Room to Read Begins Non-commercial Children’s Book Publishing in the U.S., Provides First Print Copies of Peace & Equality Book Collection to Underserved Children in California’s Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area, with support from Tatcha

Room to Read Begins Non-commercial Children’s Book Publishing in the U.S., Provides First Print Copies of Peace & Equality Book Collection to Underserved Children in California’s Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area, with support from Tatcha

SAN FRANCISCO – Dec. 21, 2021 – Room to Read, the global education organization focused on children’s literacy and girls’ education, today announced that it will be distributing diverse children’s books in underserved, low-income communities across California’s Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area. The book distribution marks a new project led by Room to Read, in which it will publish and provide high-quality children’s books to children across the U.S. who have limited access to engaging and diverse reading materials within their home and community. The initiative is funded by the award-winning global luxury skincare company Tatcha, a corporate partner of Room to Read since 2014 that is headquartered in California and Japan. 

“Reading is power – it is the foundation to all learning and the means for children to discover more about themselves and the world - through the pages of books,” said Dr. Geetha Murali, Room to Read CEO. “Room to Read will create relevant and representative children’s books that will be widely available to children in California and across the U.S., so that they can immerse themselves in inspirational stories that develop foundational literacy skills and set them up for lifelong success.”  

Room to Read began print book distribution in December 2021, providing 6,805 sets of its 10-book Peace & Equality Book Collection (68,050 books) to more than 40,000 children in the Central Valley (Fresno County; Kern County; Tulare County; Los Angeles County) and the San Francisco Bay Area. To reach children with the greatest educational needs, Room to Read has partnered with four organizations (First Book; Reading and Beyond; Save the Children; United Way of Kern County) that will distribute books in afterschool, family engagement and early childhood education programs, as well as provide guidance so that educators and caregivers can foster reading habits and literacy skills among the children in their communities. Books from Room to Read’s Peace & Equality Collection, originally published digitally for the organization’s online learning platform Literacy Cloud, were created by a diverse team of storytellers and are meant for children ages 3-8 to explore themes related to creating a more peaceful and just world.  

With two decades of experience as a noncommercial global publisher of diverse children’s books, Room to Read is publishing print titles for children in the U.S. for the first time. The organization hopes to provide all children with access to books that feature diverse storylines and mirror community identities, while celebrating the talents of authors and illustrators from these same communities.  

Vicky Tsai, Founder and CEO of Tatcha said, “What the Covid-19 pandemic laid bare was the deep inequity and urgent need to create meaningful, lasting change. We're thrilled to be able to join Room to Read as a foundational partner in their inaugural U.S. literacy initiative and are excited to work together to celebrate diversity, nurture the next generation, and ensure a more beautiful future for all of our children."  

Room to Read plans to expand its publishing and distribution efforts across the U.S. By 2025: 

• 500,000 children in high-need communities in the U.S. will have access to Room to Read books to support their reading with characters, themes, and content relevant to their lives.   
• 600,000 Room to Read books will be distributed to and integrated into impactful and evidence-based literacy education programs in communities where Room to Read can close gaps in children’s book availability and diversity as well as support children’s literacy development.   
• 200 new or adapted Room to Read book titles will be developed to address the gaps in diversity in children’s literature in the U.S., providing books to children that represent their identities and experiences.  

• 95% of authors and illustrators for new Room to Read title development will self-identify as being part of a marginalized community or traditionally underrepresented group in book publishing.  

Room to Read’s book publication and distribution strategy in the U.S. is informed by findings from an independent research study commissioned in 2021, which identified geographical areas of the U.S. where Room to Read investments in education equality and children's literature will make the greatest impact for under-resourced communities: “MISSING OUT: Education Inequality for U.S. Children Deepened by Book Deserts and Lack of Diverse Representation in Children’s Literature.”  

About Room to Read 

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. We are achieving this goal by helping children in low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls to build skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions. We collaborate with governments and other partner organizations to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. Room to Read has benefited more than 23 million children across 20 countries and over 48,000 communities and aims to reach 40 million children by 2025. Learn more at www.roomtoread.org. 

About Tatcha 

Tatcha is a true story of harmony and transformation. In 2008, Vicky Tsai encountered classical beauty rituals in Kyoto that forever altered her life. The pure, natural formulas and philosophy of harmony healed her acute dermatitis and helped her regain balance inside and out. Founded the following year, Tatcha creates sensorial rituals that care for you by gently transforming your skin and elevating your senses by pairing timeless traditions with emerging research. A portion of every Tatcha purchase supports global children's education equality through a partnership with Room to Read, through the brand’s Beautiful Faces Beautiful Futures Fund. The Tatcha collection is available globally at select retailers. For additional information, please visit www.tatcha.com. 

Media Contact 

Anna Seeley 

Room to Read 

925.304.3393   

anna.seeley@roomtoread.org 

Isabella Palmer  

SEEN Group 

864.561.3173 

tatcha@seengroup.com