Recently the US News & World Reports released the High School Rankings for each state. I was appalled at some of the numbers for certain areas of the country. While it is no secret that low-income school districts typically have lower scores than high-income areas, it amazes me year after year that many schools have a reading proficiency rating of less than 2.5%.

Forty-two percent of children in the United States – more than 30 million – live in low-income households and don’t have age-appropriate books at home or at school.

It is upsetting that children are passed through the school system year after year and cannot read or write as they enter high school. And in many cases,they still can’t at their high school graduation.

Cheerios continues to lead the fight against illiteracy. This year marks the 10th anniversary for the Cheerios Spoonfuls of  Stories® program.

Cheerios is distributing six million bilingual children’s books from award-winning authors free inside cereal boxes. Cheerios is also giving 50,000 children’s books and $300,000 to First  Book, an award winning literacy non-profit.

Worms, monsters, zebras and hippopotamuses are only a few of the  imaginative children’s book characters to appear in specially marked Cheerios® this year. I received a few of this year’s books and my kids and I loved them. I was a little disappointed they didn’t do the Author contest this year but then again, how can you be disappointed when you receive a children’s book written by Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison.

This year’s books are all from award-winning authors and appropriate for ages 3-8. They include:

 - Peeny Butter Fudge, by Toni and Slade Morrison

- Mostly Monsterly, by Tammi Sauer

- Noodle & Lou, by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon

-If I Were a Jungle Animal, by Amanda Ellery

- Hello Baby, by Mem Fox

- Can I Just Take a Nap?, by Ron Rauss

Fusspot really liked Noodle & Lou. When I was done reading it she tried to absorb everything it had to offer by eating it. The illustrations are very colorful. She kept staring at them as I read.

So, go buy a specially marked box of Cheerios today and share a few moments with a child by bonding over the characters in these great stories.

To learn more about Spoonfuls of Stories or to donate to First Book, go here.

*By texting Books2Kids to 20222, a $5 donation will be made (and will appear on the primary subscriber’s cell phone bill), providing two new books to a child in need.  Standard messaging rates will apply.

Disclaimer: I received several of the in-pack books from Cheerios. No other compensation was received. All opinions are mine and were not influenced in any way.

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