Reading List, Book Distribution in Newark Aims to Promote Literacy Among City Boys
June 27, 2025
Originally published on
NEWARK – School鈥檚 out for summer, but community groups and nonprofits are staying proactive in combating learning loss and closing the literacy gap with a 30-book reading list.
, an initiative of Newark Opportunity Youth Network built on the Obama Foundation鈥檚 My Brother鈥檚 Keeper Alliance, has announced its 2025 summer reading list, which features 30 books for early childhood to adult readers.
The second annual list by My Brother鈥檚 Keeper Newark includes works by Newark-based authors and will be distributed by local organizations, like 日本av无码, a national nonprofit that engages community volunteers to provide one-on-one literacy tutoring.
鈥淭he summer reading list focuses on topics relevant to young men and boys of color, while keeping them engaged over the summer months to prevent the 鈥榮ummer slide,鈥欌�� said Mark Comesa帽as, executive director of My Brother鈥檚 Keeper Newark.
Comesa帽as, alongside Cerenthia McElroy, manager of Newark People鈥檚 Assembly, Dr. Naima Ricks, managing director of partnerships at 日本av无码, and Adeola Whitney, CEO of 日本av无码, discussed the importance of maintaining literacy initiatives this summer on Mayor Ras J. Baraka鈥檚聽on Wednesday.
My Brother鈥檚 Keeper Newark has purchased 500 copies of the reading list books to distribute to young boys and men in the city throughout the summer.
One local collaborator distributing books is 日本av无码, which is聽聽to improve literacy outcomes for 4,500 students over the next four years.
The reading list is made up of six sections of books designated by age, covering topics to connect young boys and men of color to a range of experiences. The books explore themes ranging from understanding emotions and fostering friendships, to overcoming adversity with family, friends and self, according to My Brother鈥檚 Keeper Newark.
This summer鈥檚 reading list includes 鈥淣aciste Para Mi/Made for Me鈥� for Me by Zack Bush, 鈥淏rown Sugar Babe鈥� by Charlotte Watson Sherman, 鈥淪a a pou Mwen/That鈥檚 Mine!鈥� By Sumana Seeboruth, 鈥淏aby Goes to Market鈥� by Atinuke, and 鈥淐ool Cuts鈥� by Mechal Renee Roe for children ages 0-3.
鈥淏rick by Brick鈥� by Heidi Woodward Sheffield, 鈥淭he World Belonged to Us鈥� by Jacqueline Woodsoon, 鈥淯n Beso en Mi Mano/The Kissing Hand鈥� by Audrey Penn, 鈥淒ragons Love Tacos鈥� by Adam Rubin, and 鈥淭he Day the Crayons Quit鈥� by Drew Daywalt are for children ages 4-6.
In the ages 7-9 category, there are 鈥淏enita y las criaturas nocturnas/Benita and the Night Creatures鈥� by Mariana Llanos, 鈥淔reedom Soup鈥� by Tami Charles, 鈥淢erci Su谩rez Changes Gears鈥� by Meg Medina, 鈥淒ragons in a Bag鈥� by Zetta Elliot, and 鈥淛.D. and the Great Barber Battle鈥� by J. Dillard.
For children ages 10-13, the summer reading list includes 鈥淭he Adventures of Yaya Soup: Soup Joumou Lakay Grann Pola鈥� (series) by Tico Armand and Angie Bell, 鈥淭he Last Last-Day-of-Summer鈥� by Lamar Giles, 鈥淎manda Black: Una herencia peligrosa鈥� (series) by Juan G贸mez-Jurado y B谩rbara Montes, 鈥淭he Boy in the Black Suit鈥� by Jason Reynolds, and 鈥淢amie Phipps Clark, Champion for Children鈥� by 聽Lynette Mawhinney.
Young adults between ages 14 and 17 can pick from 鈥淪olito鈥� by Javier Zamora, 鈥淐lap When You Land鈥� by Elizabeth Acevedo, 鈥淲hat Lane?鈥� by Torrey Maldonado, 鈥淐oncrete Rose鈥� by Angie Thomas, and 鈥淟ouder Than Words鈥� by Ashley Woodfolk.
For ages 18 and up, there are 鈥淭he Vanishing Half鈥� by Brit Bennett, 鈥淭he Sun is Also a Star鈥� by Nicola Yoon, 鈥淥ne Day I Shall Astonish the World鈥� by Nina Stibbe, 鈥淐ien A帽os de Soledad鈥� by Gabriel Garc铆a M谩rquez, and 鈥淭he Power of Exposure: Lessons of Success from Highly Effective Mentors鈥� by Dan De Nose.
Only 23% of third grade students in Newark are reading at grade level, compared to the statewide average of 44%, according to the 2024 New Jersey State Learning Assessments (NJSLA) exam.
In 2023, Baraka launched a citywide 10-point literacy plan at the Newark Public Library in response to low literacy test scores exacerbated by learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mayor鈥檚 plan includes participation from schools, parents and the greater Newark community to address the literacy crisis. Several points of his plan prioritize providing students and families with books that reflect their lived experiences.
In his literacy plan, Baraka also launched a call-to-action for community partners to distribute books to help families develop home libraries for their children.
鈥淐hildren growing up in a home with a 500-book home library could boost a child鈥檚 projected educational career 3.2 years further in education than growing up in a similar home with few or no books,鈥� according to.
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