This article is part of an occasional feature that focuses on literacy organizations and the work they do to promote reading within their communities.

Annmarie, a fourth grade student at Ashland Elementary School in Ashland, N.H., admits that she did not always enjoy reading and writing. But that began to change when, last year, her school welcomed author Eric Pinder (The Perfect Pillow, Disney-Hyperion) for a visit. Pinder told the class a story about a troll underneath a bridge, using the narrative to demonstrate to students how parts of a story fit together. Pinder was one of several authors that visited Annmarie’s school last year, as part of a Year of the Book Grant, a program offered through the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF), a literacy group that serves communities across rural Vermont and New Hampshire.

CLiF was founded in 1998 by Duncan McDougall, now executive director. Before he launched CLiF, McDougall worked as a management consultant, but had also spent time teaching inmates and refugee students. In the late 1990s, he left his consultancy job in pursuit of work that “would have a more positive impact.” Among the issues that he cared about most, he found that literacy was at the top of the list.

The foundation’s initial headquarters were McDougall’s home in Etna, N.H., but McDougall soon moved the operation to a community center in Waterbury, Vt. As CLiF began to take shape, McDougall interviewed 200 educators, librarians, and others in the community to gain a sense of how the organization might be of the greatest benefit; he then invited individuals with literacy backgrounds to join him in his efforts.

The Children’s Literacy Foundation supplies vital literacy support to kids” with the goal of “nurturing a love of reading and writing in kids up to age 12,” McDougall said. Early in the development process, McDougall determined that it was important to go “where the kids are,” providing literacy support within their own environments. For McDougall, literacy is not only about finding the joy in reading, but it is fundamental to a child’s development. “Beyond being safe, healthy, and loved, literacy is the greatest indicator for children’s future success,” he told PW. “In this day and age, children who grow up with low literacy skills are much more likely to find themselves in very challenging environments — with many of them living in poverty and high-risk circumstances."

According to Erika Nichols-Frazer, communication manager for CLiF, the Year of the Book program supplies $25,000 literacy grants for elementary schools with a high percentage of low-income students, as well as students who have underperformed on writing and reading assessments. Through this program, CLiF arranges eight to nine author and illustrator visits, workshops, and literacy events for families. During the school year, classrooms and school libraries receive new books; students also receive 10 new books of their choosing to take home. In Nichols-Frazer’s experience, one of the most empowering aspects of CLiF’s programming is its emphasis on allowing children’s personal interests to guide their reading. “The kids are more likely to enjoy reading and do it more often when they get to choose their own books,” she said.

CLiF acquires book donations through book drives sponsored by bookstores, organizations, and individuals; additionally, the team receives discounted books through Scholastic, First Book, and Baker & Taylor. According to McDougall, CLiF is “entirely community supported,” receiving no state or federal funds, instead relying on the support of approximately 720 donors. Through this backing, a small staff of five employees, and the efforts of volunteers, CLiF is able to reach readers in a range of settings.

CLiF offers programming in rural libraries, homeless shelters, refugee facilities, and centers for families with opioid issues. It also provides a literacy program for children of prison inmates; the program includes seminars for parents that teach strategies for them to connect with their children via stories and books. To date, they have reached more than 225,000 children across more than 400 New Hampshire and Vermont towns.

Additional resources are available to schools once their Year of the Book grants are completed: “the ‘Momentum’ and ‘Revive’ grants are open to any past CLiF partners within five years of their CLiF grant,” Nichols-Frazer said. The goal of these grants is to provide continuing support to schools committed to fostering a love of reading within their learning communities.

Sharon Hayes, a librarian at the Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes School in Burlington, Vt., has seen the positive impact of CLiF. The Sustainability Academy was a Year of the Book grant recipient last year; “from beginning to end, it was an incredible year,” Hayes said. Before the school was awarded the grant, the library was in serious need of an upgrade: the collection did not adequately represent the school’s diversity. This was a deep concern for Hayes, who believes that “it is very, very important for kids to see themselves in books.” But limited resources had long prevented Hayes from giving the library this much-needed revitalization.

Throughout the year, Hayes was in close contact with McDougall and other CLiF staffers, who spoke with Hayes about her needs for the library. She conveyed her desire to fill the library shelves with books that feature diverse characters. "They were so flexible. [They] gave me their account and allowed me to order any books I wanted,” Hayes said. In addition to the many books that the school received, visiting authors included Jason Chin, Natalie Kinsey-Warnock, Rajnii Eddins, and Jon and Pamela Voelkel. For Hayes, the Year of the Book grant had a “tremendous impact… I believe it has helped us coalesce our literacy efforts [and enabled us] to target dormant readers.” This year, the Sustainability Academy has continued to receive support from CLiF through a Momentum Grant.

With the new books in the library, Hayes has been amazed by “how many levels readers are jumping.” And she now has a favorite refrain that she frequently hears from readers: “ ‘I love this book,’ students will say. ‘The character looks just like me.’ ”