Florida teachers, are you looking for ways to support students in your classroom who are not reading on grade level? The New World Reading Initiative wants to help! Eligible students can receive free books delivered directly to their homes each month throughout the school year. Here’s how the program works.
What is New World Reading?
New World Reading is a free literacy program in Florida, administered by the University of Florida Ruttinger Learning Center, designed to help close the reading gap and make reading more fun and accessible. The goal is to help Florida’s struggling readers strengthen literacy skills, build reading confidence, and develop a lifelong love of reading. Eligible students will receive a free book at home each month throughout the school year.
Once a child is enrolled in New World Reading, they will continue to be enrolled into fifth grade even as their reading skills improve. If students sign up for the VPK program, they will receive a total of 63 books by the end of fifth grade. This is a complete home library!
Which students are eligible to receive free books through New World Reading?
Nearly 1 million Florida students are eligible for this free program! All VPK through 5th grade students in Florida’s VPK, public or charter schools who do not yet read at grade level standards are eligible. New World Reading has no income requirements. Please view complete eligibility requirements here.
What books are included in the New World Reading Plan?
Titles were selected in partnership with the Florida Department of Education and Academic Affairs and are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and Braille. Families can select their books from a list in advance, with both fiction and nonfiction available for each grade level. Example titles include:
- Pete the Cat: James Dean’s Five Little Pumpkins
- “I’m Enough” by Grace Byers
- Gaia Cornwall’s Jabari Attempt
- The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds
- The Magic School Bus® Ride Again: Sink or Swim by Judy Katschke
- “Most Wanted: The Deadliest Sea Creatures” by John Perritano
- Front desk: Kelly Yang
See the full list of books here.
What else will families receive?
Each month’s shipment also includes a free reading guide with activities and ideas to help families make the most of the new book. Families can also access free reading resources, including Reading Passports and Reading Diaries, on the program’s website.
How do families sign up for the program?
The application process is simple – it only takes about 5 minutes. Families provide basic information such as caregiver contact information and information about the child’s date of birth, grade level and school. They select the books they want to receive in the coming year and provide a shipping address. If approved, they will start receiving books within 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 families of eligible students.
