Promoting Literacy in Chicago's Latino Community

I just received email from The Chicago Latino Network and wanted it to pass the information on to others which may feel compelled to help Latino children in need in Chicago.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) launched a new parenting and literacy pilot program last year called Padres a Padres for 3 and 4 year olds. It enrolled about 30 children who did not have other available preschool options into a special program. CPS set up a preschool classroom at a park district field house and got the kids and parents together twice a week. Each week, along with other activities, the teacher read a book and the children got to take a copy of the same book home with them. The parents were in the classroom learning how to read the books to their children to instill a love for reading and learning in their children. The class is taught in Spanish and all books are Spanish language. The program also includes an outing to the local library and home visits by CPS staff. This program has a wonderful parenting component and focuses on closing the book gap ('well-off' kids have hundred of children's books in their homes; 'poor' kids have only a handful).

CPS is planning to expand the program this Fall to include both a West side and a North side location, hoping to enroll up to 200 kids. Buying books are a large part of the budget for this fledgling program and they could use help as they expand the program.



Several local organizations, including the Chicago Latino Network, are taking a 200-book challenge to help defray the costs of expanding this wonderful program. Please join us!

The Chicago Latino Network asks its members and friends to donate new copies of the children's favorite, El Conejito Andarin, in hardcover format to the Padres a Padres Literacy Program at Chicago Public Schools. We are looking to collect 200 new hardcover copies of El Conejito Andarin by the Fall!

Among other places, the book is available online at:
Amazon.com for $15.60 (free shipping if you buy 2) - click here
Walmart.com for $11.18 (with $.97 shipping) - click here
Booksamillion.com for $12.46 (free shipping if you buy 3 copies) - Click here
Barnesandnoble.com for $10.95 (free shipping if you buy 3) - click here

Prices and promotions subject to change.

If you are ordering the books online, please have them shipped directly to
Luz Maria Solis
Chicago Public Schools
125 S. Clark St., 9th floor
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (773) 553-2019

Put "Donation for the Padres a Padres Program from [your name]" in the gift message.