Reach Out and Read Wisconsin starting Mirrors and Windows Project for Diverse book choices for kids

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) -A national nonprofit dedicated to sharing the benefits of reading out loud to children is receiving a generous donation. It will help medical clinics introduce diverse book choices to kids across the country, here in Wisconsin and some in central Wisconsin.

It’s called the Mirrors and Windows project. American author and philanthropist Mackenzie Scott gave a total of $400,000 to Reach Out and Read. Almost $45,000 of that money will be used to establish Mirrors and Windows in our state. DeDe Williams is the Executive Director for Reach Out and Read in Wisconsin. She says each clinic will receive bundles of 10 to 15 diverse books to share with their youngest patients. The goal is for kids to learn about a wide range of people and cultures and see themselves in stories.

“We are going to make sure that every child and every family has a way to begin those conversations, so that when they are school ready, and you’re in these environments, and you’re navigating the world, you’re excited to learn about others. You’re not fearful of someone that may look different than you or sound different than you,” said Williams.

The books go through a tough vetting process. Reach Out and Read has learned what kind of books people want in their libraries through surveys from families and clinic staff. DeDe says there are a wide variety of books to choose from for clinics, and it’s a tough task. She says they have a diverse book committee on the national level to help out. They review the books and look at the populations that the books are going to serve.

“It’s a way for them to say hey, what was the population that you serve? What’s going to resonate? There’s a wide variety to select from, but we are going to be very intentional to think about how we can best serve the children and families in Wisconsin,” said Williams.

There are three clinics in our area receiving bundles of books. The clinics in our area receiving some of the books are Wausau Center Pediatrics, Aspirus Wausau Pediatrics Clinic, and Aspirus Wausau Family Medicine. All the clinics will also be able to apply for a scholarship that would provide grant funding to purchase more diverse titles.

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