Highlights and Baker & Taylor partner to support libraries working to address COVID slide in literacy skills

June 5, 2020 - Today, Highlights and Baker & Taylor announced their partnership to launch Highlights Summer Activity Bingo, a 12-week summer reading program aimed at helping libraries stem COVID Slide during the critical summer months. COVID Slide is a term used to describe the months-long learning loss due to extended school closures. Modeled on the successful Highlights@Home initiative, which was created to support families during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period, Highlights Summer Activity Bingo provides library systems with engaging and flexible children's programming, allowing them to continue serving their communities while navigating another transitional season.

"Highlights has a long history of championing summer learning and reading, and we recognize the significance of library summer reading programs - particularly as libraries help their communities address the inevitable COVID Slide in reading skills that is taking place now," said Kent Johnson, CEO of Highlights. "Partnering with Baker & Taylor gives us an opportunity to support libraries and families by providing uniquely fun learning resources to inspire and encourage as many children as possible to keep reading throughout the summer, whether they are still at home or able to visit their local libraries."

"Baker & Taylor is excited to partner with Highlights, a household name in the world of advancing children's literacy," said Amandeep Kochar, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Baker & Taylor. "With the challenging times presented by COVID-19 and remote learning, we wanted to introduce our public library customers to Highlights Summer Activity Bingo, with activities to engage and support our young readers. Baker & Taylor recognizes all that public libraries have done to support their communities throughout the pandemic and this is one more way we can support them in their ongoing efforts."

The Highlights Summer Activity Bingo program includes weekly themed Bingo cards and more than 190 fiction and nonfiction stories from Highlights. The Bingo cards are available in digital and printable format, and are designed to reinforce reading skills and social-emotional development for kids ages 2-12. The cards provide links to downloadable stories, puzzles, creative activities and ways to inspire kindness. The reading program is designed to offer the flexibility and adaptability that libraries will need in order to provide their crucial summer programming, no matter what their set up or operations may be.

Libraries can learn more about the program and sign up by clicking here.

About Highlights
Highlights is a global media brand dedicated to helping children become curious, creative, caring, and confident through engaging content and experiences that are focused on nurturing and developing the whole child. Highlights reaches children 0-12 with its most popular magazines and books, and on multi-platform digital experiences, digital apps, toys/games, a podcast, and more. To connect with Highlights, visit: Highlights.com, HighlightsKids.com, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About Baker & Taylor
Baker & Taylor is a premier provider of books, digital content and technology solutions that help public libraries improve community outcomes through literacy and learning. It maintains one of the largest in-stock inventories of books, videos and music in the U.S. - about 385,000 titles in inventory and more than 1.5 million titles available for order. An industry leader in digital media delivery, Baker & Taylor also offers its publishers and customers bundled physical and digital media distribution services, empowering publishers to manage content distribution in multiple formats to numerous digital devices. To connect with Baker & Taylor, visit www.baker-taylor.com.