Teaming Up for Literacy

It's a worthy plan any way you slice it. The American Booksellers Association is partnering with the long-running Pizza Hut BOOK IT! reading-incentive program and Chronicle Books for the ABA's 2002 Prescription for Reading program. The ongoing Prescription for Reading program pairs independent bookstores and health-care providers in an effort to remind parents and caregivers about the importance of reading to young children. All ABA-member stores are eligible to take part.

Booksellers participating in the 2002 Prescription for Reading program pay a $50 fee to receive two kits, each containing 100 copies of a special edition of Sylvia Long's Mother Goose (Chronicle), 125 prescription coupons, 100 Pizza Hut coupons, two posters and other promotional materials. The new sponsorship from BOOK IT! will allow Prescription for Reading to give away 150,000 books in 2002—50% more books than last year.

This year's program runs from July 1 through December 31. Kits will start to ship this month. To order, or for more information, go to www.bookweb.org.