Reach Out and Read Iowa is part of a nationwide program that 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.

The Reach Out and Read Model:
1. In the exam room, doctors and nurses trained in early literacy encourage parents to read aloud to their children, and offer age-appropriate tips.
2. The pediatric primary care provider gives every child between 6 months and 5 years of age a new, developmentally appropriate children's book.
3. Displays, information, and gently-used books create a literacy-rich environment in the waiting room. Where possible, volunteers read aloud.

Reach Out and Read Iowa is an integral part of the Iowa Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.


Reach Out and Read Iowa is part of the nationwide Reach Out and Read organization. Visit the Reach Out and Read National Center website.