How StoryBook Treasures Creates Engaged Readers

In low-income households, the ratio of books is 1 book per 300 children. To put that number in perspective, in middle-income households, there are approximately 13 books per child. The gap is eye-opening and hard to digest, which is why the partnership between StoryBook Treasures and First Book is so crucial. Together, we are helping to shape the future for children who need it most through access to books and educational resources. We have been privileged and honored to work with First Book since our organization started in 2016.

StoryBook Treasures is a pre-kindergarten to 3rd-grade school-based literacy program that provides educators with training, materials, and books focused on reading level improvements. All materials are delivered to classroom teachers five times per year, with pre- and post-surveys conducted to measure overall program impact. First Book specifically supports StoryBook Treasures by providing the books for children in Title I schools so educators can easily take advantage of the activities, lesson plans, and reading guides.

Our partnership with First Book has been incredibly compelling to our community. StoryBook Treasures program began as a public school teacher’s idea that grew into a thriving grassroots nonprofit, impacting students across the country. The founder, Denise Corbo, shares that the partnership originally began on an individual scale when she ordered 211 books through First Book’s Marketplace. As her need for books increased and she created the program, Corbo established a special-orders relationship with the First Book team, requesting titles and quantities needed to give educators the materials needed.

Since Corbo’s first Marketplace order, the program has grown every year by the thousands. By the end of the 2021-2022 school year, StoryBook Treasures anticipates ordering over 40,000 books for 60 schools in 15 school divisions.

The importance of literacy goes well beyond knowing how to read and comprehending words being read. Literacy bleeds into our everyday lives. According to a study by the Write Express Corporation, “2/3 of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare.” The importance of literacy is crucial in the development and plays a vital role in everyday life.

The impact of literacy is huge, not only for the students but for their families and teachers as well. Carolyn O’Neal, a kindergarten teacher at Park Ridge Elementary in Stafford County, VA shares her Storybook experience, “Nothing beats watching young children’s excitement and enthusiasm on the first day of a new StoryBook Treasures’ lesson! The program builds interest, engagement, and knowledge into the literacy lessons and students can’t get enough. Students actively participate and take ownership in learning when they are holding their own copies of the books. Wearing matching SBT t-shirts is a bonus that they embrace throughout the year. Mostly, I just can’t say enough good things about Denise and StoryBook Treasures. It’s absolutely the best literacy program ever! I am so grateful to be able to help bring the love of learning to so many children.”

It feels good to do good. Especially when doing good centers around improving a child’s life. We are so grateful for First Book for helping us put books into the hands, hearts, and homes of children who need it most.

StoryBook Treasures is a nonprofit organization with the goal of providing books and reading materials to promote literacy and education to ALL children. The StoryBook Treasures organization educates, inspires, and empowers all children to experience the best children's literature in an educational setting. Our program helps children make vital comprehensive reading connections to literature while building a classroom and personal home library collection of books.

Our organization is vested in reaching and serving our country's most economically disadvantaged communities. These are the children who need books the most and otherwise would not have the opportunity or means. Providing a comprehensive experience that encourages children to read empowers them to think beyond their classrooms and take pride in learning.

We are always looking for support. From hosting a packing event to becoming a monthly donor, to improving literacy statistics for our next generation. Find out how to support by visitingstorybooktreasures.org.

First Book works closely with leading businesses, nonprofits, and individuals to promote equal access to quality education for kids in need. Together, we have distributed more than 200 million new books and learning materials to schools and programs serving children from low-income families.

We are deeply grateful for the support of our generous partners and eager to collaborate with organizations that care about making a difference on behalf of kids. We would love to explore ways to work together to provide many more books and resources to kids who need them.

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