WILMINGTON – Tracey Quillen Carney and Gov. John Carney on Wednesday announced the launch of a statewide reading tour to coincide with the release of the First Lady’s children’s book, “Books for Blue.”
Given the positive impact reading has on children in the First State and beyond, Ms. Carney’s book encourages young people to get involved and discover new things, step out of their comfort zone and turn to reading.
“A lot of our work has been about making a difference where there is a great need: creating culture change, making things happen in areas like youth mental health, early education, eradicating hunger and building communities of hope with wraparound services for families,” she said at the event Wednesday at the Wilmington Public Library.
“We knew from the beginning that we would not reach the finish line with many of these orders, and we have not apologized for that, but are proud to be doing work that spans generations. With ‘Books for Blue’ there is actually a kind of finish line, and it is today.”
The reading tour began on Wednesday afternoon with a bilingual story time at the Latin American Community Center in Wilmington and continued on Thursday with a story time at the Selbyville Public Library at 10 a.m. and at the Harrington Public Library at noon.
The First Lady of Delaware said the event was deliberately announced as a reading tour and not a book launch because “we don’t want it to be just about a book.”
“We want it to be about early language experiences that aim at healthy brain development and school readiness. Because we know that if we want to achieve third-grade reading skills, we have to start promoting reading long before kindergarten,” she said.
“We want today and all of our reading tour stops this summer and fall to focus on library habits, the value and joy of lifelong learning, and how reading and writing activities can strengthen family and community bonds.”
Ms. Carney’s “Books for Blue” is published by Syncretic Press and reviewed by Dr. Meghan Walls, a child psychologist from Delaware.
The Selbyville and Harrington public libraries received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. In 2022, Governor Carney provided $40 million to state libraries to meet the growing needs of these facilities in all three counties.
In total, nine libraries received funding to help build the new facilities in Selbyville and Harrington.
“Children learn to read in third grade and then continue to learn by reading throughout their lives. Reading literacy is the foundation each of our students and neighbors needs to succeed. As we begin the school year, let’s share the messages found in the pages of Books for Blue,” Governor Carney said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“Visit your local library. Be curious. And feel free to seek advice from others. I want to congratulate Tracey, (State Librarian) Annie (Norman) and the other advocates involved in this project. Thank you to Casey Family Programs for their support of Delaware families during this project and throughout our tenure.”
Delaware families will be able to check out Books for Blue at 33 libraries across the state in the coming weeks, and copies will be distributed to county schools and early learning centers at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
There will be a book walk/mobile exhibit offered to state agencies and partners for events. The opening exhibit will be held on August 23 at the opening of the Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy. The facility is the first new school in Wilmington in decades.
