READ TOGETHER, BE TOGETHER to Release Special Editions of Classic Picture Books, Launch E-Hotline
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READ TOGETHER, BE TOGETHER (#ReadTogetherBeTogether), a nationwide initiative that celebrates the importance and power of reading with young children created by Penguin Random House in partnership with Meredith Corporation’s PARENTS, will introduce its second phase of programming, following the virtual read-alouds that took place over six weeks during the coronavirus pandemic. On June 30, 2020, Penguin Random House will release low-priced hardcover editions of six classic children’s books, featuring exclusive reading tips from PARENTS. In support of the campaign, Penguin Random House will host a weeklong Read Together, Be Together e-hotline this July, offering consumers personalized book recommendations from PRH children’s book editors.
Priced at $9.99, the special hardcover editions include The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle, Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss, Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney, The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, We’re All Wonders by R. J. Palacio, and Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go. The books will be available for a limited time at key retail partners including Walmart, Target, Books-a-Million, Amazon, and independent booksellers nationwide. A full list of retailers, as well as additional book recommendations organized by age and interest, can be found at readtogetherbetogether.com.
Barbara Marcus, President & Publisher, Random House Children’s Books, and Jen Loja, President & Publisher, Penguin Young Readers, said, “At Penguin Random House, we are dedicated to instilling a love of reading and learning in children from infancy onward. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with PARENTS this summer, with our e-hotline for recommendations, curated book lists, and specially priced editions to make the experience more accessible for all—and hope that we can continue to help caregivers find the perfect books to inspire the young ones in their lives.”
Julia Edelstein, Editor-in-Chief of PARENTS, said, “We’re delighted to be a part of the Read Together, Be Together campaign with Penguin Random House. At PARENTS, we care deeply about promoting children’s literacy and supporting parents in their effort to instill a love of books in their kids. Reading with your kids is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help them flourish in school and in life. In celebration of Read Together, Be Together and our ongoing focus on the importance of reading, the theme of our August issue is Raise a Reader.”
The Read Together, Be Together program launched in March 2020 with a series of daily virtual storytimes with celebrity readers and bestselling and award-winning authors and illustrators. The program launch also included a donation of 750,000 books to First Book, a nonprofit that provides new books and educational resources to children in need, many of whom lack access to technology and are especially at risk during this unprecedented time in which schools and childcare facilities across the country have closed in response to COVID-19.
READ TOGETHER, BE TOGETHER is a nationwide initiative developed by Penguin Random House in partnership with PARENTS magazine that celebrates the importance and power of the shared reading experience between an adult and a child. Reading aloud regularly to babies and young children is one of the most effective ways to foster early literacy and is a key factor in building language and social skills.