Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Reading Aloud In Wilmington, Del.

A Read Aloud Delaware volunteer reads to a student.
Eric Crosson (c)
A Read Aloud Delaware volunteer reads to a student.

— headed by Executive Director Mary Hirschbiel and more than 800 volunteers — is making a noticeable impact in Wilmington.

When you read to the same children time and again, Mary says, "you see changes in their vocabulary, their ability to answer in complete sentences, and gradually the ability to have a conversation."

Quick story: After weeks of waiting for a volunteer to read aloud to her, a young girl got her chance. It was her fourth birthday and the girl said that being read to was her "birthday wish."

Joseph Dewson III is a freelance writer in Newark, Del. He listens to .

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Joseph Dewson III
KUER is listener-supported public radio. Support this work by making a donation today.