newworldsreading.com\/?p=4581"},"modified":"2026-03-10T15:17:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T15:17:25","slug":"join-new-worlds-reading-at-the-2024-book-bash-in-jacksonville-on-may-10th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newworldsreading.com\/ht\/join-new-worlds-reading-at-the-2024-book-bash-in-jacksonville-on-may-10th\/","title":{"rendered":"Join New Worlds Reading at the 2024 Book Bash in Jacksonville on May 10th"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jacksonville families of VPK\u2013 5th grade students are invited to attend New Worlds Reading\u2019s 2024 Book Bash on Friday, May 10, at the Jacksonville Public Library \u2013 Main Library. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Families will join New Worlds Reading<\/strong><\/a> as they spotlight the third year of the program helping Florida students meet grade level expectations in reading. The milestone event will include reading activity stations, face painting, community resources, raffles, grab-and-go food and an exciting author read aloud by Emma Carlson Berne, author of \u201cAnimals to the Rescue! Balto\u201d\u2013 with free books to take home just in time for summer reading!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Worlds Reading was created to help the more than 960,000 eligible VPK \u2013 5th grade students in Florida VPK programs, public schools and charter schools who are not yet reading on grade level. More than 49,000 of those students live in Duval County. The first-of-its-kind reading program is tackling this issue by delivering nine free books and reading activities each year directly to the doorsteps of eligible Florida students.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Families can choose which books they\u2019d like to receive, helping spark kids\u2019 excitement about reading when they get a special package in the mail addressed to them with books tailored to their interests. Books also come with literacy resources and activities for families to use when reading together to strengthen children\u2019s literacy skills and reading confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Administered by the UF Lastinger Center for Learning, who has selected Scholastic as a partner, New Worlds Reading has shipped more than 5 million books to the homes of Florida children to date in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and braille. Early indicators show the program is making its mark: ninety percent of families say they love the resources and would recommend the program; 83 percent of caregivers say they spend more time reading with their children; 86 percent of children are reading more often and more confidently; and enrolled students made significant gains of up to 55 percent growth rates in reading achievement across the 2022\u20132023 school year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a mom and educator, I know how important it is for children to have access to the tools they need to succeed,\u201d said Dr. Shaunt\u00e9 Duggins, Associate Director of New Worlds Reading at the UF Lastinger Center for Learning. \u201cAfter three years of supporting our striving readers through New Worlds Reading, we\u2019re extremely honored to continue to partner with Florida families to improve childhood literacy. We\u2019re excited to share this milestone with Jacksonville families, educators, community members and beyond, as we work to get even more eligible students enrolled in the program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be eligible for New Worlds Reading, a child must be in VPK and not yet meeting age-appropriate standards according to FAST Star Early Literacy or in K-5th grade and not yet reading on grade level in a public or charter school. Parents and caregivers who apply for their eligible kids to enroll in New Worlds Reading<\/a><\/strong> by June 10, 2024, will receive the free nine books and reading activities from the current school year, plus three bonus books for the summer season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New Worlds Reading team will host the 2024 New Worlds Reading Book Bash at the Jacksonville Public Library \u2013 Main Library from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 10, 2024. Families are encouraged to pre-register isit la<\/a><\/strong> for free. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About Book Bash 2024:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

WHAT:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n