Nine local Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million retailers recently donated in-kind books valued at $108,000 to Reach Out and Read Georgia. Barnes & Noble, Inc., the world’s largest retail bookseller, and Reach Out and Read Georgia have joined forces to raise awareness about the importance of early literacy and child development.

Reach Out and Read Georgia gives young children, ages six months to five years, a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. By building on the unique relationship between parents and doctors, Reach Out and Read Georgia helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills, so children enter school prepared for success.

The gift of nearly 14,944 brand new books was made possible through the generous support of neighborhood Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million customers, who purchased books for donation at bookstore locations across Georgia. The donated books are being distributed to local families at Reach Out and Read Georgia partner clinics in Augusta, Marietta, Cumming, Savannah, Rome and Canton counties.

“The annual Holiday Book Drive is something that our booksellers and customers look forward to every year because it has such a positive impact on the lives of children in need in their local communities,” said Tracy Vidakovich, Vice President of Business Development at Barnes & Noble, Inc. “Our customers recognize the importance of reading in the lives of children and their enormous generosity gives kids of every background the chance to read, discover and learn.”

Every book donated will pass into the grateful hands of a young child thanks to Reach Out and Read Georgia, whose program model uses health clinics as a vehicle to distribute high-quality, developmentally-appropriate books to every patient family.

“Thanks to the generosity of Barnes & Noble Augusta, Barnes & Noble Avenue at West Cobb, Barnes & Noble Avenue Forsyth, Barnes & Noble Oglethorpe Mall, Barnes & Noble Riverbend Market Place, Barnes & Noble Shoppes at River Crossing, Barnes & Noble Snellville, Barnes & Noble Perimeter Mall, and Books-A-Million Canton we can ensure every Georgia child grows up knowing the joy of a shared story,” said Amy Erickson, Executive Director at Reach Out and Read Georgia.