Florida teachers, are you looking for ways to support students in your classroom who aren’t reading up to grade-level standards? The New Worlds Reading Initiative wants to help! Eligible students can receive free books, sent directly to their homes each month throughout the school year. Here’s how the program works.
What is New Worlds Reading?
New Worlds Reading is a FREE Florida literacy program, administered by the UF Lastinger Center for Learning, developed to help bridge the reading gap and make reading more fun and accessible. Its goal is to help Florida’s striving readers strengthen their literacy skills, build reading confidence, and foster a lifelong love of reading. Eligible students receive a free book at home each month throughout the school year.
Once a child is enrolled in New Worlds Reading, they’ll continue to be enrolled all the way through 5th grade, even if their reading skills improve. If a student enrolls in the program in VPK, they’ll receive a total of 63 books by the end of 5th grade. That’s a whole home library!
What students qualify for free books through New Worlds Reading?
Nearly 1 million Florida students qualify for this free program! All VPK through 5th grade students in Florida VPK, public, or charter schools who are not yet reading at grade-level standards are eligible. There are no income requirements for New Worlds Reading. See the complete eligibility requirements here.
What books are included in the New Worlds Reading program?
Book titles are selected in partnership with the Florida Department of Education and Scholastic and are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and braille. Families can choose their books from the list in advance, with both fiction and nonfiction titles available at every grade level. Sample titles include:
- Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins by James Dean
- I Am Enough by Grace Byers
- Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
- The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds
- The Magic School Bus® Rides Again: Sink or Swim by Judy Katschke
- Most Wanted: Deadliest Ocean Creatures by John Perritano
- Front Desk by Kelly Yang
What else do families receive?
Each month’s shipment also includes a free reading guide, with activities and ideas to help families make the most of their new book. Families can also get free reading resources on the program’s website, including a Reading Passport and Reading Journal.
How do families enroll in the program?
The application process is simple—it only takes about 5 minutes. Families provide basic information such as caregiver contact info, plus information about their child’s birth date, grade, and school. They select the books they’d like to receive in the year ahead and provide a shipping address. If they’re approved, they’ll start receiving their books in a few months. Find the simple online application here.
How can teachers and families learn more about the program?
Use these free guides to learn more about the program and share it with the families of eligible students.
