By Erin L. Cox, Publisher | @erinlcox
Last week, David Shelley, CEO of Hachette Book Group (HBG) and Hachette UK announced a $200,000 investment in their Raising Readers program which was launched this time last year with a mission to combat the growing decline in childhood reading and literacy.The contribution figure commemorates the 200th anniversary of Hachette Livre, HBG’s parent company. Currently, 23 organizations have agreed to partner with HBG to tackle this reading crisis including, PEN America, Poets & Writers, Read Ahead, Inkluded, The Toronto International Festival of Authors, American Booksellers Association, Authors Guild Foundation, Behind the Book, Her Agenda, National Book Foundation, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Latinx Kidlit Book Festival, Book Industry Charitable Foundation, Canadian Manda Group, United Way of Central Indiana, We Need Diverse Books, ParentChild+, National Coalition Against Censorship, House of SpeakEasy, Literary Agents of Change, The Book Manufacturers’ Institute, Book Industry Study Group, Indy Book Project and Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.
David Shelley, CEO Hachette Book Group and Hachette UK
“In 2026, we aim to take Raising Readers to the next level. 2026 serendipitously marks the 200th anniversary of Hachette Livre. Milestones like this are often celebrated internally, but given the urgency of the reading crisis, I believe the most meaningful way to mark the bicentenary is to invest more deeply in Raising Readers,” said Shelley.
Noting that reading for fun is one of the true indicators of future success through its impact on academic results, mental health, communication skills, and ambition, Raising Readers is focusing on social initiatives to help combat the decline. Their work includes:
- Providing curated classroom libraries to 200 underfunded schools and education programs in confirmed book deserts. This will allow at least 50,000 students to gain sustained access to books that support literacy, rehabilitation, and educational advancement.
- Mobilizing at least 200 volunteers to deliver reading or literacy support.
- Launching a minimum of 200 Little Free Libraries in book deserts with committed replenishment throughout 2026. Priority will be given to neighborhoods with low access to bookstores and libraries, plus areas surrounding reentry housing and transitional communities. This will allow HBG to place at least 40,000 books in circulation throughout the year.
- HBG will host 200 author visits to classrooms (virtually or in-person) for immersive author sessions and read-alouds,
providing access to at least 10,000 participants, all of whom will gain direct exposure to the joy of reading. - Investment in literacy and community programs that aim to close the gap in lower-than-average literacy rates.
For more information about the program, visit the website here.