Overview
- On March 2 in Washington, the second lady read to patients at Children’s National Hospital to kick off National Reading Month.
- She selected Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches and Other Stories and gave children plush toys of the Vances’ dog, Atlas, along with puzzles and books.
- Vance described childhood literacy as her top priority and said she is trying new ways to support schools in reversing recent reading declines.
- NAEP reported a 2‑point drop in fourth- and eighth‑grade reading from 2022 to 2024, with 40% of fourth-graders and one‑third of eighth‑graders scoring below basic.
- Her team confirmed the Summer Reading Challenge will relaunch in June, building on last year’s effort that included Camp VPR where more than 200 children each received a book.