All-School Reads Resources

• Define an audience for your program.
• Identify needs, create plans, and predict the impact that your program will have on your school or community.

• Put together a planning committee dedicated to launching the program, including school faculty, students, parents, and community leaders when applicable.
• Make a weekly or monthly checklist that is practical and useful.
• Determine how your school or library will fund the project. Look to municipal organizations in your town, city, or state, or a local bookstore, for financial support

• Based on popular community interests, issues, and values, choose a book that fits your needs. Click here for our curated list of titles for young readers as a starting point. Many of these books have associated Educators’ Guides or Discussion Guides that can be downloaded as PDF files from this site.
• Think about the following questions when considering eligible books for your program:
  • Does the book tell a good story?
  • Is the book accessible? Will a variety of students at different reading levels and with different interests be able to engage with the book?
  • Does it feature a protagonist who students can relate to? They might be the same age or dealing with similar life situations (change, challenge, adversity).
  • Does the book touch on teachable themes, such as inclusiveness/diversity, global engagement, etc.?
  • Do the themes of the book correspond to your school’s strategic mission?

• Whether you are inviting an author, partnering with a theater for a production, or displaying artwork at an exhibit in town, think about ways to incorporate community organizations in your event.
• Engage members of your community to use their talents and resources to get involved in the program.
• Have participating schools decorate doors and hallways to depict a theme or scene from the selected title.

We have found that a common reading program can be very successful when it involves the hosting and participation of the author.

Many authors are available for a school or community visit, and we at Penguin Random House would be happy to assist you with booking inquiries. Please feel free to email us: commonreads@penguinrandomhouse.com

• Create a team of people to publicize the program alongside your library or school staff.
• Use digital and social media to your advantage. Use your school’s or district’s existing social media website or account (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), or create a dedicated page for your common reading program to build a community around the book selection, author visit, and other programming activities. Many authors, publishers, and lecture agencies have existing material that can be posted to your community page.
• Public libraries and independent bookstores are a great fit for marketing community reads events and distributing promotional materials. Below please find a list of possible program partners you might approach in your community:
  • Theater companies
  • Art galleries
  • Museums
  • Reader’s theater ensembles
  • Literacy organizations
  • Local businesses
  • Minority group associations
  • City council
  • Elected officials (state and U.S. representatives/senators, etc.)
  • Media
  • Area business owners
  • Local clergy

Remember that the goal of the program is to unite your community with a shared reading experience . . . so enjoy the experience to its fullest!

Don’t forget to include audiobooks as part of your programming.

DID YOU KNOW?

Listening plays a vital role in communication and it’s an essential skill that students need to function effectively in the workplace; and life in general.

Experts agree that being read to is the most important exercise needed to become a reader.

Audiobooks promote a sense of understanding and human connection—
helping to remove the feeling of isolation that illiteracy can bring.

Audiobooks support struggling readers by providing listeners with correct pronunciation and a broader vocabulary.

Audiobooks are good reading role models—they demonstrate fluent reading and appropriate phrasing, intonation, and articulation.

Learn more at www.penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/literacy.