University of Wisconsin - Extension

Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) today announced that a record 5,000 children are being served with the First Book project, which began its new year in September with the reading selection "Ten, Nine, Eight" by Molly Bang.

Each month, First Book distributes 5,000 books to children, age two to five, who would not otherwise have a chance to cherish a book of their own.

In the first year of the program, which was 1998, more than 16,000 books were distributed. This year, more than 41,000 books will be distributed. The program is active in 44 counties around Wisconsin through a partnership with University of Wisconsin-Extension, Family Living Programs; the Wisconsin Association of Home and Community Educators; and Head Start agencies.

This supportive network of parents, care providers and state child care associations develop a reading program with adult readers meeting with children nine times during the year, bringing new books and additional educational materials each visit. First Book strengthens public television's commitment to preparing children for school, building off of literacy-based broadcasts like Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow and Between the Lions.

WPT is a service of the Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.