Kosciusko Literacy Services Public Relations Director Linda Tinkey is preparing December’s books for children in the Read to Grow Children’s Book Club. This month, 348 children will each receive a new book. In 2021, more than 4,500 children’s books were placed with children throughout Kosciusko County. Photo provided by KLS.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The Dekko Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to Kosciusko Literacy Services. The grant supports one of the early literacy programs of KLS.

Read to Grow Children’s Book Club program improves early literacy of preschoolers in Kosciusko County.

This grant is helping to place children’s books in the homes of families living in poverty. Each child enrolled in the Read to Grow Children’s Book Club receives one book a month from birth to age 5.

By placing the books in the home, KLS addresses one of the main reasons children have low-literacy skills when entering kindergarten — the lack of reading material in the home. The parents agree to read regularly to their child.

Reading to a child at an early age helps the child’s brain to develop language and reading skills. The program improves literacy skills by increasing the read-aloud time children have at home with their parents and by building home libraries.

National studies show children lacking these skills when entering kindergarten may perpetually perform below their peers.

For more information about KLS, visit www.kcread.org, email [email protected], or call (574) 267-5380.