Senator Jose Peralta and Councilmember Danny Dromm Read to Children Participating in Reach Out and Read at Elmhurst Hospital

Senator José Peralta and Councilmember Danny Dromm read to Children participating in Reach Out and Read at Elmhurst Hospital. Peralta said "Reach Out and Read is the perfect prescription for our kids. Encouraging families to take some time to read will result in healthier families and smarter children. Reach out and Read is just what the doctor ordered."

Reach Out and Read (ROR) prepares America's youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together.

Doctors, nurse practitioners, and other medical professionals incorporate Reach Out and Read’s evidence-based model into regular pediatric checkups, by advising parents about the importance of reading aloud and giving developmentally-appropriate books to children. The program begins at the 6-month checkup and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities. Families served by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills, better prepared to achieve their potential.