Reach out and Read anniversary CHOP welcomed Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney to our Karabots Pediatric Care Center in West Philadelphia to read to children as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of CHOP's Reach out and Read Program.

Dr. Perri Klass, national medical director of Reach Out and Read, also visited CHOP to speak about the importance of books and reading aloud to young children, and the research behind it.

Reach Out and Read is in nine of CHOP’s primary care practices located in West and South Philadelphia; Burlington Township, New Jersey; and Coatesville, Kennett Square and West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Families served by the program read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills, better prepared to achieve their potential.

Photo caption: Right from left: David Rosenberg, Reach out and Read national medical director; Dr. Perri Klass; CHOP’s Dr. Trude Haecker; CHOP’s Kirsten Rogers; Marjorie Rosenberg and Jaimie Rosenberg. The Rosenberg family has helped CHOP’s Reach Out and Read Program grow throughout the last 20 years.