LOUISVILLE, Ky. — All Kentucky students now have access to TeachingBooks. It’s available and free to use at all Kentucky schools and libraries, and it's also available online.
First Lady Britainy Beshear, D-Ky., said she has made it a priority to instill a love of reading in the commonwealth's students.
“Every single family should have the chance to read and learn together so that kids can get the best start in life possible," she said.
TeachingBooks brings books to life for children and young adults. It includes recordings of books, as well as behind-the-scenes activities and resources that teachers, librarians and parents can use so they can help students learn.
“This website includes special content (with) about 100,000 books, including a page just for 'Winnie's Christmas Book Club,'" Beshear said. "The content includes discussion and activity guides, audiobook performances, video book trailers, games and fun facts about the authors. It also helps you find new books similar to the stories you love the most.”
Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., said he hopes this resource will leave a significant impact on parents, students and educators.
“I encourage everybody to take advantage of this tool," Gov. Beshear said. "It's only going to enrich your young child's life. It's only going to help them get further ahead.”
“When our son Will was growing up, one of his all-time favorite books was 'Randy Riley's Really Big Hit,'" the first lady said. "He loved to hear it read to him, and when he was able to read, he would read it to us.”
"This is a full-circle moment for me and Andy because that book was one of our first selections for 'Winnie's Christmas Book Club,' and it is also featured on the TeachingBooks website. You can watch a video where the whole story is read out loud. This book, along with so many others, are really important to our family. And now, just before Christmas, we get to share them with all of Kentucky's kids.”
"Winnie's Book Club" is a list of picture books including holiday books, Kentucky books and some of the Beshear family’s all-time favorite stories. All of "Winnie's Book Club" books are featured on TeachingBooks.