About Every Child a Reader

Every Child a Reader (ECAR) is a 501(c)(3) literacy organization dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children.

Every Child a Reader creates and supports programs that:

Strive to make the reading and enjoyment of children’s books an essential part of America’s educational and social aims

Enhance public perception of the importance of reading

Our Programs
Children’s Book Week (CBW), the national celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. The 94th annual celebration of Children’s Book Week will be held May 13-19, 2013.

The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program, which raises national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education, and the development and betterment of the lives of young people. The program was launched in 2008 by The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, the Children’s Book Council (CBC), and Every Child a Reader (ECAR).

The annual Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards, the only national book awards program where the winners are selected by young readers of all ages. Launched in 2008 by the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader, the Children’s Choice Book Awards program was created to provide young readers with an opportunity to voice their opinions about the books being written for them, and to develop a reading list that will motivate children to read more and to cultivate a love of reading.

History
Founded in 1995 by the Board of Directors of the Children’s Book Council (CBC) — the national non-profit trade association for children’s book publishers — ECAR is an independent foundation that is uniquely positioned to unite and rally children’s publishers, and the nation, around the common goal of making every child a reader.