Home - Read City USA

All Together Now!

Hit it, Read City! Mayor Jacobs has challenged our community to go platinum by reading in 2023. Everybody has a part to play in the “All Together Now” tour. Join us by logging the time you read (or listen) this year.

Every minute counts to help establish reading habits, to make reading a priority, and most importantly, to encourage a in our community.

Our first gig of 2023 is the “Find Your Voice” challenge. Beginning January 24, pick up a reading log at your library, print your own , or log online with the Beanstack Tracker app. Read just 36 hours then return to the library for your prize.

634,300 Hours Read

Read, Explore!

Your plan is to read 20 minutes per day and track your time. Reading can take you anywhere, and we are going new places in 2022!

Earn prizes and bragging rights!

Get The App!

Mobile apps can help motivate us to read more and help us track our minutes read. We are happy to announce we have partnered with

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40%

Fact:

Only 40% of Knox County students are reading on grade level by the third grade. We can change that.

Fact:

Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher.

Fact:

Playing with children helps them understand the world around them.

Fact:

Reading with children is soothing and creates emotional bonds that last a lifetime.

Who We Are

Led by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Read City USA is a collaborative program of the Knox County Public Library, Knox County Schools, Knoxville Education Foundation and many community organizations to illustrate our community’s commitment to literacy as a core value. When children are exposed to books and reading with an emphasis on learning to read early and well, they are more likely to reach their full potential in school and in life.

Our Mission

Engage and empower our community of parents, educators, caregivers and institutions to ensure that all children develop a love of reading and learning.

Why Early Learning Matters

Baby’s Brain

A baby’s brain is more active in the first few months of life than at any other time.

It’s All About The Third Grade

From the day a child enters Kindergarten until the third grade, classroom focus is on learning to read. While every student’s reading should continue to improve after the 3^rd grade, the instructional focus turns to reading to learn. If reading skills have not been acquired by then, subject level learning becomes very difficult. In fact, the future for children who don’t read on grade level is much bleaker.
In Knox County, only 40% of children are reading on grade level. We must come together as a community to increase our literacy rate. It will take all of us.

Preparing For Kindergarten

Did you know that a child entering kindergarten is expected to be able to recognize letters, numbers, colors and shapes? They should be able to tell stories, draw and write a little bit. Parents and caregivers are a child’s first and most important teachers. They have more influence on a child’s life than anyone. It’s important that they learn developmental milestones to help their children.

What If My Child Is A Struggling Reader?

Nearly every child can learn to read, but some children may need different learning strategies. Estimates from the National Institutes of Health identify one in five readers as struggling; but there’s hope. Parents and caregivers need to recognize the signs when a child is having difficulties. Reading Rockets from the Library of Congress provides tools, tips and resources to identify and help struggling readers

Reading Rockets

Tumblebooks at the Knox County Public Library is helpful and fun. These animated picture books and read-along chapter books in both English and Spanish are an excellent and engaging tool for readers of all skill levels.

Tumblebooks