ROR team members holding up copies of Barefoot books
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Reading Picture Books Pediatrics Partnership Nonprofit Literacy Early Childhood Development

Expanding Access to Inclusive, Bilingual Books: Our New Partnership with Reach Out and Read

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news! Barefoot Books has been named a preferred vendor for Reach Out and Read, a national nonprofit that’s redefining early childhood health and literacy by integrating reading into pediatric care.


For over 30 years, Reach Out and Read has partnered with pediatric clinicians to transform routine checkups into powerful opportunities for connection and learning. During well-child visits, doctors and nurses share books and guidance with families, helping them nurture early literacy skills and strong caregiver-child bonds from the very start.


Through this new partnership, Barefoot’s vibrant, culturally reflective, and bilingual books will reach millions of families across more than 6,500 Reach Out and Read clinics in all 50 states.


“At Barefoot, we believe that books have the power to change the world,” said Nancy Traversy, CEO and Co-Founder of Barefoot Books. “Every child deserves to see themselves in the stories they read – and the best books are the ones children and caregivers treasure for years to come. Partnering with Reach Out and Read allows us to help expand access to high-quality, inclusive books that inspire a lifelong love of reading.”


Quote from Angela Cunningham, Director of Books Strategy and Partnerships at Reach Out and Read. 'Reach Out and Read books should both reflect the identities and experiences of the children and families we searve and showcase the wider world... Barefoot Books' coommitment to bilingual and inclusive stories helps us put those powerful tools directly into the hands of families _ nuruting connection, curiosity, and learning.'

Meeting Families Where They Are

In 2024 alone, Reach Out and Read provided 7.7 million free books to 4.6 million children – nearly 70% of whom come from low-income households where access to books can be limited. This partnership will help ensure that even more families receive stories that both reflect their lived experiences and open windows to the wider world.


At the heart of the collaboration is Barefoot’s Bilinguals series, which includes nearly 200 titles across nine languages – Arabic, Bengali, Simplified Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Navajo, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish, and Vietnamese. These books support bilingual households, English language learners, and families preserving their heritage languages.


“Barefoot Books’ commitment to bilingual and inclusive stories helps us put powerful tools directly into the hands of families, nurturing connection, curiosity, and learning from the very start,” says Angela Cunningham, Reach Out and Read’s National Director of Books Strategy and Partnerships.


Photo of members of the Barefoot Books team and their guests at the Reach Out and Read Annual Benefit in October.

Members of the Barefoot Books team and their guests at the Reach Out and Read Annual Benefit in October.

Continuing Our Mission

At Barefoot, we’ve always believed that books have the power to change the world. For more than three decades, we’ve created stories that nurture empathy, curiosity, and global awareness – putting over 35 million books into the hands of children around the globe.


Our partnership with Reach Out and Read is a beautiful next step in that mission: helping families everywhere discover the joy of reading together and ensuring that every child can see themselves in the pages of a book. At Barefoot Books, we’re proud to collaborate with organizations that share our belief in the transformative power of stories. Learn more about our literacy partnerships and community initiatives here.