Lt. Gov. Garcia Launches Public Book Selection Process for One Book 4 Colorado

DENVER –Monday, Jan.14, 2013 – Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia announced the launch today of the public book selection process for this year’s One Book 4 Colorado.

One Book 4 Colorado (OB4C) is a statewide initiative aiming to support family reading at home and instill a love of learning in Colorado youngsters.

“One Book 4 Colorado puts books in the hands of children and helps inspire a culture of reading in their homes,” said Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia. “We’re excited to kick-off the program by inviting Coloradans of all ages to help us select this year’s book. One Book 4 Colorado is just one way for communities to come together to teach children how to read.”

The public is encouraged to visit the OB4C website and vote for their favorite book.

This year’s top three book choices are:
Duck on a Bike by David Shannon
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Guest celebrities reading in English include Gov. John Hickenlooper, Missy Franklin, Colorado Olympic gold medalist and Kenneth Faried, power forward, Denver Nuggets. Celebrities reading in Spanish include Veronica Figoli, chief community engagement officer for Denver Public Schools, Benilda Samuels, vice president, communications & marketing for Mile High United Way and Maria Rozman, news director/news anchor, Telemundo Denver, NBC Universal. Coloradans can view these videos specially produced by Rocky Mountain PBS and vote for this year’s book by visiting www.onebook4colorado.org.

Public input as part of the book selection process will be accepted through Jan. 31. In picking this year’s book, the OB4C steering committee will consider the public’s input along with recommendations from educators and program partners. The winning title will be unveiled at the OB4C opening event on May 6.

One Book 4 Colorado is the result of collaboration between Reach Out and Read Colorado, Colorado State Library, Denver Preschool Program, public libraries, the private sector, and the foundation community. It is modeled after the successful Preschool One Book One Denver program originated by the Denver Preschool Program and presented by Denver Public Library, Arts and Venues Denver, and Reach Out and Read Colorado. Both programs are premised on the idea that providing young children with access to quality books promotes early literacy and helps families serve as their children’s first and most important teachers.

More than 70,000 copies of the same book will be distributed to children across Colorado at local library events, at Reach Out and Read clinics and doctors’ offices, and through participating preschools. The book will be available in both English and Spanish and will be accessible to children with special needs. A statewide book distribution of the selected book and a multitude of family literacy events will take place May 6 – 20, coinciding with Colorado Literacy Week.

For more information about One Book 4 Colorado, visit http://www.onebook4colorado.org.

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Office of Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia
Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia’s early literacy focus stems from his efforts to ensure every Colorado child is reading on grade level by the end of third grade. During his tenure in office, his goal is to draw public attention to the critical importance of early learning and to launch numerous efforts that will put Colorado’s children on a path to reading success. One Book 4 Colorado is part of Colorado Reads: The Early Literacy Initiative, the state’s plan to help ensure every child in Colorado learns to read. The plan and more information about the Lt. Governor’s initiatives can be found at www.colorado.gov/ltgovernor.

About Serve Colorado
Serve Colorado – Governor’s Commission on Community Service strives to build a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in Colorado. Serve Colorado works under the leadership of a board of 15 Commissioners to distribute and administer Colorado’s allocation of AmeriCorps*State funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The current program portfolio consists of 18 programs working to meet a variety of immediate and local needs throughout Colorado communities, including environmental stewardship, educational achievement, academic tutoring, youth mentoring, healthy futures, economic opportunity, and more! Additionally, Serve Colorado promotes volunteerism and service as a means to strengthen Colorado communities through days of service, special initiatives, and community partnerships.

About Reach Out and Read Colorado
Reach Out and Read Colorado is an evidence-based nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud. Reach Out and Read Colorado builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning at 6 months of age. The more than 84,000 children served annually by Reach Out and Read Colorado read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten better prepared to succeed, with larger vocabularies, stronger language skills, and a six-month developmental edge over their peers.

About Colorado State Library
The Colorado State Library, a division of the Colorado Department of Education, provides leadership and expertise in developing library-related policies, activities, and services for school, public, academic, and special libraries. Through an advisory board, Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy, and public libraries, the State Library promotes early literacy to parents, children, and child care providers throughout Colorado.

About Denver Preschool Program
The Denver Preschool Program, approved by Denver voters in 2006, is a ground-breaking tax-funded initiative designed to increase Denver children’s access to high-quality preschool. Now celebrating its fifth year, the Program has provided over $40 million in tuition support to help more than 25,000 Denver families send their child to the quality preschool of their choice, and independent evaluation results confirm that the vast majority of these children have left preschool prepared for kindergarten.