Blog Posts

How Access to Books Improves Literacy and Reading Success

Access to books for literacy achievement is one of the most powerful ways to help children succeed in school and beyond. It may sound simple, but access to books at home can help shape a child’s future. 

Right now, the need is urgent. In the United States, 25 million children cannot read proficiently. According to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, approximately 70% of fourth and eighth graders read below grade level, making school achievement more difficult and increasing the risk of dropping out. For many children, the challenge begins early: 1 in 3 children enter kindergarten without the basic skills they need to learn how to read. 

One key factor behind these numbers is something we can change: access to books. 

Why Access to Books Improves Literacy Achievement 

When children have consistent access to books, they read more often. And when they read more often, their literacy skills grow stronger. 

Books help children: 

  • Build vocabulary 
  • Improve comprehension 
  • Strengthen critical thinking 
  • Develop imagination and empathy 

But the benefits go even deeper. Reading regularly helps children feel more confident as learners. It turns reading from a school task into something enjoyable and meaningful. 

Research continues to confirm what educators and families have long understood: access matters. New research builds on decades of findings around the significance of book access to drive reading outcomes for students. This most recent study found that children’s access to books alone can improve children’s reading achievement. We have long known that children with 100 or more books at home have about a 90% chance of completing ninth grade. For children with no books at home, that number drops to just 30%.  

Now we know that when children are given 34 books to own, the effects are significant. In Dr. Geoffrey Borman and Dr. Hyunwoo Yang’s 2026 study, students in high-poverty schools received seven high-quality books each year for five years to build their home libraries. Over time, these students scored higher on state literacy assessments than their peers who did not receive books. Students who had the most consistent access to books saw even greater gains. 

Just as important, the study showed that access alone, independent of income or other factors, can make a meaningful difference. 

Access to books for literacy isn’t just helpful, it’s transformative. 

The Literacy Gap: When Books Are Out of Reach 

Unfortunately, millions of children still lack access to books. 

In the U.S., 61% of children living at or below the poverty line have no books at home. That means many children are missing daily opportunities to practice reading, explore new ideas, and build essential skills. 

This gap in access creates a gap in outcomes. 

Without books: 

  • Children have fewer chances to practice reading 
  • Vocabulary development slows 
  • Confidence decreases 
  • Academic progress becomes harder 
  • Sparks of joy that reading ignites are lost. 

 
These challenges can build over time, making it more difficult for children to catch up. 

That’s why expanding access to books and making sure those books are engaging, diverse, and culturally relevant, is so important. 

The Role of Literacy Resources, Book Distribution, and Choice 

Improving access to books for literacy takes a collective effort. Schools, libraries, nonprofits, and communities all play an important role in making sure children have the books and literacy resources they need to succeed. 

Book distributions are one of the most effective ways to get books into the hands of children who need them most. Through RIF’s model to curate high-quality, culturally relevant titles and, we help children build home libraries and discover the joy of reading. 

One powerful example is Reading Is Fundamental’s (RIF) Books for Ownership program. As RIF’s flagship program, it gives children the chance to choose new, age-appropriate books to take home and keep. This sense of ownership matters. When children can pick their own books, they are more excited to read and more likely to keep reading over time. 

The program is built on a simple idea: when children have both choice and access to books, they become more engaged readers and learners. It also includes free reading resources for families, educators, and local partners. These resources help build a strong reading culture in class and at home. 

Strong literacy resources that extend learning and engagement with titles, combined with access to books help children: 

  • Stay engaged with reading 
  • Build confidence and independence 
  • Develop lasting reading habits 

 
When children have their own books and support to explore and enjoy them, reading becomes more than a skill. It becomes part of their daily lives. 

Innovative Ways to Expand Access 

Today, access to books is expanding in new and creative ways. 

Digital reading platforms, like RIF’s Skybrary allow children to explore books anytime, anywhere. Mobile libraries bring books directly into neighborhoods that may not have traditional library access. Community programs create spaces where reading is celebrated and supported. 

These solutions are especially important for reaching children in underserved areas. By meeting children where they are, both physically and digitally, we can remove barriers and open more doors to learning. 

How Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Is Making a Difference 

At Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), increasing access to books for literacy is at the heart of everything we do. 

RIF and our partners are working to change the trajectory of the U.S. literacy crisis, which continues to create barriers between children and their opportunities. We believe there is a path forward and it starts with access. 

Our approach focuses on: 

  • Providing books to children who need them most 
  • Offering literacy resources for educators and families 
  • Supporting reading engagement from birth through middle school 

 
RIF works with program sites in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories. We help ensure children have the tools they need to become confident readers. 

Because when children have books of their own, books they can choose, keep, and revisit, they are more likely to read, learn, and thrive. 

What You Can Do to Help 

Everyone can play a role in improving access to books. 

Here are a few simple ways to get involved: 

Building a More Literate Future 

Access to books for literacy is not just an educational issue, it’s an opportunity issue. 

When children have the books and literacy resources they need, they are better prepared to succeed in school and beyond. They are more likely to graduate, pursue their goals, and contribute to their communities. 

The research is clear. The need is urgent. And the solution is within reach. 

By working together to expand access to books, we can help every child become a confident, capable reader. 

And that’s a future worth building.